***Theme Reads: How Can We Make Them Better for 2013?
Talk Reading Globally
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1rebeccanyc
Now that we've entered the fourth quarter, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on this year's theme reads and think about how we can make them even better for next year. I have a variety of questions which I'll post below, but I welcome everyone's thoughts about what worked well, what didn't, and what you'd like to see next year.
First, a big thank you to Cait, Samantha_Kathy, PolarisBeacon, Darryl (kidzdoc), Lois (avaland), wandering_star, Steven, and Deborah/arubabookwoman for leading our theme reads this year. You all did a fabulous job and really raised the bar with your photos and book lists. Thank you!
My planned schedule is the same as last year, since that seemed to work well. We can have this discussion in October; then in November, I'll start a thread asking for ideas for next year's theme reads, and after a couple of weeks we'll vote, so we can know what the 2013 theme reads will be as December begins. (This was requested by people who were thinking about their holiday wish lists!)
As you think about the questions, here is the list of ideas we came up with for this year, 2012, when I asked last October how we could improve theme reads for this year.
1. We should continue having four quarterly theme reads in 2012.
2. We should try to narrow the focus of each read, e.g., Regions in Conflict - Africa or Regions in Conflict -20th Century, rather than just Regions in Conflict.
3. We should encourage theme read leaders to pick 3-5 recommended reads offering differing perspectives on the theme, preferably some of which the leader will read himself or herself. Participants interested in being able to discuss specific books with others could then choose from among these recommended reads, but everyone would be able to read any book that fits the theme.
4. We should encourage people to discuss the books they read in the context of the theme rather than simply posting reviews.
Here are my questions, but please comment on whatever seems important to you. These are designed to stimulate conversation.
1. What did you enjoy most about the 2012 theme reads? What would encourage you to participate more in 2013? What didn't work as well for you and what thoughts do you have about how to improve it?
2.Did the idea of theme read leaders recommending reads and identifying the books they plan to read work out for you? Do you think it helped stimulate discussion?
3. This year we also had a year-long theme of "classics in their own country" with extensive resource lists that Deborah/arubabookwoman created? Did this work for you? Should we continue it for next year? If we do, or if we have another year-long theme, how do you think we can continue to generate interest in it as the year progresses?
4. And the perennial question: How can we generate more discussion on the theme read threads as opposed to just lists of what you've read or posts of reviews? (I plead guilty here too.)
Discussion and other ideas ENCOURAGED!
First, a big thank you to Cait, Samantha_Kathy, PolarisBeacon, Darryl (kidzdoc), Lois (avaland), wandering_star, Steven, and Deborah/arubabookwoman for leading our theme reads this year. You all did a fabulous job and really raised the bar with your photos and book lists. Thank you!
My planned schedule is the same as last year, since that seemed to work well. We can have this discussion in October; then in November, I'll start a thread asking for ideas for next year's theme reads, and after a couple of weeks we'll vote, so we can know what the 2013 theme reads will be as December begins. (This was requested by people who were thinking about their holiday wish lists!)
As you think about the questions, here is the list of ideas we came up with for this year, 2012, when I asked last October how we could improve theme reads for this year.
1. We should continue having four quarterly theme reads in 2012.
2. We should try to narrow the focus of each read, e.g., Regions in Conflict - Africa or Regions in Conflict -20th Century, rather than just Regions in Conflict.
3. We should encourage theme read leaders to pick 3-5 recommended reads offering differing perspectives on the theme, preferably some of which the leader will read himself or herself. Participants interested in being able to discuss specific books with others could then choose from among these recommended reads, but everyone would be able to read any book that fits the theme.
4. We should encourage people to discuss the books they read in the context of the theme rather than simply posting reviews.
Here are my questions, but please comment on whatever seems important to you. These are designed to stimulate conversation.
1. What did you enjoy most about the 2012 theme reads? What would encourage you to participate more in 2013? What didn't work as well for you and what thoughts do you have about how to improve it?
2.Did the idea of theme read leaders recommending reads and identifying the books they plan to read work out for you? Do you think it helped stimulate discussion?
3. This year we also had a year-long theme of "classics in their own country" with extensive resource lists that Deborah/arubabookwoman created? Did this work for you? Should we continue it for next year? If we do, or if we have another year-long theme, how do you think we can continue to generate interest in it as the year progresses?
4. And the perennial question: How can we generate more discussion on the theme read threads as opposed to just lists of what you've read or posts of reviews? (I plead guilty here too.)
Discussion and other ideas ENCOURAGED!
2rebeccanyc
Ideas, anyone?
3StevenTX
I've been thinking about this off and on since you posted the question, but haven't come up with anything earthshaking. Here are my responses so far:
1. What did you enjoy most about the 2012 theme reads? What would encourage you to participate more in 2013? What didn't work as well for you and what thoughts do you have about how to improve it?
I found it more rewarding when we focused on a geographic area rather than a subject-matter theme. Once we merge several ideas into one, the latter just becomes too broad. There is still the problem even with the geographic themes of being so broad that it's rare two people are reading the same book in the same month. Yet if you narrow the topics too much, you reduce participation.
2.Did the idea of theme read leaders recommending reads and identifying the books they plan to read work out for you? Do you think it helped stimulate discussion?
So far I don't know that this has had much of an impact. We are a diverse group, with some preferring non-fiction, some literary fiction, some mysteries and some historical romances, so it's hard to be inclusive and prescriptive at the same time. Also, most group read selections elsewhere are made democratically, so discussion leaders may be uncomfortable with trying to sell others on their own reading choices.
3. This year we also had a year-long theme of "classics in their own country" with extensive resource lists that Deborah/arubabookwoman created? Did this work for you? Should we continue it for next year? If we do, or if we have another year-long theme, how do you think we can continue to generate interest in it as the year progresses?
I didn't participate much in these discussion threads. This theme seemed just to duplicate our standing regional discussion threads ("Asia I," "Asia II," etc.). I think an annual theme would work best if there were some tie-in to the quarterly themes. For example: an annual theme of "Africa" and quarterly themes such as "South Africa," "Colonialism," etc. that all pertained in some way to the annual theme. The annual thread would then be a catch-all for reviews and discussions that overlap the regional themes.
4. And the perennial question: How can we generate more discussion on the theme read threads as opposed to just lists of what you've read or posts of reviews?
I don't have any fresh ideas here. It seems, though, that discussion comes about in two ways: either we get a lot of people reading the same book at the same time, or we find ways to talk about what the various books we've read have in common. I think I would prefer the latter, but that puts a heavier burden on the group leaders. One small suggestion: At the midway or two-thirds point in the quarter, start a new thread devoted to themed discussions of that quarter's topic rather than reading lists and reviews (which would continue to be posted on the main thread). Encourage everyone, not just the moderators, to use it to throw out questions and ideas for discussion.
Whether we have more discussion or not, I think Reading Globally is still a success when it simply gets people reading works from and about different parts of the world.
1. What did you enjoy most about the 2012 theme reads? What would encourage you to participate more in 2013? What didn't work as well for you and what thoughts do you have about how to improve it?
I found it more rewarding when we focused on a geographic area rather than a subject-matter theme. Once we merge several ideas into one, the latter just becomes too broad. There is still the problem even with the geographic themes of being so broad that it's rare two people are reading the same book in the same month. Yet if you narrow the topics too much, you reduce participation.
2.Did the idea of theme read leaders recommending reads and identifying the books they plan to read work out for you? Do you think it helped stimulate discussion?
So far I don't know that this has had much of an impact. We are a diverse group, with some preferring non-fiction, some literary fiction, some mysteries and some historical romances, so it's hard to be inclusive and prescriptive at the same time. Also, most group read selections elsewhere are made democratically, so discussion leaders may be uncomfortable with trying to sell others on their own reading choices.
3. This year we also had a year-long theme of "classics in their own country" with extensive resource lists that Deborah/arubabookwoman created? Did this work for you? Should we continue it for next year? If we do, or if we have another year-long theme, how do you think we can continue to generate interest in it as the year progresses?
I didn't participate much in these discussion threads. This theme seemed just to duplicate our standing regional discussion threads ("Asia I," "Asia II," etc.). I think an annual theme would work best if there were some tie-in to the quarterly themes. For example: an annual theme of "Africa" and quarterly themes such as "South Africa," "Colonialism," etc. that all pertained in some way to the annual theme. The annual thread would then be a catch-all for reviews and discussions that overlap the regional themes.
4. And the perennial question: How can we generate more discussion on the theme read threads as opposed to just lists of what you've read or posts of reviews?
I don't have any fresh ideas here. It seems, though, that discussion comes about in two ways: either we get a lot of people reading the same book at the same time, or we find ways to talk about what the various books we've read have in common. I think I would prefer the latter, but that puts a heavier burden on the group leaders. One small suggestion: At the midway or two-thirds point in the quarter, start a new thread devoted to themed discussions of that quarter's topic rather than reading lists and reviews (which would continue to be posted on the main thread). Encourage everyone, not just the moderators, to use it to throw out questions and ideas for discussion.
Whether we have more discussion or not, I think Reading Globally is still a success when it simply gets people reading works from and about different parts of the world.
4Polaris-
Will hopefully join in with this conversation properly when I have some time! Working on the road lately and spending less time on LT so far this autumn...
Overall I loved the theme reads this year, and enjoyed helping Samantha Kathy compile the recommended lists for the 2nd quarter. I enjoy also the organic nature of how the threads do or don't develop of their own accord.
Overall I loved the theme reads this year, and enjoyed helping Samantha Kathy compile the recommended lists for the 2nd quarter. I enjoy also the organic nature of how the threads do or don't develop of their own accord.
5rebeccanyc
Responding to Steven's response to question number 3, I had a similar idea that is kind of the reverse. For example, we could have a year-long theme like "colonialism" or "racism" and then tie this in with regional theme reads that could be from different areas. But when I start the "ideas for next year's themes" thread, we can see what theme ideas you all have.
6whymaggiemay
I really appreciated that the theme reads were quarterly, which helped me fit something for the theme into my reading. It made it more likely that I would be able to participate.
As to sparking more discussion, I certainly don't know what the magic answer is. I am involved in groups on several reading sites, and I know that it seems to be a common failing in all of them. Those willing to put forth their ideas, opinions, and questions will do so, and the rest will lurk and say nothing.
I like rebeccanyc's ideas, but I'm not sure it would necessarily make me participate much more in that particular reading. If something I'm reading falls into that category I think about going in and adding comments, but have to admit that generally I don't.
As to sparking more discussion, I certainly don't know what the magic answer is. I am involved in groups on several reading sites, and I know that it seems to be a common failing in all of them. Those willing to put forth their ideas, opinions, and questions will do so, and the rest will lurk and say nothing.
I like rebeccanyc's ideas, but I'm not sure it would necessarily make me participate much more in that particular reading. If something I'm reading falls into that category I think about going in and adding comments, but have to admit that generally I don't.
7Samantha_kathy
I do think that a seperate thread for discussions is a good idea. Sometimes I see a question being asked or a discussion point brought up, but it never goes anywhere - mainly I think because those posts get buried between reviews and reading lists. So perhaps a seperate discussion thread, while keeping the mean thread for reading lists and reviews, is a good idea.
8rebeccanyc
In a day or two I'm going to start a thread asking for your ideas for theme reads for 2013. So if anyone has any thoughts on general ways to make them even better, now's the time!
