Let's Discuss Ideas for Theme Reads or Group Reads Here

Several people suggested we have group reads or theme reads, including one honoring the anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Here's the place to discuss your ideas and see if people are interested in a particular topic, author, or book.

None of the authors suggested in the centennial reading group has filled me with enthusiasm to read them in depth, but I will try and read at least one of the novels of those writers high lighted, therefore I am searching for a modern author to get my teeth into next year and I am thinking about Doris Lessing who died last year. Anyone else interested?

My superstitious side will not let me join until it is actually 2014, but in the realm of planning discussion, I like both WWI and the idea of Doris Lessing. It would be interesting to reread some of her work in light of what's happened since she wrote it and to read some of what I haven't yet read.

I have nothing against the WWI idea, it's just that while I have an abundance of WWII/Holocaust fic & nonic I don't think I own anything WWI, and I doubt my library really has any in English, either. Otherwise I'd be glad to join in with that. If it does happen and anyone has any ideas of good titles that can be acquired for pretty cheap, please do suggest away.

I understand your superstitious side, Sassy, but I think I will start a WWI thread and let people take it wherever they like.

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>6 edwinbcn: Why opposition? It's not like any kind of group reads would be required, just an option some people might like. I don't think trying to imitate one person's reading would make any special "coherence" any more than members choosing books/subjects to read about together.

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Edwin I think part of the coherence you observed in 2011 was a spill over from another group Le Salon, that does/did group reads of Porius and The Faerie Queen and since there was a large amount of crossover of members between the group it gave the allusion that there was an unoffical group read here at Club Read. From my experience coherence isn't one of Club Read's strong suits (not that that's a bad thing).

I think Baswood's idea of official group reads would better create coherence throughout the group as a whole and would perhaps return that impression left in 2011. But the larger more general interest theme reading wouldn't be a bad idea either. Since it wouldn't require all of us to read the same book at the same time.

Just a note on history that may help some of this discussion. The groups listed as "other groups of interest" are not "affiliated" groups. After group members created the Literary Centennials and Read Mo Yan groups last year, they asked if we could link to them to make them easier for Club Readers to find, and I then added the Author Theme Reads and Reading Globally groups (which many Club Readers participate in) to flesh out the list. This year, I asked if people could suggest other groups we could link to and PolymathicMonkey suggested the Monthly Author Reads group; there's room for more if others want. I look at this as Club Read providing a "home base" for members, with links to other groups they might like to find easily.

I too think a lot of Club Readers are focused on their own reading goals and/or pick what they want to read by how they feel at the moment, and those people probably won't choose a group read, although they might participate in an ongoing theme read of interest. But for those who would like to have a group read, I don't see how would it harm those who don't participate.

>10 rebeccanyc: Exactly, that's why I'm rather puzzles by "opposition" to it. Either there's not really an interest and it doesn't happen, or some people are keen on it and make their threads, and whoever wants to join in can do so, and anyone else can simply click the X, no harm anywhere no matter what options anyone chooses.

Personally, most of my own reading is chosen by my Category Challenge, which is in turn mostly dictated by what is on my shelves. They're quite literally overflowing and so I use the challenges as a means to focus on making some headway. That said, (like most of us) I enjoy discussing books, so when possible I always jump at the chance for group reads, so that I can chat more about something I've read!

Like Poly most of my reading is from my Category Challenge and of course the one going 1001 list. But I really like the wiki page that linked 1001 and 75 group.

http://www.librarything.com/pic/4176132

And here is my want to be book thief

Rebecca - I have Tuchman's book waiting to read, and there there are those WWI British poets I would like to read. I never do well with themed group reads, but will try to follow.

My personal interests seem to lean toward an Israeli-lit theme, but that theme was already done in 2012(?)

Dan, I'm not a big one for group reads or theme reads either, so I think this will happen if enough people want it to. As for Israeli lit, I don't recall a theme read on that in any of the groups I belong to (we haven't really had one in Club Read, and I don't think we ever did it in Reading Globally) -- maybe this was in a different group????

I think it was actually a Middle East themed group read. I might have been Reading Globally or the 75ers. I am sure Darryl led it.

You are right, Dan. It was in Reading Globally in 2012 -- here it is! Good memory!