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Hi everyone.

Just wondering if people can provide feedback for this year's challenges and monthly reading. Things to think about are:

Challenges:

Did you like the two challenges?

Were they too much?

What sort of challenge would you like to see next year?

Would you just prefer one challenge per year?

Monthly reading

Do you like the one fiction book per month and the classics and non-fiction every other month?

Did you like the categories for non-fiction?

Would you like to seem themed reads for fiction?

Should we change what we do?

Any other topics

Are you happy with the way that the group is run?

Do you think that the group should continue?

All feedback will be appreciated

Enjoyed the challenges this year, especially the round the world one, having a short challenge like that where I can do Non-fiction books was fun.

I didn't really do any of the monthly reads this year, a lot are on my reading list but don't always make it to the top of the pile.

Keep the group going, looking forward to next years challenge.

Challenge idea for next year. Award winners.

Put down a selection of book awards and you have to read a winner from each award, and for those who like a challenge they can read a short listed book too.

I like Jason's sugggestion - it sets a limit, there are too many books that are put forward - we all have other books to read.
I would also add, there does not seem to be much discussion - I know it's not always possible, with people not getting round to reading the book. Each comment seems to be unconnected with what went before, instead of having a dialogue. Maybe we could have a question to start the ball rolling.

I really like the full year challenges we have with 25ish books. I think it's good that there are different levels for people who want to do less.

Last year's Bookbuster made me realise how many of the authors I read have the same initial for their surnames and lead to a bit of searching about. This year's magic square was easier to find books for each of the categories but I still enjoyed working out which book I was going to choose for each.

I always look forward to finding out what the next year's challenge will be.

I initially didn't intend to do the Where in the World but then noticed that I had most of the categories covered anyway, so with some doubling up, I've done both. I just need to finish Journals: Captain Scott's Last Expedition to complete them both.

I liked the timing last year, when we had the long challenge start at the beginning of the year, and then a short one in the middle of the year. I'm not sure about having 2 both starting at the beginning of the year, there's less to look forward to.

As for the monthly books, I try to read all of the fiction and most of the classics. Although I do read some non-fiction, so far I haven't been joining in with the groups picks. I always look at what they are though in case any particularly appeal to me. At the moment I don't have any other themes to suggest.

Is there a list at the beginning of the year giving the non-fiction themes for the coming months? That may be good.

I think the schedule for the monthly books is good. For me at least, I can join in with the fiction, the classics and the annual challenge and read other things. It seems like there's enough books to keep the group active without it being so many that it dominates.

Challenges are great. 2 is fine, then people have choices. As long as not too much work for you though Paul. I tend not to keep up with monthly reads, although I would like to. Others may prefer other way round. We definitely need to keep this group. Even if we don't converse all the time its nice to be in touch with other people on same wavelength re books.

Challenges:
Loved the ideas of both challenges - I'm still hoping to complete the Where in the World challenge myself. I like having two challenges because it gives those who don't have as much time an option when it comes to challenges. I think a cool challenge is a colour challenge - read books with covers that have certain colours in it (blue, red, metallic, colour description, etc.). Neat way that allows you to read books you are interested in and ends up being a long list of books that others can get ideas from!

Monthly Reading:
Love the monthly reading you guys have even though I really never get to participate due to having a little one. I'm really only a fiction reader so I can't comment on the other fields. Would be kind of cool if it became more like a book club and maybe some questions with the original post to get conversation started on the books! If there isn't alot of participation maybe a book every two or three months.

Other Topics:
I think you guys do an amazing job running this group. I'd love to be more active when I get the opportunity but with a little one running around I don't get to read as much as I used too. Although it is nice to be active when I'm able too (comes and goes I realize). Always nice to get more participation but that is just luck of the draw when it comes to members (in my opinion). I do hope this group continues because even though I don't always get to post; I am always following.

I don’t really do the challenges - or don’t complete them- I struggle to read as much as I should . But I like the idea of the challenges and hope to be better at it next year

I haven't been a member for that long but so far none of the books put forward were ones that I was interested in reading.

I like the idea of challenges because I can find books that I enjoy which might fit.

Other than that I haven't been a member long enough to really comment further.

First of all I am hanging my head in shame as I never get around to reading any of the choices even though I may have voted on them. I think the challenges are really good and well thought out so thank you for organising them! I tend to start off with good intentions but end up reading too many books at the same time.
Monthly reads are good but I think that questions may be needed now and again to keep it focussed and on track. Non-fiction is also a good choice as the topics are so diverse and there should be something for everyone. Classics are also fine but I think the really large ones can be bit off putting! What I have found interesting and I do quite a bit is read around a theme by pairing up fiction with non-fiction such as The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah with Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Don't know if this would work in a group setting but it definitely added a pleasant dimension to my reading. I hope that the group will continue into the new year as this group is the one I really want to support.

Julie you have written my post for me! In agreement with all your comments.
A big Thank You to the mods for running this group and a new years resolution is to support it more and to be involved with the monthly reads.

Thank you for all your comments so far

Thank you, plus t’others for all your hard work.

Jason wrote: "Challenge idea for next year. Award winners.

Put down a selection of book awards and you have to read a winner from each award, and for those who like a challenge they can read a short listed book..."

I like the idea of this challenge. Perhaps a challenge book could be put forward for the monthly read and then it would tick two boxes?

Could one of our challenges be to read one of the monthly read(s) each month? Thinking aloud here so don't know if that works in practice.

As Paul says, thank you all for the comments, they are really constructive. Very keen to find ways to generate more support for monthly reads and threads and get discussions going so anything you have on that is gratefully received. This is a friendly group with lots of members and encourages a wide variety of reading styles so it would be great to make it a bit more participative.

We cut back the non fiction and classics to lessen the load, and we do sometimes extend fiction to two months if it's a particularly long book. Maybe there is more we can do there to allow people time to read.

Please keep your ideas and thoughts coming - they are all welcome.

Just a thought. One month classics, next month non fiction, next month fiction. All part of a challenge over the year. Then us peeps who need to catch up on other books/are in book clubs/have little chance to read may achieve 12 books a year.

I don't do the challenges as I don't really want to be 'challenged' in my reading - it's something I do purely for pleasure. I do like hearing other people's opinions on books and I like picking up ideas for books I might like to read. If I vote for a book and it wins then I always read it and comment. I just can't bring myself to read a book if it's by an author I know I dislike.
I read quite a lot of non-fiction in terms of articles on subjects that interest me (mostly science and dog training!) but I'm not really keen on reading non-fiction books.
I do understand that running a group like this is a lot of work for you and that it depends on regular participation by members.

What do people think about alternating between fiction and classics each month and doing a quarterly non-fiction read?

I like the idea of alternating if that makes sense! I don't get a chance to do many (if any) of the monthly challenges but I would like to if I ever get some time! I would probably only read fiction but I'm sure there would be a few classics that I would want to read or re-read!

Alternating would be fine for me, I read mainly a mixture of fiction and classics anyway.

Paul wrote: "What do people think about alternating between fiction and classics each month and doing a quarterly non-fiction read?"

I like that idea, I haven't managed to read as many monthly reads this year but I should be able to manage one each month and I do like the classics reads. It would be good to see more participation in the threads and this might help.

I also liked Jason's idea about the awards challenge. I've enjoyed the challenges this year and completed both. It's a good way to find new authors you might like.

First of all thank you VERY MUCH for running this book group so brilliantly and being so dedicated to it.

Unfortunately, I don't really have the time to do the Challenges and have never really managed to engage with them. Therefore can't give an opinion.

I enjoy the book of the months suggestions, especially the one fiction book and the classics. I can't participate all the time, but try whenever I can. I'm not really a non-fiction reader except if I can listen to it as an audiotape, but that's just me, my attention span does not tend to be long enough.

I like the idea that we could use book award, but maybe we could chose our own winner and read that one then rather than "the winner" which, as in this year's Booker, I really don't like. Would be interesting what we thought (albeit not having read them yet) from what the members of the award thought.

Julie wrote: "First of all I am hanging my head in shame as I never get around to reading any of the choices even though I may have voted on them. I think the challenges are really good and well thought out so t..."
Julie, you are not alone. When I vote I always have the best intentions of reading it right there and then, but life often interferes. However, I often read them months, a couple even a year or so later and love to see what others thought in the discussions.

Paul wrote: "What do people think about alternating between fiction and classics each month and doing a quarterly non-fiction read?"

Sounds like a sensible idea and more manageable.

Firstly, to every single member of this group, thank you for being so friendly. With so many trolls on the web, it is great to have a group of people who can talk about their favourite subject without bullying others, it's always a pleasure to read others comments here.

Secondly, the moderators are amazing, I don't know how you keep up with your lives, read all the books and run the group, you must have time machines!

I have been studying, as well as working and looking after an elderly relative these last two years. Which means time for reading anything other than text books has been difficult; keeping up with the challenges this year has been an impossibility unfortunately.

That saying, I do love the excitement of the challenges each year. Maybe seasonal ones would be an idea, I know I certainly read more as the nights draw in. I keep an eye on the monthly reads and say my bit if I have read it, however I have given up trying to keep up with you all, time flies and all that jazz.

Paul wrote: "What do people think about alternating between fiction and classics each month and doing a quarterly non-fiction read?"

Is it worth setting up a poll for this?

Thank you, Saffron. That might be an idea, Julie

Any other comments from people? Might delay the nomination thread for a day or so

I haven't been as good as I could have been with updating my challenges or doing the group reads for the last few months, but I do like having the challenge. I also like the suggestion of alternating fiction/classic/ non fiction as mentioned above, and I'll try to be better about participating next year. I really do appreciate all the hard work that you put in to creating the challenges Paul

Hello everyone. Many Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

We are going to alternate fiction/classic so six of each per year.

However, to encourage participation on the relevant threads, we will leave each one open for two months so January's fiction will run Jan/Feb, February's Classic will run Feb/March and so on. Hopefully that will work, but as ever if it proves otherwise, just come back to this thread and let us know.

Paul's next challenge looks great, hopefully lots of you will be taking part!

Thanks moderators. You are all fab. Paul we are excited....again.

I wish Christmas would hurry and get done so I can find out about this challenge, Paul has been teasing me about this for ages now :-)

Jason, I look forward to Xmas. However I totally understand your wish for challenge to be here too.

I’m terribly late with this response but the fact that I logged in specifically to look for 2019’s challenge should tell you my answers to some of the above questions.

I’ve had a disastrous year - my father was sick and then died, my husband was ill for most of the year and nearly died, and my mother was in hospital for months with a broken pelvis - but although I’ve not recorded much in the way of reading info here because I’ve spent most of the year rather too distracted for that - I’ve read my way through the tough times and I’ve really enjoyed the way the challenges focus my reading and lead me to revisit my own bookshelves. There’s a library in this house, quite a lot of the books remain unread, and the challenges address that for me.

My only request is that challenges are framed to be possible for those who rarely read fiction ... I’m a non-fiction girl for sure.

I also want to say thank you to all the group admin for keeping the group going.

Annie you are a star. Reading is like breathing for most of us

Annie wrote: "I’m terribly late with this response but the fact that I logged in specifically to look for 2019’s challenge should tell you my answers to some of the above questions.

I’ve had a disastrous year -..."

Annie, I can emphasize with you very much indeed. For me 2016 was such a year for me and whilst I still work on getting over it, books help a lot, both to keep you sane whilst you are getting through it and afterwards. It's good to dive into a book to forget about the harsh reality to be able to better deal with it again later.

Hope you have a much better 2019 and sufficient time to read and recuperate.

Annie wrote: "I’m terribly late with this response but the fact that I logged in specifically to look for 2019’s challenge should tell you my answers to some of the above questions.

I’ve had a disastrous year -..."

Sending you a hug, Annie. Hope 2019 is a better year for you and your family

Annie - I'm sorry to hear about your year! Books can be an amazing escape from life when necessary and here's to wishing you and your family the absolute best for 2019! You are due for some good luck heading your way soon!

Annie - I hope 2019 turns a corner for you.

I think there should be plenty of scope for non fiction reads in Paul’s new challenge so I hope you will enjoy it.

For those trying to link to the challenge from Paul’s message, if you are in the app unfortunately the shortcomings of the app means it doesn’t work! Works fine main web page.

Oh Annie, how awful. So much for one person to deal with. I hope your husband and mum are on the path to recovery now. Wishing you and the family a much better 2019.

Glad you could escape into books. Hopefully you'll be able to read some excellent non-fiction prizewinners for the challenge this coming year.