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CHALLENGES
Has anyone tried a book challenge before? I'm thinking about the kind of thing where people pair up and pick a book for each other to read, or the group picks the book for a lucky volunteer or something along those lines? Would anyone be keen to try something like that? I really like being challenged to try something I wouldn't necessarily choose for myself. Then again, I would seriously dislike being forced to read... say.... a really poorly written 1,000 page historical romance novel. Just sayin...!

GROUP READS
It's a bit soon to set up any group reads just yet, but what do people think of them? If you could have group reads here, how would they work? Would you want to vote on them? How often do you like to do them? What makes them worthwhile?

I'm killing myself to keep up with all my group reads now. Well, okay...NOT killing myself, but the stack of stuff I WANT to read never seems to get any smaller and I keep buying and reading books for GROUPS. I'm not complaining - I've been enjoying what I've been reading - Pratchett's Discworld series for the Humour club, and some crime books I probably wouldn't have read for the Pulp Fiction group, BUT -
I'm thinking of taking a month off to read nothing but books of MY choosing.

HOWEVER...if you guys come up with a great title, I'm sure I'll read it.

Speaking of which, I've read lots of Vonnegut, but not Slaughterhouse-Five, for some unknown reason. Maybe you can toss this title into the voting arena when everybody's ready.

Sounds good to me - It's on sale for 99c on Amazon US as a one-day sale [13 May 2012].

I know what you mean about massive TBRs too. I've got over 500 books at the moment that I've obtained but not yet read, and that's not counting the bulk of my non-fiction!

I like reading books as a group but yeah, there are so many books on my TBR that I typically won't participate every time in every group. I'll vote if one of the choices interests me, and if it wins I definitely try to make time to read that book with the group, but I'm in like 7 groups that do group reads (anywhere from 1-3 books per group per month), and I maybe only read one or two of those on a good month.

So basically, yes on group reads, but don't expect me to be there for every one!

Thanks guys. Does anyone know if Slaughterhouse-Five is a quick/easy read, or a bit more heavy-going?

What I was thinking was maybe making "an executive decision" for just the very first group read, without having a vote on the book, but picking a really quick one. That way people can hang back and watch, see how it's going, then easily jump in partway through if it looks like it's something they'd enjoy participating in? After the first read, we could start doing polls & voting on what to read for each one? It's just an idea, but I wanted a way to make it as hassle-free and informal as possible to begin with.

I know we all love polls though, and I'm all for choice, so once things are established I'd be happy to do things more democratically. Another idea might be to factor in how many group members already own and/or have read the book when we're making the selection? Just a thought, but it might make things easier on those of us with massive TBRs!

Ruby wrote: "Thanks guys. Does anyone know if Slaughterhouse-Five is a quick/easy read, or a bit more heavy-going? "

I considered it a very easy read. It's going to be a little harder this time around, as all the pages have fallen out :-)

Slaughterhouse-Five is fine. Or Candide. I hear it's rather puerile, but in a good way.

LOL to both.

Think we might need a "puerile" group shelf. Then I get to add John Dies at the End to something!

Plus it (S5) is a fairly short book.

Good to hear. I'm up for either that or Candide, which is short too (not including all the scholar's notes). Plus my copy of Candide has the story in cartoon form on the cover, so I can cheat :)

I've read both, but am up for a re-read of either. Has any decision been made?

I think Slaughterhouse-Five might be the go. I'll start a thread when I figure out the details. I've got a couple of things going on that I need to sort out before I get to that, but I think we could get a pretty decent group read going shortly. Soon, my precious.......soooonnnnn.....

I could probably do with a reread of Slaughterhouse-Five.

Melki wrote: "Slaughterhouse-Five is fine. Or Candide. I hear it's rather puerile, but in a good way."
It's been many years since I read Candide but it ws very very funny and only puerile in the sense that it was mocking the philosophy of the greatest good for the greatest number. A quick read though .

I'm in if you all decide to do this challenge!

I have never been part of a group reading session before. But I am imterested. However, whenever you recommend a book, please try to choose something which would be easily available in other countries as well?

Shohini wrote: "I have never been part of a group reading session before. But I am imterested. However, whenever you recommend a book, please try to choose something which would be easily available in other countr..."

"Other countries" to what? We're from all over the place Shohini. :)

The first Group Read details have been posted here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

Did anyone have a view on Book Challenges (where people get paired up and pick a book for each other to read)?

I love the idea of that book challenge --- I have too many books on my plate right now with various bookclub reads this month. (I doubt I'll have time for normal/pick what I want on a whim reading.)

Heck, I might still do it, if whoever I was paired with took pity on me and set me up with a quick read or something. smile.

Ruby wrote: "Thanks guys. Does anyone know if Slaughterhouse-Five is a quick/easy read, or a bit more heavy-going?

What I was thinking was maybe making "an executive decision" for just the very first group re..."

QUESTION: Okay, my copy of Slaughterhouse five has 190 pages. I've noticed that other editions have 275 pages. Should I be worried?

Dana wrote: "QUESTION: Okay, my copy of Slaughterhouse five has 190 pages. I've noticed that other editions have 275 pages. Should I be worried? "

ANSWER (OF SORTS): I had a quick browse through the different editions on GR and noticed there are some paperback editions with different page counts, and a librarian note to that effect on one of them. There's no mention of it being a condensed version though, so I think you're okay. Some of the other versions may contain bonus material too. My guess is it's probably a format thing more than anything else. Is it small font and/or thin margins and/or large pages?

Rida wrote: "Oh I'd love the idea of buddy reads, Ruby! I'm reading Anna Karenina with a partner from another group, and I think it's even MORE fun than just doing a group read and discussing it, since it's jus..."

I'm about to participate in one with another group, so we'll see how that goes! I'm off to pick the book up on Saturday.

The book buddy reads are kind of like a cross between a tiny reading club and gambling.

Gertie wrote: "The book buddy reads are kind of like a cross between a tiny reading club and gambling."

Hehe. Yup - that's the allure!

I'm in for Slaughterhouse-Five. I've picked it up and put it down on the last four visits to the bookstore....must have had a premonition... :)

Cool. I'm on 97%, but knowing the Kindle that probably means I'm on the second to last page...!

I guess this could serve as motivation to keep reading S5. Though I don't know how hard it'll be, even with motivation. :D

I'm done! Can we talk about it now???

Lisa wrote: "I'm done! Can we talk about it now???"

LOL. It's just all about you isn't it? ;P
Nope - we'll wait for the others to catch up.....

I'm done, too. Is it tiiiime, yet?

Don't make Ruby get out the whip!

Heh, that's why my strategy is always to wait until the discussion starts before cracking open a group read. That way if I race through it, I can jump right into the topic without having to wait and risk having the details fade before discussion.

Gertie wrote: "Don't make Ruby get out the whip!"

A... What if I say "pretty, please?"

Riona wrote: "Heh, that's why my strategy is always to wait until the discussion starts before cracking open a group read. That way if I race through it, I can jump right into the topic without having to wait an..."

Well, I am concerned I read it too soon to have it clear in my memory come month-end...

Gertie wrote: "Don't make Ruby get out the whip!"

You're assuming I ever put it away. ;)

Derek wrote: "Gertie wrote: "Well, I am concerned I read it too soon to have it clear in my memory come month-end...."

Yeah, I allowed a LOT of lead time since the group was so new and it was our first group read. I had planned on putting up more regular bonus material posts to keep it fresh, but........ then my life kind of..... blew up a bit. Sorry!

I finished the book too early too, but the beauty of Kindle (esp the app) is the highlight/note function.

SL5 has characters from several other Vonnegut books, so people who are getting anxious should do the bonus reading. I know at least three that are referenced: God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Mother Night, and The Sirens of Titan.

So no more whining until you've finished those, people. Anyone breaking the rule will be forced to read Venus on the Half-Shell.

Whitney wrote: "SL5 has characters from several other Vonnegut books, so people who are getting anxious should do the bonus reading. I know at least three that are referenced: God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Mother..."

Actually, I have been meaning to find a copy of Mother Night, which I've somehow missed. But I've read Venus on the Half-Shell (yet another book that has mysteriously disappeared from my collection), so you can't threaten me with that. Nope, it's the whip that scares me.

Derek wrote: "But I've read Venus on the Half-Shell (yet another book that has mysteriously disappeared from my collection),..."

Mine is gone, too! It was the original "Kilgore Trout" paperback, too, which is selling for $50 to $75 on Abebooks. So it goes.

Whitney wrote: "So it goes."

Teehee... I always want to say that to people, but most folks wouldn't get the reference.

It would be so Troutian to suspect that there is really only one copy, which gets sold over and over, and somebody steals it back from the buyer every time. I got mine in a used book store, now they sell it on eBay.

Derek wrote: "It would be so Troutian to suspect that there is really only one copy, which gets sold over and over, and somebody steals it back from the buyer every time. I got mine in a used book store, now th..."

Bahaha. I'm so using "Troutian"!

Ruby wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I'm done! Can we talk about it now???"

LOL. It's just all about you isn't it? ;P
Nope - we'll wait for the others to catch up....."

It is all about me :) thanks for spreading the word.... lol....

fine!... I'll wait... *taps fingers on the table*

I'll have to find some more interesting bonus material to post....

Ruby wrote: "I'll have to find some more interesting bonus material to post...."

Here's a BBC interview with Vonnegut on the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden. With slow load time, that should keep people busy for 15 minutes or so.

LOL. Thanks Whitney. I'll copy it over to the Bonus Material thread too.

In the meantime, I have a few questions for you guys about doing a MILDLY EVIL BOOK CHALLENGE......
The idea being that you pick a book for your partner that they would never normally read.
My questions:
- Would you want to be paired up randomly, (ie by me), or have an option to choose your partners? If I do the pairing, I'll give people the option to tell me if there's someone they really, REALLY don't want to be partnered with. Evil should still be fun!
- Should the book you choose for someone be something you've read and loved, and want the other person to experience? Or should it just be something you think will be challenging for them? (ie HOW eeeeville should we be?)

I think it would be more interesting if we ALL are paired up randomly, you included Ruby. :D

There is this software that takes care of it, you just insert the emails of the participants in it, it does its shuffle, and it sends an email to everyone saying who their pair is.

This way, eliminating all choice - if you get paired up with someone you'd rather not to, maybe thats a good oportunity to get to know the other one better, and maybe the experience will be all the more richer for it, no?

Just a suggestion, and it takes a lot of work from Rubys back also. I'm happy to help, if needed.

As for the evilness, I think we should only pick books that were, in our perpective, well written and enjoyable. Giving someone "crap" and force them to read it, thats just mean! Something from a genre which usually the person doesnt read.

Thanks HEAPS for the offer, but I have my own way of doing these
administrative-y things. It's the ex-public servant in me! :)
To my mind, it's more work getting people's email addresses and doing data entry into separate software than just getting people to add their name to a thread here.

I was hoping to opt out of doing the challenge myself given the other stuff I've got happening, unless there's an odd number. My new job is going to involve flying out to a remote community for a few days at a time every fortnight, and I'm not even sure what the internet access is like out that way, never mind from the old hospital quarters I'll be sleeping in! So I may still need your help at some point yet with some other stuff.... Can I let you know? :)

I was going to mention also that poorly edited/written ebooks will be excluded!

Hopefully nobody here will have any concerns serious enough to warrant messaging me to say not to pair them up with an individual, but elsewhere I have seen scenarios where certain combinations of people would have inevitably led to BIG problems, not just for them but for the group. I doubt that'll be an issue here, but it's a safety valve just in case :)

So do we all agree that the book you choose for the other person should be something you can vouch for yourself? Or is it enough that you've seen lots of reviews that make you think they'd enjoy it? This isn't sounding very evil... :)

I'd kind of like to get somebody to read something for me that I'll never get around to in a million years :-)

Ruby wrote: "Thanks HEAPS for the offer, but I have my own way of doing these
administrative-y things. It's the ex-public servant in me! :)
To my mind, it's more work getting people's email addresses and doing ..."

Sure, I'd love to help out - I'm really interested in seeing how this buddy reads/challenges will work out, its a first for me :D

Hmmm, to say the reviews would suffice, sounds a bit like cheating... but lets say that out-of-the-box for the other person means picking something from a style that we haven't read also? In that case review-picking might be the best choice..