Cellar Book of the Month discussion group

Slartibartfast · 03-06-2004, 05:22 PM

The success of the just starting cd-exchange has given me the idea of setting something up like it, but with books.

Mailing books isn't as easy as mailing cd's, so I don't think that would work. What I had in mind is that we all read the same book in a two week (or maybe a month) time period, and we discuss it. We would each have to buy or take out of the library the book in question in order to be in.

Each period, someone new gets to pick the book for the following period. The books should not be War and Peace, Don Quixote, or The Stand sized for the sake of sanity.

Is anyone interested?

SteveDallas · 03-06-2004, 05:41 PM

I guess so, I'm always reading something, but if we start to get into a quilting circle I'm outta here!

nekee · 03-06-2004, 07:15 PM

I am interested, that sounds like a good idea, one question though once we are in this do we have to do it every time? Like what if someone chooses a book I have read and I dont wanna read it again can I just skip a month?

Slartibartfast · 03-06-2004, 07:27 PM

The idea is flexible. If you want to step out for a month, that works. If you've read the book, you could participated in talking about it.

Brigliadore · 03-06-2004, 07:31 PM

I like this idea, but since Alan and I rarely get time to read (much to our dismay) Please, Please, Please make the time you have to read the book in something like 3 or 4 weeks. But thats just me.

nekee · 03-06-2004, 07:40 PM

I vote for 3-4 weeks also, sometimes my schedule gets a little crazy and I wish I could only sit and read a book!

Slartibartfast · 03-06-2004, 07:49 PM

okay, 3-4 weeks sounds good to me.

hot_pastrami · 03-06-2004, 07:52 PM

Er, if it's "Book of the Month," shouldn't the amount of time dedicated to reading the book be... a month? Call me crazy.

Slartibartfast · 03-06-2004, 08:01 PM

That would make things too easy

Clodfobble · 03-06-2004, 08:50 PM

How will you decide what book to read? Nominations, voted on or drawn out of a hat? Or just the first person to speak up?

lumberjim · 03-06-2004, 09:43 PM

I WILL BE DICTATING THE BOOKS THAT WE'LL READ.

you will all learn to enjoy what i enjoy.

the first book will be:

Curious George ( the original unabridged version)

ok, start reading!

Dagney · 03-06-2004, 10:12 PM

I think we should all suggest books that we'd be interested in reading, and then have some one pick them from a hat and set up a rotation.

Perhaps Fiction Month One, Non Fiction Month Two and back and forth.

I also think the month time frame is the best.

Clodfobble · 03-06-2004, 10:18 PM

I felt this book was disjointed, and for the most part the characters' actions were completely unmotivated; however, there is an extreme sense of irony in the "happy" epilogue which makes up for any discontent the reader may have felt throughout.

The most grievous error, in my opinion, is that character background is virtually nonexistent, and their relationships remain undeveloped to the last page. The Man with the Yellow Hat is hinted to be a psychic or medium of some sort, inasmuch as he apparently knows George's name without the latter's ability to communicate, yet that is never explored further or even given the proper justification. How might such a man live with always knowing his beloved pet's true feelings about him? We will never know.

But in the end, when George's carefree nature is tested to the ultimate limits by his institutionalization at a local Zoo, I as a reader felt his misanthrophic ways were only getting their just desserts, and I was quite pleased with the karmic outcome.

Beestie · 03-06-2004, 10:32 PM

Put me down. But I would pretty much need the whole month as slow as I read. Plus, that makes it easy to know when we have to be done and all. A different freq would be hard to keep track of (just my $.02, tho).

I love to read but haven't read a decent book in several years (Clive Barker's Sacrament was the last thing I read and that was in the previous century).

I probably will just go along with whatever everyone else picks to read since I'm so far out of the loop these days with what authors and books are good to read.

lumberjim · 03-06-2004, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clodfobble
I felt this book was disjointed, and for the most part the characters' actions were completely unmotivated; however, there is an extreme sense of irony in the "happy" epilogue which makes up for any discontent the reader may have felt throughout.

The most grievous error, in my opinion, is that character background is virtually nonexistent, and their relationships remain undeveloped to the last page. The Man with the Yellow Hat is hinted to be a psychic or medium of some sort, inasmuch as he apparently knows George's name without the latter's ability to communicate, yet that is never explored further or even given the proper justification. How might such a man live with always knowing his beloved pet's true feelings about him? We will never know.

But in the end, when George's carefree nature is tested to the ultimate limits by his institutionalization at a local Zoo, I as a reader felt his misanthrophic ways were only getting their just desserts, and I was quite pleased with the karmic outcome.

10 POINTS.

someone make a note of it

03-06-2004, 05:22 PM	#1
Slartibartfast \|-0-\| <-0-> \|-0-\| Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 516	Cellar Book of the Month discussion group The success of the just starting cd-exchange has given me the idea of setting something up like it, but with books. Mailing books isn't as easy as mailing cd's, so I don't think that would work. What I had in mind is that we all read the same book in a two week (or maybe a month) time period, and we discuss it. We would each have to buy or take out of the library the book in question in order to be in. Each period, someone new gets to pick the book for the following period. The books should not be War and Peace, Don Quixote, or The Stand sized for the sake of sanity. Is anyone interested?

03-06-2004, 07:31 PM	#5
Brigliadore stays crispy in milk Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: A strange planet called Utah Posts: 270	I like this idea, but since Alan and I rarely get time to read (much to our dismay) Please, Please, Please make the time you have to read the book in something like 3 or 4 weeks. But thats just me. __________________ I cant think of anything to put here so this is all I am going to write.

03-06-2004, 07:40 PM	#6
nekee naughty nurse Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bummington NEW YORK Posts: 36	I vote for 3-4 weeks also, sometimes my schedule gets a little crazy and I wish I could only sit and read a book! __________________ "You are about to enter a world...a world where life and death are meaningless and pain is God." --- Captain Spaulding

03-06-2004, 07:52 PM	#8
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	Er, if it's "Book of the Month," shouldn't the amount of time dedicated to reading the book be... a month? Call me crazy. __________________ Hot Pastrami!

03-06-2004, 09:43 PM	#11
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I WILL BE DICTATING THE BOOKS THAT WE'LL READ. you will all learn to enjoy what i enjoy. the first book will be: Curious George ( the original unabridged version) ok, start reading! __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

03-06-2004, 05:41 PM	#2
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I guess so, I'm always reading something, but if we start to get into a quilting circle I'm outta here!

03-06-2004, 07:15 PM	#3
nekee naughty nurse Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bummington NEW YORK Posts: 36	I am interested, that sounds like a good idea, one question though once we are in this do we have to do it every time? Like what if someone chooses a book I have read and I dont wanna read it again can I just skip a month?

03-06-2004, 07:27 PM	#4
Slartibartfast \|-0-\| <-0-> \|-0-\| Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 516	The idea is flexible. If you want to step out for a month, that works. If you've read the book, you could participated in talking about it.

03-06-2004, 07:49 PM	#7
Slartibartfast \|-0-\| <-0-> \|-0-\| Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 516	okay, 3-4 weeks sounds good to me.

03-06-2004, 08:01 PM	#9
Slartibartfast \|-0-\| <-0-> \|-0-\| Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 516	That would make things too easy

03-06-2004, 08:50 PM	#10
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	How will you decide what book to read? Nominations, voted on or drawn out of a hat? Or just the first person to speak up?

03-06-2004, 10:12 PM	#12
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	I think we should all suggest books that we'd be interested in reading, and then have some one pick them from a hat and set up a rotation. Perhaps Fiction Month One, Non Fiction Month Two and back and forth. I also think the month time frame is the best. __________________ The Constitution gives every American the right to make a total fool out of himself. But that doesn't mean you need to.

03-06-2004, 10:18 PM	#13
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I felt this book was disjointed, and for the most part the characters' actions were completely unmotivated; however, there is an extreme sense of irony in the "happy" epilogue which makes up for any discontent the reader may have felt throughout. The most grievous error, in my opinion, is that character background is virtually nonexistent, and their relationships remain undeveloped to the last page. The Man with the Yellow Hat is hinted to be a psychic or medium of some sort, inasmuch as he apparently knows George's name without the latter's ability to communicate, yet that is never explored further or even given the proper justification. How might such a man live with always knowing his beloved pet's true feelings about him? We will never know. But in the end, when George's carefree nature is tested to the ultimate limits by his institutionalization at a local Zoo, I as a reader felt his misanthrophic ways were only getting their just desserts, and I was quite pleased with the karmic outcome.

03-06-2004, 10:32 PM	#14
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	Put me down. But I would pretty much need the whole month as slow as I read. Plus, that makes it easy to know when we have to be done and all. A different freq would be hard to keep track of (just my $.02, tho). I love to read but haven't read a decent book in several years (Clive Barker's Sacrament was the last thing I read and that was in the previous century). I probably will just go along with whatever everyone else picks to read since I'm so far out of the loop these days with what authors and books are good to read. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

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