Hi everyone,

Just had a thought (yes I have them at times....mostly bad ) ......I was wondering if anyone was interested in starting up a book club? You know, where everyone reads the same book for the month , then comes back and discusses what they think etc??

What say you???

In general not a bad idea. But for the last book I needed 3/4 of a year . So I d be lagging behind.
May be some others will be able to discuss more (I only read on way to work and back - bout 30 mins a day, if I am already awake enough for intake ).

Well your doing better than me, I'm lucky if I can get a few hours on a weekend!!

But the time limits can be discussed as to what is exceptable and also the books, I would think,they need to have some sort of volume restrictions as well.

Maybe we could start with Dr Suess???

I would be interested in doing it, depending on the type of book. I love to read, almost as much as I love playing with computers.

Awesome Allheart55!! Lets see if we can entice a few more of our members into it!

Okay, um, how do we entice some other members? I was leaning towards bribery or worse!!

Hmmmmm, good question, may need to sit and ponder that for awhile.
But I like where your going with the bribery or worse

I think we will have to wait and hope a few more people would be interested in giving it a go.

In the mean time we could run around with homemade signs promoting the bookclub? Or hire one of those sky writers, or do a mailbox drop........

I'm up for it. Sounds like fun. As long as we don't read Hemingway

As for advertising, we could go in random threads and topics and announce a new book club.

Sounds like an idea I'd be interested in Ghostwriter and allheart55 but I do agree that we'd have to set some kind of timeline as far as finishing the book is concerned. I love to read but don't get alot of time anymore. Hey, I could just send Maggie (my corgi avatar) around with a sign hanging on her advertising for us, she can be very friendly and charming. If that doesn't work I think you idea of bribery allheart might just work. Hey, we could offer free beer, some of our members would trot right over for that!!

Yeah!!!

Well there's five us to start with which is pretty cool!

This is just a suggestion, how about a book every three or four months?

I think the choice of books may be a bit hard.......

I like to read, fantasy, horror & enlightening books about your soul/angels/guardians etc

But am interested in what others are reading and love a challenge.
Sooooo....Iodine, Sphinx, Allheart55 & Yourhighness I'd love to know what you are all into?

Then, maybe we can work out a way to pick out our first book?!

I will read anything that sounds interesting, EXCEPT, Gothic and Harlequin Romance, Shakespeare and oh yeah no Hemingway for me either.

I dont like sci fi, horror, fantasy. I read specialised books or books by Dan Brown / Tom Clancy and the like.

Ah YourHighness!! good taste in reading material, I like Tom Clancy too. However, I like anything by Steven King, fantasie,mysteries,spy novels, books like Shogun, series books (romance,historic,etc.),biographies. Oh heck, I like just about anything as long as it doesn't take me 3 chapters to get going good on it and interested. I think one every 2-3 months would work out pretty good. I'm sure we have members that work and have other obligations so that time frame shouldn't rush them so bad to get the book finished as a shorter time span would.

haha, I work too you know . Do not fancy S.King anymore. Used to read it. Fantasie, besides HP is not at all my thing.Mystery neither. Romances, no . It shouldnt be too tight a frame. If I was to seriously join, I d need atleast a three months frame, if not more

Fantasy is probably my favorite, but i read most things. As long as it's not predictable or cliche. when it comes to time frames, it might be a good idea to do it by chapter or section, like one chapter per two weeks, to help people stay on track. Terry Goodkind is my favorite author.

Do you not post on WS website, UK?

I hate to sound ignorant, but I'm pretty new to the forums and I have no idea what you're talking about (if you're talking to me?)

Apologies, it must have been a different 'Sphinx'.

Me too - add some of the fascination investigations/fantasies about King Arthur/Merlin and you've just about lined up my preferences..... currently catching up with Jeffrey Archer (the British m.P. sent to jail for (I think) insider dealings on the stock ecxchange??) but a good author - one of the funniest and interesting books he wrote was 'Not a penny more, not a penny less'. But that's just me, i liked it!

Anyway, with much the same time constraints as everyone else seems to have, would really like to be in this idea. Will have a tik about a suggested book to star with - but of course am more than willing to be guided by another choice. Regards, Mike

Another topic in this forum (can't remember which) someone mentioned "Lightning" by Dean Koontz to be a good read. Others quickly agreed (maybe you guys). Sounded interesting. Just a thought.

Hey Sphinx,

I'm ok with Lightning by Dean Koonzt if everyone else is for the first read? Also I like your idea of reading a chapter or such within a time period to make sure everyone is up to speed. This might help out Yourhighness and myself for that matter.

I never been in a book club before and I was always understanding that you would read the book first and once finished come back to discuss? Did I get that wrong??? Or can you do it section by section?

what kind of theme is it? crime? horror? fantasy. I should be able to get an english book via amazon...

Good Day Ghostwriter,

I would be interested in participating in a book club. After reading some of the other replies, I agree maybe we could choose a book read it and then periodically review that book based on various themes found in the author's book.

I am not familiar with Dean Koonz but if the book 'Lightning' is chosen I will make an effort to read it.
Jo4Peace

Hello Jo4peace,

Your more than welcome to join, the more the merrier and the more adverse the opinions!

If you have any books that you think might be a good read for us all please feel free.

To all,

I would like to put a book forward myself.

It's called Daughters of Arabia. By Jean P. Sasson.

Basically, it's about the royal Saudi Family, the women to be exact, and what there life is like.

Quoting the back of the back of the book.........Anyone with the slightest interest in human rights will find this book heart-wrenching. It is a well-written , personal story........It had to come from a native woman to be believable.

How about we start a list of possible books? Then, we don't have to have a long discussion to pick our next one. We'll simply pick from the list. (And I'm all for reading your suggestion, Ghostwriter.)

Ghostwriter your suggestion for out first book sounds like it would be very interesting. I know I would be interested. Politics aside, I enjoy books about anything concerning the Middle East and China, preferably before the 20th century be it historic or just entertainment.

Sphinx,

Your thinking along the same lines as I.

I think anyone who is interested in joining the book club, we each make a suggestion of a book to read.
Keeping in mind thoses who have a disliking for certain themes.Also when you are suggesting the book please give a quick run down on what it's about so we all have an idea.

Maybe we can begin the first in Jan 08.

Let's get the list going and start reading!

I would also be interested in reading this book. However, isn't this book the second part of a trilogy which is the story of the life of (real identity protected) Princess Sultana? I may be mistaken but I thought the first book was titled "Princess".

Ghostwriter, you should have the honor of posting what we have compiled so far, and everytime someone makes a suggestion, you can edit that post and add it. If we could start it in January that would be great!

Sorry for the belated reply. Been busy and quite tired. Lets see:

• Lightning - D. Koontz
• Daugthers of Arabia - J. Sasson (sequel to "Princess")

I had a look for some books that would interest me, only to find they are all only available in German (Nachtzug n. Lissabon and Schatten des Windes). Any more suggestions?

Oops cross posting. On a side note - afaik only moderators can edit a post after 24 hrs.

Having read lightning on numerous occasion's i can honestly say that it is one of the best book's of that genre i have ever
read and i think it would be an excellent choice,for the thoughtvent book club.
Obviously everyone has diffrent taste's,but it is a damn good read

Let's choose something we can start at the beginning of January (if it works for everyone?). We can make it a New Years' Resolution!

Hi All,

How about we start with Lightening and see how we go. Is everyone ok with beginning the 14th Jan??

I thought the 14th would be enough time for everyone to recover from Xmas and New Year

Give me a yahoo and let me know, otherwise if you don't hear from me before the 14th, I'll touch base then. (Gee, even I can't make sense of that?!)

Merry Xmas all and a happy New Year!


I need a drink..........

well its not really the genre I tend to read (as mentioned above somewhere), but I could try and get it if no other suggestions are made

This sounds like a good first time book and January is fine with me as long as it's fine with to other members. One question though, is the book available in the library or still new enough to buy? I need to know where I can get a copy.

Iodine

Just something I stumbled over while browsing amazon:

The Kite Runner
Everything is Illuminated

I realise they might be a bit hefty reads, but just thought I d mention them as I do think they sound pretty interesting.

Hi all - there have been some really good suggestions in this thread for a "communal read???" and I for one, not having read 'Lightning' have put it on my 'must read' list.... however, I have just re-read "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton (Andromea Strain/Jurassic Park etc) which is a) a really gripping read and an even more interesting and (with lots of genuine scientific reports and references and a fabulous bilbiography) a most thought provoking study of the "Global Warming" debacle. which gives some powerful arguments to re-think you current attitude, whether yea or nay!!

Don't think this is just that, the story is a real page turner and combines mystery, mayhem, power politics etc.

I think this could be an interesting contender for a 'group' read and discussion .... any thoughts????

Well obviously it will be hard to get everyone's taste under one umbrella, but looking back at the books I found to suggest here and the book I was given by my friends mom yesterday, I dont think that Lightning is really something I am currently interested (as you can see the suggested books all have some sort of current affair / history relation). There is still some time, so may be there are some other suggestions too.

Depending on the type of books. If its somethin like Sisterhood of the Walkin Denims or whatever its called then count me out

Well, this book club was really successful. I think if the club are not able to meet in person, people will not feel obliged to read any chosen book. Nice idea in theory though.

Maybe a discussion could have been held about a book many people have already read.

Yes - it's hard to reach a consensus, but perhaps the titles actually posted will guide people to reading something new? F'rinstance, I recently was given the name of Paulo Coelho and one of his books "the Alchemist" (right away from my usual authors), but, having just started, it looks as though it will be an excellent read- it has sold over 20 million copies since it was first published in 1994.

This man has written about a dozen books and I'm looking forward to exploring them over time.

It's possible. It is hard to get people out of there comfort zone though.

Though I have found that a brief synopsis of the story/theme can spark some interest in readers who would not ordinarily view a "different" book just on title and author -works for me