What happened to the Book of the Month section?

[Stiffelio]

Did anyone notice that the Book of the Month (I'm not sure it was called exactly like this)section has disappeared? Why so and what ever happened to the threads or posts within this section? Did Stewart reallocate them according to some or other criterion or were they altogether expunged?

[Eric]

I think Stewart has been honing down the website a little, as there are several sections that hardly get postings from the majority of readers here. I would still like to see a Middle East grouping, so that the relatively rare times we discuss the literature from that region, it doesn't get split up between Africa, Europe and Asia. But it is a good idea to preserve postings somewhere on the website, as thought is lost if they are merely deleted.

[lenz]

Did anyone notice that the Book of the Month (I'm not sure it was called exactly like this)section has disappeared? Why so and what ever happened to the threads or posts within this section? Did Stewart reallocate them according to some or other criterion or were they altogether expunged?

I think, if money had been offered, we might have had a few more joiners. Each person wanted their own choice to be the chosen one and few were willing to try something different. C'est triste, n'est ce pas?

[Elie]

I liked it but had trouble keeping up. I own every title that was chosen and I think the only one I haven't read yet is 'The Twin', but it was rare I made a posting on time!

There just weren't enough people interested I don't think, and it was difficult to get consensus on the book to read next as well.

[lenz]

There should have been an arbiter, such as Stewart, to choose from suggestions and a two month prep time for those who needed time to get the book. Or, maybe that's too much time and people would forget about it.

[Elie]

There should have been an arbiter, such as Stewart, to choose from suggestions and a two month prep time for those who needed time to get the book. Or, maybe that's too much time and people would forget about it.

I definitely agree it would have been useful to choose the book 2 months in advance. Maybe those taking part could just take it in turns to choose a book.

[Stevie B]

I propose the following:

1) We get a list of people interested in participating.
2) We assign one person per month to take the lead in selecting the book and initiating discussion about it.
3) We set the discussion leaders soon for September through December.
4) Book of the Month leaders will solicit feedback about potential choices (possibly put together a list of titles they're considering), but will ultimately make the final call.
5) The title is selected at least one month in advance (preferably two) so people have time to borrow/purchase books and read them.

What do you think?

[Elie]

And 6) Someone is selected to be in overall charge of selecting the discussion leaders etc so it doesn't get messy.

[Elie]

That meant I'm in, by the way.

[Stevie B]

That meant I'm in, by the way.

That makes two of us, Elie. Anyone else want in?

[mesnalty]

I'd be in, too.

EDIT: And I could be a discussion leader sometime after September.

[Polly Parrot]

I'd be interested to join in too, though I'm not sure if I'll actually have time to read books outside the university curriculum, I'm starting my MA course in Modernist literature come September. I'll try keeping up though, if the group will eventually be revamped.

[Stewart]

Yes, I temporarily moved the forum out of the main board. I've an exam in a couple of weeks, and after that I'll have a bit more time to spend on the forum. Hopefully the book group can be rejuvenated. Until then...as you were.