BF Book Club

[DanaC]

Oh I am soooo excited. As some of you may know, I am a big fan and regular customer/listener of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range. They do other stuff as well as Doctor Who, but that's their main range and is what I am mainly interested in (much as I loved Sapphire and Steel when it was on tv, I don't have a great desire to reconnect through audio plays, and am likewise fairly uninterested in their Doctor Unbound range).

Well, I also regularly frequent the forums there as it's so nice to talk about DW related stuff with other bat shit crazy Whovians (am reclaiming the term 'bat shit crazy' as a positive thing, on account of I really like bats).

Well, a few weeks ago one of the regulars suggested that we set up a BF 'Book Club' where we listen to a particular audio book and then have a discussion about it. Quite a few peeps were into the idea (including myself, I was thrilled at the prospect) and there were all kinds of suggestions about how we should go about it. Mostly people wanted to keep it DW related, but there were also suggestions that we shouild maybe include some o fthe DW spinoff stuff they do (Dalek stories, Companion Chronicles etc).

So we've been batting this about now for weeks, with different people coming up with different suggestions for format and structure etc etc. I was beginning to think we'd never get it started. But now we have *cheers* I am fair bouncing up and down with enthusiasm and excitement. So there. What fun! We have a timetable set up for the first few audiobooks. A really nice mix. And the site mods have set us up our own official bookclub thread and timetabled it out for us. I've bought/downloaded the first one and am going to listen to it tonight *hops up and down excitedly*

So, wanted to share my excitement with my homey dwellars.

But also.... am wondering if a bookclub would work in the Cellar? ...(not Doctor Who books...I realise that's an acquired taste:P) what does everyone think? It struck me when I was posting in the What are you reading thread, that it might be really nice if we all agreed a book to read and discuss. I'm always struck by how varied our collective tastes are, and yet how often Dwellars have read the same books.

Might be fun?

[Clodfobble]

We did it for awhile... I think only maybe 2 books actually got read and discussed though. The nominating and voting on which books to pick bogged everything down.

Which is not to say it couldn't be given another shot, I thought it was a great idea the first go-round. On the other hand, I can tell you right now I will have no time to participate myself. I've been trying to read the same book for about 4 months now.

[Trilby]

I"d be up for it. Can we limit the noms and votes? or is that too...er, limiting?

[DanaC]

I think there has to be some sort of limiting factor.

Maybe if we had a thread for suggestions; but close the list when it reaches a particular number (10?) and then do a poll thread for those 10.

Rinse and repeat. Maybe do it on a monthly basis or something to allow peope to get hold of and read the books.

[glatt]

Cellar field o' 64

[monster]

You could always nominate a book-picker for each selection. They could either just choose one or produce a shortlist of maybe 3 for a poll.

Another variation that might work for such a large diverse group is to have two or three selections each time -preferably from different genres, and participants can choose which of them they read -or read 'em all. Enough people should choose each book to get some decent discussions going, and there should be something for everyone. Everytime I've tried book groups, they've always picked some godawful historical fiction thing that just bored the tits off me. or a Jodi Piccoult. ditto.

[DanaC]

lol yes indeed. A choice would be a good thing. A decent spread of genres.

[Sundae]

I'd be interested in reading a Cellar debate about a Jodi Picoult book!
I've been in the mionority elsewhere with my opinions on them.
(Although I do think there was a Dwellar who was a fan - someone I rate quite highly as I remember...)

Anyway - however you do it I'm in.
I can always reserve it at the library, so getting hold of books shouldn't be a problem.
I'll read anything, and I certainly have the time on my hands...

[Chocolatl]

I'm interested! Not sure how to run the selections, though.

[Clodfobble]

FWIW - and you don't have to listen to me, I'm just saying - I think the easiest thing would be to just take turns naming the book, and whoever's turn it is just picks the book, flat-out. The whole point is to expand your horizons somewhat. It would be like the Cellar Music Exchange, where everyone gets a chance to share their absolute favorite book or author with the group.

[DanaC]

That sounds like a smashing idea Clod. Maybe we should start with people 'signing up' to the 'club'? Then just rotate?

[toranokaze]

That sounds like a plan