I don't think we'd force you, Nonian!

(What's your book? Tell me in white font. I won't tell anyone. :)

Weren't we getting to more of a "here's 3-5 books I think we might want to read" place for the recommender? Eases the pressure somewhat. And you'll have all the recommended books that haven't been read, yet, as a resource.

ETA: I also really really like the idea of reading pairs of bboks. Maybe a couple of times a year we could take extra time and do that, or something?

I'm with Nonian, on the "what if they hate my book" point. Not that I think you will hate any book I suggest, but random draws of some sort will minimize the problems. If we do get a huge list, though, some discussion would be a good thing.

I am possibly too wimpy to be posting at this stage of the game, as any method of book selection of any of the books suggested so far sounds absolutely fine to me (though billytea's suggested book sounds extra-intriguing).

Would it be possible at some point -- though maybe not right at the start -- to wander a bit afield with our selections as long as they're still books? (I'm thinking, vaguely of some of the TPB's of Gaiman's Sandman, which is rich and mythic and has plenty to chew on, or children's books like The Enchanted Castle or some of the Oz books -- Patchwork Girl, mmmmmm.)

Count me in as a willing participant, but shy in selecting books. I don't usually have much to say in the way of discussion, but like to read and see what everyone else has to say.

t pokes head into thread

Yay book club thread! I hope I'll have the time to keep up with this. Lots of good suggestions so far, including several (like the Tim Winton and the Lorrie Moore) that I've been meaning to pick up for some time. I'll toss out a few of my own suggestions while I'm here: Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link, and Mating by Norman Rush.

Stranger Things Happen is a collection of indescribable short stories. Some are like fractured fairy tales, some are nearly gothic horror, some borrow more from science fiction or mystery. They're funny and brilliant and beautifully-written, and I think Kelly Link's sense of humor and appreciation of the fun of playing around with genre would appeal to most Buffy fans. I don't know how easy it would be for people to get a copy, though; it's published by a little independent press, although it got a fair amount of attention when it was released, so I'd think most library systems would have a copy somewhere.

The story of Mating is, at its heart, the story of the relationship between two very smart, passionate people. It mostly takes place in a matriarchal utopian society in the middle of the Kalahari desert. Every time I try to describe this book it sounds dry and boring, but it's totally fascinating! The two main characters are so real, so finely-detailed, and so interesting. It's far more than just a love story. It's the best book about love I've ever read, plus the secondary plot (about the maintenance of the utopian society--it's a social experiment run by one of the two main characters) is really absorbing too.

ETA: Any method of choosing books will be fine by me--whatever turns out to be easiest. Like Cindy said, if we choose a system we don't like, hey presto! we can change it.

Sounds good to me, JZ. I've actually not read any Gaiman, but so many people here have talked about his work that I've been meaning to start.

Another note -- we could always vary the way we pick books from time to time. For those who want to suggest a title or two but might not want to be a designated chooser.

The first post of a thread is any easy place to find stuff, and people new to the thread will hit on it first.

I love this idea.

Though is has been said already: Hooray! Bookclub! I'm so in.

No book sugestions for now, but I've got a maybe for "quotey thing" I'd like toss out: "We're supposed to get some books" from this bit here.

Or maybe this: "But you don't seem bookwormy" from here.