I think I'm getting distracted from my original point and idea (it's weird when you find yourself defending stuff you feel like you didn't say). I want discussion of the kind I can't get in Literary- whether that means however many of us have to get together and decide to read whatever book in whatever thread is fine. If no one wants to we don't have to build a whole thread around it, if it's not going to bother the people who really think of Literary as a thread they inhabit, we can do it there. I just want to have a really, really, good, meaty, occasionally wrongheaded and loopy, but always facinating and revealing discussion about a book.

I am in favor of a book club within Literary. I'd participate if I had time, which is debateable. I'd read the discussion even if I didn't have time to read the book and/or discuss the book.

Have any current literary denizens expressed worry about a book club taking over the thread? As once such denizen, I think it would be a great thing for a thread that is pretty unfocussed most of the time, and (recent events notwithstanding) low-traffic. It would make literary much better for me, I am not worried about being spoiled (most books being less about the HSQ than, say, Angel) and um, yeah, petering out here. Yes.

I want discussion of the kind I can't get in Literary-

I just want to have a really, really, good, meaty, occasionally wrongheaded and loopy, but always facinating and revealing discussion about a book.

I'm just sayin' I think you *can* get that sort of discussion in Literary. I don't know the reason you *haven't*, but I can think of no logical reason for it. Based on that, my vote is a resounding "No".

I'm just sayin' I think you *can* get that sort of discussion in Literary.

This is why I suggested earlier that we beta test it in-thread, letting the result dictate the need or not for a new thread.

We're not voting yet (I promise this was typed with a smile).

I'm just sayin' I think you *can* get that sort of discussion in Literary. I don't know the reason you *haven't*, but I can think of no logical reason for it.

This comes off as a bit testy. We haven't had that kind of discussion in there because there are a good number of people reading a good number of books. Again, it's fine with me if we have a book club in the Literary thread. I just didn't want to suggest that we repurpose something that was already there- it didn't seem like my place and like it might be a little rude. If that's where people would like it to be, I don't see why not.

I think I'm answering what you asked, MM. If not, well, can't blame a girl for trying. And just for context ... I'm coming at this from an "I'd love to have a book club here," point of view. Having it in Literary wouldn't have occurred to me had I just put forth the idea myself, because I don't hang there.

I'd been thinking of a book club thread as being like a show thread. New book? New discussion. Some tangents? Well, yeah ... when does that not happen, and mostly it's kind of fun, but even still, the conversation about the ep is easy to follow along, even parallel tracks of discussion about the same ep/book.

For my part, I'd envision a fairly structured approach ... suggesting books, selecting one per month (or whatever), picking a target date to start discussing, and then discussing (overlaps fine). Mainly I'd like to have it in one thread so that it would flow like a show thread.

And we're talking preferences. Sure we could do what you suggest. I just don't think that's the best way to have a book club run. And my feelings on how it would best run are not in response to any issues with the way things run in Literary, because I don't live there. I just want a focused thread for it ... like the show threads, because that's what I see it as being most like.

---------------------

I did answer Jess's quesiton upthread, but, since Kat's putting it on the table again ... the kerfluffle in Literary has nothing to do with my support of and desire for a Book Club Thread.

I'm not up to speed on the Bat-family...should I split off from Jossverse and propose a thread that talk only about Powers so's I don't have to wade through Plei's (very illuminating, really, no insult) lengthy treatise on Dick Grayson's fffaaaabulous butt?

BWAH!

I am laughing because the comics thread was what I was going to bring up (oh, and my most recent two long posts were on Huntress and Jason Todd, respectively--I've never quite got around to the Ode to Dick's Rear) for why doing a book club in thread could work, but my example was going to be the pages and pages of Marvel stuff I tend to skip over that I'm certain is very interesting, but that I ain't reading.

I agree with JenP's assesment as far as preference goes, but you know if I have to use the LotR thread to discuss the book, I will.

I just didn't want to suggest that we repurpose something that was already there- it didn't seem like my place and like it might be a little rude.

How would it be repurposing the Lit thread?

I see it like Natter...for Books! Natter occasionally has heated debates about politics or whales in tutus or something...lots of people joining in and having a big ol' discussion.

And then people who don't want to talk about that start a whole other conversation. Sometimes they announce it: "Don't know nothing about how to get a whale into a tutu, I'm gonna talk about otters and how they interior decorate."

And somebody else says "Oh, thank God! I also know nothing about whales and ballet attire and would love to talk about otters and what wallpaper they use."

And they do. And the whale discussion goes on around them, undisturbed. And they are undisturbed by the whale discussion.

Having a specific subject doesn't necessitate a thread is all. You wanna talk about "The Brothers Karamazov" just say "Who's read it, who wants to talk about it?" and then...do that.

Besides, in all likelihood it'd be a thread that would see a huge lull while everyone read the assigned book and then a huge jump in activity once everyone has. You could do the same with LiveJournal. Just set up buffistabookclub in LJ and post in Press "Yo, book clubbers, over here."

I'm all in favor of the new thread.

Yeah, that's really about all I've got.