I'm a little lost on how exactly a Book Club would work, and it might be buried in here, and I skipped and so I beg forgiveness.

How does a book get assigned? What's the lead time to expect it will be read? Is a new book proposed, voted upon (misterpoll?), and then announced in Press? Will there be a list of books so that people can pick something from the list and wait for discussion to start? At some point, won't there be so many books assigned that it then becomes another literary thread?

These, and more questions, next time on the Allyson Skimmed Show.

How does a book get assigned? What's the lead time to expect it will be read? Is a new book proposed, voted upon (misterpoll?), and then announced in Press? Will there be a list of books so that people can pick something from the list and wait for discussion to start? At some point, won't there be so many books assigned that it then becomes another literary thread?

The beauty part? All that is for discussion in thread if it passes. Or, I guess in Lit if it doesn't and people are still interested in trying. Or nowhere if neither.

Seven days? Dear god. That seems long. I'm liking four.

I don't remember anyone in the Literary thread saying "Hated it, gross, overrated, THEREFORE STOP DISCUSSING IT RIGHT NOW." Ever. If people have a negative opinion, they express it. Unless we need a Literary thread where people must refrain from posting negative opinions.

No, I think it's a case of a climate being created. I think we can fairly say, and this ties into the subcommunities part of this discussion, that there are different thread cultures in different threads on this board. Bitches is different as a place to hang out in from Music. Literary is different, too.

From what I understand it would work like this:

There would be a bunch of books suggested and then we all decide on one book. I'm not sure how it's going to be decided, but one idea is to have someone (or someones) who is familiar with the book sort of lead/help along the discussion.

The books would have to be available readily available at the library or in paperback. I say readily available because most of the popular new books at my library have horribly long (as in several hundred people) lists.

A date would be set to start the discussion and to end the discussion and pick a new book. It woudl be enough time for everyone to read the book.

Also people would know the begin/end dates so if they don't want to read a book (for whatever reason) it's easy to unsub and then resub when it's time to pick a new book.

Somebody had suggestions in Literary, and Cindy linked to a site with suggestions, but I'm far too lazy to look them up.

I think a month was suggested to read the book.

I'd agree with that, except I think we'd pick books for the next few months at least all at once, so that people can see what's coming down the pike and have extra lead time if they want it.

All that is for discussion in thread if it passes.

Speaking just for myself, I'm undecided so far, but will definitely vote against it if this is the case. I don't think it makes any sense to create a new thread, knowing it will have structure, and then decide what that structure will be.

I skipped and so I beg forgiveness.

You also missed the part where I suggested an Allyson thread be implemented in the future.

That'll teach you to skim.

ETA: I also agree with Jessica. I think that the way in which the thread will work needs to be hammered out now and included in the proposal.

I would actually have a book in the queue before discussion on the previous ends. And I'm not sure with as chatty and opinionated as we are anyone really needs to lead a discussion. But whatever works.

I don't think it makes any sense to create a new thread, knowing it will have structure, and then decide what that structure will be.

Personally, I might've chosen to hash it out in thread first. Except for the fact that a number of people have mentioned the difficulty of building an online book club, so I think it's important to have some flexibility and not lock ourselves into a particular schedule or set up ahead of time. But before a vote or after, I do think the [old or new] thread is the place for that conversation, not so much this one.