Allyson asks questions I've been thinking about, too.

Okey doke. So, if there are 15 people interested in the thread, all or some suggest book titles. Does bullshit consensus make the book o' the month (or week, or year, or however long is decided...also presumably by bullshit consensus)?

I'd say, collect the title suggestions, limit to three per person, divide 'em up by category, genre, whatever (I'd have the one or three people who are willing to wrangle logistics do it; they could change from time to time). Then, pick a category, next month, a different category, etc. If there are 25 titles in that category (say, sci-fi), have one of the wranglers throw them in a hat, pick five, set up a Mr. Poll for two or three days.

And then how long is the book discussed before the next book? Is there discussion-bleed, like from one BtVS ep to the next?

I'd guess a couple of weeks, but I don't see bleed over as a problem if it happens. I think picking the next book up for consideration should happen about two weeks into the reading period for the current book. Or pick three months at a time or something.

Bookclubbing happens naturally in Literary when someone suggests a book and a few other people read based on the recommendation, and they all discuss it, keerect?

My impression, from what I've read here, is that it doesn't really happen that way. But actual Literary folk can chime in on this one. Or, you could be talking from experience in the thread, but it sounds more like you're asking. To me.

This is what I mean by complex.

Definitley more structured than what we're used to. I don't think it's all that complex, though. There are steps, and a routine that will likely develop.

Or is this all about having a whitefont-free discussion?

It's been mentioned, but lots of other issues are in the mix, too. I don't think the whitefont thing is a major issue. Right now. Though, because I just typed that? Might be now.

Honestly, though, I think trying to winnow, say, 30 book suggestions down to five, or whatever, will be tedious. I'd just as soon make part of it random. Thirty titles? Have someone hat-draw for five, bullshit consense or Mr. Poll those. Or Mr. Poll to get it down to five, and then talk.

("Long" to be defined at a later point, using one of your multiplicity of possibilities which you listed for the purpose of finding asources of complexity)

I listed what for the who, now, Connie? Or were you looking for sources to be a jackass to me?

And to reiterate a point I made elsewhere, it'd be be swoonworthy to have Jen do Shakespeare's sonnets, or juliana do a Stoppard play, or Micole a classic but less-read fantasy (Lord Dunsany? The Worm Ouroboros? Vathek? George MacDonald?).

But even with your vast reserves of charm and persuasiveness, you can't make any of them do it just because you want to. Which is why I like the idea of people volunteering to lead, and then leading on what they want to.

Not opposed to Jesse's suggestion either. It might could work.

Definitley more structured than what we're used to. I don't think it's all that complex, though. There are steps, and a routine that will likely develop.

It seems horribly complex to me. I still don't understand how the voting works until Kristen gives me NSYNC examples.

I should note that I don't take part in Literary, but the idea of a Book Club was intriguing until I was thinking about the How of it, and it seems such a task to make any sort of decision around here, that it's souring the idea, for me.

Which is why I'm trying to hammer out a How, a simple, easy to apply How, so that I can enjoy the thing, too. I'm looking for the eureka of it, because otherwise I'd vote no just to avoid the mess. Is where I'm coming from on it. From a completely selfish standpoint, that.

How do meatspace bookclubs do it? I wouldn't swear on it, but I think mom's - people who want to suggest a book, say so. Then they draw names to see whose goes first.

Bullshit consensus works for me.

I'm not sure that we need to say no natter.

I'm sorry that this has gotten cranky. It seemed like a good idea that seemed to have some takers.

you can't make any of them do it just because you want to

Eh, forget it then.

No, I'm fine with volunteerism. Or possibly recruitment. I know that juliana's been insanely busy with plays/work/wedding planning, and Jen will be swamped by nursing school. (So, Jen now, and juliana post-honeymoon. It's very clear to me. Micole can pinch hit in the interim. Pull Angus in to referee the Ultimate Jane Austen Lovefest.)

I should note that I don't take part in Literary, but the idea of a Book Club was intriguing until I was thinking about the How of it, and it seems such a task to make any sort of decision around here, that it's souring the idea, for me.

Like here, though, there's no requirement to take part in the back-end business. Let other people argue it out and just come in once the complicated stuff is done, I'd say.

I wouldn't swear on it, but I think mom's - people who want to suggest a book, say so. Then they draw names to see whose goes first.

That's pretty much normal. It allows different people to suggest different things, and keeps it broken up.

I kind of like this idea too, though it's got problems. There are people that might want to discuss a book, but not lead the discussion. On the flip though, there's an appealing element of the structure we have here for voting: you propose it, you write it up for the vote.

I am unclear on the purpose of "discussion leader" and how we'll make a led discussion work for Buffistas. What functions would this person perform (admittedly, I am thinking "professor" and turning a little cold)?

Also? Even though this has kind of been smoothed over, I still really, strongly need to urge that we don't push any specific lit agenda. Now, please don't take that as criticism. I just think the thread will work better, if everyone feels that their tastes, and their kind of analysis and discussion is welcome in the thread. I am actually excited to read all kinds of books, with all kinds of Buffistas. My education is sorely lacking, and I need more exposure to the Western canon, but also to everything else, as well.

As a non-academic adult book lover, I am equally interested in reading classics with a classics-lover; horror with a horror-lover; westerns with a western-lover; farce with a farce-lover; romance with a romance-lover; historical novels with a history buffy (Ha! You thought I was gonna say "lover" again, but I didn't because I am so very flexible), y-a and/or children's classics with a y-a or children's classics book lover (and wouldn't be opposed to reading non-fiction sometimes, and a graphic novel or two, with a graphic novel lover). I am not demanding all these things mind you, but there is so much out there that is so great to read, that I hate to shut the door on anyone's tastes at the outset. I'd rather we were neither high brow, nor anti-high brow, if that makes sense.