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.

ITA Cindy. I think I mentioned in Literary my love for a little trash book called Princess Daisy? You know what- I think that would be a good book for a discussion (probably not the first I'd pick though). It's almost a hodgepodge of all the cliches. Incest, royalty, secret siblings, so on and etc. It'd be interesting to explore those, and why they make such good romance fodder.

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)?

I don't think a discussion leader would be a requisite for the book club. It could be an occasional thing. But my favorite classes in college were the ones where the professor had a passion for their subject and a deep knowledge of it. I think we've got Buffistas with spicy brains like that -- folks that haven't just read the work in question but are intimately familiar with the era, the author's biography, related works, influences and followers, critical thought and more. It would be like leading a discussion, not giving a lecture.

It seems horribly complex to me. I still don't understand how the voting works

I wish I could offer NSYNC examples. I think it'll seem unwieldy until we get a good system, maybe. But I think that'll take tweaking in-thread, if there is one.

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.

Totally get that. I share your dislike of how freakin' long and drawn out things that should be simple can get. Hence, I'm a fan of the random draw in this case. Where we differ on this is just that I'm interested enough that I'll vote yes without the eureka moment. Also from a completely selfish standpoint.

So we'd cancel each other out, then, right? Want to just not vote? Because my head is starting to hurt.

I have an idea!

I WILL CHOOSE THE BOOKS!

And you will all bend to my will

You will read Louisa May Alcott's The Old fashioned Girl NOW

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

goes out to buy LMA's book because I am bent to Sophia's will