Book Club Democracy August 23, 2010 11:16 AM Subscribe
So, we had a great discussion of On the Road, which actually made reading it worthwhile. Whether or not you've been involved before, please consider helping us choose the next book for MeFi Book Club, on condition of course that you 1) read the book 2) review the appropriate Professor Amy Hungerford lecture(s) 3) sign up with Meta Chat if you haven't already and 4) join us there on October 18, 2010 for the next discussion.
For those who have not done this before or forgot, we are following the Open Yale course on the American Novel since 1945. So far we've been faithful to its ordering, but that could always change. Next on the list is J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey . . . are we going to read that or something else in the upcoming syllabus list?
Please indicate your preferences (chosing from books in the syllabus list only, please) in this thread. I'll count the votes and announce the "winner" in about a week.
For those who have not done this before or forgot, we are following the Open Yale course on the American Novel since 1945. So far we've been faithful to its ordering, but that could always change. Next on the list is J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey . . . are we going to read that or something else in the upcoming syllabus list?
Please indicate your preferences (chosing from books in the syllabus list only, please) in this thread. I'll count the votes and announce the "winner" in about a week.
I love this idea, but may have to wait until the next next one to jump in. We'll see. I hope to participate, but I'm not settled or focused enough to go for this round.
posted by iamkimiam at 12:16 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by iamkimiam at 12:16 PM on August 23, 2010
My #1 go-to book club discussion book is Tom McCarthy's Remainder so maybe someday that can happen and someone can let me know.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:16 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 12:16 PM on August 23, 2010
Oooh! Oooh! Franny and Zooey please!!! I love discussing books with smart people and if you look at my iCal for the next two months, you'd weep at the amount of time I don't have to read something new.
posted by sonika at 12:40 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by sonika at 12:40 PM on August 23, 2010
I've got Remainder sitting on my bedside table right now waiting for me to start reading it tonight. I too would like that to happen.
posted by Go Banana at 1:16 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by Go Banana at 1:16 PM on August 23, 2010
If nothing else, you and I could talk about it.
I once came up with like ten discussion questions for Remainder, tapping them into a text message to my friend while walking to the train. I really like that book.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:19 PM on August 23, 2010
I once came up with like ten discussion questions for Remainder, tapping them into a text message to my friend while walking to the train. I really like that book.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:19 PM on August 23, 2010
I'd be up for a general, let's-vote-on-any-possible-book, book club when we've finished this syllabus, but not yet, as this is a pretty good course, even for those of us who've read many of the books on the list.
S o o o o . . . I'm only going to be counting votes for a book on the course syllabus.
I hope Go Banana and Shakespeherian can also read and talk about whatever book on the syllabus this group picks, of course. You would both be wonderful additions to the discussion.
posted by bearwife at 1:30 PM on August 23, 2010
S o o o o . . . I'm only going to be counting votes for a book on the course syllabus.
I hope Go Banana and Shakespeherian can also read and talk about whatever book on the syllabus this group picks, of course. You would both be wonderful additions to the discussion.
posted by bearwife at 1:30 PM on August 23, 2010
Thanks, but I can't read or write.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:34 PM on August 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 1:34 PM on August 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm not a book snob, I'd just prefer to discover new things right now.
I agree, it is a good list, but a bit well-trodden.
If you're looking for books you missed on the way, I'm really enjoying going through Don Barthelmes' list. Somehow I never read One Hundred Years of Solitude, and if you haven't, just buy it now. Pretty much everything on his list is golden, I've been buying the books in chunks of 10 or so and just perusing them to see if anything really catches my interest.
posted by geoff. at 1:38 PM on August 23, 2010
I agree, it is a good list, but a bit well-trodden.
If you're looking for books you missed on the way, I'm really enjoying going through Don Barthelmes' list. Somehow I never read One Hundred Years of Solitude, and if you haven't, just buy it now. Pretty much everything on his list is golden, I've been buying the books in chunks of 10 or so and just perusing them to see if anything really catches my interest.
posted by geoff. at 1:38 PM on August 23, 2010
Remainder in one effed-up book. I think you'll enjoy it though.
posted by elder18 at 1:42 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by elder18 at 1:42 PM on August 23, 2010
Mad Max 2 was better!
Sorry, I thought you said The Road.
posted by Artw at 1:55 PM on August 23, 2010
Sorry, I thought you said The Road.
posted by Artw at 1:55 PM on August 23, 2010
I'm up for Franny and Zooey.
Also, I'd be interested in a vote-for-anything bookclub when we've finished the syllabus. Basically, what bearwife said.
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 2:02 PM on August 23, 2010
Also, I'd be interested in a vote-for-anything bookclub when we've finished the syllabus. Basically, what bearwife said.
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 2:02 PM on August 23, 2010
Hey folks -- I think it's about time that the Book Club got its own blog for book club stuff like choosing books and whatnot. having a regular "this month's book is ________" is something we could keep in the sidebar, but as a recurring thing, this is becoming less and less MetaFilter related.
So, we'll be happy to make a MeTa sidebar note the same way that we do for the running/cycling challenges, but the club needs its own space for hashing out stuff like what book to read.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:18 PM on August 23, 2010
So, we'll be happy to make a MeTa sidebar note the same way that we do for the running/cycling challenges, but the club needs its own space for hashing out stuff like what book to read.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:18 PM on August 23, 2010
I'll just fold it up.
I asked in the IRL announcement threads if we should keep the MeFi book club in Meta Talk, and mathowie said yes.
I don't have a blog to organize this at, and don't know why I would set one up given the tone of the comments in this thread.
So, thanks for those who participated to date, and I wish you well.
posted by bearwife at 2:31 PM on August 23, 2010
I asked in the IRL announcement threads if we should keep the MeFi book club in Meta Talk, and mathowie said yes.
I don't have a blog to organize this at, and don't know why I would set one up given the tone of the comments in this thread.
So, thanks for those who participated to date, and I wish you well.
posted by bearwife at 2:31 PM on August 23, 2010
Dark Knight Returns?
posted by nomadicink at 2:47 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by nomadicink at 2:47 PM on August 23, 2010
> Hey folks -- I think it's about time that the Book Club got its own blog for book club stuff like choosing books and whatnot. having a regular "this month's book is ________" is something we could keep in the sidebar, but as a recurring thing, this is becoming less and less MetaFilter related.
> I'll just fold it up.
Well, those are two disappointing comments, at least in my book. I figured that the most sensible thing was to continue according to the syllabus. So I kept quiet for now, because I'm Salinger-averse. But I was hoping to join in later in the semester. Please do memail me if you reconsider, bearwife.
And if we're reconsidering: Doesn't this seem like a nice thing that MeTa could have? It's not at the epicenter of all things metafilter-related, but it doesn't strike me as beyond the pale...
Anyway, even though I haven't participated yet, I hope we don't have to stop now... before feelings get hurt.
posted by .kobayashi. at 2:59 PM on August 23, 2010
> I'll just fold it up.
Well, those are two disappointing comments, at least in my book. I figured that the most sensible thing was to continue according to the syllabus. So I kept quiet for now, because I'm Salinger-averse. But I was hoping to join in later in the semester. Please do memail me if you reconsider, bearwife.
And if we're reconsidering: Doesn't this seem like a nice thing that MeTa could have? It's not at the epicenter of all things metafilter-related, but it doesn't strike me as beyond the pale...
Anyway, even though I haven't participated yet, I hope we don't have to stop now... before feelings get hurt.
posted by .kobayashi. at 2:59 PM on August 23, 2010
I don't have a blog to organize this at, and don't know why I would set one up given the tone of the comments in this thread.
Well you could use the MeFi wiki for voting or something similar. I didn't mean to be brusque and I'm sorry for cross-talking with mathowie, but there's just not a good place to have regular updates about a virtual thing happening entirely offsite. So IRL is not the right place, but MeTa isn't really the right place either.
When other groups have done this, if it becomes a regular popular thing, then usually they get their own site somehow. Then we can link to this on the MeTa sidebar the same way we do with other offsite groups.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:08 PM on August 23, 2010
Well you could use the MeFi wiki for voting or something similar. I didn't mean to be brusque and I'm sorry for cross-talking with mathowie, but there's just not a good place to have regular updates about a virtual thing happening entirely offsite. So IRL is not the right place, but MeTa isn't really the right place either.
When other groups have done this, if it becomes a regular popular thing, then usually they get their own site somehow. Then we can link to this on the MeTa sidebar the same way we do with other offsite groups.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:08 PM on August 23, 2010
I understand, Jessamyn. But frankly the pissy remarks in this thread before you got here were already doing a fine job killing off my willingness to organize the next book club "meeting." My m.o. when people act like that is to pick up my marbles and leave.
So, sorry to those who wanted to keep doing this, but I don't, at least as an organizer. If someone else wants to pick it up, and can figure out how to communicate they have done so, I'm fine with being a participant. Meanwhile, I'm just going to track the syllabus on my own.
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on August 23, 2010
So, sorry to those who wanted to keep doing this, but I don't, at least as an organizer. If someone else wants to pick it up, and can figure out how to communicate they have done so, I'm fine with being a participant. Meanwhile, I'm just going to track the syllabus on my own.
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on August 23, 2010
Well, that's very disappointing. bearwife, I really hope you reconsider.
Haven't weighed in all that much until now because the books y'all have covered so far haven't appealed to me, but I would have voted for Franny and Zooey as I've never read it. I'm not a big Salinger fan but this would have been a good excuse to crack F&Z!
Folks, it would be nice if those of you who aren't interested in this project could tone down the critiques. Please? (Obviously I am not referring to you, Jessamyn.) I realize this is MeTa and it's 'woo! no holds barred' but a number of us are interested in participating and bearwife's worked hard to organize this.
posted by zarq at 3:20 PM on August 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
Haven't weighed in all that much until now because the books y'all have covered so far haven't appealed to me, but I would have voted for Franny and Zooey as I've never read it. I'm not a big Salinger fan but this would have been a good excuse to crack F&Z!
Folks, it would be nice if those of you who aren't interested in this project could tone down the critiques. Please? (Obviously I am not referring to you, Jessamyn.) I realize this is MeTa and it's 'woo! no holds barred' but a number of us are interested in participating and bearwife's worked hard to organize this.
posted by zarq at 3:20 PM on August 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
But frankly the pissy remarks in this thread before you got here were already doing a fine job killing off my willingness to organize the next book club "meeting." My m.o. when people act like that is to pick up my marbles and leave.
Which, honestly, I hear you and that's part of why as something that's pretty much a Metachat-located thing or a small-group thing it would make sense to have it basically run on the discussion-and-planning side somewhere other than Metatalk. We're not going to be eagle-eyed in a recurring bookclub-organization thread expecting people to be pains, and beyond that Metatalk is kind of a bumpy specific venue for that in any case.
So just reiterating where Jess is coming from, including the no-harm-done thing from our perspective; it's mostly just a thing where using Metatalk to kick off organizing something like this makes sense (and we'd be happy to link to the permanent home for it on the sidebar) but the regular followups are more of an it-needs-its-own-personal-home thing. I hope you're not burnt just specifically because of us speaking up about this, it's not something where we're feeling other than like we should be (and maybe should earlier on have been) clarifying our take on meta-vs-elsewhere is all.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:25 PM on August 23, 2010
Which, honestly, I hear you and that's part of why as something that's pretty much a Metachat-located thing or a small-group thing it would make sense to have it basically run on the discussion-and-planning side somewhere other than Metatalk. We're not going to be eagle-eyed in a recurring bookclub-organization thread expecting people to be pains, and beyond that Metatalk is kind of a bumpy specific venue for that in any case.
So just reiterating where Jess is coming from, including the no-harm-done thing from our perspective; it's mostly just a thing where using Metatalk to kick off organizing something like this makes sense (and we'd be happy to link to the permanent home for it on the sidebar) but the regular followups are more of an it-needs-its-own-personal-home thing. I hope you're not burnt just specifically because of us speaking up about this, it's not something where we're feeling other than like we should be (and maybe should earlier on have been) clarifying our take on meta-vs-elsewhere is all.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:25 PM on August 23, 2010
I think very highly of both of you, cortex and jessamyn. I think the mods on MeFi are tremendous.
But . . . I do not have another place to take this MeFi project (which has only been hosted on MeCha rather than being generated there.) And more importantly, I really do not want to do it any more. And the reason I don't want to do it anymore is because of the non-mod commenters on this thread, whose attitude today sapped all my willingness to take on the exgtra work.
posted by bearwife at 3:32 PM on August 23, 2010
But . . . I do not have another place to take this MeFi project (which has only been hosted on MeCha rather than being generated there.) And more importantly, I really do not want to do it any more. And the reason I don't want to do it anymore is because of the non-mod commenters on this thread, whose attitude today sapped all my willingness to take on the exgtra work.
posted by bearwife at 3:32 PM on August 23, 2010
but there's just not a good place to have regular updates about a virtual thing happening entirely offsite. So IRL is not the right place, but MeTa isn't really the right place either.
mathowie is fine with Meta posts for virtual things happening offsite (TF2, CD swaps etc). Meta has a pretty low post frequency, so there doesn't seem to be any reason for having any more rules about it.
posted by matthewr at 3:41 PM on August 23, 2010
mathowie is fine with Meta posts for virtual things happening offsite (TF2, CD swaps etc). Meta has a pretty low post frequency, so there doesn't seem to be any reason for having any more rules about it.
posted by matthewr at 3:41 PM on August 23, 2010
Hey folks -- I think it's about time that the Book Club got its own blog for book club stuff like choosing books and whatnot. having a regular "this month's book is ________" is something we could keep in the sidebar,
I do wish a better solution were available. The running and weight-loss challenges pretty much languished and died after they were shifted to the sidebar and offsite.
...but as a recurring thing, this is becoming less and less MetaFilter related.
MeTa is for things that involve the site and its userbase. If a project (like this book club) is created by one of us and involves ongoing participation by MeFites, then isn't that MetaFilter-related? Out of curiosity, if you see this as more of a gray area (no pun intended) then what's the deciding factor?
posted by zarq at 4:34 PM on August 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
I do wish a better solution were available. The running and weight-loss challenges pretty much languished and died after they were shifted to the sidebar and offsite.
...but as a recurring thing, this is becoming less and less MetaFilter related.
MeTa is for things that involve the site and its userbase. If a project (like this book club) is created by one of us and involves ongoing participation by MeFites, then isn't that MetaFilter-related? Out of curiosity, if you see this as more of a gray area (no pun intended) then what's the deciding factor?
posted by zarq at 4:34 PM on August 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
Ugh... my comment came out more aggressive than I wanted it to. I'm really not trying to be antagonistic or tell you what MeTa is for. Honestly, I'm just curious.
posted by zarq at 4:36 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by zarq at 4:36 PM on August 23, 2010
I kind of think of MeTa as a community gluestick, and I like occasional updates about the book club or running challenges, meet up threads, etc.
Just for the record.
Also, if they kept the book club going I'd read whatever. I've read Franny and Zooey a bunch of times but frankly it would be a good idea for me to be a little more passive and receptive to someone else's decisions.(Please, for the love of God, someone make decisions for me.) As long as it doesn't involve 'watching whatever comes next on CBS.'
MeTa is slow moving and it's really easy to not participate in a thread if you're not interested. It's not like the blue where every once in a while people get legitimately OMG about another mosque/lady Gaga (is that over now?) post.
I wish I could do a MeTa thing where I work, except the volume and illiteracy would kill me.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:07 PM on August 23, 2010
Just for the record.
Also, if they kept the book club going I'd read whatever. I've read Franny and Zooey a bunch of times but frankly it would be a good idea for me to be a little more passive and receptive to someone else's decisions.(Please, for the love of God, someone make decisions for me.) As long as it doesn't involve 'watching whatever comes next on CBS.'
MeTa is slow moving and it's really easy to not participate in a thread if you're not interested. It's not like the blue where every once in a while people get legitimately OMG about another mosque/lady Gaga (is that over now?) post.
I wish I could do a MeTa thing where I work, except the volume and illiteracy would kill me.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:07 PM on August 23, 2010
Use of MetaTalk new posts for the bookclub was explicitly approved by mathowie less than three weeks ago:
If the bookclub meets at MetaChat, that's not really a In Real Life meetup. I dunno, seems borderline for an offline events site, especially since a physical location is required.
I'd say something that doesn't fit for IRL should continue to be mentioned here in MetaTalk as a new post instead of IRL. (so, similar things like gatherings for an online TF2 server gaming event, CD swaps, etc are on MetaTalk, not IRL)
posted by mathowie at 5:09 PM on August 5
posted by jamjam at 5:16 PM on August 23, 2010
If the bookclub meets at MetaChat, that's not really a In Real Life meetup. I dunno, seems borderline for an offline events site, especially since a physical location is required.
I'd say something that doesn't fit for IRL should continue to be mentioned here in MetaTalk as a new post instead of IRL. (so, similar things like gatherings for an online TF2 server gaming event, CD swaps, etc are on MetaTalk, not IRL)
posted by mathowie at 5:09 PM on August 5
posted by jamjam at 5:16 PM on August 23, 2010
Generally speaking, it seems like a book club announcement would be an okay fit for MetaTalk, but it's gone pretty far beyond that at this point. There were four separate threads for On The Road, which is frankly kind of absurd, especially when you consider the original thread is still open.
posted by dhammond at 5:20 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dhammond at 5:20 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
if you see this as more of a gray area (no pun intended) then what's the deciding factor?
I guess I see the deciding factor being is MeTa being used as the place where the thing is being announced or is MeTa the place where the thing is happening.
So as a place for reminders--hey don't forget book club!--once a month or so, super. I'm sort of looking at this from a few perspectives
- new users who see the MetaChat/MeFi connection and don't quite get it. Obviously there's a lot of cross-pollination but something like this blurs it pretty explicitly to the point where even I'm a little confused
- people who think there are too many book club posts to MetaTalk who are as entitled to their opinions as the people who are enthusiastic about book club. In that sense, the book club stuff is a spin-off activity and as such it should have its own space on the web somehow. If people don't want to set up a blog, then there's wiki space or something else.
- MetaTalk as an open forum for everyone, may not be the greatest place for this sort of thing. People are going to snark. There are a bunch of different sort of etiquette norms we have on the site; asking MeTa to not be MeTa isn't very realistic and sets up an oppositional situation where there doesn't need to be one.
- from our moderation perspective a MeTa thread still needs a tiny bit of our attention. People still flag things, have edit requests, get mad when people are jerks, etc. So having one or two or three threads about a CD swap is one thing, having a weekly or biweekly "this is what's up with book club" post adds 30-50 posts a year. Granted, it's small potatoes but it doesn't scale and at some level I think it's reasonable to say "Hey, web space is free, why don't you announce the new book here and otherwise have discussions/voting elsewhere?"
And, my apologies about the IRL/MeTa confusion. The occasional announcement in MeTa is still totally fine, but the "let's do the business of the book club here" approach should probably be done in another way. I didn't mean to step on anyone's toes.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:56 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I guess I see the deciding factor being is MeTa being used as the place where the thing is being announced or is MeTa the place where the thing is happening.
So as a place for reminders--hey don't forget book club!--once a month or so, super. I'm sort of looking at this from a few perspectives
- new users who see the MetaChat/MeFi connection and don't quite get it. Obviously there's a lot of cross-pollination but something like this blurs it pretty explicitly to the point where even I'm a little confused
- people who think there are too many book club posts to MetaTalk who are as entitled to their opinions as the people who are enthusiastic about book club. In that sense, the book club stuff is a spin-off activity and as such it should have its own space on the web somehow. If people don't want to set up a blog, then there's wiki space or something else.
- MetaTalk as an open forum for everyone, may not be the greatest place for this sort of thing. People are going to snark. There are a bunch of different sort of etiquette norms we have on the site; asking MeTa to not be MeTa isn't very realistic and sets up an oppositional situation where there doesn't need to be one.
- from our moderation perspective a MeTa thread still needs a tiny bit of our attention. People still flag things, have edit requests, get mad when people are jerks, etc. So having one or two or three threads about a CD swap is one thing, having a weekly or biweekly "this is what's up with book club" post adds 30-50 posts a year. Granted, it's small potatoes but it doesn't scale and at some level I think it's reasonable to say "Hey, web space is free, why don't you announce the new book here and otherwise have discussions/voting elsewhere?"
And, my apologies about the IRL/MeTa confusion. The occasional announcement in MeTa is still totally fine, but the "let's do the business of the book club here" approach should probably be done in another way. I didn't mean to step on anyone's toes.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:56 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm not doing the book club thing any more. Really, I can read these books and the Hungerford lectures on my own. And I'm not up for doing it despite "nastiness" -- I meet nastiness, I leave.
For those who really care why there were multiple On the Road posts, it was because last time we finished a book and I posted to ask if we should move on to the next book in the syllabus, which was On the Road, people wanted to talk about possibly making another choice. So we did, and then I posted to let people know what book we had decided on. (Despite me voting the other way, it turned out we had chosen On the Road.) Then I posted to remind people the MeCha discussion was coming up, and finally posted a last time to say it was about to happen.
I really don't appreciate being told to individually memail everyone that says they want to read a book -- that leaves out people who missed the announcement/vote threads, and it is a ton more work.
I have to say that in my view the only realistic way to let MeFites, versus other potential readers, get a voice in what book we discuss, and remind/notify people of upcoming discussions of a book we chose, is via about 4 posts over 6-8 weeks . . . one to ask if people have a preference for next book read, one to announce vote results, one to remind people of upcoming discussion, and one to say the discussion is up. That's because not everyone reads MeTa every day, much less keeps looking at an announcement post which is 6-8 weeks old. And also, that way we pick up additional participants, which improves the book discussions.
I also wonder what the heck is with the annoyance over seeing a book club post if you aren't interested in book club. Skip the post!
I'm pretty annoyed with the way this got resolved myself. Thankless is indeed the best way to describe the way all this feels to me. Ergo, I'm through with doing it.
posted by bearwife at 6:47 PM on August 23, 2010 [7 favorites]
For those who really care why there were multiple On the Road posts, it was because last time we finished a book and I posted to ask if we should move on to the next book in the syllabus, which was On the Road, people wanted to talk about possibly making another choice. So we did, and then I posted to let people know what book we had decided on. (Despite me voting the other way, it turned out we had chosen On the Road.) Then I posted to remind people the MeCha discussion was coming up, and finally posted a last time to say it was about to happen.
I really don't appreciate being told to individually memail everyone that says they want to read a book -- that leaves out people who missed the announcement/vote threads, and it is a ton more work.
I have to say that in my view the only realistic way to let MeFites, versus other potential readers, get a voice in what book we discuss, and remind/notify people of upcoming discussions of a book we chose, is via about 4 posts over 6-8 weeks . . . one to ask if people have a preference for next book read, one to announce vote results, one to remind people of upcoming discussion, and one to say the discussion is up. That's because not everyone reads MeTa every day, much less keeps looking at an announcement post which is 6-8 weeks old. And also, that way we pick up additional participants, which improves the book discussions.
I also wonder what the heck is with the annoyance over seeing a book club post if you aren't interested in book club. Skip the post!
I'm pretty annoyed with the way this got resolved myself. Thankless is indeed the best way to describe the way all this feels to me. Ergo, I'm through with doing it.
posted by bearwife at 6:47 PM on August 23, 2010 [7 favorites]
Wow, this really is a bummer. Reading On the Road with the Amy Hungerford lectures and in anticipation of some discussion made the experience much more fun, and frankly I'm not sure I would have heard about it or remembered it was happening if there was only one thread, and I'm sure I wouldn't have at all if it had been administered offsite.
Would it be possible to compromise? One post is made here to choose a book and a time frame in which to read it. That gets sidebarred. We get all the administrative stuff out of the way there, and then the discussion takes place at MetaChat?
Heck, bearwife, if you just want to keep this thing going completely at MetaChat, I'm still interested. This book club made a MeCha convert out of me.
posted by malapropist at 7:09 PM on August 23, 2010
Would it be possible to compromise? One post is made here to choose a book and a time frame in which to read it. That gets sidebarred. We get all the administrative stuff out of the way there, and then the discussion takes place at MetaChat?
Heck, bearwife, if you just want to keep this thing going completely at MetaChat, I'm still interested. This book club made a MeCha convert out of me.
posted by malapropist at 7:09 PM on August 23, 2010
I would love to join in the next discussion especially if it's Franny and Zooey - I have always wanted to read that!
posted by radioamy at 7:11 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by radioamy at 7:11 PM on August 23, 2010
Ah bearwife I am so sad that you feel that way. I skipped On the Road (couldn't get into it at all and then my ex raved about it, which just... pissed me off) and reading that MeCha discussion made me feel really stupid about not trying harder. So I was looking to do better this time. :-/ Plus, F & Z would be so good to revisit.
I think those who are into it can do it on MeCha anyway.
posted by mondaygreens at 7:27 PM on August 23, 2010
I think those who are into it can do it on MeCha anyway.
posted by mondaygreens at 7:27 PM on August 23, 2010
Also... we could make an off-site notification list for people who do want updates about selection polls and/or upcoming discussions on MeCha (it would work out to 1-2 me-mails every three months or so), and if Jessamyn could sidebar a link to it, members would still have the option of at least signing up to stay in the loop. I can set this up on surveymonkey if there's any interest.
posted by mondaygreens at 7:52 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by mondaygreens at 7:52 PM on August 23, 2010
Ah... um, I just noticed that there's no way to bulk me-mail people. Bummer.
posted by mondaygreens at 8:09 PM on August 23, 2010
posted by mondaygreens at 8:09 PM on August 23, 2010
For what it's worth, there is no reason I can see why this can't all be organised on MeCha and the offer to sidebar the current discussion would help to point people to the fact that a new discussion has started. It does seem like it would be an equivalent amount of work for the MeFi mods to sidebar the latest happening as it would be to manage the MeTa threads, though, as there is no way to point to a static 'landing place' on MeCha to find whatever is the current discussion thread. The sidebar link would have to be changed as the topic moves from thread to thread. The only other alternative that I see would be a separate 'announce-only' site that could act as an intermediary, but that starts to get complicated.
I can see, though, the book club languishing apart from a few hardy souls under this arrangement, as the sidebar notification for this sort of thing is pretty much below the fold on MeTa. That would be a shame, but it's pretty clear that the current arrangement can't continue, so that might be the next best thing. We can certainly put these threads (on MeCha) on the sidebar there, where things tend to hang around for a couple of weeks, so would likely come to the attention of people who are interested and who visit MeCha at least semi-regularly. Where people will fall away is those who are outside that group.
posted by dg at 8:44 PM on August 23, 2010
I can see, though, the book club languishing apart from a few hardy souls under this arrangement, as the sidebar notification for this sort of thing is pretty much below the fold on MeTa. That would be a shame, but it's pretty clear that the current arrangement can't continue, so that might be the next best thing. We can certainly put these threads (on MeCha) on the sidebar there, where things tend to hang around for a couple of weeks, so would likely come to the attention of people who are interested and who visit MeCha at least semi-regularly. Where people will fall away is those who are outside that group.
posted by dg at 8:44 PM on August 23, 2010
Man, I am bummed that you feel defeated bearwife--I always thought it was awesome you were willing to put this together despite the standard stumbling blocks (people fussing over which book, where to go about things, etc.--just standard club-type logistics). And I was coming in here to say "oh golly do I love Franny and Zooey count me in finally" as I've read On the Road and Lolita before but didn't think I'd have anything new to contribute to discussion, but F&Z? Oooh yeah. So I am saddened by this turn of events. Maybe someone can pick up the torch and have everything including planning be over at MeCha? (I'm not well versed in the place though, maybe there's a reason this has never been how you went about it...it seems kinda disorganized, hard to find threads...hm.) The issue of "but then Mefites won't know about it" could be solved with the sidebar thing here, though that's a pretty imperfect solution too.
Anyway, I hope you don't think your efforts were a waste. I've been greatly admiring the whole endeavor, wish I'd made that known sooner.
posted by ifjuly at 6:40 AM on August 24, 2010
Anyway, I hope you don't think your efforts were a waste. I've been greatly admiring the whole endeavor, wish I'd made that known sooner.
posted by ifjuly at 6:40 AM on August 24, 2010
It sounds like a lot of people are still interested. I like what malapropist suggested: that we keep this going at MetaChat. I'm not as familiar with theat site, so I don't know if this would fit into the rules. However, I'm sure with a little research we could find that out. I think an off-site email list might be helpful also. I'm hesitant to step up as an organizer because that is not my strong suit, but for those that are still reading this let's try to find another way to keep this going. It sounds like the best suggestion is email + sidebar + metachat. Anyone else have a better idea?
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 8:03 AM on August 24, 2010
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 8:03 AM on August 24, 2010
OK, ok, now I feel bad about all the nice book club people I am leaving in the lurch. So here's what I'll try, folks, but I'm not good for continuing this if the next MeCha get together is a bust.
I'm going to take Jessamyn up on her offer that we get to post in MeTa to announce/remind once every month. I'm also going to take her up on the suggestion that we get a sidebar here.
I think it will be tricky to pick the book in MeCha, where there are more threads and the discussions tend to be up for a day or two only, so we'll talk about alternate selections from the syllabus on the single once a month announcement post in MeTa. And later, if we successfully finish the Open Yale syllabus, we can pick our future books from the world of books on the once a month announcement post.
Please memail me your email address if you want additional reminders about upcoming book club get togethers or to send other feedback/questions to me. I'll put an email group together and blast email everyone instead of doing reminder posts here in MeTa.
Here is your mission, then, should you choose to accept it, MeFi book clubber:
1. Read Franny and Zooey. (Other than snarkers and derailers, no one seems to feel strongly that we should skip it.)
2. Read or watch or listen to the Hungerford lecture on the book (lecture #10)
3. Memail me your email address
4. Sign up for MeCha (a much nicer place than MeTa, fyi)
5. Join us for the book club discussion on October 18, 2010.
And I will post a reminder about this in a month.
posted by bearwife at 9:13 AM on August 24, 2010 [9 favorites]
I'm going to take Jessamyn up on her offer that we get to post in MeTa to announce/remind once every month. I'm also going to take her up on the suggestion that we get a sidebar here.
I think it will be tricky to pick the book in MeCha, where there are more threads and the discussions tend to be up for a day or two only, so we'll talk about alternate selections from the syllabus on the single once a month announcement post in MeTa. And later, if we successfully finish the Open Yale syllabus, we can pick our future books from the world of books on the once a month announcement post.
Please memail me your email address if you want additional reminders about upcoming book club get togethers or to send other feedback/questions to me. I'll put an email group together and blast email everyone instead of doing reminder posts here in MeTa.
Here is your mission, then, should you choose to accept it, MeFi book clubber:
1. Read Franny and Zooey. (Other than snarkers and derailers, no one seems to feel strongly that we should skip it.)
2. Read or watch or listen to the Hungerford lecture on the book (lecture #10)
3. Memail me your email address
4. Sign up for MeCha (a much nicer place than MeTa, fyi)
5. Join us for the book club discussion on October 18, 2010.
And I will post a reminder about this in a month.
posted by bearwife at 9:13 AM on August 24, 2010 [9 favorites]
Uh, the results of this post made me sad so I did a little more playing with - drumroll - Google Wave. It has some built-in features like voting in certain templates, you can amend posts, people can subscribe easily and it wouldn't turn into a giant email round-robin cc:clusterfuck. The learning curve is shallow and I think it has potential for the organizing part of this type of activity.
Plus then that would be like, what Google Wave is for.
OP: I write s l o w l y
posted by vapidave at 9:17 AM on August 24, 2010
Plus then that would be like, what Google Wave is for.
OP: I write s l o w l y
posted by vapidave at 9:17 AM on August 24, 2010
Wave is due to be shut down later this year, though.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:25 AM on August 24, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 9:25 AM on August 24, 2010
I'll take a look at Google Wave. Though I already wonder how much more work dealing with it, MeTa, emails and MeCha is going to be. Anyone who wants to be invited to a Wave and/or to be emailed about book club, please memail me your email address.
posted by bearwife at 9:27 AM on August 24, 2010
posted by bearwife at 9:27 AM on August 24, 2010
bearwife: "a much nicer place than MeTa, fyi"
Considering that jessamyn has kindly offered to help promote this via MeTa, you could probably stand to have a bit more grace in the matter.
posted by dhammond at 10:22 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Considering that jessamyn has kindly offered to help promote this via MeTa, you could probably stand to have a bit more grace in the matter.
posted by dhammond at 10:22 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Jessamyn is not who I am referring to. As she knows. Nor is cortex.
But you would certainly fit within the scope of my intended audience for that comment, dhammond.
posted by bearwife at 10:29 AM on August 24, 2010
But you would certainly fit within the scope of my intended audience for that comment, dhammond.
posted by bearwife at 10:29 AM on August 24, 2010
"Niceness" has nothing to do with this, bearwife. I was only suggesting, as others have done, that multiple threads on the same topic is probably a bit of overkill. This seems to be the consensus of the mods, as well. That you are characterizing this sort of opinion as "nastiness" is uncalled for.
posted by dhammond at 10:43 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dhammond at 10:43 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ok, I've given it some thought, read this discussion and have been swayed and inspired...I definitely want to jump in on this round! I read Franny and Zooey years ago and enjoyed it. If I remember the plot correctly, it'll be a fun one for me to re-read now at this point in my life. Brace yourselves for lots of possibly pedantic linguistic analysis. :D
Emailing you now, bearwife.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:29 AM on August 24, 2010
Emailing you now, bearwife.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:29 AM on August 24, 2010
Count me in! I've been needing a motivator to read something other than technical manuals and blogs.
Thanks for the reminder about the Mefi bookclub - F & Z is a good place to begin. Looking forward!
posted by archivist at 11:34 AM on August 24, 2010
Thanks for the reminder about the Mefi bookclub - F & Z is a good place to begin. Looking forward!
posted by archivist at 11:34 AM on August 24, 2010
I'm not as familiar with theat site, so I don't know if this would fit into the rules. However, I'm sure with a little research we could find that out.
I'm one of the admins on MetaChat. This fits into the MeCha rules fine - MeCha's rules are not structured around content and purpose as much as conduct. So it's OK over there to post multiple times on a given topic, hash stuff out, vote, etc. It sounds like a solution is emerging, and MeCha certainly welcomes any part of the book discussions that take place there. Also, just a note, we do have one "sticky" post navigation sidebar called "site news" and could place something there that would stay up longer, if that's desired.
MeCha has a much smaller userbase than MeFi, and I think bearwife was doing a good job letting the MeFi community stay up to date on what was happening with the book club. It may take more effort for the interested parties to find the info, but I hope they do, even if that's the only reason they ever come over to MeCha.
My one request would be that new users who join in the conversation over there be mindful that the guidelines are different. Please give the FAQ and guidelines a read before chiming in,and let the mods/admins know if you have any questions or issues.
posted by Miko at 11:35 AM on August 24, 2010 [5 favorites]
I'm one of the admins on MetaChat. This fits into the MeCha rules fine - MeCha's rules are not structured around content and purpose as much as conduct. So it's OK over there to post multiple times on a given topic, hash stuff out, vote, etc. It sounds like a solution is emerging, and MeCha certainly welcomes any part of the book discussions that take place there. Also, just a note, we do have one "sticky" post navigation sidebar called "site news" and could place something there that would stay up longer, if that's desired.
MeCha has a much smaller userbase than MeFi, and I think bearwife was doing a good job letting the MeFi community stay up to date on what was happening with the book club. It may take more effort for the interested parties to find the info, but I hope they do, even if that's the only reason they ever come over to MeCha.
My one request would be that new users who join in the conversation over there be mindful that the guidelines are different. Please give the FAQ and guidelines a read before chiming in,and let the mods/admins know if you have any questions or issues.
posted by Miko at 11:35 AM on August 24, 2010 [5 favorites]
I was only suggesting, as others have done, that multiple threads on the same topic is probably a bit of overkill.
You said that four posts, to decide on the next book, report the results of the vote, remind people the discussion was coming up, and announce it was up, was frankly kind of absurd, to repeat what you actually said. Although you have never participated in any of the book club discussions or threads, and this post was to decide which book the group will read next.
Clearly we were raised differently, but I do not view your critique of my efforts to give everyone a voice and a reminder about our book club meetings, or the way you have phrased your comments here as "nice."
posted by bearwife at 12:30 PM on August 24, 2010
You said that four posts, to decide on the next book, report the results of the vote, remind people the discussion was coming up, and announce it was up, was frankly kind of absurd, to repeat what you actually said. Although you have never participated in any of the book club discussions or threads, and this post was to decide which book the group will read next.
Clearly we were raised differently, but I do not view your critique of my efforts to give everyone a voice and a reminder about our book club meetings, or the way you have phrased your comments here as "nice."
posted by bearwife at 12:30 PM on August 24, 2010
Clearly we were raised differently, but I do not view your critique of my efforts to give everyone a voice and a reminder about our book club meetings, or the way you have phrased your comments here as "nice."
You are not cut out for MetaTalk.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:40 PM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
You are not cut out for MetaTalk.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:40 PM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
I do not in any way understand the level of tension and aggression in this thread.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:13 PM on August 24, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 2:13 PM on August 24, 2010 [4 favorites]
That's two of us, shakespeherian. I have to say, in a long and colorful life, this is the first time I've gotten grief over helping to keep going a project a lot of people said they wanted to do and many still seem to enjoy.
And, Bookhouse, you are entitled to your opinion but I'm not leaving.
posted by bearwife at 2:50 PM on August 24, 2010
And, Bookhouse, you are entitled to your opinion but I'm not leaving.
posted by bearwife at 2:50 PM on August 24, 2010
I think we should get mimosas and talk about universally disliked people so we can chill out.
Or go target shooting, whatevs.
posted by nomadicink at 3:01 PM on August 24, 2010
Or go target shooting, whatevs.
posted by nomadicink at 3:01 PM on August 24, 2010
I think we should get mimosas and talk about universally disliked people so we can chill out.
Course, today is the day some people came out kind-of-in-support of the woman who puts cats in bins to die, so who can say what would happen?
posted by Artw at 3:05 PM on August 24, 2010
Course, today is the day some people came out kind-of-in-support of the woman who puts cats in bins to die, so who can say what would happen?
posted by Artw at 3:05 PM on August 24, 2010
Yeah, mimosas sound good. Or martinis. Or margaritas made without mix or blenders with salted rims. I'll admit that this thread got me to pour myself a slug of frozen Absolut Orange last night after work. It's the first time MeFi land has really stressed me out.
Perhaps we should break out the hated recipe meme here, only for alcoholic drinks.
posted by bearwife at 3:08 PM on August 24, 2010
Perhaps we should break out the hated recipe meme here, only for alcoholic drinks.
posted by bearwife at 3:08 PM on August 24, 2010
And, Bookhouse, you are entitled to your opinion but I'm not leaving.
And I don't think you should. Chilling out is a much better option. But I don't drink booze, so I'll just be in the corner with a Mr. Q Cumber.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:15 PM on August 24, 2010
And I don't think you should. Chilling out is a much better option. But I don't drink booze, so I'll just be in the corner with a Mr. Q Cumber.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:15 PM on August 24, 2010
I'm sorry for the derail, but I'd've love to have participated in the book club and would love to start now, but I have no idea what my login details are.....my username was the same as here, but I think it was at least 3ish prior email addresses to which I no longer own the domain for in the past, and maybe two CPUs with a stored password ago. Do I have any options here? I think details of the two comments I made there might corroborate here, if such corroboration might be needed....
posted by nevercalm at 7:49 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by nevercalm at 7:49 PM on August 24, 2010
nevercalm, contact the mods at metachat.org@gmail.com and we'll see what we can do.
posted by dg at 8:04 PM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dg at 8:04 PM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Mimosas AND martinis AND margaritas AND target shooting AND cigars! Alcohol, tobacco, and firearms, a winning combination!
posted by arse_hat at 9:16 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by arse_hat at 9:16 PM on August 24, 2010
For anyone else, MetaChat.
You may experience a slight delay in signup approval because the mod who handles that somehow seems to think she's entitled to go gallivanting around the world on vacation.
posted by Miko at 9:06 AM on August 25, 2010
You may experience a slight delay in signup approval because the mod who handles that somehow seems to think she's entitled to go gallivanting around the world on vacation.
posted by Miko at 9:06 AM on August 25, 2010
Yay! Glad you are gallivanting! Glad you are on vacation! Have a super time.
posted by bearwife at 10:53 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by bearwife at 10:53 AM on August 25, 2010
(Oh, it's not me (though it will be next week) - just wanted to give a word to the wise ebfore anyone feels frustrated. The mod in question is a treasured and hardworking one and I'm just ribbing her a bit))
posted by Miko at 11:13 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by Miko at 11:13 AM on August 25, 2010
Good vacation wishes to the mod in question and in advance to you, Miko.
posted by bearwife at 12:44 PM on August 25, 2010
posted by bearwife at 12:44 PM on August 25, 2010
Quick update for those who are getting to this thread via the MeFi sidebar or MeTa sidebar links -- the Meta Chat Wiki is now up and running. It is a thing of beauty, due to the work of Miko and lriG rorriM, and it has all the information anyone may need to participate in this book club. Now and in the future. Here is the link.
posted by bearwife at 11:02 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by bearwife at 11:02 AM on August 27, 2010
I just found out Donald Barthelme died in 1989. :( [tearing up English Major license in shame]
posted by mecran01 at 6:10 AM on August 28, 2010
posted by mecran01 at 6:10 AM on August 28, 2010
I just finished E.P.Jones "The Known World" (way toward the end of the syllabus) and highly recommend it, if it hasn't been covered already. I also ran across Prof. Hungerford's lecture independently of this post, and also highly recommend them.
posted by hwestiii at 10:17 AM on September 9, 2010
posted by hwestiii at 10:17 AM on September 9, 2010
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
But I am nevertheless happy that people are enjoying the club.
posted by hermitosis at 12:03 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]