So I thought, well, what about an online book group. You could somehow decide on a book (ie, I would decide), and set a starting date for people to have tracked down the book by, and then (as I am a slow reader), you could talk about it online say, weekly, a chapter at a time. Sort of like homework for the week. I used to hate homework, but I kind of like the idea of it now.Thinking myself very cutting edge, I just Googled "online book group" to double check that I had in fact just invented this awesome new thing. What came up was "showing 1-10 Results of about 29, 400 000 for online book group"
Right. Not so cutting edge after all. Turns out someone or something called an Oprah had the idea nailed some time ago. This so called Oprah also had the idea for an "Angel Network", which was my next big idea. Curse you, Opraaaaahhhh!
I still think it's a good idea, and would like to start one on my blog. It would focus on old classics that I wouldn't get around to reading otherwise. Anybody feeling me?
15 comments:
I would be very much into that!
But looking at the book list you posted a while ago, I think we may have different tastes in books, so it would depend on which book.
Though this would force me to read the classics, I suppose!
Hmm. Yeah, agreeing on a book would be the first hurdle. I think the trick would be to find something that is old enough to be a classic and worthwhile to read, be not too girly and not too blokey.
Suggestions??
Hey Ben,
I'm in a couple of reading groups, and I love them. But going slow is good, otherwise you trap yourself and it just becomes a burden. I can see definite advantages of it being online - so very suited to blogs.
I'm in, and I'm happy to read whatever. Would you do non-fiction too?
oh, and my two suggestions:
non fiction: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together - (really short!)
Or
fiction: anything by Dostoyevksy
You're in a couple already AND you're willing to join another? Wow, that's dedication, mate!
Thanks for the suggestions-- will add them to the (very) shortlist.
Hi ben, i'd be keen (also depending on the book), although i'm currently half way through a 600 page novel by patrick white, so it might be a while before i'm free to dabble in another book!
Ben! Haven't you been paying attention? I have one for you www.equipbooks.blogspot.com. EQUIP is usually only for girls, but we'd make an exception for a guy who blogs Austen.
Ahh, just kidding! :) We all know you're secure enough in your manhood to be able to dabble in a little Austen.
I'd be in. I have The Brothers Karamasov (Dostoevsky) waiting to be read, which is supposed to be compulsory reading for the "educated", but I don't think it's for the faint-hearted ...
The list of fiction here looks pretty good (and you have already made a start):
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/AskPastorJohn/ByTopic/25/1616_What_are_some_books_that_DG_recommends/
soph, I reckon I would need a book club to get me through patrick white! I've only ever read flaws in the glass and the vivisector - they were both tough going.
I would be *willing* to give Dostoyevsky a go. Maybe. Well, I would try. I have never read any Russian literature before. I once tried to read Anna Karenina. I didn't get very far. But I do own Crime and Punishment. Sorry - I'm not too keen on non-fiction.
I think sticking to the classics is best. Maybe something not too dense to start with. My suggestions:
Anything by Jonathan Swift, like Gulliver's Travels
Poems by Wilfred Owen
Wuthering Heights
The most important thing to decide before we proceed is how to spell Dostoevsky's name. I've NEVER seen an extra "y" in it before (but now that I look at my Penguin, it has the extra one). Wikipedia tells me that's a "transliteration". No doubt the Americans did that, under the influence of that ridiculous Webster Dictionary. I'm sticking with Dostoevsky!!
I'm in.
I had 'Practicing His Presence' by Brother Lawrence on my list of want to read.
No other suggestions. I love reading fiction. Just lead the way, Ben.
everybody's human Ali ;)
so how would it work, ben?
sophg-- I understand not wanting to take on ANOTHER book. I am currently half way through several. The answer? Start a book group with MORE books:)Well feel free to join at any time!
Ali-- I am not liking my new reputation as "a guy who blogs Austen"- did I mention that I am going hog shooting after work tonight, and then having an Arnie movie marathon?
Thanks for the book suggestion and the link-- that's a pretty good list. As for spelling, I'll just call him The Doss-meister, which is more spellable. (Just)
Lu- awesome, glad your in! Thanks for the suggestion too
Hey soph-- thanks for the suggestions. I like the variety.
As for how it will work, I have been formulating the master plan. I'll write a post about it and you can all see how it sounds and tell me it should be different.
Drew, at first I just couldn't figure out what your comment was referring too ... But now I think I have it! Sorry, sorry, I wasn't at all having some kind of dig at you for the way YOU spelt Dostoyevsky. Like I said, it is now spelt with the extra "y" on the front of the Penguin classics, so one could be quite forgiven for spelling an authors name the way it's spelt on said authors books. I was just raging against the "establishment", or whatever it is :) ... because it just seems that sometime, when I wasn't looking, the powers at be have decided to change the convention on the way Ds name is spelt. I know it never used to have that y because it took me ages, and a bit of acute listening to literary types, to work out how to say it. I'm just a spelling and grammar purist - and I don't appreciate the corruption of English language! (though whether or not that's English is debatable). Anyway, that said I spelt Karamazov incorrectly - shame, shame ....
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