drabley Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Let's just get the proverbial show on the road. Don't overthink it. Get to matchin', drabs. I think this requires a little more organization. For starters, we need to know who is sending what so there are no duplicates. I'd rather take a day or two, organize, collaborate, and start something successful than rush into a good idea and ruin it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I was kind of kidding. I think the first book I'll send is either John Kennedy Toole A Confederacy of Dunces or Jonathan Lethem As She Climbed Across The Table. Also, we could have everyone state whether they prefer fiction, non-fiction, short stories, novels, etc. Or state if they have no preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 John Kennedy Toole A Confederacy of Dunces A good friend of mine who reads as much as I do was shocked when I said I hadn't read this book. Apparently, it's brilliant. I'm going to ponder the details of how this could/should be done and look over my library to see what I plan on sending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooterist136 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I am not new to reading books but I can't think of a book I have that the book collective hasn't read. I tend to like horror books and political literature. I think I know what my first book will be but I am not sure about after that. I was hoping that through this, I would be introduced to a lot of new books, new subjects, authors, etc. As for paper vs. hard...hardback would hold up better over time but cost more. Paperback will deteriorate some but is more affordable...which y'all already know. I'm not opposed to having hard and paper in circulation as long has it's up to the purchaser of the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 Top. Would like to see 12 participants. We're at 10 so far. I'll leave it open until the weekend and then we'll just go with what we've got. I think it would be best to split into small groups -- if 12, say, 3 groups of 4. This way there could be little mini-circles to rotate with. It will be easier to manage and track. Once the first round is complete, we can juggle the groups up and use the same books so everyone has a chance to read, or just pick new books. We should talk of a max time allowed with the book so as to not hold up progress too much. Say, 30 days. Most novels fall between 250 - 400 pages, so if you were to read 10 pages per day, that's 30 days for a 300 page book. Seems reasonable to me, no? I'd also reccomend a strict "bookmarks only" policy. Nothing irritates me more than dog-ears on pages. Don't have a bookmark -- a simple slip of paper or credit card receipt will suffice. Remember -- these books belong to others! I'm looking forward to reading some books you all know / love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I like dog-eared pages. I like my books to look like they've been read. Granted, that's a preference I don't expect others to share. Anyway, your plan sounds good. I'm anxious to get learned some good readin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I am in. Another thing to consider: keep the UK shipping revolving, so every participant has to send at least one book to Tom, keeping that responsibility shared. Sorry, Tom - looks like you're always gonna have pricey shipping costs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goraiders Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 i'd be in for this, but i'd probably just buy the books/get them from the library Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 My reading preferences: Mostly non-fiction/ art, philosophy, political theory, radical anything, genealogy, religion, urban studies, race & class, labor, architecture, etc. Not always into biographies or memoirs, but this should be fun cos it will force me to read something I wouldn't otherwise… My fiction generally falls close to: Vonnegut, Robbins, Bukowski, Kesey, Burroughs, etc. Y'know - that kind of shit. Can't wait to get this started! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 My reading preferences:Mostly non-fiction/ coloring books, pop-up books, picture Bibles, Not always into biographies or memoirs, but this should be fun cos it will force me to read something I wouldn't otherwise… My fiction generally falls close to: Seuss, Judy Blume, Berenstain Bears, Little Critters, Curious George, etc. Y'know - that kind of shit. Can't wait to get this started! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Another Tom Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I am in.Another thing to consider: keep the UK shipping revolving, so every participant has to send at least one book to Tom, keeping that responsibility shared. Sorry, Tom - looks like you're always gonna have pricey shipping costs! I'm cool with that buddy, knew i would have to when i signed up! If it's easier to stay in groups of four or whatever i don't mind paying the shipping difference. If you want to make some kind of list, i am going to be sending "The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart" If that's cool with everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 Top. Last time. A couple of you have indicated what books you're going to send. Great! Tomorrow morning I'll break us all down into smaller circles so we know whom we're sharing with. Everyone will need to be in contact with one another to get addresses, etc. In the meantime, if everyone could figure out what book they're going to be sending and post it, it will help me in compiling the lists. It's going to be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Would it be easier and less costly if Tom was to just buy/lend his own copy of the book(s) rather than us mailing? I can only imagine that the cumulative cost of mailing back and forth would equal or exceed the cost of him buying a used copy from a shop… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enjoyadrian Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 who gets the books at the end when everyone has already read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 who gets the books at the end when everyone has already read it? The original owner. The concept is to a) share open yourself up to things you wouldn't otherwise select on your own and c)have a book with a story other than that which is written on the pages themselves. Each person should sign the inner flap with their name and location. Think of it as a passport stamp in that regard. The last person in line sends it back to the original owner. If Tom wishes to participate partially and just buy whatever would come his way, I can understand that. But if he's okay with shipping overseas exclusively, he is absolutely welcome to participate. I'll be sending a book called The English Major by Jim Harrison. Harrison is one of my favorite American writers. The English Major is by and large a road novel, but not in the typical tradition of youth. The protagonist is 60ish, unlike what you'd expect in the "genre". The prose is stark, blunt, and twists what would otherwise be a tragedy into a comedy of sorts. It was the best book of 2008, in my opinion, and is a very fast 304 page read. My copy is hardback, but is not large or heavy by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dietrich Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 i'm in. I am in Africa until next wednesday so I can't ship the book until then. The book I was thinking to send is king dork by frank portman (the mr. t experience guy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 We aren't sending the books out all at once, are we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadmonkey Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 People should sign up for this site: http://www.librarything.com/ It's a social networking site for readers. You can add your library, create reviews, and even get recommendations from the system and others. It's still in beta form, so there is a lot of things that are being tested or may not work that well, but so far it's pretty solid. So far it's been pretty rad for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 We aren't sending the books out all at once, are we? This is why we need to organize. Here's what I think: There's 12 of us or so. We break off into smaller groups of 3 or 4 and establish the flow -- I send mine to you, you send yours to the next guy, and so on. We read. We talk. When we're done, you send the book you just finished to the next guy (the person you sent your original book to). Repeat until you have your book back. Start over/change groups/whatever. So yes, I guess everyone should start buy sending their book to someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 People should sign up for this site: http://www.librarything.com/It's a social networking site for readers. You can add your library, create reviews, and even get recommendations from the system and others. It's still in beta form, so there is a lot of things that are being tested or may not work that well, but so far it's pretty solid. So far it's been pretty rad for me. Thanks for this. I just signed up -- sounds great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I guess I'd like to know the first recipient of my book so I can take a look at that person's preferences. I'd like to know what kind of stuff that person's into before sending the book. I have a wide range of books, and I don't want to send a history book to a sci-fi aficionado. My short list: Haruki Murakami - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Neal Stephenson - Cryptonomicon Churchill/Vanderwall - Agents of Repression: The FBI's Secret Wars Against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement Jim Thompson - The Killer Inside Me Thomas Pynchon - The Crying of Lot 49 Don Delillo - White Noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 So yes, I guess everyone should start buy sending their book to someone. Have you established the groups yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drabley Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 I guess I'd like to know the first recipient of my book so I can take a look at that person's preferences. I'd like to know what kind of stuff that person's into before sending the book. I have a wide range of books, and I don't want to send a history book to a sci-fi aficionado.My short list: Haruki Murakami - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Neal Stephenson - Cryptonomicon Churchill/Vanderwall - Agents of Repression: The FBI's Secret Wars Against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement Jim Thompson - The Killer Inside Me Thomas Pynchon - The Crying of Lot 49 Don Delillo - White Noise Tomorrow morning I'll break it all down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murakami Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 My short list:Haruki Murakami - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle best book ever. currently re-reading it again. i think the book i am going to throw into the mix will be Murakami - A Wild Sheep Chase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 haha, I thought you might like that one. I was thinking of Kafka on the Shore too, but I think that Wind-up Bird is maybe a better starting point for Murakami. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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