The Next Best Book Club discussion

Marion wrote: "Wow, how incredibly rude. It was an innocent mistake. "

Marion, We weren't trying to be rude, but it's been 4 days since nominating has ended. You're the ninth person to submit a new nomination since then, even after Lori changed the initial post to state that nominating was done, and changed the title of the thread. We've also reminded eight people before you that they can no longer submit books for the poll as the poll already exists and is actively being voted on.

Again, we're not trying to be rude, but at this point, there's not much else that we can do but make a joke out of it. I'm sorry if you took offense at our poking fun.

I don't think that anyone was trying to honestly be rude. It really has just been rather redundant to keep having to tell people that nominations were over when it clearly said so in the title and the first post. I just think that perhaps people should read a little carefully when it comes to things like nominating and voting. I think Lori has done an outstanding job in putting in a clearly defined set of rules and guidelines for voting in the first post so perhaps if people take the time to read them we would not have people doing things like nominating when its time to vote or nominating two books when they should only do one. But I do understand that honest mistakes happen especially when one is new or has never participated but I think reading the thread carefully can take care of that. I do apologize for any hurt feelings you might have but I do not think anything was really directed at you. It was just at the point where everyone was repeating themselves.

Cat 2 The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
by E. Lockhart

Maybe neon signs would work, Lori?

Maybe the thread should be closed so that you couldn't post to it anymore. That would work.

I don't think Lori wants to do that, but I really think it's the only thing that would be guaranteed to work. ;<

I have a question for Lori.

When I go to the first post in this thread, I notice that it still indicates tha now nominations are open; and provides info on how to make nominations. This is, of course, just as it was originally written.

But can that first post still be edited by you, Lori?

I know that the title has been changed now with !!!BIG CAPITAL LETTERS!!! and many exclamations. But there are clearly folks who go right past that to the first post.

Can that first post be changed?

......But maybe even that won't work.

As Einstein said:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

Cat 1: Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

How about fireworks?

I did edit the first post..... check it out. It was edited days ago... AND check out the older threads... the last one we did for April, I totally took out the nomination rules and people STILL posted nominations....

Im just having fun laughing about it now.

The truth is it was the first time I ever posted anything on this site and it was confusing. Although I readily admit I was hasty and didn't take the time I should have. However, it is always rude to call someone stupid or "dum," no matter how you slice it. As a phd student in biochemistry I was really looking for a fun way to release stress. Becoming active in Good Reads seemed like fun and no worries kind of activity. At the end of the day people make mistakes and there will always be people out there that freak out about it. That is something that the I have to accept. For all those out there that that get so annoyed from these mistakes, you need to learn to be more forgiving and patient.

Marion - I don't think Lori was calling you dumb, actually. I'm sure she'll respond about that. The only thing is that this has been going on for months. Lori prefers to have only one thread open for each monthly selection, but no matter what she seems to do to explain the rules, it doesn't seem to reach everyone. I hope you don't feel unwelcome - the joking wasn't directed at you personally. Perhaps if you explained what it was that made you think Lori was still taking nominations, the problem could be rectified.

It was likely me. :(

I quoted Einstein about human stupidity.

Please accept my apology, Marion. I did not think before I posted.

Marion wrote: "The truth is it was the first time I ever posted anything on this site and it was confusing. Although I readily admit I was hasty and didn't take the time I should have. However, it is always rud..."

I am sorry that you feel like everyone was so rude to you, but seriously... the PHD... I think that it is safe to assume that almost everyone on the site is at least a little bit smart, or they wouldn't be on a BOOK website. Having a PHD doesn't prove anything. Some of the smartest people I know have not had PHDs... I have also met a few idiots who have PHDs. I am sorry that your feelings got hurt... but you weren't being targeted for anything.

I am not saying that it isn't a place to have fun and post and not be on their guard... I am just saying that it is a book website. So most of us have the basis of liking to read. It isn't a chore to pick up a book and read. I mean, for HP fans, there are messages boards, anime fans, there are websites... for anything EVER CREATED there are websites and you find the website that relates to your interest. You don't need to flash around a phd to make yourself seem smart. I understand mistakes, I have made them. I have made them on this website. I guess that people flashing their credentials has always been one of my biggest pet peeves... can't really explain it. Maybe because the smartest guy I ever knew couldn't go to college because he couldn't afford it... or because the dumbest girl I knew kept on going to school until she got a phd on daddy's dime because she wasn't ready to enter the real world. In my experience, having a degree means very little. I have only responded to one person about there posting after the deadline and my exact words were "Quick, take it down before someone else sees." I don't think that was in the least bit hostile... but who knows, maybe it was.

Megha wrote: "Kathryn, I agree with you about one flashing their credentials. It certainly does not matter on this form.
And of course, not having a degree does not mean one is not smart."

That is all that I was saying... I wasn't saying that she was dumb or anything. Her's wasn't even the one I commented after. After the first one, I got tired of telling people who probably wouldn't look back and see later that they made a mistake. I am sorry if I came across as bitchy... I didn't mean to.

Megha wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Megha wrote: "Kathryn, I agree with you about one flashing their credentials. It certainly does not matter on this form.
And of course, not having a degree does not mean one is not ..."

Oh, *runs to corner, hides and blushes* Umm, sorry... I have a major accounting exam in three hours and I decided that it would be a good idea to read a book for the Spring Challenge rather then study, or even sleep, last night, so I was perhaps a little jumpy... sorry for biting off your head. God, I shouldn't even be on this site right now... must study!

Maybe next time change it to:
HELLO!!! NO MORE VOTING FOR MAY!!!! NO MORE NOMINATIONS PLEASE!!!

And then once again on the first post (if it can be changed) put it once again, just to make sure, it should say "**VOTING IS NOW CLOSED***".

Because surprisingly, even I overlooked the huge writing! LOL
For some reason beyond me, my eyes missed that and only saw "WE ARE VOTING FOR MAY" and "**VOTING IS NOW OPEN*** ". Apparently my brain and eyes weren't communicating properly. LOL

Just a suggestion anyway.

Beth wrote: "Maybe next time change it to:
HELLO!!! NO MORE VOTING FOR MAY!!!! NO MORE NOMINATIONS PLEASE!!!

And then once again on the first post (if it can be changed) put it once again, just to make sure, ..."

LOL, good suggestion. I think that because of how the first post is set up, it is easy to look over the part where Lori said that it was closed (that seems to be in the indented space) and to just see the nominations. However, Lori did say that even when she deleted it in the past, people still posted their nominations... I don't really think that there is anything that can be done to stop it other then to lock the thread and make it closed for posting, which Lori also said she didn't want to do... is voting over?

hehehe....stiring the pot. Some of ya'll are so cool but others really get their panties in a bind (a bit like me i guess!)

Intelligence is completely relative and isn't at all related reading. I wasn't trying to "wave credentials." I am just totally stressed and telling everyone why. Which in hindsight isn't nescessary since so many of us are. I agree with many of the comments, but for the record, I put myself through school.

I just want a place to talk about books. I am not at all literary and I love hearing others opinion on books, especially since I miss alot of the analogies and the like. I want a "safe" place to discuss literature and not be blasted for it.

I never said that you didn't put yourself through school. I was referencing someone else who I know... you I don't know. When you said: "However, it is always rude to call someone stupid or "dum," no matter how you slice it. As a phd student in biochemistry" it sounded to me like waving credentials... I am sorry I was wrong... or rather, glad that I was wrong. Whatever. If you want to talk about books, then talk about books. As far as I can tell, you have made 4 comments, and none have been about books. So pick a book and start discussing it. If you want to talk about Angels & Demons, the book you tried to nominate, I would be more then happy to discuss it with you. Unlike many members here, I actually liked it and I am excited for the movie to come out. It was a good nom, in light of the movie, but it was too late... That is all I am saying.

I'm sure Lori is going to respond here herself but the way I interpreted the "dum.. dumdum....dum" was more like a funeral march or the mystery type of music-dum da dum dum. I'm sure the intent wasn't to call anyone "dumb"


I hope everyone can put aside their misunderstandings and hurt feelings and just have fun here. It's a great goup, you'd be missing out otherwise.

What happened to this group these past few weeks?

Mercury in retrograde? I dunno.

...the mystery type of music-dum da dum dum. I'm sure the intent wasn't to call anyone "dumb"

Joanie, you are one smart cookie chicka!! That was EXACTLY how I meant it!!!! Sorry it was taken the wrong way. Sometimes even I, yes... I, the super mod, can forget how things might be taken on here....

Glad to see everyones "panties" are unbunched.
Let the happiness and joy begin.

Obviously the way I am running these nominations/voting threads are not working.
I will have to get creative next month!!!

check out the first post now...... hee hee

It looks effective, but I'm not holding my breath!

Hopefully...

Maybe. ;)

Oh, I forgot, we have winners!

I Capture the Castle
The People of the Book

Those are our two group reads! I will open threads for them on May 1st.
Thanks for voting everyone!

Both my votes won! That's the first time that's ever happened for me!

Congratulations JG, just goes to show how good your taste is:)

Unless everyone hates them.

But YOU will be happy. Sometimes you deserve what you want, especially with books. Besides lots of people voted, we'll blame them if they suck:)

Oh, but ICTC wont suck. Promise! It's beautiful, sweet, lovely, innocent...best first line I think I've ever read and all up hill from there.

Oh yay! I can't wait for ICTC!! :)

I read People of the Book in January and loved it. I've read both of these and loved them, which is why I voted for them. That and I wanted to participate without adding to the tbr!

Looking forward to both these books and upcoming discussions!

I've read both of these, so I'm all caught up without even trying! In a way, I'm glad, because my TBR list is already waaaaaay too long.

I'm excited to discuss I Capture The Castle! With People of the Book, I don't have and since I've obtained so many new books recently, it would probably be a bad idea to purchase another one.

Both my votes won too!!! Yeah!!! I started ICTC a few years ago right after I had my son and never made much progress but I think it was more due to life circumstances (ie sleep deprivation!) than the book itself. I'm excited!!

Neither of my votes, but I am excited to see what all the fuss (on here) is all about!!!

I've got both on TBR - I hope I can find them!

Very stoked about these choices! I loved "People of the Book" and am eager to discuss it since I can't talk my face-to-face book club into reading it. Plus, I just checked out "I Capture The Castle" yesterday without knowing about this. I figured the sooner we all read it, the sooner Fiona can move on!

Great choices, I'm excited to start reading!! :)

I bought ICTC a couple months ago and am excited to start it!

I put People of the Book on hold at the library and I hope I get it in time, I've been wanting to read it for a while!

Oh great books! I've read them, which is so good because I can participate in the discussions--and to try to read them next month will crazy! So good choices for me!

OHHH! I'm really excited about The People of the Book! Hope I can actually get around to reading it!

If anyone is interested, there are 3 copies of ICTC available on paperbackswap. No wait! Now there's just 2.

As for me, I think I'll give People of the Book a whirl and pass on ICTC.

April wrote: "I LOVED I Capture The Castle, so I doubt it's because she's given bad recs, actually she has great taste in books. I think maybe she's feeling idk, sheepish because it's going to win! :-P"

Ditto for me - I loved ICTC as well. You did good, Fiona! :)

I may actually read these two selections with y'all. I've had I Capture The Castle on my TBR list for awhile. I'm currently reading When Crickets Cry, so far so good.

Patricia