tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post2001484065204809677..comments2023-09-24T11:26:16.606-04:00Comments on The Middle Ages: Ode To A Book ClubDeb and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444390852070865517noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-74096857972667365722011-06-13T17:01:58.559-04:002011-06-13T17:01:58.559-04:00April -- interesting that, how we can meet soul si...April -- interesting that, how we can meet soul sisters and brothers online. You never know where they are, but it's always great to find them!Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-60991670186364180682011-06-13T01:39:42.941-04:002011-06-13T01:39:42.941-04:00Barb, it sounds like your book club really is the ...Barb, it sounds like your book club really is the best in the world! :) It's always nice to find people with similar interests to yours, and can be a good way to find new friends. I met my best friends in the world online, on a discussion board for a TV show. Weird, huh?<br /><br />(And I love the idea of a Middle Pages book club. That would be beyond neat!)Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12945954352194416417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-26917026077198103992011-06-12T13:22:26.707-04:002011-06-12T13:22:26.707-04:00Dianne! Welcome. So glad to meet you! We lvoe the ...Dianne! Welcome. So glad to meet you! We lvoe the Tart over here, and any friend of Hart's is a friend of ours :)<br /><br />Will definitely keep everyone posted on our Middle Pages developments.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-47733931540367854052011-06-12T11:28:43.967-04:002011-06-12T11:28:43.967-04:00Hi ladies - just found your site via a mention on ...Hi ladies - just found your site via a mention on Hart Johnson's The Naked Tart and now I get to spend my Sunday getting to know you and reading your archived posts. Couldn't think of a better way to spend the day! :-) I'm envious of your Book Club - but thanks for sharing so the rest of us can enjoy the spirit and enthusiasm by proxy. Please post updates on it. It would be nice to hear more about the experiences and maybe book choices of your group.<br /><br />Nice to "meet" you.Dianne Greenlayhttp://www.diannegreenlay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-13465751252177317462011-06-11T18:38:02.737-04:002011-06-11T18:38:02.737-04:00Thanks, J! You definitely get the beauty. And I...Thanks, J! You definitely get the beauty. And I've had that same experience -- thinking one way about a book and then changing my mind after hearing people talk about it.<br /><br />Rigel, of course people can bow out if they don't relate to a book (or if work issues preclude availability). Fair warning: we often recommend books we haven't actually read, but have heard a lot about -- and we don't always know how things are going to pan out. If a book is too much, or too painful, we do bow out. I've bowed out due to utter boredom (with a book) :)Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-62830305340142815862011-06-11T17:20:35.476-04:002011-06-11T17:20:35.476-04:00I love this post!
Im a member of a local book clu...I love this post! <br />Im a member of a local book club myself, and even though when I go into the start of each session I think I have a clear cut opinion on a book, there are always people that have a completly opposite take on it and make me think twice. Book clubs are definitely great for getting lots of different angles on different subjects!<br />JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-5223168317359240712011-06-11T15:38:37.999-04:002011-06-11T15:38:37.999-04:00Oy! That must've been a rough Jan./Feb. when y...Oy! That must've been a rough Jan./Feb. when y'all learned the hard way about winter scheduled depressing books. *shudders* Bad, bad mojo on that one.<br /><br />This does bring up another participation question about your group:<br />Do people ever bow out for a month here or there saying, "I'm sorry, but I just can't read that book?" For example, I know my friend KatieK would never choose to read something too violent. And, I can't handle missing/dead kid books.Rigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-32849573348238081952011-06-11T10:03:32.212-04:002011-06-11T10:03:32.212-04:00Rigel, I don't want to get ahead of ourselves,...Rigel, I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but I can tell you how we do at our book club. We meet for 10 months over the year. At the June meeting (which is the "last" of the season) we each nominate 1 (sometimes 2 books). In our group, that means as many as 25 books. Our trusty Karen and Anne then amalgamate the books into a list and include a brief blurb (downloaded from the internet, ie: an official blurb). We take a week to peruse and then each of us pick our top 10 books. The 10 books with the most votes becomes our official list, and we usually read them in order of popularity. That said, we have had issues around "depressing" books falling in winter months and have since worked to fix that! If we are lucky enough to get an author to come visit (easier in a big city than elsewhere obviously), we read their book in a month/time convenient to them. I can certainly see online visits from authors as being way easier to organize than in-home visits. Anyway, lots of food for thought. And some homework to be done...Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-37085597531837064092011-06-11T08:14:18.957-04:002011-06-11T08:14:18.957-04:00The middle pages group! Oh My Goodness what a grea...The middle pages group! Oh My Goodness what a great idea. I agree Erin and thanks for the name Rigel.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17041122116481448321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-8698555529134390262011-06-11T00:50:05.439-04:002011-06-11T00:50:05.439-04:00How many books does each person get to nominate fo...How many books does each person get to nominate for a round of voting?Rigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-86584861061776503572011-06-10T23:02:07.627-04:002011-06-10T23:02:07.627-04:00Thanks, Hope! I'm aiming to be at book club we...Thanks, Hope! I'm aiming to be at book club well into my 90s like our great inspiration, Betty.<br /><br />Erin, I will definitely keep you posted re the MP. It does sound like fun!<br /><br />And, Lyndsie, sometimes it takes practice to still the mind in order to read. It's like exercising a muscle. (but I do understand the feeling!)Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-82395139013533446822011-06-10T22:26:39.676-04:002011-06-10T22:26:39.676-04:00I hate to say it but I am not a big reader,althou...I hate to say it but I am not a big reader,although I would love to be. With work now days it seems my like there are just not enough hours in the day. Another thing as well, when I read it seems like my mind goes in to so many thought and I think about so many things. I hate it but thats my brain for you.<br /><br />LyndsieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-91206331195932296232011-06-10T20:52:53.234-04:002011-06-10T20:52:53.234-04:00I would love to see a middle pages group, what a g...I would love to see a middle pages group, what a great name Rigel! I think it would turn into a really fun thing.Erin Beykohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03024000763970886284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-50885972720492949192011-06-10T20:27:04.847-04:002011-06-10T20:27:04.847-04:00What a lovely ode to your book club! I too have re...What a lovely ode to your book club! I too have read some of those books recommended by my friend Anne!<br />I would dearly love to be a fly at one of your meetings! Keep it going! I too am part of a book club that I love and also have read things I would never have read.....like science fiction! I hope you go another wonderful. 13 years!<br />Hope StrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-69184610198563414422011-06-10T17:22:52.551-04:002011-06-10T17:22:52.551-04:00Rigel, we nominate all kinds of books. We don'...Rigel, we nominate all kinds of books. We don't do a lot of nonfiction, but have done several over the years. We love them too.<br /><br />Erin, maybe you want to help coerce us into doing the Middle Pages group?!Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-75077829994309632212011-06-10T15:53:46.892-04:002011-06-10T15:53:46.892-04:00I'm jealous, the one book club I had joined de...I'm jealous, the one book club I had joined deteriorated into a monthly girls night out and is now completly defunct. I suspect out of the group only a couple of us were regular readers and may be why it failed so miserably.Erin Beykohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03024000763970886284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-78594567775775061322011-06-10T15:20:45.958-04:002011-06-10T15:20:45.958-04:00Are all the books fiction? Can there be nonfictio...Are all the books fiction? Can there be nonfiction reads, too?Rigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-33945419621767306032011-06-10T13:32:25.558-04:002011-06-10T13:32:25.558-04:00Thanks, Anne, for filling in the blanks! I wanted ...Thanks, Anne, for filling in the blanks! I wanted to mention the author visits too, but ran out of page-time! The comments section is always good for the rest. xoBarbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-79770962629791159142011-06-10T13:28:59.275-04:002011-06-10T13:28:59.275-04:00Rigel, our club has a couple of rules. Must be 500...Rigel, our club has a couple of rules. Must be 500 pages or less and must be available in paperback. Also, we each bring a book suggestion to our June meeting, and then one of our members puts together the list and we all vote. The list is in place by the end of June for the following season, so we have the summer to get a head start. Good luck with the Middle Pages. Love it! - Anne.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-88066030604529304552011-06-10T13:26:39.452-04:002011-06-10T13:26:39.452-04:00As a member of THE WORLD’S BEST BOOK CLUB (aka Wut...As a member of THE WORLD’S BEST BOOK CLUB (aka Wuthering Bites Book Club), I am thrilled by your love note to us, Barb. We truly are an amazing group. And an eclectic one. A principal, a teacher, an artist, a legal assistant, an architect, an engineer… I could go on and on.<br />And of course my 94 year-old Mom, who remembers each book better than any of us. And she ALWAYS reads the book!<br />And the books. Oh, the books! There are so many wonderful reads that I would have passed over and missed out on. Some favourites are A Good House, The Story of Bobby O’Malley, The Poisonwood Bible, The Red Tent, Divisadero, The Lizard Cage… too many to mention.<br />And the authors? Did I mention the authors? Just in case you’re not jealous enough, we have actually had authors come to our meetings. Wayne Johnston and Karen Connolly (twice!) instantly come to mind. What magical and amazing evenings those were.<br />And our lovely Jo Anne, who keeps a faithful list of all of the books we have read over the last 13 years. And you, dear Barb, and your Copper Beech. Our end of season pot lucks are always a highlight.<br />I just noticed that I have started almost every paragraph with “and”. I feel like a kid… and and and … so breathlessly excited to share! - AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-27132853913311101302011-06-10T12:53:43.058-04:002011-06-10T12:53:43.058-04:00I got zero sleep last night. None. Or, in the im...I got zero sleep last night. None. Or, in the immortal words of the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything on Veggietales, "Zip. Zilch. Nada." So, like you, I am far too cotton-brained to attempt some sort of technical set up today. Sorry. I have the intelligence of a rolypoly today.<br /><br />I only ask the following: that the book club be done in an extremely tight budget friendly way. E.g. Please no picking books that are brand new and only out in hardback. Please plan the reading list and deadlines far enough in advance to give time for interlibrary loan requests or searching for a super cheap used copy and waiting for the order to arrive via media mail postage rate. Please. Thank you.Rigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-69003269311606644622011-06-10T12:31:42.854-04:002011-06-10T12:31:42.854-04:00Hollye, your painting club sounds wonderful!! Anot...Hollye, your painting club sounds wonderful!! Another great idea for group connection.<br /><br />Rigel -- The Middle Pages?!!!!!! I think we have to do it just for that alone! Okay, point me in the right direction (am feeling very cotton-brained after last night's event, phew!)...Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-51556193669844808882011-06-10T12:27:26.515-04:002011-06-10T12:27:26.515-04:00Count me in!
How about if the online book club ...Count me in! <br /><br />How about if the online book club is a spin off of The Middle Ages, we call it The Middle Pages?Rigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-50954905687686907822011-06-10T12:19:24.792-04:002011-06-10T12:19:24.792-04:00Sounds fab. I'm all for communities of amazing...Sounds fab. I'm all for communities of amazing women. Me, I've had the Monday night painting club for over twenty years. Our fearless leader sadly passed away a few years ago, and on her deathbed said to me "keep the group going..." So I now host in my basement. <br />It is so beyond books, or painting. It is about continuing friendship, community, connecting. I'm glad you're in the World's Best Book Club.Hollye Dexterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528510907038944744.post-83759126545744785662011-06-10T12:03:00.618-04:002011-06-10T12:03:00.618-04:00I guess I'm a day late and a dollar short to t...I guess I'm a day late and a dollar short to the online book club idea!! Obviously with my own excellent club, I never needed to look. But for someone like Rigel, it might be just the thing. Rigel, you and Kate know each other...<br /><br />Kate, thanks so much for your kind words and thoughts! You are so right. We don't should be announcing our gigs. Deb! Send me something I can post to the blog about Spenny : ) ! As for that show with the two of us -- we are working on it... fingers crossed.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020502430509158737noreply@blogger.com