Becky’s Online Reading Group

Becky’s Online Reading Group–Questions

Have questions about the “online reading group“? Just ask!!!

Answering a few questions…aka how-this-works…

How do I participate? I’ve signed up…now what? I will let you know about the next book several weeks in advance. I’m hoping that all of my choices will be available to you through your local library. But I will often let you know what the book costs on Amazon–just in case you’re so inclined. I get nothing from Amazon, by the way, I’m not trying to sell you a book. I just like to sell people on reading! A few days before the book begins, you might want to start reading. Most times the reading is 30 to 50 pages. Some might think that is one day’s worth of reading and start the night before. Others might want to take a few days. If you want to comment on the first day though, you’ll want to have read the first section before the official start date. If you want to wait to read it that day and post the next day, that’s fine too. (See below).  Essentially your participation comes through comments. You can opt to post about the book, about the reading experience, on your own blog if you have one. But you’d need to come to my blog to post a comment with that day’s link. Otherwise, join in or participate through comments. Share your thoughts. I appreciate honesty. You can love, hate, like, dislike, praise, criticize, whatever.

Do I have to participate on the assigned days? No. You can, of course, but post whenever you have finished the reading for that day. It can be in the interim between assigned reading days, or it could even be a few days later. Even after the next “reading” day has gone by. The purpose is to hear back from you.

What if I get behind? If you get behind, don’t give up. Just comment on those posts as you get to that chapter. It doesn’t matter if you’re behind schedule. I’m still interested in what you have to say! I’d rather have you a day or two (or even a week) behind schedule, than for you to give up and drop out.

What if I start the book and hate it? Do I have to keep going? That’s up to you completely. Your comments (or posts if you blog about it on your own site) can be as negative as you like. But if you seriously hate a book and don’t want to waste your time, then drop out if you must! I’d rather you do that than come to hate me by association I’m not going to *force* you to read anything!

What if my copy is back due at the library before our discussion schedule is “finished”? If you don’t want to renew–and I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t want the hassle–then you can always finish it ahead of schedule. You might want to jot down a few notes about the chapter(s) if anything strikes you as being outstanding–either good or bad. The number of notes you might have to take will vary. If you think you can retain it for a week or two, then none may be necessary. Otherwise, jotting down a key idea or two might help.

What if I read really quickly? What if  I finish that month’s book in two days? Do I have to “slow” my reading down just to participate? If you want to read at your own pace, feel free to do so. Just comment when you can! Take a few notes if necessary. But basically just retain enough to let your opinions be known as we go along.

How can I suggest a book for the group to read? Is Becky open to suggestion? Is she easily influenced? You can always email me with your ideas on what to read next, AND your ideas on how to improve the group overall. I am always, always wanting feedback. Always. So email me with your thoughts and suggestions. laney_poATyahoo.com.

August Book Announced!!!

Originally, I thought The Accidental Time Machine might make a good selection for June. However, after learning that it will be released in paperback in July, I’ve decided to save it for the month of August. That way if folks want to buy a copy–emphasis on if–it won’t be so expensive. I’m hoping that it will be available at most libraries, however. Hardcover. Paperback.

The Accidental Time Machine
by Joe Haldeman

Day One: Chapters 1 – 4
Day Two: Chapters 5 – 9
Day Three: Chapters 10 – 11
Day Four: Chapters 12 – 13
Day Five: Chapters 14 – 15
Day Six: Chapters 16 – 18
Day Seven: Chapters 19 – 22

I’m thinking Tuesdays-Thursdays might be good. But I’m open for feedback. (8/5; 8/7; 8/12/; 8/14; 8/19; 8/21; 8/26) I honestly don’t know what works best for people: two assignments per week? three? Monday, Wednesday, Fridays? Tuesday, Thursdays? Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays? If you’ve got a strong preference let me know. Otherwise, I’ll just pick whatever strikes me at the moment I’m making the schedule.

August’s Book Selection

Originally, I thought The Accidental Time Machine might make a good selection for June. However, after learning that it will be released in paperback in July, I’ve decided to save it for the month of August. That way if folks want to buy a copy–emphasis on if–it won’t be so expensive. I’m hoping that it will be available at most libraries, however. Hardcover. Paperback.

The Accidental Time Machine
by Joe Haldeman

Day One: Chapters 1 – 4
Day Two: Chapters 5 – 9
Day Three: Chapters 10 – 11
Day Four: Chapters 12 – 13
Day Five: Chapters 14 – 15
Day Six: Chapters 16 – 18
Day Seven: Chapters 19 – 22

I’m thinking Tuesdays-Thursdays might be good. But I’m open for feedback. (8/5; 8/7; 8/12/; 8/14; 8/19; 8/21; 8/26) I honestly don’t know what works best for people: two assignments per week? three? Monday, Wednesday, Fridays? Tuesday, Thursdays? Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays? If you’ve got a strong preference let me know. Otherwise, I’ll just pick whatever strikes me at the moment I’m making the schedule.

Please take this survey!!!

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Survey about Online Reading Group….

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Please take a moment or two to answer my survey! I’d really appreciate it!

Please promote LAWKI!

I would really really appreciate it if you could spread the word on May’s online book club discussion of Life As We Knew It. I’d love to know if you plan to participate. And even if you’re not going to join in, if you could just promote it…that would be really great. I don’t know if the turn out is so low because everyone that is anyone has already read the books I’m choosing. Or if people just don’t know about it. Or if people don’t have the time. In case it’s the second–not knowing–I’d really appreciate you spreading the word to all your book-reading friends.

The book should be available at your local library. Or you can buy it in hardcover or paperback for a fairly reasonable price.

Amazon has the hardcover at the bargain price of $6.99. That’s the price for a NEW copy. But in true Amazon fashion, they don’t take down the other Life As We Knew It entry, the one that costs $11.56. They like to trick people I think. Used copies begin at $3.29.

The paperback editions officially release May 1. But Amazon has it in stock already. (I found this out through Susan Beth Pfeffer’s blog.) That is $6.95.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Friday, May 9th, 2008; Ch. 1-3; May 7th through May 19th
Monday, May 12, 2008; Ch. 4-6; May 20th through June 25th
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008; Ch. 7-8; July 2 through August 4th
Friday, May 16th, 2008; Ch. 9-11; August 6th through September 5th
Monday, May 19th, 2008; Ch. 12-14; September 6th through October 24th
Wednesday, May 21rst, 2008; Ch. 15- 17; October 26th through December 21rst
Friday, May 23rd, 2008; Ch 18-19; December 24th through February 7th
Monday, May 26th; Ch. 20-21; February 9th through March 20th

Warning: May Overwhelm You, But…

The Spring edition of the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival is up. Some of the contests end today, Friday. Some go through the weekend. Most are over with by Monday, though. To say that the list is huge would be an understatement. A big understatement. There are over 900 contests that you can enter. 900. What’s being given away? Well, all kinds of things. Books. DVDs. But the most glorious thing–in my opinion–are the gift cards. I love gift cards. Seriously. Some items are homemade. Some are ‘girly’–(soap, lotion, bath stuff, candles, etc.). Many are mom related. Things for moms and things for babies and kids of all ages. While 900 is a lot to browse through. I’m sure–confident–you’ll find something you want.

Looking for Feedback

I’m considering simplifying my blogging life, but I wanted to get some feedback first. For several reasons. (Can you tell I try to be a people pleaser?)

Anyway, I have a blog Becky’s Christian Reviews. It is for the most part a neglected blog. I try my best, but except for posting my CFBA book reviews (weekly). And the occasional book review, it isn’t an active blog. Furthermore, it’s not a popular blog. I would be surprised if it had a regular readership at all. Really surprised. That’s not shocking. It is the unfavored child of my blogs. I don’t mean to treat it differently from Becky’s Book Reviews and Young Readers and even Becky’s Challenges and Becky’s Online Reading Group. It just is one of those things filed under sad but true. It’s not poplar because it doesn’t get the energy and the effort and the time that my other blogs do.

That blog, Becky’s Christian Reviews, is for reviewing Christian books for all ages. My question is this. I’m considering (I haven’t decided anything definitely) incorporating Christian reviews into this main site. Those posts might be thought of as “off topic” for some folks looking for YA book reviews. They might get annoyed with me there. And I suppose it’s possible I might offend people if I review Christian books on my main site which is typically not affiliated or associated with being a “Christian” site at all (or a spiritual/religious site for that matter.) I don’t want to lose any readers. Or bore any readers. But I also like the idea of just having one main blog to do all my book reviews.

How many reviews? I’m not sure. It could be something that’s once or twice a week. Though more likely it will be a once a month (or twice a month) thing. If my luck continues on, it might be an every-other-month thing. So chances are the content would only shift occasionally. You might not even notice it.

Another reason I’m considering is that I feel slightly guilty (is guilty the right word? probably not…) that the few reviews I do write up for the other site are neglected. They’re not in a place to attract any attention. I don’t feel I’m adequately promoting the (relatively few) books I’m receiving from publishers. (The number of visitors I receive in six months on my Christian site, I receive in one week here at Becky’s Book Reviews.) So if my reviews were on my main blog, I’d feel I was giving back more, offering more for the authors and publishers.

So is this something that would bother/annoy/offend you? Do you care at all one way or the other?

I wouldn’t be eliminating Becky’s Christian Reviews altogether because I’m signed up for the CFBA Blog Alliance and I wouldn’t know how (exactly how???) to go about switching my information for them to the new site. (Though I suppose it’s possible to figure that out at some point? Maybe?)