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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ST on February 7, 2002, at 21:08:04
> >If anyone who reads the books would also like to volunteer to take a leadership role, that would be great. > >
How about a different person for each book? Or every few books? Maybe it can switch off? Because someone may have time this month to read the book but not next month, etc......
ST
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 7, 2002, at 22:47:30
In reply to Leadership role, posted by ST on February 7, 2002, at 21:08:04
> How about a different person for each book? Or every few books? Maybe it can switch off? Because someone may have time this month to read the book but not next month, etc......
That could work. But the more consistent someone can be, the better, I think. Maybe a couple co-leaders would be best? Continuity, but not as much responsibility?
Bob
Posted by jay on February 8, 2002, at 5:53:44
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by Dr. Bob on February 7, 2002, at 22:47:30
> > How about a different person for each book? Or every few books? Maybe it can switch off? Because someone may have time this month to read the book but not next month, etc......
>
> That could work. But the more consistent someone can be, the better, I think. Maybe a couple co-leaders would be best? Continuity, but not as much responsibility?
>I would greatly be interesting in the Leadership role, mainly as you describe it, Dr. Bob, "..*not* mean picking the books or lecturing on them, mainly I guess just facilitating discussion..".
Do we "apply" for the position, or is it voted in? Thanks...
Jay
> Bob
Posted by fi on February 8, 2002, at 6:09:15
In reply to Re: Leadership role » Dr. Bob, posted by jay on February 8, 2002, at 5:53:44
That's a great offer, Jay.
I think the decision process is going to be rather hard.
On leadership, could it be that if no-one else expresses an interest within (say) 2 weeks, you just carry on and give it a try?
The book choice is going to be a harder and regular issue, tho not explicitly part of the leadership role. There needs to be some point when a specific item is chosen by someone from whatever has been suggested... Very important that whoever does the scheduling is treated courteously by other board members- there are bound to be a range of views.
If its something likely to be available in public libraries, or at least in paperback, that may help on the cost front?
Personally, I dont really have much chance to read and mainly stick to entertaining fiction, so am not likely to be particularly involved, but hope it goes well.
Fi
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 8, 2002, at 10:44:41
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by fi on February 8, 2002, at 6:09:15
> That's a great offer, Jay.
>
> could it be that if no-one else expresses an interest within (say) 2 weeks, you just carry on and give it a try?OK, let's see, if we start the clock with your post, that makes the deadline for volunteering to co-lead February 22 at 06:09:15. :-) How about if:
1. People who want to volunteer to co-lead do so on this thread.
2. People with opinions about the volunteers email me directly.
3. I decide on the co-leaders.I do think it would be nice to have a couple co-leaders. Then I'll try to step back -- which might be hard for me, but might also be an interesting experiment. :-)
> Very important that whoever does the scheduling is treated courteously by other board members- there are bound to be a range of views.
Being courteous (civil) will of course be important in general. There will be a range of views on the books and also on the co-leaders. People need to be courteous to the co-leaders, but the co-leaders need to be open to feedback, too. And I need to be able to make co-leader changes if necessary.
> Personally, I dont really have much chance to read and mainly stick to entertaining fiction, so am not likely to be particularly involved...
If you don't have time to read, that's a problem, but IMO "entertaining fiction" shouldn't necessarily be ruled out. :-)
Bob
Posted by jane d on February 8, 2002, at 12:56:47
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by fi on February 8, 2002, at 6:09:15
> Personally, I dont really have much chance to read and mainly stick to entertaining fiction, so am not likely to be particularly involved, but hope it goes well.
I think entertaining fiction would be great. If you just don't like the idea of talking about books that's fine. But it may be that the books you like are just what we are all looking for. Perhaps there is some book that you are already planning to read? Even if it doesn't get chosen I would bet that it goes on a lot of peoples private reading lists.
Jane
Posted by Noa on February 8, 2002, at 13:54:52
In reply to Entertaining Fiction » fi, posted by jane d on February 8, 2002, at 12:56:47
I agree. Nothing wrong with entertaining fiction.
Posted by kiddo on February 8, 2002, at 17:30:59
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by Dr. Bob on February 8, 2002, at 10:44:41
I wouldn't mind giving it a 'whirl'. Are you talking trial basis, specific time frame commitment?
What about having a 'rotation' for the book of the month. You could post a "This month's selection was suggested by: Dr. Bob" (or whomever)
Then someone else the next month...or whatever.
Kiddo
> > That's a great offer, Jay.
> >
> > could it be that if no-one else expresses an interest within (say) 2 weeks, you just carry on and give it a try?
>
> OK, let's see, if we start the clock with your post, that makes the deadline for volunteering to co-lead February 22 at 06:09:15. :-) How about if:
>
> 1. People who want to volunteer to co-lead do so on this thread.
> 2. People with opinions about the volunteers email me directly.
> 3. I decide on the co-leaders.
>
> I do think it would be nice to have a couple co-leaders. Then I'll try to step back -- which might be hard for me, but might also be an interesting experiment. :-)
>
> > Very important that whoever does the scheduling is treated courteously by other board members- there are bound to be a range of views.
>
> Being courteous (civil) will of course be important in general. There will be a range of views on the books and also on the co-leaders. People need to be courteous to the co-leaders, but the co-leaders need to be open to feedback, too. And I need to be able to make co-leader changes if necessary.
>
> > Personally, I dont really have much chance to read and mainly stick to entertaining fiction, so am not likely to be particularly involved...
>
> If you don't have time to read, that's a problem, but IMO "entertaining fiction" shouldn't necessarily be ruled out. :-)
>
> Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 8, 2002, at 18:40:27
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by kiddo on February 8, 2002, at 17:30:59
> I wouldn't mind giving it a 'whirl'. Are you talking trial basis, specific time frame commitment?
Great, thanks!
This whole thing is on a trial basis. :-) I think it might be nice for co-leaders to sign up for at least 2-3 books = 2-3 months, to give everyone time to see how it goes... How about that?
> What about having a 'rotation' for the book of the month. You could post a "This month's selection was suggested by: Dr. Bob" (or whomever)
>
> Then someone else the next month...or whatever.That would be one way to do it, but if it's more by consensus, maybe more people will read them?
Bob
Posted by jane d on February 10, 2002, at 20:04:32
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by Dr. Bob on February 8, 2002, at 18:40:27
Thank you Kiddo and Jay for volunteering so quickly and thanks in advance to anyone else equally brave.
I thought I'd throw out my opinion on the role I'd like to see the leaders play. Personally, I'd like the leaders to be involved in the book club as peers. So, while we all should vote on what books to read, if there is a book that leaves both leaders completely cold it should be deferred until another time with another leader. I don't want to force any one to lead on discussion of a book that they would not otherwise participate in.
Waiting to hear other peoples ideas.
Jane
Posted by kiddo on February 10, 2002, at 22:06:40
In reply to Leaders should also be participants, posted by jane d on February 10, 2002, at 20:04:32
Welcome....I'm not sure I understand what you mean...if a book leaves both leaders cold it should be deferred?
Can you elaborate please...I mean, if a book leaves whatever leader cold, shouldn't that be part of whatever discussion is made? (S)He may have their reasons why, or it just didn't click, but I would think that that would be a part of what it's all about? If that person gave their reasons, someone may respond with something that agreed or disagreed with that opinion and may or may not change it...
Just MHO-
Kiddo
> Thank you Kiddo and Jay for volunteering so quickly and thanks in advance to anyone else equally brave.
>
> I thought I'd throw out my opinion on the role I'd like to see the leaders play. Personally, I'd like the leaders to be involved in the book club as peers. So, while we all should vote on what books to read, if there is a book that leaves both leaders completely cold it should be deferred until another time with another leader. I don't want to force any one to lead on discussion of a book that they would not otherwise participate in.
>
> Waiting to hear other peoples ideas.
>
> Jane
Posted by jane d on February 10, 2002, at 22:30:52
In reply to Re: Leaders should also be participants » jane d, posted by kiddo on February 10, 2002, at 22:06:40
Kiddo,
I'm sorry. I wasn't very clear at all. What I meant to say was if the very idea of discussing a certain book or type of book left you cold it should be avoided. For example, if you felt that there was no point in discussing non-fiction I'd rather see the group discussing fiction and have your participation than discuss a non fiction book in which your only involvement was to tell people when to start or end discussions. Is that any clearer?Jane
Posted by kiddo on February 10, 2002, at 22:34:03
In reply to clarification on leadership participation » kiddo, posted by jane d on February 10, 2002, at 22:30:52
Posted by fi on February 13, 2002, at 12:12:42
In reply to Entertaining Fiction » fi, posted by jane d on February 8, 2002, at 12:56:47
Some examples off top of my head:
the Harry Potters books
by Terry PratchettI didnt used to read fantasy/science fiction but enjoy these. Did try a Philip Pullman but found it too dark
Bridget Jones's Diary (only the first one- follow up not so good)
not actually fiction...
Maureen Lipman's books- very funny. Tho I got them in paperback which doesnt seem to exist at the moment- not sure worth buying a hardback version.
Between Silk and Cyanide: a codemakers war 1941-1945- fascinating true book written by this code expert. By Leo Marks
Oh, and Garfield and Dilbert
These arent directly suggestions for the book club, just sharing as requested.
Fi
Posted by Fi on February 13, 2002, at 15:20:47
In reply to Entertaining Fiction » fi, posted by jane d on February 8, 2002, at 12:56:47
More books I have enjoyed (the ones I didn't give away, so rather an odd bunch!). Again,not necessarily suggestions for book club, and I haven't checked them on Amazon for availability- a lot are UK authors and some quite old.
* means recently published and in paperback (in UK anyway)Humour
Love's Labours, Sue Limb
Pomp & Circumstance, Noel CowardOther- not necessarily fun but absorbing
*Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier (very absorbing- based on a fictional servant in Vermeer's house)
*The Eyre Affair, Jaspar Fforde (bizarre but entertaining)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
The Balkan Trilogy, Olivia Manning (if you feel like a saga)
2 tense dramas by Robert Harris: Fatherland, (what might have happened if the Nazis won), Enigma (fiction around the breaking of this code).I had a stage of enjoying Mary Wesley (particularly The Camomile Lawn) and Joanna Trollope, but got tired of them.
Crime
I'm not usually particularly interested in crime novels, and certainly wouldn't read them when feeling rough.*Ian Rankin is my current favourite, but that may be because his gritty stories are set in my home city.Fi
Posted by noa on February 13, 2002, at 17:23:14
In reply to Re: Entertaining Fiction, posted by Fi on February 13, 2002, at 15:20:47
Fi, could you post links to the amazon descriptions of these books in the folder at pb tips?
Posted by Noa on February 14, 2002, at 18:56:22
In reply to Re: Entertaining Fiction » Fi, posted by noa on February 13, 2002, at 17:23:14
I posted the amazon links for most of your book suggestions. There were a couple that I couldn't find.
If anyone notices any errors in the links, please let me know (wrong book, mismatched book and link, etc. etc.)
The folder of book suggestions is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/psycho-babble-open/links/PsychoBabble_Book_Cl_001013643129/
Posted by anniebananie on February 16, 2002, at 3:19:51
In reply to Re: Entertaining Fiction, posted by Noa on February 8, 2002, at 13:54:52
> I agree. Nothing wrong with entertaining fiction.
Nothing at all. Is there a way there could be some kind of regular rotation of genres? Fiction one month, personal account of mental illness another, the other kind of books about mental illness another, and so on. Everybody'd get a chance to read the kind of books they usually read and are comfortable with and also to try something that might be a real departure for them. If there were concensus about skipping a particular genre when it's turn came up, fine.
Posted by jane d on February 21, 2002, at 8:45:25
In reply to Re: Entertaining Fiction, posted by anniebananie on February 16, 2002, at 3:19:51
> Nothing at all. Is there a way there could be some kind of regular rotation of genres? Fiction one month, personal account of mental illness another, the other kind of books about mental illness another, and so on. Everybody'd get a chance to read the kind of books they usually read and are comfortable with and also to try something that might be a real departure for them. If there were concensus about skipping a particular genre when it's turn came up, fine.
Annie,
I like this idea. Nobody gets completely excluded and I think we might also end up with better books of each type this way.
Jane
Posted by kiddo on February 21, 2002, at 13:27:25
In reply to Rotating genres » anniebananie, posted by jane d on February 21, 2002, at 8:45:25
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 26, 2002, at 0:25:13
In reply to Re: Leadership role, posted by Dr. Bob on February 8, 2002, at 10:44:41
> > could it be that if no-one else expresses an interest within (say) 2 weeks, you just carry on and give it a try?
>
> OK, let's see, if we start the clock with your post, that makes the deadline for volunteering to co-lead February 22 at 06:09:15. :-)That deadline having passed, and there having been only two volunteers, let's go with kiddo and jay as our co-leaders.
Now jay hasn't been around, I don't know if he's been waiting for this to be decided or not. If he doesn't come back, that would leave an open position...
Bob
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