2023 Q1 and Q2 Group Reads Planning

After more than a year of quaterly group reads in this group, it is time to start planning for next year, if some readers are still interested.
Our group read do not prompt a lot of discussion (but we can change that!), but it is an opportunity to read classics, including sometimes classics we would not have thought about.

I suggest the same process as previsouly as it has worked well, but do feel free to suggest otherwise.

We will choose the reads for Q1 and Q3, and the process will include two phases:
- Phase 1 – from Monday28th of November to Sunday 18th of December – nominating classics that we would like to see selected for our group reads.

- Phase 2 – from Monday 19th to Wednesday 28th of December – voting for the books we prefer.

I decided to start the process earlier this time, as I'd like to ensure all those who want to participate have time to get the book and get organised, despite the craziness some of us experience at the end of the year.
Of course if you would like me to revise the date and pace of the process, again, feel free to suggest any adjustement.

Edited to change deadlines.

Phase 1 - Nominees

Deadline: Sunday 18th of December
Rule to participate: Each of the participants can nominate up to three titles. Please, include both title and author in your nomination (if possible with touchstones).

As a reminder, here are the classics that have been selected over the past group reads:
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather in September 2021 (group read discussion thread here).
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones in November 2021 (group read discussion thread here).
Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe in 2022 Q1 (group read discussion threads here, here and here).
Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier in 2022 Q2 (group read discussion thread here).
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare in 2022 Q3 (group read discussion thread here).
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy in 2022 Q4 (group read discussion thread here).

As you can see, the definition for "what is a classic" is large: modern and less modern classics are welcome, as well as literary classics and genre classics.

Of course you are welcome to discuss nominations made by fellow readers, but for the sake of clarity, I will be able to take into account voting only when the nomination process is over.

Edited to change deadlines.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

>3 MalkMan: Nice suggestion. I read it decades ago and always meant to re-read it without taking the time to do so. That might be the time to finally do so.

Only one suggestion for the time being. I'll extend the window for recommendation by one week, till Sunday 11th of December and we'll see if and how you proceed to the votes.
I hope more folks will venture with nominations!

Apologies, just now seeing this. I'll nominate:

- Faust by Goethe
- David Copperfield by Dickens
- Tristram Shandy by Sterne

>6 L.Bloom: Thanks for these nomination.
This made me realise I did not advertise enough this nomination thread. So I'll leave it open a few days more, till next Sunday, the 18th of December.

So far, four books have been nominated:
East of Eden by Steinbeck, Faust by Goethe, David Copperfield by Dickens and Tristram Shandy by Sterne

Nominations are open till tomorrow, new suggestions are more welcome!

>1 raton-liseur: Thanks for setting up the thread! I am surprised that this is the first time I am seeing it.

>8 raton-liseur: Unfortunately, I am at the moment quite overwhelmed by my work situation, so I won't be nominating anything for the first half of next year. But if I should manage to join, I can already see two books in the nominations list that I would be interested in!

With four classics nominated, it is now time to vote! I suggest we keep the same system as during previous group reads, as it seems to work fine.

Phase 2 - Votes

Deadline: Wednesday 28th of December
Rule to participate:
I suggest that each of the participants place each nominated book in one of the following categories:
- Books I really would like to see nominated. If nominated, I’m pretty sure I’ll participate in the group read.
- Books for which I'm highly unlikely to participate in the group read (whatever the reason is: book already read, not interested, etc.).
- Books for which I do not have a strong opinion. If nominated, I might participate in the group read.

With those rules, I hope that we will be able to decide on nominations that will ensure an optimum participation in the group read and that we will be able to break any potential ties.

Suggested classics: (by author alphabetical order)
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne

The thread is open to votes!

Edited to rearrange nominations by alphabetical order)

Books I really would like to see nominated:
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - It was a group read in Club Read early this year and I read only one third of it, so I wouldn't mind entering another group read to finally reading the two other thirds!
East of Eden by John Steinbeck - One of my all time favourite. I've meant to reread it for some years now, so this might be the incentive I need.

Books for which I reserve my decision to participate:
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - I read it a long time ago, and I am not sure I am up for a reread.
Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne - An author I do not know. Why not...

Books for which I'm unlikely to participate in the group read:
None.

ETA: I've explained why I voted that way. Obviously, there is no obligation for further voters to do so!

>9 Majel-Susan: Perfectly understandable, although I hope you'll manage to join in. Anyhow, don't hesitate to cast your vote!

>13 raton-liseur: Thank you, I hope so too!

Books I really would like to see nominated:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Books for which I reserve my decision to participate:
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Books for which I'm unlikely to participate in the group read:
Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne

>14 Majel-Susan: Great! A Christmas eve vote!

I hope other people will join in the coming days to help decide on the coming group reads!

ETA: I realise that, depending on your time zone, you might not have posted this on the 24th of Dec. after all. Nevermind, it's a christmas eve vote or an almost chrstmas eve one!

>15 raton-liseur: Yes, as a matter of fact, it was a morning Christmas eve vote!

Happy new year to all!

We are way past the deadline for the vote and to start the quaterly read!
I will keep the vote open till the end of next week, Sunday 15th of January, to see if there are some more participants.
If not, I think we will need to cancel the group read, for xwant of readers...

>17 raton-liseur: Oh, no! I've posted this thread to the 75er's Group Announcements, so hopefully we might be able to get a few more participants.

I think I'll get into this. I'm new to 75ers, a refugee from the 100+ group, which got a little too much for me.

I'm trying to cut down my own TBR pile right now without buying anything new. Hence, I'd rather avoid East of Eden, which I don't currently own. I own all of the others in Norton Critical Editions (and some other editions perhaps as well, but it's the NCEs I'll be using).

So I'm happy with David Copperfield, Tristram Shandy, or Faust, whaever the rest of the group would like. I'd just rather avoid (and I'm unlikely to participate with) East of Eden since it won't cut down my current Mount TBR.

>18 Majel-Susan: Great idea, thanks!

>19 CurrerBell: Great, a new comer!

It's the last week end to cast your vote!

Here are the nominees:
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne

Please, indicate which books you are really interested in, those you don't want to read, and the ones you're not so sure about.

OK, to give it a specific vote:

Really Interested: Tristram Shandy, Faust
Don't Want (but would read): David Copperfield
Won't Read (because I don't have it): East of Eden

There were only 3 votes this time. With 2 people willing to read it and 1 maybe, Faust is the winner.
In second position, we have David Copperfield (1 want and 2 maybe) and East of Eden (2 wants).

I suggest we select Faust for this quarter, and make another vote latter in March to decide between the two runners up.
If you prefer to vote again now or you have strong feeling in favour or against on the those two books, don't hesitate to chime in.

Our plan so far:
Q1 – January to March 2023 - Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

>6 L.Bloom: suggested Faust. Do you think you could set up the thread for this read along?

>24 raton-liseur: Of course! I should have some time this evening to get us started.

>25 L.Bloom: I am looking forward to this read along!

Just in case and as promised, I reopen this thread, if some members want to nominate a read along for next quarter.
We had two contenders for Q2:
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Please indicate if it's a:
- Book you really would like to see nominated. If nominated, you're pretty sure you’ll participate in the group read. (2 points)
- Book for which you are highly unlikely to participate in the group read (whatever the reason is: book already read, not interested, etc.). (1 point)
- Book for which you do not have a strong opinion. If nominated, you might or might not participate in the group read. (0 point)

Let's give us till the end of this week to vote, i.e. till Monday 27th of March. I'll try to announce the "winner" the following day.