1thorold
Un mensaje del administrador de tu grupo
We need your input to decide what we're going to do for theme reads in 2024!
If we stick to what we've done in previous years, we need to pick four quarterly theme reads, and/or possibly a looser topic for the whole year. If we feel that that wasn't working optimally for us, then we need concrete suggestions for other structures.
I get the feeling that we’ve lost a bit of momentum in the last year: if you have some ideas for breathing new life into the group with a different structure, please make your suggestions here!
Everything should be open for discussion, but it's most productive if we think in terms of "could we try...?" rather than "I don't like ..."
As in other years, topic suggestions are needed for both themes and geographic regions. Mixtures of the two could be good as well, like the 2020 “Russians write revolutions” theme.
Obviously not all suggestions will be of interest to all readers, but by selecting both regions and themes, it is more likely that at least one topic will get you reading during the year.
Here is a list of previous topics: https://www.librarything.com/groups/readinggloballyficti (click on "See More"!)
Readers wander in and out of this group. If you're fairly new to the group, perhaps there are topics from previous years you may have missed and would like to see revisited. If so, I would suggest going back five years or more, but a revisit is always worthwhile.
Start posting your ideas below, and we will vote on them in due course.
Sorry I'm a bit late with this question this year, but I hope you've all been thinking about this independently! I'd like to open the ballot about two weeks from now, if possible, so we get a decision by the end of the year.
If we stick to what we've done in previous years, we need to pick four quarterly theme reads, and/or possibly a looser topic for the whole year. If we feel that that wasn't working optimally for us, then we need concrete suggestions for other structures.
I get the feeling that we’ve lost a bit of momentum in the last year: if you have some ideas for breathing new life into the group with a different structure, please make your suggestions here!
Everything should be open for discussion, but it's most productive if we think in terms of "could we try...?" rather than "I don't like ..."
As in other years, topic suggestions are needed for both themes and geographic regions. Mixtures of the two could be good as well, like the 2020 “Russians write revolutions” theme.
Obviously not all suggestions will be of interest to all readers, but by selecting both regions and themes, it is more likely that at least one topic will get you reading during the year.
Here is a list of previous topics: https://www.librarything.com/groups/readinggloballyficti (click on "See More"!)
Readers wander in and out of this group. If you're fairly new to the group, perhaps there are topics from previous years you may have missed and would like to see revisited. If so, I would suggest going back five years or more, but a revisit is always worthwhile.
Start posting your ideas below, and we will vote on them in due course.
Sorry I'm a bit late with this question this year, but I hope you've all been thinking about this independently! I'd like to open the ballot about two weeks from now, if possible, so we get a decision by the end of the year.
2AnnieMod
Not sure if this can qualify as an yearly theme but I've been thinking about a mini "Around the world in 12 months" kind of thing - read books from/in countries which have borders, starting and ending in the same place and circumventing the world east to west (or west to east if one prefers)(crossing oceans and bodies of water is free unless one wants to jump via islands in them or via books about the bodies of water). One can hit a few big countries and use some big bodies of water to just cover a few countries or can get deep into some continents.
3thorold
>2 AnnieMod: Sounds like fun. Obviously, one would go West to East, to gain that vital extra day at the last minute…
4thorold
I was wondering about another sea, but there aren’t that many obvious ones left. We could do an international river, perhaps: Danube, Nile, Amazon, Niger, …? Or a lake, e.g. Tanganyika, the Caspian Sea, Lake Constance…?
6AnnieMod
How about "Poetry and drama around the world"? We all (unless I am missing someone) tend to concentrate on prose and a more focused look outside of it may be fun (and if someone does not like either style, there is a lot of fiction and non-fiction about poetry and drama so we could include that as part of the topic).
In the same vein: "Graphic novels, comics and other graphic forms around the world".
As both are fairly specialized, I won't be opposed to combining them together as well so we do not "burn" 2 quarters for things not everyone likes. Or we can leave one of them for 2025.
In the same vein: "Graphic novels, comics and other graphic forms around the world".
As both are fairly specialized, I won't be opposed to combining them together as well so we do not "burn" 2 quarters for things not everyone likes. Or we can leave one of them for 2025.
7AnnieMod
And because apparently I am on a roll:
"When the world was new" - Pre-Renaissance literature (cut-off ~ 15th century AD) - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_literature, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_medieval_literature and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_literature for examples.
I am not opposed to go for a shorter period - remove Medieval or even Early Medieval but leaving it this way gives us enough variety for most people to find something in it so...
"When the world was new" - Pre-Renaissance literature (cut-off ~ 15th century AD) - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_literature, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_medieval_literature and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_literature for examples.
I am not opposed to go for a shorter period - remove Medieval or even Early Medieval but leaving it this way gives us enough variety for most people to find something in it so...
8thorold
>6 AnnieMod: >7 AnnieMod:
I like the idea of both of those — we can think about the precise definitions later. Obviously there would be overlap if we do both, since prose fiction tends to be thin on the ground before the renaissance.
Either way, I’ve been wanting to take a dive into Arabic and Persian classics for ages, that might be a good nudge to have a go…
I wonder if there’s something to be said for having themes like these as low-key year-long projects instead of more intensive quarterly efforts, since the quarterly themes seem to be losing their energy a bit.
Or do we just need some new volunteers to spice the group up a bit?
I like the idea of both of those — we can think about the precise definitions later. Obviously there would be overlap if we do both, since prose fiction tends to be thin on the ground before the renaissance.
Either way, I’ve been wanting to take a dive into Arabic and Persian classics for ages, that might be a good nudge to have a go…
I wonder if there’s something to be said for having themes like these as low-key year-long projects instead of more intensive quarterly efforts, since the quarterly themes seem to be losing their energy a bit.
Or do we just need some new volunteers to spice the group up a bit?
9AnnieMod
>8 thorold: Stick "Modern" in >6 AnnieMod: and define it anyway we decide to and the overlap is all taken care of. :) I would have done that if I had thought of >7 AnnieMod: before >6 AnnieMod:. :) And then they follow from each other - start with the old in one quarter/half year, roll into modern into the next.
Thinking more about it, it almost feels like a "Prose is not all the literature out there" yearly topic emerging if we decide to get there - maybe with a nudge towards old and modern in each half year or just like that...
Not sure about the group structure - I often find myself running out of time to even get into the quarterly threads because by the time they roll in, I am stuck somewhere else and by the time I have time for it, we had rolled over. But that is just my usual patterns of reading - from what I had seen people like the structure.
Thinking more about it, it almost feels like a "Prose is not all the literature out there" yearly topic emerging if we decide to get there - maybe with a nudge towards old and modern in each half year or just like that...
Not sure about the group structure - I often find myself running out of time to even get into the quarterly threads because by the time they roll in, I am stuck somewhere else and by the time I have time for it, we had rolled over. But that is just my usual patterns of reading - from what I had seen people like the structure.
10SassyLassy
>10 SassyLassy: I often find myself running out of time to even get into the quarterly threads because by the time they roll in, I am stuck somewhere else and by the time I have time for it, we had rolled over.
I'm somewhat like this too, so my default is often to move on mentally to the next quarter and the process repeats itself. I do like structure though, and having others reading in the same general theme for discussions.
2023 was not a good RG year for me. That's not a reflection on the group, more a reflection on me. I feel ready to take on some new reading challenges for next year though!
I like the "around the world in 12 months idea" (>2 AnnieMod:), and the idea of reading around a large body of water (>4 thorold:)
I also went back and looked at the pre 2015 list, and saw some topics there which looked interesting - thinking here specifically of Travel and Travelogue Literature.
Reading over this, I seem to be experiencing a degree of wanderlust. It's time to get back into RG!
I'm somewhat like this too, so my default is often to move on mentally to the next quarter and the process repeats itself. I do like structure though, and having others reading in the same general theme for discussions.
2023 was not a good RG year for me. That's not a reflection on the group, more a reflection on me. I feel ready to take on some new reading challenges for next year though!
I like the "around the world in 12 months idea" (>2 AnnieMod:), and the idea of reading around a large body of water (>4 thorold:)
I also went back and looked at the pre 2015 list, and saw some topics there which looked interesting - thinking here specifically of Travel and Travelogue Literature.
Reading over this, I seem to be experiencing a degree of wanderlust. It's time to get back into RG!
11ELiz_M
When is the last time the group did anything set in Oceania? Asking selfishly, since I am considering a Litsy Oceania reading challenge.
12thorold
>11 ELiz_M: I don’t think we ever have done Oceania as such. Australia and New Zealand fall outside the scope of this group, and it could be difficult to put together a solid enough theme from the rest. We did do “small countries” a few years ago, which brought in some of the Pacific Island countries.
13ELiz_M
>12 thorold: I was trying to find a single body of water bounded by the various Oceania islands and Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. How about Island nations? That would include all of the above plus a few places easier to find books for -- Iceland, Japan, Cuba, etc.
14thorold
>13 ELiz_M: Yes “Island nations” could work — it covers a lot of places we’ve been to before, but might make a useful catch-up.
15LolaWalser
Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.
16thorold
Any other suggestions? If not, I’ll try to compile what we’ve got and post a poll in the next day or so.
17birder4106
Texts from island nations is a very good suggestion.
Here's an admittedly not entirely serious question.
From a political point of view, Switzerland does not belong to Europe or the European Union. Is it therefore classified as an island nation?
Here's an admittedly not entirely serious question.
From a political point of view, Switzerland does not belong to Europe or the European Union. Is it therefore classified as an island nation?
18thorold
>17 birder4106: Maybe difficult to define as a category, but we could try. Not-quite- aligned nations, perhaps?
Maybe we could simply put “Texts from inland nations” on the list as well? Switzerland, Bolivia, Botswana, etc. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landlocked_country
Maybe we could simply put “Texts from inland nations” on the list as well? Switzerland, Bolivia, Botswana, etc. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landlocked_country
19birder4106
>18 thorold:
Good idea. Then in 2025.
Good idea. Then in 2025.
20AnnieMod
>18 thorold: >19 birder4106:
It kinda fits with our bodies of water theme as well - "The lands that have no sea..." :)
It kinda fits with our bodies of water theme as well - "The lands that have no sea..." :)
21thorold
Ok, I think this is the final longlist. I’ve already pruned my own suggestions. Does anyone else want to modify or withdraw their suggestions before we vote?
- Around the world in 12 months — AnnieMod
- (Modern) Poetry and drama around the world — AnnieMod
- Graphic novels, comics and other graphic forms around the world — AnnieMod
- When the world was new - Pre-Renaissance literature — AnnieMod
- Island nations — Eliz_M
- Inland nations — birder4106 / thorold
- Reading down the Danube — thorold
- Around the world in 12 months — AnnieMod
- (Modern) Poetry and drama around the world — AnnieMod
- Graphic novels, comics and other graphic forms around the world — AnnieMod
- When the world was new - Pre-Renaissance literature — AnnieMod
- Island nations — Eliz_M
- Inland nations — birder4106 / thorold
- Reading down the Danube — thorold
22thorold
The voting thread is up on https://www.librarything.com/topic/355910#
Four people already voted — thanks! Please join them, the more the merrier. Voting closes next Friday, 22 December.
Four people already voted — thanks! Please join them, the more the merrier. Voting closes next Friday, 22 December.
23thorold
If you’re one of the 1610 members of Reading Globally who hasn’t voted yet, there are still 24 hours left. Go for it!
24thorold
The polls have now closed. Final votes are as follows:
- Around the world in 12 months? (Annual topic): Yes 9, No 1, Undecided 1
- Graphic novels, comics and other graphic forms around the world? (Quarterly topic): Yes 3, No 7, Undecided 1
- Inland nations? (Quarterly topic): Yes 7, No 2, Undecided 1
- Island nations? (Quarterly topic): Yes 9, No 1
- (Modern) Poetry and drama around the world? (Quarterly topic): Yes 2, No 8
- Reading down the Danube? (Quarterly topic): Yes 9, No 0, Undecided 1
- When the world was new - Pre-Renaissance literature? (Quarterly topic): Yes 4, No 5, Undecided 1
Many thanks to all who voted!
That means that we have support for: - annual topic: Around the world in 12 months
Quarterly topics
- Reading down the Danube
- Island nations
- Inland nations
- When the world was new - Pre-Renaissance literature
It’s unfortunate that the low turnout left us having to pick the less-hated of two unpopular topics with a one vote difference, but it does still seem to be an interesting topic that we haven’t covered before, so I’m sure we will make something of it.
Now all we need are volunteers to introduce the topics. Yes, I’m looking at you! It would be great if a few people outside the usual suspects were prepared to have a go. There’s plenty of support available, all we need is a couple of posts about the topic and a few reading suggestions to get people started. You don’t need to be an expert, if you can use LT search and Wikipedia you are in a good position to start!
It would be especially lovely to find someone prepared to run with the first topic in a few days from now— don’t all shout at once!
Post here, or message me, if you are interested.
- Around the world in 12 months? (Annual topic): Yes 9, No 1, Undecided 1
- Graphic novels, comics and other graphic forms around the world? (Quarterly topic): Yes 3, No 7, Undecided 1
- Inland nations? (Quarterly topic): Yes 7, No 2, Undecided 1
- Island nations? (Quarterly topic): Yes 9, No 1
- (Modern) Poetry and drama around the world? (Quarterly topic): Yes 2, No 8
- Reading down the Danube? (Quarterly topic): Yes 9, No 0, Undecided 1
- When the world was new - Pre-Renaissance literature? (Quarterly topic): Yes 4, No 5, Undecided 1
Many thanks to all who voted!
That means that we have support for: - annual topic: Around the world in 12 months
Quarterly topics
- Reading down the Danube
- Island nations
- Inland nations
- When the world was new - Pre-Renaissance literature
It’s unfortunate that the low turnout left us having to pick the less-hated of two unpopular topics with a one vote difference, but it does still seem to be an interesting topic that we haven’t covered before, so I’m sure we will make something of it.
Now all we need are volunteers to introduce the topics. Yes, I’m looking at you! It would be great if a few people outside the usual suspects were prepared to have a go. There’s plenty of support available, all we need is a couple of posts about the topic and a few reading suggestions to get people started. You don’t need to be an expert, if you can use LT search and Wikipedia you are in a good position to start!
It would be especially lovely to find someone prepared to run with the first topic in a few days from now— don’t all shout at once!
Post here, or message me, if you are interested.
25AnnieMod
I can do the yearly one early next week and keep it up through the year.
And I can do the when “the world was new” - if no one else wants to go first, Q1 is fine - although I don’t insist.
And I can do the when “the world was new” - if no one else wants to go first, Q1 is fine - although I don’t insist.
26thorold
>25 AnnieMod: Great, thanks! The start of Q1 is going to be busy for me this year, so I would be very happy not to have to jump in this time.
Anyone else? I know there are fans of Paddy Leigh Fermor out there champing at the bit to be let loose on the Danube…. :-)
Anyone else? I know there are fans of Paddy Leigh Fermor out there champing at the bit to be let loose on the Danube…. :-)
27labfs39
Sorry, I spaced out on RG, and missed the voting. Looks great though, and I'll drop in as I can.
28cindydavid4
you and me both!
29AnnieMod
>26 thorold: Sounds like we are going back in time for Q1 then? I will post the annual on and this one (unless there is a change) on Wednesday. Plus that way I won’t forget I was supposed to do one of these :)
30thorold
>29 AnnieMod: Great, thanks very much!
31cindydavid4
im confused: which is quarter one, when the world was new or danube?
thinking about danube; always wanted to do the river cruise and yes that would be very close to Paddys heart. Q2, 3, or
thinking about danube; always wanted to do the river cruise and yes that would be very close to Paddys heart. Q2, 3, or
32thorold
>31 cindydavid4: AnnieMod’s kindly offered to get us going by doing “When the world was new” in Q1.
We haven’t set an order apart from that. If you’d like to introduce the ‘virtual cruise’ down the Danube, you’re welcome to choose which of Q2,3 or 4 suits you best.
We haven’t set an order apart from that. If you’d like to introduce the ‘virtual cruise’ down the Danube, you’re welcome to choose which of Q2,3 or 4 suits you best.
33cindydavid4
sure lets go for 3rd quarter. that gives me lots of timt to procrastinate, um I mean plan
34AnnieMod
"January-March 2024: When the World Was New" is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356310
Working on the annual one now :)
Working on the annual one now :)
35thorold
Just a little reminder that we don’t have a volunteer for “Island nations” or “Inland nations” yet, and Q2 will be with us very soon…
I’m going to be away from home for quite a chunk of Q2, so I’d appreciate it if someone else were to volunteer … please!
I’m going to be away from home for quite a chunk of Q2, so I’d appreciate it if someone else were to volunteer … please!
36AnnieMod
>35 thorold: If noone else decides to help, I can start the topic for either of these later this week or next week. I am not sure how much I will read books that fit in either but that is just my weird year :)
I don't really have a preference on which one - I will need to do some digging for either.
I don't really have a preference on which one - I will need to do some digging for either.
37thorold
>36 AnnieMod: Thanks — that would be a big help, the timing of my next trip really doesn’t fall well for this. I’m hoping I’ll be able to arrange things a bit better to be around to post an intro at the start of Q4. Unless someone else sticks their head of the parapet in the next few days, please go ahead and pick one of the two, and I’ll take the other one.
Wikipedia lists 44 landlocked and 50 island countries, so when you take out the ones that are ultra vires for Reading Globally there will be roughly the same number of each. I don’t think it’s going to be feasible to post a comprehensive reading list for all of them: or the intro, it’s probably better just to suggest some common topics of interest and to pick a few interesting countries we might not have covered adequately before. Participants will strike out in their own unexpected directions anyway.
Wikipedia lists 44 landlocked and 50 island countries, so when you take out the ones that are ultra vires for Reading Globally there will be roughly the same number of each. I don’t think it’s going to be feasible to post a comprehensive reading list for all of them: or the intro, it’s probably better just to suggest some common topics of interest and to pick a few interesting countries we might not have covered adequately before. Participants will strike out in their own unexpected directions anyway.
38AnnieMod
Last chance for anyone to volunteer - if noone says anything before the end of the day (any timezone), we are exploring the landlocked countries of the world next quarter (and I am starting to work on collecting things and links and so on tomorrow with the thread going up early next week).
39AnnieMod
And thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/359661
I will continue updating it (work got a bit crazy) but did not want to start the quarter without it so it is very bare bones at the moment but it is up :)
I will continue updating it (work got a bit crazy) but did not want to start the quarter without it so it is very bare bones at the moment but it is up :)
