# SDMB Book Club Anyone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 27, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411 "2000-12-27T19:01:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/1 "2000-12-27T19:01:50Z")

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I have been thinking that it might be nice if we could get a book club started here. I figure whoever is interested can name a book, and we’d all read it at the same time. After it was read, we could have a thread where we could discuss it. I think it would be fun 🙂  
For example, I could suggest a book I have already read and enjoyed, and read it again with the club.  
I have never participated in something like this, so if anyone has any suggestions, please post them.

Rose

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**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/2 "2000-12-27T19:20:59Z")

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I’m sort of interested, I’ve always wanted to be in a book club. What types of books would we be talking about? I pretty much force myself to read serious tomes (about 1-2 per month) whereas I’ll read several fiction books per week.

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**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/3 "2000-12-27T19:41:12Z")

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I mostly read fiction, and haven’t read a serious tome in a while. Actually, one of the reasons I wanted to start this was to expose myself to books I might have not otherwise picked up on. I find that I lean towards the horror genre, but have been pleasantly surprised when I ventured away from that.  
I think we could have a mixture of both serious books and fun paperbacks…classics and new stuff. A good book is a good book, no matter the genre.

Open to suggestions 🙂  
Rose

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**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/4 "2000-12-27T19:48:29Z")

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**Wicked Blue** :

> [@](#):
>
> Actually, one of the reasons I wanted to start this was to expose myself to books

Don’t expose yourself to books, **Wicked Blue**. Books are sensitive and easily shocked.

I would love to do something like this, only when would I ever have the time? There are well over a hundred books on my “to read” shelves as it is. Since an SDMB Book Club nominee would probably not be among them, that would make it one plus 100+. But I want the number to go _down_, not up.

Given how literate and well-read most Dopers are, I expect most of us who’d want to participate in this praiseworthy endeavor would have the same problem.

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**Author:** ![LifeWillFall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@LifeWillFall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeWillFall)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/5 "2000-12-27T19:51:48Z")

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I think this is a great idea, I’ve been looking for a book to read for a while and this would give me some motivation, I say lets do it, any suggestions for something specific?

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**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/6 "2000-12-27T20:04:44Z")

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Count me in Rose. I have been SO slacking off when it comes to reading. Somebody make a suggestion already.  
I’ll throw Merrick by Anne Rice in the air, but that is sort of cheating on my part, since I plan on reading it anyway, and if you haven’t read The Vampire and Witches Chronicles, it may have less of an impact.

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**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/7 "2000-12-27T20:12:22Z")

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An IRL book club is too hard for me because of my schedule, but the SDMB format should solve that problem. The discussion is what I can’t get reading on my own.

**Wicked Blue** –you need to let this thread sit for a day, and then you should SEIZE TOTAL THREAD DOMINATION (um, that is, take on organizational responsibility), and dictate the first book, length of time to read, start a new thread for the discussion and then select the person to choose the next book. If someone doesn’t take charge, it won’t work. I pledge to do it no matter what choices get made for the first few books.

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**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/8 "2000-12-27T22:13:18Z")

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I’d be down. I’d be especially down if the first book was one of the titles I got for Christmas, but what the hell, I’ll take any excuse to read a new book.

Hey psy, can we get Demo involved, and then suddenly decide to read some Faulkner? 😃

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/9 "2000-12-28T01:09:03Z")

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I just bought a rerelased copy of “Catch me if you can” by Frank w. Abagnale (with Stan Redding)  
Anyone want to read with me? I found it at Books a million for 14 bucks.  
I read it when it was first out (I was in high school)  
is a best selling true story of the world’s most sought-after con man.

Or if no one likes that I am sure I could bring up another suggestion.

Osip

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**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/10 "2000-12-28T01:23:59Z")

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a bookclub sound good to me. with my hours at work it makes it hard to commit to a real time book club.

i do hope i won’t have to expose myself to the selected book choice.

(wicked blue, that was a very daring turn of phrase. i wondered how long it would take before someone mentioned it. gee, the next post. who’da guessed??!!)

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**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/11 "2000-12-28T15:09:46Z")

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Just bumping this before I SEIZE TOTAL THREAD DOMINATION, and start exposing myself to books 😉

Rose

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**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/12 "2000-12-28T16:09:55Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lux Fiat \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Hey psy, can we get Demo involved, and then suddenly decide to read some Faulkner? 😃 \*\*

You bastard! I will not read him in a house, I will not read him with a mouse. I will not read him, Lux you ass. I will not read that Faulkner trash!😃

Actually, it sounds like a lot of fun but, like Five, my “to read” bin is already quite well stocked and, recently, I’ve been focusing on some specific matter that I don’t want to get away from just yet. I’ll keep an eye on you guys, though, and if there’s something that catches my eye I’ll check it out and join the discussion.

Great idea Rose!

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**Author:** ![Pucette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@Pucette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucette)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/13 "2000-12-28T16:11:07Z")

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I’m up for it! I’ve always wanted to join a book club…

What do people think about Osip’s suggestion? Sounds like an engaging story…

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**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/14 "2000-12-28T17:53:11Z")

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I’m willing to play.

But if we pick something that might make Oprah’s schmaltzy/crappy book club then I will sit that one out.

My only other request would be no children’s/YA books. But the great thing about book clubs is you can sit out the disagreeable selections so don’t let me influence things too much.

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**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/15 "2000-12-28T18:07:45Z")

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erm, how about _Ethyl the Aardvark goes Quantity Surveying_?  
I’m in for whatever. Except for the LB series;)

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**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/16 "2000-12-28T18:20:02Z")

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I’d join the book club.  
Here are my suggestions:

1.In a highly informative Pit thread, Tamerlane suggested the following book:  
**[Human Biodiversity: Genes, Race, and History by Jonathan Marks](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0202020339/o/qid=978027510/sr=8-2/ref=aps_sr_b_1_4/103-4056828-7178245)**. This looks like it could be very interesting.

1.

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**Author:** ![Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/779978/32.png) [@Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zumba_The_Cat)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/17 "2000-12-28T18:25:27Z")

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I am just waiting for Wicked Blue to SEIZE TOTAL THREAD DOMINATION.

I will read almost any book picked. I am already in a couple of book clubs and read a dozen or so books a month.

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**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/18 "2000-12-28T18:35:20Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by tevya \*  
> \*\*I’d join the book club.  
> Here are my suggestions:
> 
> 1.In a highly informative Pit thread, Tamerlane suggested the following book:  
> **[Human Biodiversity: Genes, Race, and History by Jonathan Marks](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0202020339/o/qid=978027510/sr=8-2/ref=aps_sr_b_1_4/103-4056828-7178245)**. This looks like it could be very interesting.
> 
> 1. 
> 
> \*\*

Oops! I meant to hit Preview reply…sorry!  
I’ll have to continue with more suggestions later…lunch is over. ☹

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**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/19 "2000-12-28T18:35:47Z")

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I’ve got a ton of great book recommendations. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411/20 "2000-12-28T22:16:32Z")

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I’ll bite, **Gadarene**. I’d like to hear what books you would recommend.

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-book-club-anyone/47411.md?page=2)
