Official CoG Goodreads Group: ColonyOfReaders

[Crittias]

If you're an avid reader, please join us at the ColonyOfReaders, the Official Goodreads group for ColonyOfGamers. Compare books with other members, see who's tastes match yours, and who has no taste!

We'll start up the book-of-the-month club again, which are novels nominated by members. It's a great way to discover books you may not have considered before.

Add books you consider classics to our bookshelf. Nothing like encouraging others to read those "must-read" books!

If you're interested in joining, please visit:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/9174.ColonyOfReaders

If you're not already a GoodReads member, I encourage you to create an account. It's a great way of tracking books you've read and books you're planning on reading.

I look forward to seeing everyone there!

[Sandman]

Is there one for October yet? How about Bram Stoker's Dracula.

[Crittias]

Is there one for October yet? How about Bram Stoker's Dracula.There's not anything for anytime yet. :-) I've never read Dracula, so maybe I'll pick it up next week. Good suggestion! Did you join the group?

[Sandman]

I might have a long time ago...haven't participated in any of the reads though.

[Crittias]

I might have a long time ago...haven't participated in any of the reads though.It's a new group for CoG. You should sign up! We can talk about Dracula!

[Goronmon]

Just joined.

[Sandman]

I joined.

FYI : Since Dracula is so old you can read it here
Dracula (http://books.google.com/books?id=sn9W2cLuhxYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Dracula&ei=oiPlSKPaDZSWMr7wjQw&sig=ACfU3U365Xaf9rPfHuGtOy9g_f7g_ig6dQ)

[shunoshi]

Hmm, neat site. I joined up even though I don't set aside nearly enough time for reading. :o

[Deimos]

Thanks for starting it up Crittias. I've joined up and am ready to read.

[VerseD]

I just joined. I like the Book of the Month plan, and I'll pick up Dracula this week.

[Rogue_hunter]

I was already signed up, but my backlog of books is so big that I will likely not be participating in the book of the month portion. I'll still be here for book discussions on books I've read.

[Jackel]

Joined the Group, and I'll have my wife pick up the book from the local library.

[KingGorilla]

There's not anything for anytime yet. :-) I've never read Dracula, so maybe I'll pick it up next week. Good suggestion! Did you join the group?
You have to suffer through turn of the century British "flair." I would have to read through sections a few times because, while I understood the words, the meaning and structure was very convoluted.

Also, in like Flint.

[Jackel]

Picked up Dracula....going to get started on it tonight.

[Magma]

As long as there's some fantasy on the menu, sounds fun. I'll join up.

[Aggort]

Glad to see this groups is till gonna be kicking. I got some good books out of the EvAv crew.

[Purple Santa]

I joined...never got around to joining over at the other place...thought now would be a good time as any...Ms. Claus was happy to see this over here, she'll be in soon...

[ADDGirl]

I joined...never got around to joining over at the other place...thought now would be a good time as any...Ms. Claus was happy to see this over here, she'll be in soon...

He's right I am excited, I enjoy reading and it is fun to chat with people about books I'm reading

[AyeEmBored]

I'll jump in, and being a bookseller I'll run into stuff that you guys might not have run into lately.

Currently reading:

Anathem by Neal Stephanson
Bloodlines by F. Paul Wilson
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

[Crittias]

I'll jump in, and being a bookseller I'll run into stuff that you guys might not have run into lately.

Currently reading:

Anathem by Neal Stephanson
Bloodlines by F. Paul Wilson
The Graveyard Book by Neil GaimanI proposed Anathem as our November book, but some folks were concerned about its length. I know quite a few people here like Gaiman's stuff (I'm lukewarm on it), so maybe Graveyard would work for November instead.

[AyeEmBored]

I proposed Anathem as our November book, but some folks were concerned about its length. I know quite a few people here like Gaiman's stuff (I'm lukewarm on it), so maybe Graveyard would work for November instead.

Well, length IS a problem with Anathem. I've been plugging away on it since I got an advanced copy in AUGUST! It's not a bad book, quite good actually, it's just that you need a nice quiet place without distractions to be able to be able to parse the sections that go off for pages and pages about math proofs.

THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PLOT!

"Anathem" : Sci Fi for math majors.

[Crittias]

Well, length IS a problem with Anathem. I've been plugging away on it since I got an advanced copy in AUGUST! It's not a bad book, quite good actually, it's just that you need a nice quiet place without distractions to be able to be able to parse the sections that go off for pages and pages about math proofs.

THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PLOT!

"Anathem" : Sci Fi for math majors.Alright, maybe Anathem should just be a "Book of Whenever You Can Manage To Finish It" for the group. Thanks for the heads up.

[Rogue_hunter]

Alright, maybe Anathem should just be a "Book of Whenever You Can Manage To Finish It" for the group. Thanks for the heads up.

I also nominate The Illiad and Atlas Shrugged for the "Book of Whenever You Can Manage To Finish It" shelf. I've been reading The Illiad for going on 4 years now. It's more of a genealogy report rather than an actual "this is how it happened." And Atlas Shrugged, while I like it, is just so dense that I get burned out on reading within 30 minutes.

[Kryopsis]

I am currently finishing up Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash. I love it and would be interested in reading more of his works, Cryptonomicon for example. Unfortunately I've got a bundle of books on my reading list so maybe later. On the other hand, I'd be very interested in joining this group.
I do believe I've read Dracula before so I will wait for the next book selection. :0)

[PathMaster]

I love Stephenson's books but he layers some of them with so much math it bogs the book down.

I joined the group. I didn't even know it was up and running.

[pomeroy]

I'll be joining this group.

Right now, I'm reading Twilight.

And it is SO FUCKING BAD. Really, it's almost worth reading it just to see how long you can stand it. I'm going to finish the whole thing!

[AboveAvgCharles]

Dracula sucks.

Oh crap, should I have put that in spoiler tags?

[shunoshi]

I'll be joining this group.

Right now, I'm reading Twilight.

And it is SO FUCKING BAD. Really, it's almost worth reading it just to see how long you can stand it. I'm going to finish the whole thing!

Good to know, my wife started the series last week and is on the 4th book now (she reads at the speed of light) and says she likes them. She's a romance novel fanatic though so I take her opinion on books with a grain of salt. She wants me to read them; I'll approach with caution....

[pomeroy]

Good to know, my wife started the series last week and is on the 4th book now (she reads at the speed of light) and says she likes them. She's a romance novel fanatic though so I take her opinion on books with a grain of salt. She wants me to read them; I'll approach with caution....

It's almost worth reading because it's awful.

I've got two words for you: sparkling vampires.

[AyeEmBored]

Just wait... Even if you won't actually read it, flip through the last book for the...

Oh, I won't even spoil the lunacy.

But it's bad.

BAAAAD.

[ADDGirl]

I'll be joining this group.

Right now, I'm reading Twilight.

And it is SO FUCKING BAD. Really, it's almost worth reading it just to see how long you can stand it. I'm going to finish the whole thing!

Good to know, my wife started the series last week and is on the 4th book now (she reads at the speed of light) and says she likes them. She's a romance novel fanatic though so I take her opinion on books with a grain of salt. She wants me to read them; I'll approach with caution....

It's almost worth reading because it's awful.

I've got two words for you: sparkling vampires.

O come on the Twilight series is amazingly awesome, even santa has read and enjoyed the books. Twilight the movie is coming out November 21 but it wont even compare to how awesome the book is. There is action stuff in the books that guys enjoy.

[Generation ABXY]

I signed up for the group, as well.

I know I started Dracula once, but I can't remember if I finished it. If not, I'll be sure and go download another e-copy somewhere, since (as was mentioned) it is in the public domain now. In fact, given the times (economic troubles, and all that), I might suggest we try to read more older books, that way, even if they aren't available online, they may be easier to dig up at the library.

[pomeroy]

O come on the Twilight series is amazingly awesome, even santa has read and enjoyed the books. Twilight the movie is coming out November 21 but it wont even compare to how awesome the book is. There is action stuff in the books that guys enjoy.

Unless this is some of the best sarcasm ever (and if it is, I tip my hat), no. Just no. The main character is simply a device (Every dude wants her! She's super smart! She cooks! She's a klutz, so she's always needing help!), her romantic interest is creepy as all fuck (vampire aside, he's a stalker who pretty much just orders her around the entire time), and the author cheats (even though it's like 700 pages long, she just invents concepts for the vampires as it pushes the plot along; eg: he's a tracker! [how convenient]).

The only positive I can give the book is that it is very light reading. Faint praise, at best.

[Purple Santa]

I also nominate The Illiad and Atlas Shrugged for the "Book of Whenever You Can Manage To Finish It" shelf. I've been reading The Illiad for going on 4 years now. It's more of a genealogy report rather than an actual "this is how it happened." And Atlas Shrugged, while I like it, is just so dense that I get burned out on reading within 30 minutes.

It would be easier and more fun to play through Bioshock again if you have already. I read Atlas shrugged...for fun...and it wasn't.

[Rogue_hunter]

It would be easier and more fun to play through Bioshock again if you have already. I read Atlas shrugged...for fun...and it wasn't.

Funny you post this today. I was talking to a friend last night about books that you could read one paragraph and only understand one word the entire time. I mentioned that I had stopped reading after about 100 pages, but wanted to complete it. He said to just stop there and read The Fountainhead, same idea, just not as wordy.

[Pale Ale]

It would be easier and more fun to play through Bioshock again if you have already. I read Atlas shrugged...for fun...and it wasn't.

I may have gotten a few pages in before I said "screw it" ,threw it over my shoulder, and pulled a different book out of the pile, but I'm pretty sure Rand's works didn't end with RPG spam. :p

[Purple Santa]

I may have gotten a few pages in before I said "screw it" ,threw it over my shoulder, and pulled a different book out of the pile, but I'm pretty sure Rand's works didn't end with RPG spam. :p

True, but the spam is a lot more entertaining :eek:

Fountainhead is better...if you want to call it that. I'm not sure what made me read all of that years ago. Young and thinking I had to read such "classic" books. I realized after reading many "classics", the usage of classic is very subjective :p.

[Krispy]

Classic can often be replaced with "pioneering" or "inspiring" because really that is what is being highlighted. A title that influenced that generation of literature and/or thinking.

[Skull3r]

I'm not sure where to post this, so I figured I'd start in this thread (to an audience of readers). Are any of you guys audible members? I do a lot of driving, so it's very nice to be able to listen to a couple books during the 5 hour drives home from school.

Anyway, if you guys decide to join, I have a few recommendations. A great book to start off with is Ender's Game, and anything in the Ender's Series. (To those who love Orson Scott Card's Ender's series, apparently Ender in Exile came out recently. It's a direct sequel to Ender's game.).

[Heresyte]

Alright. I know a large percentage of this community is serious about reading, and a lot of people have expressed interest in getting this reading group off the ground. But despite being over a year old we've had very little success so far. For the most part we have never been good at cooperating in any fashion and from what I've seen a lot of people aren't using their Goodreads accounts very much (for whatever reason).

I want to know if there are still people interested in making this group active, and if so, what problems people are having that have led to the group's habitual inactivity. Is it just the group that people have trouble participating with, or is it reading in general that people haven't been able to make time for? I think we need to pinpoint what the problems are so that we can find a way of doing things that will work.

A week ago Goodreads added some new features for groups that make it easier for them to keep track of the book(s) they are reading. The group can make a box that keeps track of the books they are currently reading and books planned for the future along with the dates (details and examples here (http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/122.bookclubs_just_got_even_better_)). I think this is definitely something we should be using.

[Vyzov]

Alright. I know a large percentage of this community is serious about reading, and a lot of people have expressed interest in getting this reading group off the ground. But despite being over a year old we've had very little success so far. For the most part we have never been good at cooperating in any fashion and from what I've seen a lot of people aren't using their Goodreads accounts very much (for whatever reason).

I want to know if there are still people interested in making this group active, and if so, what problems people are having that have led to the group's habitual inactivity. Is it just the group that people have trouble participating with, or is it reading in general that people haven't been able to make time for? I think we need to pinpoint what the problems are so that we can find a way of doing things that will work.

A week ago Goodreads added some new features for groups that make it easier for them to keep track of the book(s) they are reading. The group can make a box that keeps track of the books they are currently reading and books planned for the future along with the dates (details and examples here (http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/122.bookclubs_just_got_even_better_)). I think this is definitely something we should be using.

I know I participated at the very start, then I ended up always being broke and I don't have a library card so I fell on inactivity. I'm buying about a book a week now so I'm very interested in being more involved with this.

[Crittias]

I think the biggest issue has always been finding a common book that everyone is willing to read during a particular month. If we could get more suggestions and consensus, I'm definitely willing to participate (which is why I restarted the group).

[Crittias]

Another thought: rather than have a book of the month, maybe we can just start some threads on a series of "must read" books to generate discussion? That way members can pursue particular genres or discuss books they've just read with other members that've read the same book a long time ago.

[astranoir]

Another thought: rather than have a book of the month, maybe we can just start some threads on a series of "must read" books to generate discussion? That way members can pursue particular genres or discuss books they've just read with other members that've read the same book a long time ago.

I love this idea! I would definitely enjoy participating in something this open and varied :)

[Rogue_hunter]

I have such a large backlog of books to read that me participating in a book club would just be stupid (for me). And I keep buying more books, adding onto that backlog. I'd have no time for a book club.

[astranoir]

I have such a large backlog of books to read that me participating in a book club would just be stupid (for me). And I keep buying more books, adding onto that backlog. I'd have no time for a book club.

That's kind of where I am, which is why I like Crittias' idea, since some of those threads may overlap with books I've read, or are in my backlog. I can participate in the threads pertinent for me, but opt out of the others :)

[Crittias]

That's kind of where I am, which is why I like Crittias' idea, since some of those threads may overlap with books I've read, or are in my backlog. I can participate in the threads pertinent for me, but opt out of the others :)

Well, there's no reason we can't start this idea RIGHT NOW. All we need to do is post a thread over at GoodReads about a particular book.

Another thing I'd like to try: a ColonyOfGamers Must-Read Library. Where we can all vote on the most critical books people should read, and set up a bookshelf of the best and most popular books amongst our community members.

[astranoir]

Well, there's no reason we can't start this idea RIGHT NOW. All we need to do is post a thread over at GoodReads about a particular book.

Another thing I'd like to try: a ColonyOfGamers Must-Read Library. Where we can all vote on the most critical books people should read, and set up a bookshelf of the best and most popular books amongst our community members.

Well I just now joined GoodReads, as well as the CoG group there. I don't know how to do anything else :o

[Heresyte]

I have such a large backlog of books to read that me participating in a book club would just be stupid (for me). And I keep buying more books, adding onto that backlog. I'd have no time for a book club.
I used to be in the same boat, but I realized it was bullshit, because realistically that excuse applies to everyone, no matter the situation. Anyone who is interested, has time to read, and is capable of acquiring books, is fully capable of participating in a reading group.

Another thought: rather than have a book of the month, maybe we can just start some threads on a series of "must read" books to generate discussion? That way members can pursue particular genres or discuss books they've just read with other members that've read the same book a long time ago.
Well of course everyone is always free to start discussions on any book they want, but I doubt this would be more succcessful than what has been tried so far. I think people (when interested at all) are mostly interested in talking about recent books, not books they read years ago and have already discussed to death. I'm not saying this is a bad idea, just that I doubt it would be a viable alternative to a book of the month.

I think the biggest issue has always been finding a common book that everyone is willing to read during a particular month. If we could get more suggestions and consensus, I'm definitely willing to participate (which is why I restarted the group).
Well of course the problem is that people aren't reading the books. You're just stating the obvious :P.

I think this would be the best way to choose books to read: At some point during the prior month (say the first or second week) we have a thread on goodreads for everyone to throw in suggestions. After that, we throw all the suggestions into a poll (also on goodreads) for a period. Once that polling period is over, we take the top 2 suggestions and create a poll for those 2 (since the votes in the first poll could be scattered about many different books, the one with the most votes in the first poll might not actually be the most popular overall). The winner of that poll will be the book for the following month, and second place will automatically end up in the poll for the next month.

Part of the problem seems to be that people aren't willing to read the groups books because they don't want that to interfere with their own reading plans, but our biggest problem might be that our inactivity is a self-fulfilling prophecy: nobody participates because nobody else is participating.

A handful of people here have expressed interest. The best thing we can do is continue functioning and moving forward even if participation appears minimal. We should keep up the process and continue to have a new book every month even if it looks like nobody is reading them. Because the best thing we can do to encourage participation is make the group look like it's a serious deal, and not allow lack of participation to hinder those who are serious about the group.

It's a little late in the month to come up with a book for January (and a lot of people are busy right now because of the holidays) so we can start the official process next month. But it would probably be good to quickly come up with a book right now for january, for the sake of appearance, if people are interested.

[Crittias]

It's a little late in the month to come up with a book for January (and a lot of people are busy right now because of the holidays) so we can start the official process next month. But it would probably be good to quickly come up with a book right now for january, for the sake of appearance, if people are interested.

I started a post for people to nominate a January book to read (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/89322.Quick_Pick_for_January_Book_of_the_Month_). In 72 hours I will pick one of the nominations for the group.

We'll start a more democratic process for February.

[5y1v4r]

Just joined! Oh man will I get lost in there trying to add all the books I have read, good timekiller. I wish I hadn't discovered this on the tail end of the month though, Atrocity Archives has been on my to-read list for a while so I think I will take this incentive to actually get a copy and read it ^_^

[Crittias]

Just joined! Oh man will I get lost in there trying to add all the books I have read, good timekiller. I wish I hadn't discovered this on the tail end of the month though, Atrocity Archives has been on my to-read list for a while so I think I will take this incentive to actually get a copy and read it ^_^Welcome! We decided on January's book quite late, so do grab a copy and read along with us.

[5y1v4r]

Welcome! We decided on January's book quite late, so do grab a copy and read along with us.
Spiffy! Will do!
When do we start voting for February out of curiosity

[Heresyte]

Spiffy! Will do!
When do we start voting for February out of curiosity
We already started the vote. Everyone so far was unanimously in favor (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/95374.February_Book_of_the_Month_Nominations_) of the first book to be recommended, and we figured that was enough support to make The Lies of Locke Lamora (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/643750.The_Lies_of_Locke_Lamora) the official book for February.

[Xerxes]

I just joined! :)

[LordDon]

Same as Xerx!

[Crittias]

We need to start up this group again. But getting everyone reading the same book is quite the challenge.

[scythe]

Count me in as well!

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/740222-mike

[Xerxes]

We need to start up this group again. But getting everyone reading the same book is quite the challenge.

I don't think it would be that hard. Might have to give more slack than you would than a normal book club. Like a book a month or maybe even bi-monthly.

[Clark]

I'm down for joining. Especially if it's one book a month.

[Crittias]

I don't think it would be that hard. Might have to give more slack than you would than a normal book club. Like a book a month or maybe even bi-monthly.Heh. Says the man that has only recently joined.

Well, let's see if we can get a book going for June, then.

[PathMaster]

I am willing to try again.

On a related note, anyone know when HBO will be showing Game of Thrones? Might be a good book to reread just before they start the first season/book.

[Xerxes]

Heh. Says the man that has only recently joined.

Well, let's see if we can get a book going for June, then.

09-28-2009 isn't that recent. I've been through about 6 books since then.

[Crittias]

09-28-2009 isn't that recent. I've been through about 6 books since then.my mistake. Sorry. I started a post over on Goodreads to poll for a group book for June.

[Crittias]

I've started a thread on Goodreads for a June group book (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/334569-reboot-june-2010-book), and also a thread on What Are You Reading? (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/335018-may-2010-what-are-you-reading) Head over there to jump into the discussion.

[nnanji]

I just realized I never switched to the Colony of Gamers group. The only group I was a member of was from the site that shall not be named. I also am too intimidated to update my reading list. I have been reading so much recently that I have forgotten some of the books that I have read!

[Crittias]

I just realized I never switched to the Colony of Gamers group. The only group I was a member of was from the site that shall not be named. I also am too intimidated to update my reading list. I have been reading so much recently that I have forgotten some of the books that I have read!Come join us!

[nnanji]

I did, thanks! My name is Thad, and I am a compulsive reader.

[Crittias]

I did, thanks! My name is Thad, and I am a compulsive reader.All at once: "Hi, Thad." Don't worry, the cure for compulsive reading is pretty painless. You just keep reading.

[Wally]

I just joined, name is Wally.

[Crittias]

Official June 2010 book of the month is Bitter Seeds (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0765321505/ref=nosim/cog-20), by Ian Tregillis.

[iHap]

io9 posted a "Guide to June Science Fiction" calender which shows some interesting sci-fi books (along with movies/tv/etc in there too) I picked up Terminal Worlds, and The Time Weaver. From what i read in the description they both looked good. Will have to post back when i'm done reading them.

http://io9.com/5552771/the-io9-guide-to-june-science-fiction-awesomeness

[Crittias]

Official August 2010 book of the month is The Windup Girl (http://inkmesh.com/ebooks/windup-girl-paolo-bacigalupi-ebook/?qs=the+windup+girl) by Paolo Bacigalupi.

[Libuke]

So I started and finished The Windup Girl on the weekend well at the lake. I doubt anyone else read it so quickly, is there going to be any discussion on it and where if so?

I'll just say for now that I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Crittias]

So I started and finished The Windup Girl on the weekend well at the lake. I doubt anyone else read it so quickly, is there going to be any discussion on it and where if so?

I'll just say for now that I enjoyed it quite a bit.I think you're right, you're way ahead of the rest of us. I'm...3% into it, according to my Kindle. I'm finding the intro interesting, but slow going.

[Xerxes]

I bet Astranoir and Crittias have been done. :p

[Vyzov]

I haven't been able to locate it anywhere yet, hopefully I'll be able to pick it up soon

[astranoir]

I bet Astranoir and Crittias have been done. :p

Nope, just in the middle of Chapter 8 :)

[Generation ABXY]

"Slow, but interesting" sums up the beginning for me, too, so far... and that makes finding time to read a bit troublesome - I tend to zone out if I try to read it at night, it seems. :o

[Crittias]

I haven't been able to locate it anywhere yet, hopefully I'll be able to pick it up soon$6 Ebook version available here:
http://inkmesh.com/ebooks/windup-girl-paolo-bacigalupi-ebook/?qs=the+windup+girl

[Clark]

If you are finding it slow, stick with it. The characters are really flushed out and I found myself excited when certain ones took center stage during the story.

[nnanji]

So, should we start a new thread for discussion of The Windup Girl, or should we just do that here?

[Xerxes]

So, should we start a new thread for discussion of The Windup Girl, or should we just do that here?

You're right. Ta-da! (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=19210)

[Xerxes]

Have we chosen the October/November book yet? I was wonder if we should chose something smaller with those who'll be participating in NaNoWriMo again.

[Crittias]

Have we chosen the October/November book yet? I was wonder if we should chose something smaller with those who'll be participating in NaNoWriMo again.I think folks were pushing for Kraken, by China Mieville.

[Xerxes]

I think folks were pushing for Kraken, by China Mieville.

Let's push back and suggest The City & The City, by China Mieville for obvious reasons. :D

[Abednigo]

A few folks are back on the GoodReads group. Are there any plans for another book of the month?

[VerseD]

I would play along. I propose McCarthy's Blood Meridian or Conrad's Nostromo, since those are ready on my shelf, but I'm open to something else.

[evilgoodwin]

Sure. I'm down. Need to read, like, 13 books this month anyway :D

[Clark]

I'll head over a take a look....

[Heretic Machine]

Sending friend requests to everyone who has been active in the past month. Got through about half of the list before I ran out of friend requests for the day, so I'll add the rest tomorrow. If I didn't get you, feel free to send me a friend request, I changed my name on there to Heretic Machine for the time being (I may change it back to my real name if I get any real friends onto the service).