003. - Book Club!

[helpdesk_hero]

Alright, so I've suggested this a little to some friends of mine, but I'm thinking about throwing this out a bit wider.

I'm thinking about starting up a book club. Less in the style of book of the month and more organizing one or possibly more groups who can share books or even genres they love most with other people. People would still do the whole guiding discussion but not looking for high end critique so much as just talking about it.

We all need something to unwind and I don't doubt some of us are really fans of reading. I would think the arrangement might work best with members willing to buy their own books. I think for the first few meetings I'd be willing to cook either a simple meal or some finger foods to enjoy, but people could also volunteer to provide food or drinks.


Anyone interested in the idea?

Comments

Re: video;

[rebelhealer]

I only really had time to read when I wasn't healing people, liberating mages, or being talked to go on an adventure.

But I did have a soft spot for books about dashing heroes. And sometimes romance novels.

[helpdesk_hero]

Being talked into going on adventures can be a bit of a thing.

Dashing heroes and romance novels. Maybe we can scare some stuff like that up. And just checking, what realm of romance are we looking at here? There's a whole scale.

[rebelhealer]

I tend to prefer the more romantic and sensual stuff than the kind that are just flat out smut.

[Though he has in fact read and enjoyed flat out smut.]

[helpdesk_hero]

I more meant man and woman, woman and woman, man and man, a variation of the above.

[Listen, smut isn't suitable for a bookclub but if Anders finds some, let him know, because he isn't going to get any action in his own life.]

[rebelhealer]

Oh! Of course. I suppose I prefer stories about two men in love, but I certainly won't turn down anything about two women, or a man and a woman.

My favorite romance story back in Thedas was one about a handsome rogue who falls in love with an apostate, and together they go around fighting wrongs. It ends with both men making one last stand when they're old and grey, and when they die they become spirits of protection and freedom, so they still get to be together in death.

The Chantry tried to ban it more than once.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh wow, that sounds beautiful. And I'm sorry that it was banned. My world banned stuff like that too. Well, less because of the mage issue, but people DID hate magic as an idea for a long time. Mostly they're against anything other than heterosexuality.

[But he'd really like to read that book.]

[rebelhealer]

Seriously? I mean, in Thedas it's mainly just the noble families who frown on same-sex relationships, what with the obsession with nobles ties and producing heirs.

I actually knew an author back in my world. He wrote a romance serial, and it was the worst thing I'd ever read.

[helpdesk_hero]

I know an author here, but her stuff is a bit more tasteful I expect.

My world is pretty prone to frowning at a lot of things. Mutants. Same-sex relationships, polyamorous relationships, inter-racial couples, you know. Everything. Religion's just really good for getting ladies to clutch their pearls and guys to beat their chests in distress.

[rebelhealer]

Wow. This world has the miracle that is the microwave and the phone, and yet it still has many of the same problems as mine.

The last book I read was Lord of the Flies. That was messed up.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, I'm not sure about THIS world, but it's definitely true of my world. And we do have popcorn and phones, so we're miraculous apparently.

Oh god I hated that one in high school. Let's see... I'm going to suggest something a bit nicer than that I think. But I'll have to do some research to find something to your... tastes.

Which might not be appropriate to a book club. But not so bad to have two people read and compare notes.

[rebelhealer]

How about this, the last two books I read and enjoyed were The Golden Compass and Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, Golden Company is a wonderful thing. I am a fan of the whole series actually. Ever consider what your daemon might be?

As for the latter, I haven't heard of it.

[rebelhealer]

I like to think she'd be a cat. I haven't read the other books, but I intend to.

[helpdesk_hero]

Cat, huh? Good choice. I'm sure she would be very lovely.

[rebelhealer]

What about you? What do you think your daemon would be?

[helpdesk_hero]

A Hooded Crow.

[He may have put a lot of thought into this as a kid.]

[rebelhealer]

[He needs a moment to look that up.]

How pretty.

[helpdesk_hero]

Pretty, and one of the smartest animals on the planet. I love them. They're really interesting. I've been reading a lot of studies on them. They form family groups, and recognize people's faces, and make tools.

[David's smiling so wide just talking about this. He's truly a nerd.]

[rebelhealer]

I did not know that.

[Thedas doesn't exactly have professional ornithologists, and Anders hasn't ever really picked up a bird book.]

That's really interesting.

[helpdesk_hero]

A lot of people don't. Corvids are amazing animals.

[Still smiling and self-satisifed.]

But you're not here to listen to me drone on about that.

[rebelhealer]

Oh, I don't know, I never knew birds were so interesting.

[Says the man who wore a feathered short coat all the time back in his world.]

I'm certainly going to read the sequels to The Golden Compass at some point.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Hey, finding birds to be good fashion isn't the same as knowing things about them.]

As someone who has read the sequels, I'm not sure it's a good idea. But you do you.