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I love the Book Pool - I have discovered so many good authors this way. I am happy to continue with it. But interest seems to be waning. Do we need to freshen things up a bit?

One would be to make the Book Pool Shorter - & give it a theme.

I'm thinking Something Old...

Now, this isn't a wedding/bridal one (although you could make it that if you want)

Something Older Books first published Between 1900-1940

Something Newer Books first published between 1941-1980

Something Borrowed Read a book you don't own, whether you borrow from a library, from a friend, from Open Library

Something Blue Where you can be creative. The book could have a blue or mostly blue cover, the word blue in the title or it could be a sad book.

We could run this pool over 6 months- January -June. We could just read our own selections or read some of other people's.

* * *
The other possibility would be a Book Bingo? I have never done this & only played once, but it could be fun! Nine Squares or 12? I think 9 would be better myself, but over to you.

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Or an alphabetical read - either titles or authors

A is for Angelique
B is for Bell Jar, The
C is for Chelsea Concerto

Authors
Christian name
A is for Agatha Christie
B is for Barbara Pym
C is for Clare Darcy

Last name
A is for Anthony, Evelyn
B is for Bates H.E.
C is for Cadell, Elizabeth

Q & X may be a challenge though!

I would look at this as a two year challenge & everyone keep track of their own reads. Do we do them in alphabetical order?

If the consensus is to stay with the existing format, I am more than happy to do that!

& I have always been against having Georgette Heyer books included in this group as I used to moderate the group on Gr - & as much as I love her books (she is my favourite author) I didn't want to read them in every group I was involved with. I'm thinking that was a bit unreasonable. If no one objects, from next year I would be happy for her books to be in the Book Pool (or Book Bingo) Anyone who wants to do a buddy or group read of GH's books should do so over at the Georgette Heyer Fans group though.

& now for the potentially awkward issue - the subject of this group's moderation.

I have been on my own all this year. I think something has happened to Hana which breaks my heart - for those who didn't know her, she was one of the nicest people on ŷ������ - knowledgeable, sweet & charming. & same book taste as me - which means she had good taste! Tadiana is also a lovely person, who was one of the most popular reviewers on ŷ������. Recently Tadiana has been back on her own page, but I haven't heard from her. In an old message she did say she might be back in this group in 2024, but so far no sign. Both of them I have tried through our Moderators' Group, sending messages & in Tadiana's case I had an email address, so I tried that.

I'm now feeling I would like another moderator to help, but I don't want to work in with three or four people. I find just two moderators the best, as I am in a different time zone from almost everyone!

So what I would like to do.

I'm hoping Tadiana will see this & make a response what she wants to do. If she wants to moderate here again that would be awesome.

Otherwise I would like to remove both as moderators & send them a message (which I know won't reach Hana) thanking both of them for everything they did for the group. If you look through the old posts you will find they both did a lot.

Your thoughts? :)

I know this is a lot - I have been thinking about this for a while. Everyone can just comment on the issues that interest them. :)

First, thank you for your continued guidance for this group! I could be a mod, but never having been one before I might not do well. Keep me in mind if need be.

I like the current book pool as is. I already picked out my 5 for 2025!
Spicing it up is a good idea. The classics group has lots of challenges that their members love. The ideas above sound fun, and I will suggest reading books by category. Some examples:

Retro Romance
Retro Murder Mystery
Retro Young Adult
Retro Animal Stories
etc.

Also, how about "advertising" this group? I usually un-check the box below that says Add to my Update Feed so my post only shows up in the group. But if we keep the box checked, our comments will be in our feeds, and maybe our friends and followers might want to join?

CindySR wrote: "First, thank you for your continued guidance for this group! I could be a mod, but never having been one before I might not do well. Keep me in mind if need be.

I like the current book pool as is..."

I like the Book Pool as it is too, Cindy. All the authors & good books I would never have found without you guys...

But I am open to change if that is what most people want. :)

Personally, I sometimes think I am participating in too many groups. But, I love them and love different challenges. :-) I am not sure how much I will be participating in additional challenges in Retro Reads. For sure, I will join Book Pool for 2025. Nonetheless, I will try the other ones too.

By the way, the group Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) has bingo and I love it. I have done it for this year already.

About moderators, I can just say, that if you need help you have to change them. It can be hard but sometimes one has to make such decisions.

I am the only active moderator for Virago Modern Classics, but the group is small and simple so I manage. But when you want a more dynamic group - you are right, you need help.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "I love the Book Pool - I have discovered so many good authors this way. I am happy to continue with it. But interest seems to be waning. Do we need to freshen things up a bit?

One would be to make..."
I like the pool very much, and have also been accumulating possible titles for 2025. I don’t know if it’s waning interest, or more a matter of people diving into the pool in January because they are excited about reading their books, and appealing titles from others members! That’s my attitude, and why I dive in. I try and pick books I REALLY want to read, and hope others will enjoy; my problem has been availability-not my own titles, I make sure I can get them before nominating-but other people’s titles. They’re often unavailable through my library, or too expensive to find used.

Having said that, I would be up for any of the changes you suggested if that’s what the group wants. I’ve not taken part in any of those (bingo, alphabetical, etc), my only group that did something similar is now inactive, but used to be quarterly, based on seasons. The mod would present 5 categories each summer, autumn, winter, spring, and it was reader’s choice to fulfill the categories- anything from a book set in the season, to a geographical challenge like “read a book set in Africa.�� That kept people hopping, people posted their brief thoughts, link to a review.

Mela wrote: "About moderators, I can just say, that if you need help you have to change them. It can be hard but sometimes one has to make such decisions.

I am the only active moderator for Virago Modern Clas..."

I agree with Mela, sounds like you definitely need to make a change if you want to freshen things up. I’m sorry you have not been able to get responses from Hana and Tadiana, I hope they are well.

yes, what Susan said, you do need help sounds like and I hope someone can step up.

I can tell you while I like the book pool and I get excited about planning what books, I think forget to read them because there is no deadline. I really like when everyone is reading the same book at the same time and we don't have that now.

But I will still participate next year. and I am still reading this years books, just not currently. I literally forget about the books that aren't for a specific month!

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m sorry you have not been able to get responses from Hana and Tadiana, I hope they are well."

I do think something has happened to Hana. At best, (& this isn't a great best) she was having trouble with her eyesight & may have decided the fonts on ŷ������ were too hard on them.

I remember her having eye trouble, I haven’t seen her post in a long time, either.

When you look at Hana's GR profile page, under "Hana's Recent Updates" there is an entry posted on Apr 21, 2024 for a book she had read. So, it would seem she is still active, but perhaps not as much as she used to be.

Lesley wrote: "When you look at Hana's GR profile page, under "Hana's Recent Updates" there is an entry posted on Apr 21, 2024 for a book she had read. So, it would seem she is still active, but perhaps not as mu..."

That's interesting given that her profile bio also shows she hasn't been active since December 2022. When I edit my own reviews I often get the date read changed on me, but it seems a temporary thing.

But looking at her read shelf, the last book read before that was July 2020.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Lesley wrote: "When you look at Hana's GR profile page, under "Hana's Recent Updates" there is an entry posted on Apr 21, 2024 for a book she had read. So, it would seem she is still active, but pe..."

Yes, I noticed that too. I wonder if she's been off the scene and just making her way back now. If so it is probable to assume she's not into moderating at least for now.

BTW I am feeling suitably guilty at having neglected my Book Pool reads, but intend rectifying that before the end of the year! :(

Oh, and hello Marty! How's your garden doing. I'm trying to prep mine ready for the Labour Weekend planting but dog keeps eating the nutrients I'm trying to add - blood and bone/sheep pellets. LOL.

Sounds like your dog wants to take up gardening as well!

She has always liked 'helping' in the garden, Susan. From when she first came to live with me and carefully unplanted my seedlings we'd just planted, through to harvesting her own food! Loves green beans she picks herself, along with lettuce, celery, and carrots - pulls her own! Bless her wee self.

Oh, my! I hope she leaves something for you to harvest! My Daisy likes apples and carrots, but I prepare them for us to share. I haven’t tried gardening in the year or so I’ve had her, so I don’t know, she might help herself to future crops- I’ll have to plant extra! ;o)

Marty says "Hi right back at you, Lesley!

Marty has planted lettuces, silver beet (Swiss Chard to you North Americans) tomatoes & parsley. We are just back from our local plant swap. We weren't quick enough to get a 'black cherry' cherry tomato, but I did get a 'bumble bee' one. Marty doesn't want it in 'his' garden so I'm going to put it in a pot on the deck. The rest of the stuff we got was for eating rather than planting & some flowers which are now in a giant vase on our dining room table.

That is hilarious that Ruby pulls her own carrots! Nearest we came to that was a very unpleasant peacock we had shortly after we moved here. Marty was trying to corral it & the wretched creature stampeded right through his freshly planted tomatoes! & the peacock was a saint compared to the rooster we had. We have no pets at all now, but we get regular visits from our neighbours cat, Cookie.

As far as the Book Pool goes Lesley it is a no pressure read. I have discovered so many authors I wouldn't have heard of otherwise.

Did you feel the earthquake this morning? Sounds like it was quite the shake in Wellington this morning.

Jackie wrote: "...I can tell you while I like the book pool and I get excited about planning what books, I think forget to read them because there is no deadline. I really like when everyone is reading the same book at the same time and we don't have that now...."

As for me, the fact there are not any deadlines (apart from the end of the year) is one of the best parts of the Book Pool of the group. I can read the books between my other monthly plans, or (like this year) ten books in the first half and then nothing at all. Not because the rest in the pool aren't great, just because time is not made of rubber ;-)

Mela wrote: "Jackie wrote: "...I can tell you while I like the book pool and I get excited about planning what books, I think forget to read them because there is no deadline. I really like when everyone is rea..."

Ha ha, time is not made of rubber, very good! And true. Same here, about the appeal of the pool - time to get to as many worthwhile reads as I can get hold of!

Well, good old GR ate a previous comment. I love the pool, it has introduced so many books to me. I was off to a great start this year, but then hit a major slump. I've got my reading mojo back now, and hope to get in at least one more. And I've been building a list for next year (but where did I stash it??? ack!)
Mela--too bad we can't stretch time! Right now it's a case of too many books, not enough time.

I'm partial to the book pool - it reminds me of some books/authors that I'd completely forgotten about

Thanks for your feedback, everyone. I have lots of thoughts now.

I'll give this to Sunday (my time) just in case more people want to have their say.

@ Cindy SR. I have always been a bit shy about publicising this group. I've just mentioned the group in an update I have done though. :)

I love the book pool, even if I never end up doing as much as I think I will. But I'm also open to something new!
Probably not much help to you ...

Jenn wrote: "I love the book pool, even if I never end up doing as much as I think I will. But I'm also open to something new!
Probably not much help to you ..."

No this is a great help Jenn.

I'm thinking is the consensus is we stick with the Pool.

I'm really happy that Cindy SR wants to join me as a moderator & we might make some tweaks for 2026. Cindy has lots of ideas & it would be a shame not to use them. But some people already have their picks organised. I have made a start but I'm going to have to whittle it down a little bit. 😊

Same here, Carol - I just keep adding titles as I come across them; it’s addictive! ;o)

I look forward to whatever you and CindySR come up with - the pool is delightful, but I can see where you might want to freshen things up, as the pool keeper! 😉

Ditto to everything Susan says above.

I’m so shamefully behind on the Book Pool, I don’t feel like I should even venture an opinion. 🫣

That said, I’m happy with whatever Carol and Cindy decide to do.

Susan in NC wrote: "Same here, Carol - I just keep adding titles as I come across them; it’s addictive! ;o)

I look forward to whatever you and CindySR come up with - the pool is delightful, but I can see where you mi..."

Poolkeeeper! hahahahaha!

Thanks for all your input, everyone!

I'll give my decision on Sunday (my time- Saturday for most of you!)

Thanks, toots! ;o)

Hi Everyone!

The consensus was to leave the Book Pool as is for 2025 - the only exception is that Georgette Heyer books are now allowed.

I have removed Tadiana as a moderator. As Hana is the creator of the group I have to apply to Support (ŷ������ Staff) to have her removed.

They are both still members of this group & more than welcome to still participate if they want to come back. :)

Thank you, dearest!

thanks for all your work, Carol!

I've already heard back from Support & they won't remove Hana as Creator.

Hi Carol,

Thank you for writing in. Moderators have the ability to remove moderator status from other group mods. However, since Hana is the creator of the group, there isn't a way to remove their mod status. As the creator, they have the ability to set up the group as they wish, and they also have the choice to participate as much or as little as they'd like.

Please let us know if there's anything else we can help you with.

Sincerely,
The ŷ������ Team

I know other groups have managed this but I think the Mod has to be gone a very long time.