"The Bookshelf" Proposal

OK, I have a proposal...

We can start a comment thread here where we keep track of the books on the IRC's "To Read Bookshelf." My thought (I suspect this idea isn't original) is that all participants can place two books on the shelf for his or her fellow members to choose from. Each month, a randomly selected (well, we'll randomly select the first person to pick and then maybe go in alphabetical order from there) member will pluck a book from the shelf which will be the book every one reads for that month. Whoever is selecting the book CANNOT pick one of their own, however (heh heh). If one of the books you place on the bookshelf is selected, you are then allowed (and encouraged!) to replace it with another recommendation on the shelf for future consideration.

When considering what books to put on the shelf, try to keep in mind the interests of your fellow members (e.g. don't worry, Jan, I won't put "War and Peace" on the shelf - it would never occur to me!) and also perhaps try to have your two suggested books NOT be of too similar subject matter. Also, maybe a brief description of the book might help to 'sell' it as a pick by your fellow members.

When it is one member's turn to pick, I think there should also be some guidelines about NOT picking two books in a row that were submitted by the same member, and also that whoever is picking should 'take pity' on books that have been on the shelf for a long time (I'd hate to have a member have two books on the shelf that never get picked ). Hopefully we could keep ourselves in line here in the spirit of cooperation without making any hard and fast rules about what to pick.

I really like Kathleen's suggestion/idea that we pick a lineup of books to read for at least several months in advance. This gives everyone plenty of time to track the book down in the bookstore or library of their choice and would also give the flexibility to the busier members to maybe decide, "Oh, I'll read December & February's books so I'll get started now...") etc.

Let me know what you think of this idea. I'll also start a separate message thread on the blog for "Books for the Bookshelf Proposal" where members can list two books to be added to start us off.

-Jay