The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[xaraan]

Since so many of us read a ton of novels in addition to comics, at least according to the book reading thread we seem to; I was thinking about starting an Outhouse Book Club and integrating it into my column.

Wanted to see who might be interested in participating and how we should go about book selection.

I was thinking maybe one book per month or even every other month, that way we aren't all compromising and reading stuff we might not normally read just to do the club. What time frame do you think?

Also, should we do books that have gone to paperback already or are hardcover novels also fine?

I know a lot of posters read Jim Butcher, and his new novel Side Jobs (short story collection) comes out at the end of October, that might be a good one to start with.

Either way, I figure we can start a thread after we finish with one book to decide as a group what the next book will be. Could even take nominations and put up a poll if everyone wants that. And you wouldn't have to participate every month of course, but hoping to get some consistency out of the club.

And what I would do with the column is instead of posting a formal review; just post a brief description of the book (briefer than even the back cover would have) and explain it's a book club discussion and then make my own comments about the book in the comments section like anyone else.

So, let me know what you think...

[xaraan]

anybody?

[Chubbles]

I'll do it...doesn't look like the group would be that big so we can probably do one per month...i enjoy reading paperbacks more than hardcovers bc it's easier to carry around...but i don't really care one way or another

[xaraan]

cool, and yea, thought the group would be a little bit bigger
we have a ton of novel readers on the OH, but I know people hate to get into these clubs sometimes and be stuck reading stuff they might not be into

but if we only get a few people then we will start with a few people and more can always join in later

i figure too, it will be an article where the discussion will take place in comments, so people could join in freely book to book as well

just hoping to get a half dozen or so at least consistently

[Chubbles]

a couple of preferences:

1) We don't pick any massive epic novels over 1,000 pages...i do 95% of my reading on the bus to and from work and can plow through about 300 pages a week and there are lots of books i have in my personal queue so i don't wanna spend the whole month on the review group book

2) We could rotate the person who chooses the next month's book so we each get a chance to make a pick, much like the comic review group

3) We don't choose books that are like the 5th in a series of books where you would have had to read the previous 4 to fully understand the plot

[xaraan]

Sounds like good ideas

I was already thinking about #3 (just thought the dresden one would find a lot of readers here + it was all short stories)

And #1 is a good idea

#2 is an interesting idea
I was hesitent to just have any one person choose a book b/c I didn't want people to have spend time to read something they weren't real into, but I think if we stick with shorter books like in #1 it might work out ok

[David Bird]

I'm interested, but I couldn't read every month. I simply have too many of my own books to read through, if I add too many others I will never be able to stay on top (not that I always do anyway).

[Chubbles]

Sounds like good ideas

I was already thinking about #3 (just thought the dresden one would find a lot of readers here + it was all short stories)

And #1 is a good idea

#2 is an interesting idea
I was hesitent to just have any one person choose a book b/c I didn't want people to have spend time to read something they weren't real into, but I think if we stick with shorter books like in #1 it might work out ok

yea even if you don't like the book it's far easier to read 300 unenjoyable pages than to read 700 unenjoyable pages

[Chubbles]

also i'd prefer we didn't choose like massively famous books bc the chances are we all have read them already...that was the problem with the graphic novel club, all the books we were choosing were books 95% of the board had already read

[xaraan]

good points

so, who wants to pick the first book?

You want to pick something Chubbles or David, something you already plan on reading that fits into the guidelines Chubbles was saying?

[thefourthman]

I'm up for it, maybe it will make me more diligent in my reading.

[Chubbles]

i'd like to make the first pick if that's ok...gimme a few minutes to look over my list

[xaraan]

go for it chubs

and awesome, welcome fourthy

[Chubbles]

Stealth. Gorgon. Regenerator. Cerberus. Zzzap. The Mighty Dragon. They were heroes. Vigilantes. Crusaders for justice, using their superhuman abilites to make Los Angeles a better place.

Then the plague of living death spread around the globe. Despite the best efforts of the superheroes, the police, and the military, the hungry corpses rose up and overwhelmed the country. The population was decimated, heroes fell, and the city of angels was left a desolate zombie wasteland like so many others.

Now, a year later, the Mighty Dragon and his companions must overcome their differences and recover from their own scars to protect the thousands of survivors sheltered in their film studio-turned-fortress, the Mount. The heroes lead teams out to scavenge supplies, keep the peace within the walls of their home, and try to be the symbols the survivors so desperately need.

For while the ex-humans walk the streets night and day, they are not the only threat left in the world, and the people of the Mount are not the only survivors left in Los Angeles. Across the city, another group has grown and gained power.

And they are not heroes.

Very positive reviews on Amazon, 40 reviews, nothing below a 4 out of 5 and seems like an awesome blend of genres to get us started

[xaraan]

Very cool.
I'll look for it at the bookstore, I'm heading out and about now; if not there I'll order it from amazon tonight