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Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin)
Username: Richard_gavin
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 01:06 pm: | |
I realize that a considerable amount of time has lapsed since the Ramsey Campbell Reading Group opened up some fresh threads on the landlord's work. I take some responsibility for this; my schedule has barely allowed me time to read, I'm sorry to say. However, I'd like to rememdy this.
Before we start up the discussions again, I wanted to pose a suggestion:
This group initially focused on the short stories in Alone with the Horrors. This worked very well at first, but seemed to lose a bit of steam toward the end.
I'm certainly not adverse to returning to AwtH, but if there are people who wish to freshen things up a bit, we could also broaden the reading pool to include Ramsey's many novels. There's been a lot of talk amongst we readers about how deeply The Grin of the Dark impacted us, and I for one am eager to revisit The Influence, among others. These novels could be opened as individual threads and RCMB members could add their thoughts when they please. We could approach the novel reading group in one of two ways:
1. Pick a novel and a "start date" and anyone who wishes to may take part in the thread. This is the same model as the original Reading Group.
Or:
2. Members could simply open or add to novel threads whenever they wish. This model would never work with traditional reading groups of course, but on a message board it could work very well because the previous observations are all there in black and white for everyone to look back upon and add to. For example, let's say Karim has just read Incarnate and wishes to delve into some of its subtext. He opens an Incarnate thread and posts some thoughts and questions. After reading this thread, I'm inspired to add my own impressions. A month later, Mike Kelly decides to re-read this novel and "bumps" the thread with fresh insights. Meanwhile, other novel threads could be opened by other members. No member is required to read everything or even post if they don't want to, so there's no pressure to read, read, read. But the conversations will be waiting for those members who choose to chime in later on.
What does everyone think? I'm fine with either. It's been too long since my last in-depth fix of Campbell. I'm starting to get a little twitchy... |
Zed (Gary_mc)
Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 02:06 pm: | |
Personally, I like the second option. It's looser, less rule-based (urgh: rules), and allows us to dip into it as and when we feel the need...kind of a never-ending discussion on the books and stories, but held seperate from the main discussion group. |
Karim Ghahwagi (Karim)
Username: Karim
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 02:34 pm: | |
I like both. But could also go for the second option. The only thing with the second option is that things might get somewhat scattered, its fun to spend some time specifically hearing everyone's opinons on a particular short story or novel. Either way I think its excellent that you have decided pick this up again Richard. |
Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin)
Username: Richard_gavin
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 03:33 pm: | |
I agree with Zed. I like the "never-ending discussion," which, let's face it, is what message boards are.
Consider the Reading Group rebooted. I may just open a thread on The Grin of the Dark this week, and then contribute some thoughts on The Influence after I re-read it later this summer.
In the meantime, if anyone wishes to start up threads on Ramsey's other novels or stories, have at! |
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