Just a suggestion...

I just wanted to suggest something...
I got Lovely Bones out of the library and since its so 'hot off the press' its only a 7day book.
Now, unless I lock myself in a room and tune out my son and husband for 7 days, there is NO WAY I will read this book before its due date.

Can we pick 'not so new' books so that us library go-ers will be able to have the book for at least 3 weeks (and even be able to renew for longer)....

Just thought i'd throw that suggestion out there.
If we can do this, GREAT, otherwise, I'll have to join my MOMS group's book club !
I really cant bring myself to buy a book that I have no intentions of reading more than once. I have plenty of dust collectors already ! and plenty of books in my library.

Thanks for letting me speak

I don't think that should a be problem in the future. We plan to pick older books to ensure availability in the library.

To be honest, I think most of the books that will be chosen for this club will be popular at the library. Even older books have similiar limits at the library (Lovely Bones is over 6 months old so its not that new)

Unfortunetely, I think most of us are going to have to spend a little money on the books we read on occassion (unless we are lucky enough to find them at the library or have a generous soul lend their copy to us)

Lovely Bones is selling used on Ebay for $5!! . There are way to save money on the books if we try to get them ahead of time but I dont think we should eliminate books purely because they are popular because the best books tend to be popular.

I think we have eliminated some of the problem but choosing books that have paperback editions (and are thus more widely circulated) but to expect to get every book for free is unrealistic for most of us.

Just my opinion.

If i can get the book at the library I will, otherwise I simply wont join in. I have another book club I belong to that I can always jump in on.

I dont think its unrealistic to choose a book that the library has thats NOT on the 7day book rack. Their 7day books are about 50 books, and the rest of the library has thousands upon thousands...
To expect to get every book for free is unrealistic ?
IMHO I think its unrealistic to buy novels that I will read only once. I will never in my lifetime purchase a novel. (A childrens book library is a different story). I'd rather give $5 to a homeless person.
I have a big enough 'to sell on ebay' pile. Dont need to add another book every month. Its just a waste of time for me to buy these types of books.
and the price of the book is not the issue. Even if they were 3 for $1.00 I dont need the clutter If they were 10cents. I wouldnt want them either.

Iam a huge fan of the library, and probably their best customer. and that love I will pass on to my children. Its a shame that alot of people wont take advantage of what our libraries have to offer. Im sure I see lots of DVD's from the libraries that someone else just paid $6 for @ Blockbuster.
To each his own.

Just my opinion.

Ok...i take it back. Maybe the libraries in LI are a lot different from the ones near me. Its not realistic for ME to expect to get every book for free. As a result, I will gladly pay the $$ to read a good book even if it means I need to give it away after Im done.

As for for $$ issue, if you dont want the dust collectors - give the books away to friends or even better old age homes and schools. They would love to have some NEW books!

Out of curiousity: What sort of books does your other book club read?

I had lovely bones on a reserve request at the libraby for months! It finally came in last week. Its not a 7 day limit for me. I finished it already, but I'll probably renew since I want to have the book for the discussion.

Do we have the next book picked yet? We should do it in advance so we can have that one ready (and I can request the library hold it for me).

I thought once a book was in paper back it was no longer a 7 day hold, I think the more request they have for a book the quicker they want you to return it. I see your point Anna I don't want to buy anymore books either, I hope we get the request in so that I can definitely utilize my GF that works at the Library

Stef, For someone like you that reading is something you do so avidly, more power to ya.
Why should I buy books because you feel so strongly about it ?? This is really comical. Youre making too much of an issue over my suggestion.

What I do as 'random acts of kindness' (since you suggested the giving the books away, wow what an idea) I do numerous things that I dont need to discuss or state to back myself up, that BY FAR exceed putting a book on someone's shelf. Thanks for the idea. People in old age homes BY FAR prefer time spent with them, painting their nails or just companionship, a friendly conversation. Most of them are not interested in reading. Thats based on my opinion and experience.

The libraries in Brooklyn and Queens are even more lenient that the ones here on LI. I have gotten out books in Queens for 3 weeks and renewed for another 3 weeks, sometimes even 3 times, if it was a recipe book or exam guide, something I wanted to use for a while. What do you mean about libraries being different ?

I am not an impulse shopper, especially in regards to novels. I can wait to read a book. If that is one thing that you need here and now, then God Bless you, Barnes and Noble LOVESSS you. Thats a publishers dream.

What do you mean by 'its not realisitc for me to get every book for free' ??? What is so difficult about going to the library, taking out a book and taking it home ? How is that unrealistic ?
Sounds great to me.

We all spend our money how we choose. We do not have to have the same opinion on what is 'worth' spending money on. This is my opinion.

You asked what types of books my other book club is reading. Does that mean that anything not on the Top 5 list, on that rack in the supermarket thats hot off the press, that MUST BE BOUGHT, is not a good book ? They are reading some great books.
I dont think I need to bother giving you the titles. What purpose would that serve ??

Lets not turn this into the BHB boards. I made a suggestion. I have an opinion. and I am entitled to both without getting attacked or persuaded to feel otherwise.

Happy Reading !

Anna,

I also live in Brooklyn and have found the libraries sort of lacking the interesting books that I am looking to read. Perhaps that's what Stefanie means by her comment. Add to that a fact that the local branch near me is open until 8pm only one weekday and only saturday, it is quite challenging to even get to the library, because often I leave work after 6pm.

I agree with your point about trying to read books that are not newly released, but I think for the library situation, perhaps the girls that are worried about renting books from library for short periods can check on their own and pinpoint the problems to us, since it seems that not all the branches have the same books on the same loan terms.

Does it make sense. B/c what your library has on 3 week term, my library may either not yet have or only have on 7 day term.

I don't mean to add to the conflict, just offering a clarification...

Alina,
Thanks for offering clarification, but I dont think thats the issue at hand here

Anna: I was not attacking your opinion. You mentioned that spending the additional $ was not the reason for not wanting to buy a copy of the book because you would rather give the money to charity. I was just suggesting that the book could be utilized in a charitable way.

I never suggested that you should buy a book because I feel so strongly about. I was only suggesting that we not limit our selections purely because it is popular. Just as you made a suggestion otherwise, I believe Im still free to do the same.

I never asked you to justify or list your charitable acts. My suggestion about donation was geniune - just because you had already considered it shouldnt mean that should be chastised for mentioning it. If you feel that your time or $$ is spent elsewhere then wonderful.

My schedule does permit me to spend time at the library. Its a wonderful resource for some - but not for me. Im happy that you can utilize your library but not everyone can.

As for your book club I really was interested in what books you were reading elsewhere. It was not meant in a derogatory way. I have no idea why you would assume I was implying something negative. I like to hear what other people are reading so I have ideas of what to read next - that is the truth. If you do not want to share, that is your right.

My comments were not meant to personally attack you - just to express a difference of opinion. I really dont understand why you feel the need to personally attack me but I apologize if I offended you.

You see the funny thing about writing vs saying, it can be taken not how the person intended. I too wanted to know some of the books that your club was reading. Anna, any books that you have already read in your home that you no longer need I could free you of them.

Anna, I'm a fast reader and I like to own the books I've read. If you want, I'll lend you the books that are being read by the group that are on a 7 day loan at the library. I don't want you to not participate.

I think it's getting harder and harder to accomodate everyone

Maybe we can just vote on the next selection (the way it was already decided) of books, just for story of the novel, and then who ever wants to join can. Whether it's available hard/soft cover, at discount stores, etc.

Will that be the most fair? I'd hate to see everyone start fighting over this.....it's supposed to be fun!

Jenn, youre so cute - thanks for offering, but thats ok. really. I'll get whatever I can out of the library and if not, I'll just skip that month.

Teri - I agree, this is supposed to be fun. I just threw out a simple suggestion. I didnt intend for this to start anything.

Nina-I agree with skipping the month if I dont get the book for whatever reason. That was in my initital post, and I have no problem with skipipng a month.

SHamma - sorry daahhling, no books here to get rid of. unless you want some pregnancy books, or some childrens books and youre right, writing can be 'misread' very easily.

Stef - Its not worth making this a 'who attacked who' thread. I made a simple suggestion, you didnt find it realistic (although others didnt seem to think it was that big of a deal) and we just have a difference in opinion. No one is right or wrong, or should have to see it the other way.
I can say I didnt attack you and you can say you didnt attack me, and we can re-read the thread ten times to see who did the attacking. ITs a matter of interpretation. We both felt attacked yet no one did the attacking.

Let just consider it 'squashed'. Life is too short.