Thankyou all for the wonderfully extensive yet comprehensive comments on yesterday's post - what a well-read bunch you are and how keen to share your enthusiasms. That's one of the things which makes writing Cornflower so worthwhile: it's not just about me and my tastes but allows us all to communicate with one another and offer suggestions along the lines of "if you liked that, you'll like this..." which is, I think, worthwhile.
Reflecting on the fact that so many of the visitors to this site form, in a sense, a small but international community of readers, I've had the idea of starting a very informal Cornflower Book Group. There would be no pressure, no commitment, and no having to go out on a miserably cold winter's evening when we'd all rather stay by the fire! The plan would be simply that we'd choose a book to read by a certain date, then discuss it by way of the post and comments. It might need some fine-tuning, but in principle that would be it, and "members" could opt in or out as they felt like it. I'm sure we could muster up enough people willing to have a go to make it worth doing.
Despite the fact that I'm an avid reader, I've never belonged to a book group of any kind before, so it would be a new thing for me and fun to try. There are probably thousands of online book groups, but ours would be based here and would reflect, broadly, the tastes so many of us share. I wish I could offer tea and cake to sustain us in our discussions, but I can provide what I hope will be a congenial forum for bookish chat!
If you'd be interested - and remember, you're not committing yourself to anything - please leave your name in the comments. Floreant Centaureae! (Hope I've got that right...)
Me please!
n
Posted by: natalie | 16 November 2007 at 12:20 PM
Wonderful idea. Count me in as well. Not sure how much time I will have, but I will certainly give it a try.
Posted by: Donna | 16 November 2007 at 12:42 PM
That's a great idea! I'm all in.
Posted by: Erika Tsugawa | 16 November 2007 at 12:44 PM
Would love to.
Jayne
Posted by: Jayne | 16 November 2007 at 01:30 PM
What a great idea - please count me in.
Posted by: dawn | 16 November 2007 at 01:39 PM
What fun! Count me in.
Posted by: sherry | 16 November 2007 at 01:41 PM
Can I join in too please?
Mr C
Posted by: Mr C | 16 November 2007 at 01:46 PM
I'd love to give it a go.
Posted by: Harriet | 16 November 2007 at 01:56 PM
I'd love to be a part of this book group. I've never been involved in one before either ... but this sounds like a great idea.
Posted by: Becca | 16 November 2007 at 02:03 PM
Yes, I'd love to join...what a treat! I like the idea of being in a book group which has a LATIN MOTTO!
Posted by: adele geras | 16 November 2007 at 02:47 PM
I'd love to join, please!
Jodie
Posted by: GeraniumCat | 16 November 2007 at 02:50 PM
I'd like to try, too.
Posted by: Maureen | 16 November 2007 at 02:51 PM
Sounds fab - I'd love to be part.
Posted by: Lesley | 16 November 2007 at 02:58 PM
Great idea - I tried a similar thing with Fair Play on my blog, but don't think I really sold it well - unlike you! A brilliant idea, look forward to it. There is something about a Book Group which can't be found anywhere else.
Posted by: Simon | 16 November 2007 at 03:06 PM
p.s. love your Cornflower Readers Recommend... column
Posted by: Simon | 16 November 2007 at 03:07 PM
I'd like to take part - sounds fun!
Posted by: Jill | 16 November 2007 at 03:08 PM
I think it would be a terrific idea with the only challenge being the (immediate) availability of some titles for your American readers.
Posted by: Avice | 16 November 2007 at 03:33 PM
I would love to join. I too have never been part of a book group. I am looking forward to this..
Posted by: carol | 16 November 2007 at 03:41 PM
Lovely idea. Count me in. What about an online sock knitting group too!!? Have managed to turn a heel (with, I confess, a little help from a friend). What satisfaction to be had from simple pleasures!
Posted by: Claire | 16 November 2007 at 04:20 PM
Oh wacko, bon idée (I've been reading Jennings). I've never been in a book group before.
Posted by: Barbara | 16 November 2007 at 04:36 PM
Just the thing for post-operative confinement at home for the winter !!
Posted by: Mrs Campbell | 16 November 2007 at 04:47 PM
Just think - my small comment re Georgette Heyer started all this! I would like to perhaps join a reading group, although my time for reading is v. limited because of all the reading I have to do around the subjects I write about. But I would always do my best and I don't suppose it would matter if we weren't always able to read each and every book, so long as what we did was fun!
I would like to thank all those who commented upon Georgette Heyer's novels. I certainly have lots to think about. It would seem though that all those who commented like Heyer's novels which is a good sigh (unlike Walter Scott!)
Posted by: Margaret Powling | 16 November 2007 at 05:35 PM
I would love to participate. Thanks!
Posted by: Sheila | 16 November 2007 at 06:14 PM
Sounds like fun!
Posted by: Lisa W | 16 November 2007 at 06:14 PM
Definitely count me in!
Posted by: Lisa | 16 November 2007 at 06:25 PM
An excellent idea which will help to pass some of the winter nights to come - please count me in too !
Posted by: Anna | 16 November 2007 at 06:41 PM
Sounds exciting.Please count me in.sarah
Posted by: Sarah | 16 November 2007 at 06:46 PM
Me too, please. Brilliant idea and (truth to tell) pictures of cake would be fun, too. (Surely a virtual meeting will enjoy a virtual cake?) Love the "reader recommendations" column, bumped into a friend in a bookshop this evening and she was browsing the Mitford letters to see if her father (who apparently knew one sister, but she's not sure which!) gets a mention....
Posted by: rosie | 16 November 2007 at 07:06 PM
Sounds lovely, I would like to be part of the group.
Posted by: Rebecca | 16 November 2007 at 07:41 PM
Are cats eligible?
Posted by: Peter the flautist | 16 November 2007 at 07:58 PM
Me too!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 16 November 2007 at 08:44 PM
I'd love to join in too!
Posted by: BooksPlease | 16 November 2007 at 09:11 PM
I'd like to join too. Why not add one more book to the pile I'm reading at the moment?
Posted by: Lyn Baines | 16 November 2007 at 10:47 PM
I'm interested in the book group. Thanks!
Posted by: Beth | 17 November 2007 at 01:00 AM
Count me in! The only book groups I've been in were yahoo groups - the EFBenson List and two short-lived groups of Women Writers of Humor and the DoveGrey Diaries and Letters. Floreant Centaureae!
Posted by: Nancy | 17 November 2007 at 01:21 AM
Oooh, what fun! What a great idea, Karen. Count me in.
Posted by: tara | 17 November 2007 at 01:31 AM
Karen, count me in as well. I'm 5 time zones east of you, but I'll do my best to keep up!
Maybe we could knit socks as we read. I've knitted (knat?) many items including a disastrous fling with a pair of gloves, but never a sock, so there's always that first time.
Posted by: Thimble | 17 November 2007 at 04:21 AM
Um, let me rephrase that: I'm five time zones WEST of you! It's late and I've just put in 13 straight hours at my computer (I'm a book designer and typesetter) and my eyes have begun to cross.
Posted by: Thimble | 17 November 2007 at 04:26 AM
Me too, please!
Posted by: Curzon Tussaud | 17 November 2007 at 10:51 AM
Yes please, I'd like to give it a try!
L
Posted by: Lizzie | 17 November 2007 at 12:18 PM
Wonderful idea and I'd like to be part of this group. Thanks for the invite.
Posted by: Mosi | 17 November 2007 at 02:06 PM
I'm behind in reading posts (as usual), but I'd love to join in as well. I'm off to read your next post now! :)
Posted by: Danielle | 18 November 2007 at 01:25 AM
Yes, yes, please, I'd love to join in, and am looking forward to a slice of that virtual cake.
Posted by: Donnafugata | 19 November 2007 at 06:47 AM
Yes, please! I am interested in joining.
Posted by: Barbara MacLeod | 19 November 2007 at 05:30 PM
Yum! I'm in! And I've read the V-S-W book before....
Posted by: Faith McLellan | 20 November 2007 at 03:21 AM
mois aussi!
Posted by: Elaine | 20 November 2007 at 01:53 PM
I'm interested in this also. The first book sounds wonderful.
Posted by: Kathleen | 20 November 2007 at 08:29 PM
Would you allow a writer to be a member of your book group? If you would, I'd love to join.
Posted by: Angela Young | 25 November 2007 at 06:54 PM