Let's Make a Plan

[TBI Book Club]

O.K. folks, let's get serious here and create a plan for the reading group. I suggest one book per month, alternating among survivor stories, caregiver stories, family guides, and works by healthcare professionals.

First, we need to know if enough people are interested in doing this. So, let's get a number. If you want to participate in this book discussion group, please respond to this message..

[Deb]

Yup - I'm in!

[Autom]

i am in too sounds like a rounded balance

[Shelah Riggins]

Allow me to begin by apologizing for dropping the ball. It is apparent that there is a lot of interest in this topic, so I am going to propose a format for our book club.

Traditional book clubs involve having members reading a certain portion of a book, them meet to discuss questions--often determined by a moderator/facilitator--that pertain to the reading. Whereas it would be possible to do that an various websites (I'm not sure which ones allow group chats, though!), another option would be to have the moderator post question at the beginning of the assigned reading, then have members e-mail their comments.

This would be a good analog to the "real" book clubs you find at libraries and bookstores. For example, a Book Club member could e-mail his ore her comment in response to the posted questions (and even raise his ore her own questions). Group members would comment in response, and that would lead to further dialog and exploration.

Personally, I think it is valuable to have the facilitator be a rotating position, available to any member who volunteers for it. I suggest that the facilitator be allowed to choose the next book for the group to explore. As far as question to ask, if you go to a Book Club at library (I've never been to one, but I did look at a "Book Club bag, which includes about 10 copies of a book, plus suggestions for topics to explore in each section of the book.

I am going to anoint myself as the initial facilitator, and I am going to choose the first book: Head Cases, by Michael Paul Mason. I know that several members of the TBI Book Club have already read it; if you have, you are free to abstain from this conversation; on the other hand, your insights are no less valuable for having read the book already.

[Deb]

Head Cases is an excellent book to start with. I have read it already and found it most interesting to hear about brain injury from a compassionate case worker's point of view. Will look forward to participating in discussions and hearing/seeing others' comments.

[Carol]

love the plan maybe we can have a book chat night once a month

[Noelle]

Shelah Riggins said:

Allow me to begin by apologizing for dropping the ball. It is apparent that there is a lot of interest in this topic, so I am going to propose a format for our book club.

Traditional book clubs involve having members reading a certain portion of a book, them meet to discuss questions--often determined by a moderator/facilitator--that pertain to the reading. Whereas it would be possible to do that an various websites (I'm not sure which ones allow group chats, though!), another option would be to have the moderator post question at the beginning of the assigned reading, then have members e-mail their comments.

This would be a good analog to the "real" book clubs you find at libraries and bookstores. For example, a Book Club member could e-mail his ore her comment in response to the posted questions (and even raise his ore her own questions). Group members would comment in response, and that would lead to further dialog and exploration.

Personally, I think it is valuable to have the facilitator be a rotating position, available to any member who volunteers for it. I suggest that the facilitator be allowed to choose the next book for the group to explore. As far as question to ask, if you go to a Book Club at library (I've never been to one, but I did look at a "Book Club bag, which includes about 10 copies of a book, plus suggestions for topics to explore in each section of the book.

I am going to anoint myself as the initial facilitator, and I am going to choose the first book: Head Cases, by Michael Paul Mason. I know that several members of the TBI Book Club have already read it; if you have, you are free to abstain from this conversation; on the other hand, your insights are no less valuable for having read the book already.

[Noelle]

This book sounds like a great one. May I suggest using Skype on our computers for us to discuss the book. You can use Skype without using a camera and you will still be able to hear everyone and it's free.

[Shelah Riggins]

Noelle,

Skype sounds like a great idea, with one drawback: believe it or not, not everyone has broadband capable of transmitting voice in real time. My connection is rated at 512K, but the actual connection varies quite a bit, with bursts well in excess, and other times at only one-eighth the "official" bandwidth.

[Noelle]

Shelah,

In the group I facilitated we didn't have any problems. Some people also bought Skype speakers (exterior) for only $10 and they worked out well. Maybe we were just lucky :)

[mego]

yes! Ohmygosh, I am so excited that 'head cases' was chosen!


like check this out, "teaser" quote!
"Julie may not be able to relate to your past, but in the present you are naked
before her. She is pure empathy unobstructed by ego." -Head Cases

[Noelle]

When will this book club be starting to read "Head Cases"?

[Ruth]

i have been waiting for more discussion i think we are more of a bunch of looky looos please keep suggesting I really do appreciate it