March 30, 2010 My Confession
Hi. Hello.
I need to tell you all something; I need to come clean.
Questions posing conversations based on thoughts around owning vs. borrowing, keeping vs. giving away, what snacks you prefer to accompany your reading, etc., are of minor interest to me. The above are surface conversational topics and throughout this current month I planted them on our site as a test. I wanted to understand what would draw more traffic and discussion. The express purpose that prompted this reading group was to facilitate discussion over mutual reading. At the plea of several people, over the span of a couple of years, I finally decided to put together this group in order to collect fellow readers. Not being a big blog reader, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, so now, after a few months, I need to readjust. My intention and hope is that this group will flourish into a space where individuals can enter as their schedule permits and thoroughly discuss their reads, for good or bad.
In realizing that people need to connect in order to be inspired to return and participate, I am trying to write quick pieces, here and there, that draw interest, while relaying what I am, personally (outside of the group selections) reading. I am wondering, will this be enough for you, or do you need those light-hearted postings to connect with. And yes, I am going to continue using the word connect, because it is essential to my purpose.
I want to give space for you to connect, but I need to admit that I do not think I have the stamina for daily posts on things like, whether anyone keeps the dust jackets on the books they are reading or if you can watch television and read at the same time or do you take breaks when you read? Such topics are featured on just about every other book related site I have come across and while these may be easy to respond to, I prefer more depth. I want to clarify – I am not, in any way, saying that these are bad questions or that they are not worth your attention, but rather that this is meant to be a reading group and not necessarily just a book related blog.
I am not a blogger. I am much more accustomed to small groups, lingering moments and good conversation. This is just me, personally. I do not want to discount any other method, I merely wish to focus a little more specifically to actual reading discussion.
I would like to hear your voice on what I have expressed. Here is what I am thinking in broken-down form:
My personal passion lives in discussion that is rich, full of various points of view and goes in-depth over what I am reading. This is what I would like to focus on with our site. What I am wondering is how would you like this? Would taking away the lighter questions of what you enjoy eating and drinking when you read take away from your experience? The moment I publicly published this site, it became not only mine, but more yours.
Please feel free to express any and all thoughts along these lines. I do not want to chase anyone away or infer that these lighter questions are not good enough, but I have never been one that has any talent or as I said before, stamina, for small talk. This does not mean that small talk doesn’t have its place, just that I am not good at it.
Let me know your thoughts.
-Sea
Reading With Sea 
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porcelaine
said
I wrote about this topic not that long ago. I believe you have to remain true to yourself and trust in who you are and the bonds you’ve developed thus far. If thought provoking conversation appeals or something less frequent is more suitable, go with it. Whatever you do, make certain your actions resonate with the real you – both in and outside the blogosphere.
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seabenjamin
said
P –
Thank you for your comment. I assure you that it’s well appreciated. This was an important question & admittance to make to my readership, since this blog was not started for my sake or my release, but for the dozen or so people who requested I put this group together for them. It is difficult to distribute what is true to my personhood, when this group is meant to be about and for the members. I am merely moderating and maintaining. I just hold the ladle and am stirring the contents of the pot.
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Nicole
said
As I read your post I found it kind of funny, because those type of questions are tangential but I think they get people participating because they are kind of on the go questions. Nonetheless, my favorite parts of the site (before I started contributing on the book discussion) are the members and the moleskin tabs. I think this site has the potential to turn into what you want. I’ve seen other book blogs, and although they are engaging, it’s more of a one way street. Bloggers post reviews of the books they are reading and people comment on the wonderful review or the great writting, but it doesn’t turn into a discussion of the book per se. These discussions take place elsewhere, on allotted dates and are moderated by one or two bloggers. I like structure, but I also like things to flow. I think that the comment as you go feel of your site is ideal and I wouldn’t want it to change, but some other platform could be implemented to make the discussions more in depth, as other posters have pointed out.
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Nicole
said
Opps, I’m sorry I wrote this post left and hit submit like three hours late and now I see I’ve basically written the same thing Danielle did. But hey, we appear to be on the same page.
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seabenjamin
said
Nicole & Danielle, & all,
How could the discussions be better for you?
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Danielle
said
I am so glad you confessed! I too enjoy the deeper discussions that have many depths and POV and joined for this purpose. I am thoroughly enjoying the discussion on Catcher in the Rye, my head is swimming with thoughts as I think about the questions and the contributions of other members. I love it! This is what I have been looking for. Small talk isn’t my thing either, but I do believe that some related occasional light posts can lead to deeper discussions. Perhaps if we limit these lighter posts to those that relate to what we are specifically reading. For the most part it seems these posts have started the dialogue and have drawn people into discussion in general.
From the posts related to these lighter questions, I think we can all gather we are pretty much on the same page on a lot of things, like massive book collections and dreams of grand libraries in our homes. I would be very happy with you eliminating these kind of posts as I feel they have already served their purpose to get things moving.
One reason I suggested a place to post literature related topics was to keep it separate from our main discussion, allowing us to still share these other aspects of books when it comes up, supporting the continuation of getting to know each other and still allowing for members to have other dialogues if desired.
I think this month has seen fellow readers get comfortable with putting out their thoughts and ideas as they get to know other members. With this I believe the discussion will continue to grow.
I guess the structure I mentioned before is forming itself, as naturally we all have had most of the month to read, and are now getting more into the discussion. Maybe more questions that can be answered without finishing the book first would spark earlier conversations. I have really enjoyed the additional questions/comments posted by members like Nicole, in the discussion.
Honestly I thought the light posts this month were to due to you being busy and not having time for more in depth posts/questions.
P.S Sorry! I need to learn to be more concise!
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seabenjamin
said
Danielle,
Actually, I really appreciate your willingness to talk this much about it. Your in-depth feedback is exactly what I was hoping for. And I like your suggestions a lot and appreciate them greatly.