Friday @ the Forums

Every Friday we check out our forums and let you know what the most popular threads are.

Source: Jared Fagan

Self Promotion Thread - In answer to the influx of members who are coming on to sell their blogs, books, proofing business, we created this thread. Please help us out and keep your self promotion to this thread.

Character Attachment - This one isn't new, but it could use a revival. An interesting topic and one serious bibliophiles struggle with all the time.

August Book Poll - We posted this before, but it seemed one of our books, John Brown's Body, didn't meet the group's criteria (it was poetry) and sneaked in. So it's been replaced with Lewis Sinclair's Main Street. Get your votes in!

Friday @ the Forums

Every Friday we check out our forums and let you know what the most popular threads are.

Source: Jared Fagan

Anna Karenina Threads - We opened our Anna Karenina threads as the Tolstoy classic is our selection for May. Jump in and add any topics you think we should talk about.


August's Book Poll - We also have started our voting for our August book. The category is 1911-1959.

Classic Book Suggestions - Have a book suggestion to put on our polls? Check the shelves to make sure we don't already have it, then add it to this thread!

Friday @ the Forums

For our last Friday of April, here are the most popular threads on the forums.

Source: Jared Fagan

Brave New World Threads - We are almost done with BNW, now's your chance to get on the forums and tell us what you think.

CWAtC Catch Up and Mustard Challenge - New to the group and missed out on our previous reads? Gametator Laura has just the challenge for you. Sign up here for the buddy reads that are going on.

Formative Reading - Frederick, one of our CWAtCers, wants to know what books of your youth has helped shaped your life. 

July's book pick - We're running out of time to pick July's book. The Phantom of the Opera is in the lead, but The Scarlet Letter isn't that far behind. 

Friday @ the Forums

Tax season is officially over so we've seen a little bit of activity pick up at the forums. Here's what's going on!


GameTator Laura has this burning question: Suppose our tax refunds actually came in the form of a gift card good for one book. What book would you get? Answer it here in A Man For All Tax Seasons. 


Finished Brave New World yet? Give your review in Bookshelf, Library Bag or Donation Box. 


We also have a new game with Alphabet Serial. 


If you're an author and want to promote your work, please do so in the new Self Promotion thread. 

Source: Jared Fagan

Friday @ the Forums - April 12th

We need to shake the forums up again. They've been too quiet! Some things getting attention:


Shakespeare - We're doing an optional of reading Shakespeare this month. Originally we picked it due to the Bard's birthday, but in a happy coincidence, his works are quoted abundantly in our book choice this month Brave New World. So feel free and open a thread and talk about which one(s) you've tackled. 

Author Biographies - Curious about the authors of the books, we've chosen? Check this thread for some biographies. Or add a few that you've enjoyed! 

Source: Wiki Commons Public Domain

Social Media and Us - Just a reminder of where we hang out besides here and the forums. Make sure you like/follow/whatever! Follow us here on the blog too! 

Friday @ the Forums

April is here and we're bringing in spring with Brave New World along with an optional read of any of the works of William Shakespeare. Here's what else is going on in the forums.

San Francisco Meet & Greet and companion Google Hangout - Just a reminder that we're going to be in SF on Saturday, April 6th from 3:45-5pm at the Downtown branch of the SF public library. More details can be found her and make sure you R.S.V.P whether you'll be in person or via Google Hangout.

Fairy Tales - Not a lot of info on the forums, but check out Thisseas's thread to find out more.

Gadfly - Our Shelftator Angie is organizing an optional read in July for the book The Year of the Gadfly. The more who participate the better. 

Historical Fiction Help - After reading Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald this week, it got me wondering about other historical fiction written with famous authors as the main characters. I'm trying to get a list started if anyone can help with some titles. 

Fridays @ the Forums: March 29th

Here's what's happening on our Goodreads forums. We're in the last few days of reading Sherlock Holmes stories. Monday we start Brave New World. 

SF Meet & Greet - We are officially going to be in San Francisco to check out a few bookstores for our new podcast segments "CWAtC on the Go." If you can make it, we'll be at the downtown branch of the SF Public Library at 3:45pm (PST). If you cannot make it, that's ok as well because we will be doing a Google + Hangout at 4pm (PST). Please RSVP on the forums if you plan on joining us and follow us on Google+ for the invite.

Source: Apple Maps

June Book Selection- The poll closed today. Looks like Solaris is the winner after a really close race to the finish. This weekend we'll open July's poll in the pre 1910 category.

Virtual Book Discussion - Speaking of polls, we want to see if anyone is interested in doing a virtual book discussion at the end of each month on Google+. Vote now!

Historical Fiction Help! - Booktator Karena is looking for fictional accounts of the lives of famous authors. Help a Tator out?

Books for Future Consideration - Have a book that's been published after 2003 and think it may be a future classic? Share it here!

Friday @ the Forums: March 22nd

Here is what's going on in our forums on Goodreads.

Literary Blogs - Do you have a book blog that you want to share? We'll share your link here on the blog as well.

Practical Classics Questions - Kevin Smokler will be by in May to talk about his book. Post your questions on the thread for him.

Classic Books Mentioned in other Classic Books - Recently we ran across Middlemarch in The Age of Innocence. Do you know of any?

March is Women's History Month - Which female authors are you reading this month?

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Friday @ the Forums: March 15th -The Sherlock Holmes Edition

Our weekly round up of what's going on at our Goodreads forum. Our Reader's Choice of Sherlock Holmes is in full swing.

Courtesy: Public Domain

Quotable Sherlock & Co. - "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." has been mentioned of course. 

Sherlock (BBC TV Show) - Compare Benedict Cumberbatch's and Martin Freeman's portrayals with the literary detective and his faithful companion. *I know for sure three of the Tators are fans!*

A Scramble in Bohemia - Our Gametator Laura puts your unscrambling talents to the test with this Sherlock themed game.

A Study in Scarlet - Most members if they haven't already read it, are starting where it all began. 

Friday @ the Forums: March 8th

We are one week into our Sherlock Holmes reader's choice selection this month. Here's what else is going on around the forums this week.

Book Club Contest for Gadfly: Want to join me for a side read in June/July? - Our Shelftator Angie is gathering CWAtC'ers for a side read in July. Check it out for more info.

Strange Bedfellows - What are the strangest books grouped together on your bookshelves? Or what are the strangest books you read together or right after each other. 

Source: Karena Fagan

The Bad Girls of Literature - To be clear we're not looking for the "badass" girls (e.g. Lisbeth Salandar), but more like the Hatsumomo from Memoirs of a Geisha or Emma Bovary from Madame Bovary. 

Classic Books Mentioned in Other Classic Books - Recently we read The Age of Innocence and both Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life and the author Alphonse Daudet. Do you know of any?

I Managed to (Re-)Read it and I Liked it! - Anil on our forums started this one and it needs some love. Anyone else have a book you hated then tried again and loved?

Next week we look at the Sherlock Holmes discussions that are going on! 

Friday @ the Forums: February 22, 2013

Life of Pi: There are some great conversations happening at the forums!

• Review *Very Certain Will Contain Spoilers*: Are you done with the book already? I'm not! :) Be sure to let us know how you liked the book. We want to know!

• What about the color orange? May contain spoilers: Who knew there could be so much symbolism in one color?!? 

• Life of Pi Appropriate for Teens?: Are you considering sharing this book with your teen? Have an opinion on the matter? Join the discussion!

February is Black History Month: Check out what CWatC members have been reading to celebrate!

Fridays @ the Forums

Our weekly round up of some interesting going-ons around the CWAtC forums.

• Bonding Over Books - Some of our CWAtC'ers are teaming up to read a series or two. Hop over there and see if any sound interesting or start your own.

• Short and Sweet - Our Gametator, Laura, and I got talking about classics you can finish in one sitting. This led to a thread and making a new tag on our shelves. 

• Monster Reads - The opposite of short is long, so we had to also include a thread and tag for the epic books. There are a few doozies out there. 

• I Quit! - When is it okay to quit a book? Do you ever feel remorse?

• May Book Poll - For May's book we're going to the cinema for classic books that have recently (or in the near future) been turned into movies.