Off Season bookclub?
Update: Given that even all of the yes responses seem to be conditional on other things, I'm dropping the idea of doing any kind of organized book club. However, for people that like reading baseball books in the off-season, after the World Series ends I'll make a post of my favorite baseball books and other people can chime in with their favorite books. But there'll be no organized discussion posts, at least not from me. If you want to take part in one, head over to Bless You Boys. They're good people.
This is just an idea right now, but over at Bless You Boys they are having an off season book club, which I think is an excellent idea. I thought I'd see if there was any interest in imitating the literacy over here to break up the inevitable swath of rosterbation posts. Their plan is to assign a book and discuss it in pieces once a week in a pre-scheduled discussion post. We could either do that or assign an entire book and have a single discussion post. You could even lie and say you read the book just to take part in the discussion. It's not school... no one's grading.
As for the book... they're reading The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, which is currently on the New York Times bestseller list. We could discuss the same book over here (it's good so far!) or we could choose a different book. There are a number of classic baseball books I could suggest -- The Brothers K by David James Duncan comes to mind immediately, but there's a lot out there. Maybe someone else knows of a book that we all must read.
Comments welcome, even if it's to tell me that I'm nuts. There's also a poll below to gauge interest; answering the poll doesn't commit you one way or the other. Editors, if you think this is crazy, just let me know.
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I'm useless at reading books other people ask me to read. I just can't.
But I’m pretty good at jumping into discussions once they’ve deviated from specifics.
Voted piece by piece discussion.
Generally, I like the idea
but I don’t know how it would work with my real job. That said, there are a ton of good baseball books to read (and others – anyone else upset about how A Dance with Dragons ended?). Ball 4 would be my choice for the first one since it’s such a classic.
I am swamped with reading for my classes, but I'd enjoy reading something for fun for once.
As long as it’s not one big discussion-that might be too much. Piece-by-piece would be ideal, I think.
WordUpThome: BOOM, HAND HUGGED
Tweet me! @jessicann713
It depends.
What’s the vig? What about RICO? Is this an offshore operation?
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 25, 2011 12:37 PM EDT reply actions
I could be in
I like the idea. Thanks for suggesting.
To take my mind off Twins baseball I’ve been reading a lot of baseball history. I’m about one-third through Boys of Summer by Gordon Kahn.
I’d tend toward the one-time discussion, but have an open mind.
That's absurd!
I will now shamelessly promote my books, only because the opportunity presented itself
No baseball, but plenty of murder and mayhem in the Twin Cities:
http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Landon/e/B002FMJX9U/ref=sr_tc_2_rm?qid=1319590944&sr=1-2-ent
by Danny Valencia's Pubes on Oct 25, 2011 9:03 PM EDT reply actions
excellent
We are generally not a fan of this kind of shameless plug around here, but let me applaud you for showing restraint and waiting until the approporiate opportunity presented itself.
Plus, now I have a good idea for Christmas presents for the families back home in flat swampland.
Thanks.
I don't know, but I've been told it's hard to run with the weight of gold,
'the other hand, I've heard it said, it's just as hard with the weight of lead.
by montanatwinsfan on Oct 26, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds like fun, but I'm afraid my own school and sports could interfere.
I’d definately try to read it sometimes, I’ve actually been looking for some good baseball books to read in my free time, but I was being rushed out of the library so I didn’t get a chance to look very much
"I don't really give a f*** and my excuse is that I'm young, and I'm only getting older somebody shoulda told ya" ~Drake (I'm On One)
Art of Fielding is a great start
Field of Dreams, The Natural, Universal Baseball Association: J. Henry Waugh, Prop. So many good literary books
Men at Work WORST SPORTS BOOK EVER
Any other opinions??
The Soul of Baseball - A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neal's America by Joe Posnanski
Baseball and the country lost a champion when Buck, who would have been 100 November 13, died in 2006. He came up through the Negro Leagues and then went on to become the first African-American coach in the majors and heart behind the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Posnanski’s great writing and Buck’s undefeatable spirit make this worth the read. Make sure you have your box of Kleenex nearby.
The other teams could make trouble for us if they win. — Yogi Berra
This book is definitely on my list
It also got me in trouble because I borrowed it from a friend, but then lent it to my dad who lost it. The friend has since told me that it is his favorite book of all time and he wants it back. Oops.
I love Posnanski’s writing… if you don’t already read his blog, you should.
by ColossusOfRhode on Oct 27, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds like a great idea, but, I have weird taste in books. Considering I just read this.
by Brady Eyestone on Oct 27, 2011 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

























