November 2015 - Time Period

I know we have not finalised our October theme yet but I know there are a few serious planners out there so I had better get this thread for November started. Below is the list from the wiki with suggestions that have been put forward before. If somebody could post the HistoryCAT choice too that would be helpful as we have match that for most of the year.

Time Periods Under Consideration

Ancient Near East
Ancient Americas
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece (pre-Alexander)
Age of Alexander
Norman Conquest
Exploration of the Far East
New World Discovery/Colonization era
European exploration/colonization of Africa
Great Awakening
Settling the American West
Age of industrialization
Reconstruction
The Golden Years 1890's - 1914
Russian Revolution
prohibition
Korean War era
African independence ("decolonization")
Space Age
Post 9/11

If anybody has some new time periods they would like to consider for November, or even to add to the wiki, we'd love to hear them.

November's HistoryCAT time period is 1900-1945.

Thanks Carrie

As we've been doing 1900-1945 in the quarterly time periods this year, I would like to suggest 11th century.

ETA: On second thoughts, I'm beginning to feel like it is just going through the motions offering other suggestions. I think it has been 9 times out of 10 this year that we have matched the HistoryCAT this year. Is it worth discussing alternatives or should we just match up for the last two months and start fresh next year with our usual process?

I'd be quite happy to match with the HistoryCat and do 1900 - 1945, and I also wonder if we shouldn't open a discussion for the setting up of Reading Through Time 2016. For one, I wonder if we shouldn't start with a whole new set-up with a new administrator as our original creator has left the group which makes it very hard to make any changes to the title page or add links.

Another thing I wonder is whether we need to actually have a wiki or not. I have been trying to keep them current but is anyone actually using these wiki's or are they just another step that we could easily eliminate?

>5 DeltaQueen50: I'm definitely "using" the wikis if by that you mean, "posting to" them. On the other hand, I'm also posting my monthly and quarterly reads on CurrerBell's Time Currents so maybe the wikis are superfluous. Still, if everyone would post their completed books to the wikis, we'd have a monthly/quarterly record of achievements rather than having to plow through individual threads.

I do like to go to the wiki's and see what everyone has read, it just seems that they are getting less used than they used to.

>5 DeltaQueen50:, I think it would be a great idea to set up a new group page. The reasons you suggest are very valid. I am not a great one for using the wiki. I update it as it is an expectation that we do but I don't use it as a reference for anything any other time.

I would also be happy to have a look at the way topics are chosen. Maybe we could still alternate between time periods and themes but a different group member could volunteer to do a month and they could select the topic or time period, do a little intro etc.

I've been silent a lot this year, because I've been busy and have hardly read anything. Still, this group is near and dear to my heart, so I want to add my two cents to the discussion.

A new group would be nice, but I wouldn't like to have to change groups every year (like with the 75 books challenge group), because then someone has to set up the new group in December, which is usually a busy month for everyone. Maybe naming the group Reading Through Time 2 or Reading Through Time Renewed (or anything general) might be a better idea.

As for the wikis, I do use them, but I also think that the broken links to the wiki in the intro of this group is not helping people to find them. In the quarterly theme reads I usually post the link to the wiki in the first post, but in the monthly threads I haven't seen that happen much, causing people to overlook or forget the wikis, or maybe not able to find them.

As a whole, I think this group still has potential and activity. Especially in 2016, when the HistoryCAT is over, I think we'll see plenty of diversity in the monthly time periods and topics again. Maybe people who are still active in the HistoryCAT (unlike me) can point people to RTT if they want to continue reading and talking about historical fiction. The quarterly theme reads will 're-start' with prehistory in 2016, which is exciting because there were a lot of interesting titles others read the first time around. The QTR wiki will be a wonderful resource then, so maybe activity will pick up on that as well.

And on the topic of the November time period, perhaps we can do the 20th century. That means people from the HistoryCAT can read 1900-1945 books, but people who don't do the HistoryCAT and have done the QTR this year (and have spend the first three quarters of the year in that time period) can read a book fitting with the Oct-Dec theme of 1946-now.

I also agree that the group changeover should be a once only thing, not an annual renewal. Which brings us to who could be the administrator. It needs to be somebody who is a constant presence in RTT, or at least stops by to check in. I have no idea how to set up a group, so I'm not putting up my hand at the moment. Is there anybody else here who would be interested in taking this on?

I also agree about the difficulty in locating the wikis is making them less user friendly. As the person who has set up most of the monthly threads this year I accept responsibility for not adding a link in the first post, sorry. Sometimes I have thought of it later and added it in a later post but it probably would have been better to just edit post one. I'll keep that in mind for future reference.

This has always been my favourite reading genre and I like the way we have gone about making our selections in the past. Hopefully when the HistoryCAT is finished this group will become more engaged.

In the spirit of RTT I will put up a vote to see if the majority agree it is time to set up a new group page.

>9 Samantha_kathy: I agree with Samantha_kathy on 20th Century for the November read. I don't do HistoryCAT but I do do RTT''s quarterly read. I'm planning on doing some Norman Mailer for the fourth quarter's 1946-present — a decades-overdue reread of The Executioner's Song and maybe also a first-read of Harlot's Ghost. (They'd also fit in with Door Stoppers, so they'll really fill up the month without much else!)

So far I agree with everything that has been said here. I would like to see a new group page set up but I also would like to not have to form a new group every year. I have no idea how to set up a new group but I'm sure I can figure it out or ask someone so I will put up my hand to set up it up but I also like Ro's idea of having different people set up and host the monthly threads. I am looking forward to both the monthly and quarterly themes of 2016!

I also agree with a November theme of the 20th Century.

I'm happy with 20th century for November too.

Thanks for volunteering to set up the new group Judy.

I'm sorry I've been pretty absent. I've had some personal issues this summer that have led to me not updating my own threads, never mind checking a lot of others.

I agree we need a new group page. I'll volunteer to help keep the wiki updated. Although I might be silent, I check in with LT numerous times a day.

Is there a way we can add folks to the ownership of a group? That way folks could work together to keep the group page updated too.

>15 majkia: I was wondering about having more than one administrator as well, Jean. I have some health issues and I wouldn't want to set up a new group and then disappear on you guys!

I see if I can ask around about this and let you know.

Ok, I've left some questions about group administrators over at the LT Talk Group and hopefully I will hear back from Tim or someone.

I asked if we could just change the administrator of this group without having to set up a new group and I also asked if we could have more than one administrator. Any volunteers want to join me if we can have more than one?

I love LT! I've got my answers already. Apparently we can contact Staff and have the administrator of the group changed so we don't have to go through the bother of setting up a new group.

Apparently, the only way to have more than one Administrator is to set up a separate account and have each administrator know the password. Since it seems fairly straight forward to put a change through, I think we can stick with one administator for now.

Is everyone happy with simply asking for a new administrator for this group instead of having to create a new one?

I'm happy with asking for a new administrator.

Also, I like 20th century for November.

As far as retooling the group, I haven't participated in the quarterly theme reads but it seems like the majority here do. It looks to me like they're actually time periods. If that's the case, one option I'd like to throw in the hat is to do away with the alternation of theme and time period in the main group and just go with monthly themes. The time periods would be handled quarterly. You'd have the option with the monthly theme to select books that correspond to the quarterly time period.

I'm happy to just change to a new administrator and keep this page too. If you are happy to take that on Judy that would be great. If anything happens and you require somebody else to take over for a while I am happy to be available for that.

>19 cbl_tn:, I think that is a very good point you make about the time periods being covered in the quarterly reads. I would be willing to do themes only in the monthly threads.

I would like to know if other people like the idea of us taking turns in hosting each month. We could set a time period for the thread to go up. In the past it seems that people have liked the thread to go up 2 months before the start, so 1st Oct for the December thread etc. it means that we would have to see who would like to host and pick a month each. The host could chose the theme for the month, or it could be put to a vote as we have in the past.

Personally I like the idea of group members having a month to host and getting to choose the topic for that month. I think we would end up with some interesting topics and a bit more of an introduction to the theme. I know I have started most of the threads this year and I haven't done any wonderful intros, it is a bit difficult and time consuming when a whole heap of topics are put forward for consideration to put a description up for all of them. If somebody gets to choose the topic, they probably have a special interest in it and would be keen to write an introductory blurb as to why they chose it, some historical notes and reading suggestions.

I'm keen to hear what everybody else thinks.

I like the hosting a month too and letting the host choose a time period.

20th for Nov is fine.

And I'm great with keeping this forum and just changing the administrator. I wonder why it's so hard to have multiple admins. Ah well, as you say, easy enough to change.

I am also fine with having a monthly host and having the host choose the theme. I also like Carrie's suggestion of having the quarterly time periods and using the monthly challenges for themes.

I agree with just changing the administrator of the group. Much easier than all of us moving to a new one.

As for the quarterly time periods, I normally host them (except this month when I was ill and it slipped through the cracks. DeltaQueen50 was kind enough to put it up for me (thank you again, by the way!). I don't have a problem continuing to hist them, they're kind of my baby :D.

We did a vote earlier in the year and everyone was pretty unanimous at keeping it to time periods and starting over at the beginning with prehistory again. So the quarterly time periods are set for the next 4 year (2016-2019). Having the monthly reads be themes would therefore be a nice change, I think. Also because I get the feeling that we all have favorite time periods so they're the ones that get picked more often. With a theme each month, everyone could read whatever time period they want each month, whether that's the QTR time period, their favorite one, or just the time period they have a book for. As an aside, I think that with themes we could perhaps try to get a bit more geographical/cultural diversification in our reading, because it's so easy to get stuck in Western Europe/Northern America settings with historical fiction.

I have put up some votes to help us move forward to the next step.

Could people who are willing to host a month please put their name forward and which month they would like. We can arrange swaps if necessary. Lately there have only been about 6 people voting so even if we have 6 that gives us a good start.

I am happy to host a month. I'm flexible and can work around other people's preferences. Otherwise I can go first and do January, but if Jan suits somebody else please say and you can have it.

I better put a vote up for November.

I'll host a month

I will also host a month.

I'm willing to host a month.

I can take a month too, preferable in the beginning of the year - Jan, Feb, or March.

I'll do something, early or late.

Ok, how does this sound?

Samantha_kathy - January
Roro8 - February
Majkia - March
DeltaQueen50 - April
Cbl_tn - May
CurrerBell - June

If anybody else comes along and wants to do a month they can volunteer for one, otherwise we all go again. If you want to swap just put it out there. It sounds like we are all pretty flexible. I am going to start another thread called RTT 2016 and copy this post into it as a starter so that we can continue the organisation of next year in a more central location. So if you would like to swap could you go to that thread. I'll put a link up once I have set it up.

Edited to fix typos

Here is the link, RTT 2016

I assume from the votes that November's theme is 20th Century. I am planning on reading Something Is Going To Fall Like Rain by Ros Wynne-Jones.

I have heaps of possibilities on my shelves for the 20th century. I'll see what I feel like in another couple of weeks. I might do a double dip and see if I can find something that fits the quarterly time period as well. Maybe Burnt Shadows.

I have read Then We Take Berlin by John Lawton. It is set in Berlin in 1946 and onwards for a few years, during the period of occupation. Then it jumps forward to Berlin in 1963, during the cold war. It was not my usual type of book - black market, spies, espionage, people smuggling. Even so, it was a good read.

I have finished Pacific Glory by P.T. Deutermann which fits this time period. This was an amazing book when it came to the descriptions of naval battles and the life of men in the American navy during WW II. The book's weakness was his women characters who were mostly there as window dressing.

I have also read The Jewel of St Petersburg set in Russia in 1910-1917, against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. This is book 3/the prequel in 'The Russian Concubine" trilogy.

I have finished The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. This is a non fiction account of the Halloween Storm of 1991 along the coast and out to sea from North America. The book gave an excellent rundown of the who, what, where, when and whys of this storm, explaining very technical facets in a clear way to this nontechnical reader and above all not neglecting the who - the people caught up in the storm whom the reader came to care about a great deal. Recommend this one!

Hi all, I am a new addition to the group. Judy caught me with a post to her thread about the Reading Through Time group and because I am all about history it looks like a good fit. Case in point is that I have already read my 20th Century book for the month Old Enough to Fight: Canada's Boy Soldiers in the First World War.

>43 Familyhistorian:, welcome to the group :-)

Another new joiner here, trying to expand my history reading. I've read Andrw Marr's A History of Modern Britain this month which looks at British history and politics from the end of WWII to the 2000s. Very detailed and quite long so it took me a while to work my way through the book but a good read.

ETA: I've listed it on the wiki - is that right?

I finished The Lacuna, a historical novel that covers the years from about 1925-1950.

Welcome Familyhistorian and souloftherose.

>45 souloftherose:, welcome to the group. I checked out the wiki and you've done it correctly. We usually list in alphabetical order based on title.

Hi Meg and Heather, great to see you here!

I just completed Something Is Going To Fall Like Rain by Ros Wynne-Jones. This was an emotionally draining book set in Sudan during the 1990's. A group of care workers get stranded in a remote village their efforts help to feed and doctor the people, but these efforts also draw more people to the area and leave them more vulnerable to attack from the northern miitia.

I've just got about thirty pages to go on Norman Mailer's story of the Apollo moon landing, Of a Fire on the Moon, so I should finish it later today, but I've already given it a 4**** review. Not Mailer at his absolute best (The Naked and the Dead is my favorite war novel, and I think The Executioner's Song may be even a better book than The Naked and the Dead), but still definitely worth reading for anyone who admires Mailer as I do.

>42 cbfiske: : Carla, I really liked The Perfect Storm when I read it, too. During a recent trip to New England, we made a point to spend some time in Gloucester, and have a drink at The Crow's Nest.

My reads for November: Time Period – 20th Century

Flora, Gail Godwin (1945)
The 39 Steps by John Buchan (1910s, espionage)
Restless by William Boyd (1930s-40s, espionage)
The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgwick (1910s, WWI)
Cold Comfort, Charles Todd (1910s, WWI)
Wings of Fire, Charles Todd (1920s, WWI aftermath)
The Tilted World by Tom Franklin (1927, Great Mississippi Flood)
I Kiss Your Hands Many Times by Marianne Szegedy-Maszák (1930s – 1950s, Hungary)
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (1950s Italy)
Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez (1960-1961 Dominican Republic)

>51 countrylife: Sounds like a lovely trip. My son goes to Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME, so I pass through Massachusetts on my way there. Someday, I will stop by in Gloucester. It would be interesting to see the actual town.