Who do you think deserves a free book?

Chris OConnor

Who do you think deserves a free book?

This is your opportunity to speak up and tell us who you think deserves to receive a FREE book from BookTalk.org. Use any criteria you like. Consider this an open discussion where everyone is welcome and encouraged to tell us all who they appreciate on our forums. Smile

Please don't just plug your friends. Hmm

Try to look at this as objectively as possible. Who do you think contributes quality posts on our forums? Who brings more positive than negative to the community? Do not use this thread as a means to bash or criticize anyone, please. If you agree with what another member has said please say so. If you disagree please refrain from making a negative comment. And do more than post a name. Tell us why you think someone deserves a free book.

I am relying on YOU to help me thin out this quickly growing collection of books donated by authors and publishers. Check out the Books Available for Awards thread to see what we have ready to be awarded to members. We've got dozens of great new books.

So who deserves a free book? And why?

Chris OConnor · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:46 am Post subject:

If you have a BookTalk.org magnetic bumper sticker and email me a photo of it on your car I'll send you a free book. I'll post the photo somewhere on the site. Clap

Ophelia · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:30 am Post subject:

I have some thoughts on reading this post. As they don't answer the question in the heading, I'll post them in the Chamber.

GentleReader9 · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

As you can see, this is daunting because no one has answered you all day. It is daunting because there are so many people who contribute wonderfully in different ways and because it's impossible to be objective. I find myself wondering who would most appreciate and like the particular free book you are going to give, so that it would not turn out that I had recommended you give my mother a frog or a beautifully dressed Barbie for Mothers' Day, if you know what I mean.

All that said, I think Saffron deserves a free book, and it's true that I like her and I've said so, but the reason or a reason that I do is because of what she contributes and how. It is such a relief to be able to go to the poetry sections she posts when people are arguing about things you can't explain to other people who don't already know what you mean, anyway. She seems to steer strings back toward books in order to provide a common point to go back to in difficult discussions. She posts poems of hers, of other people's, good information from the festivals she goes to, material about visual arts and cultural resistance, like the thing about her daughter's public artwork/writing. She contributes to the non-fiction strings in a text-focused way that always maintains a tone of respect and a sense that there is no place for personal feuding. (Personally, I sometimes sink to it and even find it fun, but I admire her for not doing it.) And I really love that she had an "illegal picnic" and does not explain what, exactly that means, so I can imagine all kinds of wild things about the politics of eating outside the bounds of legally approved picnics and it's a fun idea. And I like the name Saffron and her avatars that change and are always pretty. Go ahead, disdain me; I like pretty.

On the other hand, Interbane probably deserves a free book for saying he is an oversees Federal Punisher, alone, when in fact he works for the YMCA. The argument could be made.... I leave it to others.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject:

GentleReader9,

Something tells me that some of my emails don't get to you. First of all, thank you VERY much for the recent donation. It means quite a lot to me and it's extremely helpful. I sent you a thank you email so let me know if you received that. Maybe it ended up in your Spam or Deleted folder. This happens.

Back on Oct. 17th I actually emailed you and told you I'd like to send you a free book, but you never replied to the email. This is the reason why I am suspecting some of my emails don't get to you. Let me know if you received that. And then let me know what free book you'd like. Smile

GentleReader9 · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

Chris,

I hit "reply" on your most recent book selection offer email, chose a book, and explained the possible reasons about my not answering before. Let me know if you don't get that. I don't remember seeing the earlier offer, but stranger, more remarkable things have occured and I haven't noticed them either.

Thank you for the book and for this site.

Frankly, I think that what happened is that, due to my energetic inability to receive good things for myself graciously until quite recently, my aura has had a strong warding quality which keeps anything nice anyone is offering to me from coming to my attention, or distorts my perception of it so that I run away, shrieking accusations and throwing things into the path of any person who may want to be helpful to me enough to try following. Just recently this has been letting up a little so I was able to receive your second email and free book offer. Even though my response and thanks are still a little awkward, at least I noticed; I'm getting the book (right?) and I even said thank you and took it without explaining why I can't have it. This is good progress. I appreciate your help.

Wink

DWill · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

If nominations are still open, and sticking by the directive not to just name friends, there are quite a number that I think are deserving. I can't choose just one.

realiz: gets the newcomer award. I'm impressed with her clarity and the balance of her views. She's a good citizen who also participates widely. She stuck with a book almost no one else seemed to be reading, which happens sometimes.

Interbane: He's always been smart, but he used to be beyond abrasive sometimes. Now he's smart, constructive, poses interesting topics, and is more interested in finding out more about ideas of other members.

Dissident Heart: ditto on the smartness. He is a lone voice sometimes, which is valuable in itself. He's a hard one to categorize, also a praiseworthy trait.

Robert Tulip: brilliant as well. How could a guy know this much? Always acts nice, too. I have to confess I don't always have time to read his long posts.

GentleReader9: she brings a nice, softer edge to the forums, while still having beaucoup substance. She is someone you're sure you'd like to sit with for a long chat.

GentleReader9 · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject:

First of all, DWill, I already am getting a book for my "I Believe" essay in October so it's someone else's turn. But thanks for praising me. I like being appreciated and accepted better than being given books.

Second, I agree with most of your list and reasons, but you left out DWill, DWill. He is really good at summarizing the main points and arguments without getting distracted by his own opinions. He writes interesting poetry and frequently gives generous and helpful feedback to others, yet he is honest about what he thinks and thereby refrains admirably from becoming a suck-up. And he rides a bike, which is good for the environment.

How many books can you give away, Chris? All these people on DWill's list could arguably get a book.

President Camacho · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

This page looks like a circle jerk.

geo · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject:

Saffron · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

geo · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject:

Anyway, I nominate President Camacho for a free book because he used "Circle Jerk" in a post.

Robert Tulip · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

Grim · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

I think you should send George W. a book for the end of his presidency. It could be Limits of Power or even Being Certain, I would strongly recommend a thick Chomsky diatribe. Sadly the only book poor old Bushy seems to have read the past eight has been of his own authorship (i.e. he has been taking pages out of his own book), a book which to the best of my knowledge has yet to acquire a publisher or reach the consciousness of the majority of the American people, however Bushy seems to believe in it, perhaps it has really been the bible all along. The lonely book on poor Bush-twist's night shelf written so long ago. Poor Bushy-brain may need some creative encouragement if he is ever going to figure it out - I don't think he is even certain what it is.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/dec2008/bush-d11.shtml

Question: If you sent the soon to be former president a book, could he read it?

President Camacho · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject:

You nominated me? Damn, you know what that means....

I nominate Geo for being so super smart and having great forum skills.

The circle is now complete.

King


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