A month ago I put up a post asking if there was interested in a weekly book club to discuss Adam Schiff’s book Midnight in Washington.
Interest in a Weekly Book Club to Read & Discuss Adam Schiff’s Book Midnight In Washington?
Here’s a list of people who indicated they were interested:
A Good Woman
Ajabu
Alison Rose
Almost Retired (+1 book)
bemused senior
Betty
bluegirlfromwyo
brantl
CasieL
Damned_at_Random (+1 book)
debbie
eddie blake
ellie
grandmabear
HeleninEire
HRA
Jack the Cold Warrior
Jackie
Jean
Jess
Jim, Foolish Literalist
JoyceH (maybe)
JustinW (+1 book)
Kalakal
Krakengonewild
Low Key Swagger
Middlelee
narya (+1 book)
PatrickG (+1 book)
peggy
Ramona Rosario
Renie (+1 book)
Ruckus
sam
SiubhanDuinne
skerry
thruppence
WaterGirl
zamphuor
Zelma
?
Between the pet calendar, the fundraising and being down with a bug for a week, nearly a month has passed. I assume everyone on the list is interested. Yes? Who else is interested in participating?
A few people offered to buy copies for other interested folks who aren’t in a position right now to buy the book, so if you resemble that remark, let us know in the comments or send me email. Hopefully we can figure out a way to get a book for everyone in that position who wants to participate!
Now we need to figure out the day of the week and the time of the day. Are weekends good? Maybe during the day? Are evenings better? Let us know in the comments.
I’m thinking we won’t start until after Thanksgiving, and we can take a week off at Christmas if we want to.
Update: It’s looking like we will start in early January.
CaseyL
Still interested, and got on the waiting list at the library back when your post went up. They say I should get the book in 5 weeks (!) though..
WaterGirl
Please chime in if you’re interested!
Also, can only Safari people see the spiffy little box up top with an image instead the title in a block quote?
WaterGirl
@CaseyL: Bummer. Are you only interested if you can get the library book in time?
narya
Still interested! Still willing to get an extra copy. I”m getting an ebook, but am happy to support whatever form factor someone wants.
Jerzy Russian
@WaterGirl: I am on Google Chrome on my iPhone and I can see the image of the book cover just fine.
Steeplejack
@WaterGirl:
I can see the image with Firefox on Win10.
WaterGirl
@Jerzy Russian: @Steeplejack:
Interesting! I don’t use Chrome but I have it on my mac for testing purposes. In chrome I just see the book title, linked inside a block quote.
Maybe it’s a setting? I don’t use an ad blocker or mess with settings on Chrome because I want to be able to test stuff with chrome “as is”. I bet it’s a social media setting of some kind.
edit: Except that tweets show up fully formatted in Chrome, so maybe that’s not it.
debbie
Never mind. It was the ad blocker.
SiubhanDuinne
Still interested. I own it on Kindle, have read perhaps 1/4 of it so far. Most evenings work for me, and some weekends.
WaterGirl
@debbie: I missed your original comment. ?
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: Great! What does some weekends mean?
Like Saturdays work but not Sundays? Or some weekends you are otherwise engaged so you won’t be able to make it that weekend?
debbie
@WaterGirl:
At first, I didn’t see the book cover, then i turned off the ad blocker, refreshed, and there it was. Now, with the ad blocker back on, it’s still showing.
Chrome, old MacBook Pro.
bluegirlfromwyo
Still interested and willing to buy a book. Weekends better than evenings but can make either work.
jeffreyw
I am always interested in reading comments from smart people but for whatever reason smart people are never interested in reading my comments.
A Good Woman
@WaterGirl: I am interested
WaterGirl
@debbie: That’s weird. ?♀️
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: Not so!
Ruckus
My copy is supposed to arrive today.
So obviously I haven’t read it yet. And won’t know if I am fully interested until after that. Very likely I will be though.
USPS says it’s out for delivery!
WaterGirl
@A Good Woman: Great!
I added you to the list.
WaterGirl
@Ruckus: Yay!
SiubhanDuinne
@WaterGirl:
I can actually send you a schedule of the exact weekend dates I’m *not* available. MET Opera/Bolshoi Ballet commitments. Weekend evenings are fine, though.
SiubhanDuinne
@Ruckus:
DeJoy’s still in charge over there. I’m not sure you can trust them on this.
:-)
zhena gogolia
I love Adam Schiff but I have no time.
Ruckus
@SiubhanDuinne:
I’m not holding my breath…..
And I agree with you, this is, one of the more hateful things TFG did in his time shitting in our house. A lot of the people effected would be the employees of the Postal Service and a large component of those are black. A decent and valuable job and he appointed someone who screwed it up for all of us, out of hate and his massive reserve of ignorance and just plain stupidity.
Jackie
I’m interested, but won’t be able to buy the book until after New Years. Four young grandkiddos Christmas presents have depleted my finances for now.
Jerzy Russian
@WaterGirl: I am on my MacBook Pro running Chrome. I can only see a link to a previous post, and not the image of the book. Thus the post looks different than what I see on my iPhone at the moment.
Kalakal
I can see it fine, chrome on Android
still interested, checked the library management system -79 holds, Looks like I’ll have to get the kindle version.
Fridays & Saturdays would work best , most evenings
zamphuor
I’m also interested. Will download it today!
WaterGirl
@Jackie: Someone who wishes to remain anonymous would like to gift you with a copy of the book. They just need to know your preferred format: paper copy, Kindle, iBook, etc.
Let me know here in the comments or by email?
WaterGirl
@Jerzy Russian: Interesting. So iPhone with I presume Safari shows the image, but MacBook Chrome only includes linked title in a block quote.
Low Key Swagger
Definitely interested. My kids get me books these days for Christmas. I’m wondering if this isn’t a better activity for Jan/Feb, when Winter really hits and there ain’t much to do except read?
WaterGirl
@zamphuor: Great! Added to the list.
WaterGirl
@Low Key Swagger: Added to the list!
Interesting thought about starting in January.
What do others think about that?
bluegirlfromwyo
Starting in January gives late shipments time to arrive and all of us time to negotiate the holidays. I’m down.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@WaterGirl: sounds good to me. I’m already kind of planning on getting a copy and skimming along to follow the discussions. Even with “the holidays” my December is looking pretty nutty
Jackie
@WaterGirl: I’m stunned! I sent email ?
narya
@WaterGirl: My team and I are insanely busy right now–one thing submitted Friday, and at least 5 more deadlines between now and the end of January–so waiting until January would be a bit preferable for me.
Steeplejack
@jeffreyw:
Hmm, that’s a conundrum. ?
Kalakal
@WaterGirl: January would work better for me
Jerzy Russian
@WaterGirl: I tried both Safari and Chrome on my iPhone and both show the image properly. I usually use Chrome on both the phone and laptop.
thruppence
I am interested. Generally work afternoons and evenings, though, so maybe early on a weekend day?
WaterGirl
@Jerzy Russian: Interesting!
SiubhanDuinne
I’m fine waiting until January to get started.
Jess
I’m thinking I might need a break from all things political, but I’ll download a sample from Kindle and see how I’m feeling. Evenings would be best for me, but since I’m on the fence, feel free to ignore my preferences. I’ll let the fates decide…
WaterGirl
Okay, let’s plan to start in early January.
That may help with schedules and with pocketbooks.
If we choose evenings, some CA peeps likely don’t get off work until 8pm blog time, and they might even want to have dinner after work. So what time would we want if we chose evening?
On weekends, what would we want for start time on Saturday? On Sunday?
brantl
I would be interested, but don’t have the book. If I purchase it on Kindle I get to have a big fight with my Republican in-laws, as I am part of their kindle-group.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Open thread?
WaterGirl
@brantl: Bonus, right? That just makes it better.
Almost Retired
If you’re talking January, I’d be interested! We’ll be out of town until January 9th, recovering from the annual influx of East Coast and Midwest snowbird relatives, so I might miss the first one. But Chapter One is probably about his childhood, or some such, so I’ll catch up.
I’m in Los Angeles, but since I’m…well…..almost retired, the date and time doesn’t really matter to me. Happy to pitch in an extra copy for someone.
grandmaBear
I’m still interested and downloaded the kindle version when you originally mentioned it, but haven’t started it. January’s fine.
WaterGirl
@Almost Retired: Great!
Vanity Fair ran an excerpt from Midnight in Washington in October that I thought we might talk about at our first meeting.
Anne Laurie put me on to the excerpt; seems like that might be an interesting place to start.
WaterGirl
We now have offers for up to 8 books for folks who are in a bit of a *pinch.
Which might be everyone after the $75k we just raised in the first 3 weeks of November! Not to mention the “no more ads” funding. :-)
So please speak up here or send me an email if you would like a book or want to contribute a book for someone else.
WaterGirl
@Jerzy Russian: Are you interested in the book discussions? Or just chiming in re: the image up top? I want to be sure to add you to the list if it’s the first.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: So that’s a yes for the book group, right?
WaterGirl
If some kind person would be willing to check my work in the list up top – to make sure I got everyone on the list who indicated an interest – that would be greatly appreciated!
CaseyL
@WaterGirl: I’m interested, but don’t wish to delay things. If the book doesn’t come in time, I’ll just read it on my own. But since I don’t like spoilers, I probably won’t participate in the book club discussion if I haven’t read it yet.
ETA: Just saw that the discussion will be in January, and hopefully I will have gotten and read the book by then! Will also read the excerpt. Thanks so much!
PPS_ Never mind about the spoilers; I forgot this wasn’t a novel, but an account of 1/6.
Zelma
I’d be interested. I heard Schiff on Charlie Sykes’ podcast (yes, I’m weird: Balloon Juice and Bulwark fan) and his insights into what happened to supposedly sane Republicans were fascinating. I’m looking forward to reading the book.
jeffreyw
@WaterGirl: I will be happy to comment on the comments but I probably won’t read the book. Let me know if you do one on Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
peggy
I would prefer evenings, any day of the week.
CaseyL
Chiming in again to say that Tuesdays and Thursdays are best for me, in the evening, bearing in mind the time difference. Weekends are also good, though Sunday it would need to be the afternoon my time (PST).
WaterGirl
@CaseyL: Seems like the January idea makes for better timing for most people!
JoyceH
How would the book club work? Would it be a thread, a Zoom, or what?
HeleninEire
I am interested in participating. I am good evenings. If it’s late because of the West Coasters that’s fine. If I’m in bed by 1am NY time I’m grand. Also good anytime on weekends.
I’ll be purchasing on Kindle but am willing to purchase 3 hard copies for anyone who needs. (I don’t think there is a way I can purchase kindle books for others. If there is let me know.)
SiubhanDuinne
@HeleninEire:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GVWGP284MQ6ZRM59
skerry
I’d be interested in the book club. Starting in January works and I’m flexible about day/time.
HeleninEire
@SiubhanDuinne: Thank you.
Watergirl when the time comes you and I can coordinate.
Cheers!
zhena gogolia
Any word from MattF today?
CaseyL
@WaterGirl: ?
WaterGirl
@JoyceH: I’m thinking BJ thread. If there’s a lot of interest in a zoom, we could have that as an additional option, but it wouldn’t replace the thread.
Yutsano
@HeleninEire: Are you back in New York? Or just operating on NY time?
I could be interested. I most likely couldn’t get the book until after the holidays so January is good. Depending on the time weekday evenings or weekends are best for me. I might just have to be fashionably late!
EDIT: Don’t worry about gifting me a book. I’m working on getting my finances stable after the three week gap of no pay. I’ll be more stable starting next month.
WaterGirl
@HeleninEire: Thank you!
I think that makes about 10 books that have been offered up and not yet taken.
BJ peeps are great people.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: Nothing since Saturday morning around 8:30.
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl: Thanks. I’m a little worried about him.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: Yeah, that was scary stuff.
dopey-o
I don’t want to read the book. I want to know what smart people who have read the book think about it. Crowd-sourced comprehension.
Alison Rose
My library hold currently shows about four weeks’ wait, so January would actually work well, because I would probably have the ebook until about the middle of the month.
WaterGirl
@dopey-o: Welcome to Balloon Juice! :-)
WaterGirl
I’ll keep checking back on the thread for later comments. We don’t want to miss anyone who is interested.
Jean
I am interested and can buy the book. Evenings work best for me. January is fine.
Damned_at_Random
I would love to participate in the book club! Managed to miss the first call, so glad you reposted.
I’m retired so any day or time is fine. And I can gift a copy to someone who needs it
WaterGirl
@Jean: @Damned_at_Random:
Great! Added to the list.
WaterGirl
@Damned_at_Random: Thank you for the offer of a gift copy!
To everyone who offered that, I will be in touch as people contact me about a copy.
Betty
Not seeing my earlier post. I bought the book and would be happy to participate. Sundays seem to be the better day.
WaterGirl
@Betty: Great, just added you to the list!
Renie
I would also like to join in. I’ll get it on Kindle for myself but willing to ship a hard copy to someone if you can get me their address.
Alison Rose
Okay so…I just noticed how long it is, and reading long books on my tiny shitty old Kindle is not much fun and hurts my eyes after being on the computer all day for work. Plus, if we’re doing it piecemeal week to week, it would be better to have a hard copy. Being that new hardcovers are pricey outside of the Bezos Behemoth, and that I’m relying on my parents to make my rent and bills each month, I would super appreciate if I could be in line for a gifted copy from someone. Lemme know, please and thank you
WaterGirl
@Alison Rose: Absolutely! There have been plenty of offers. I will pair you up with someone. I’m glad you asked.
I will send you an email message.
Middlelee
The summary I got on Kindle was awful. I’m No. 1 on the reserve list at the library. Book is still showing “on-order” but I’m sure it will show up soon. I agree that having a copy to underline and reread and have in hand during discussion might be handy. I’m going to keep checking the used bookstores and see if I can find one to buy at something less than the $30 asking price.
Elizabeth’s of Akron, an independent bookstore is selling for $27.60, $2 more than Amazon but it belongs to an organization called Bookshop.org, founded to compete with Amazon. I discovered Bookshop.org at the beginning of lockdown in March 2020 when suddenly I had no library AND I was too technologically challenged to borrow books on my Kindle.
Looking forward to bookclub, my first.
WaterGirl
@Middlelee: Good to know about the summary!
HRA
Whatever is decided will be fine with me. I have a gift card for the local bookstore to get a copy. Otherwise I can still use my influence at the university to get one. I am free for any day or time.
eddie blake
i’d be interested, but i don’t have the book
eta- i mean, i AM interested, but i’ve got to get a copy.
Ramona Rosario
Oh yes, I am interested. I’ll buy a kindle edition if my hold on the library book doesn’t become available by January. My schedule is super flexible.
Ruckus
@WaterGirl:
Well I’m officially in now, my copy arrived this afternoon.
All I have to do now is read it…….
Scuffletuffle
@WaterGirl: i would be interested in a book, as I cannot afford to buy.
Ruckus
@Middlelee:
The Kindle version is cheaper on Amazon.
The hardback is priced the same or higher than Amazon everywhere I checked.
WaterGirl
@eddie blake: @Ramona Rosario:
Added to the list, thanks!
Middlelee
@Ruckus: Thanks. I may go to that.
PatrickG
@WaterGirl: I’d be interested in both the club itself and gifting a book if someone needs it.
PatrickG
Comment disappeared? I’d be interested in the discussion and can gift a book as well in whatever format.
WaterGirl
@PatrickG: I have no idea why this comment landed in SPAM, but i fished you out. Welcome and thanks for the book offer.
I also freed your second comment, but then I deleted that one because it was basically a duplicate.