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Weekly / monthly obscure books topic?
Edit: Or, preferably, just a "What are you reading this week/month?" sort-of topic, per the suggestion of the commenters.
I've just stumpled upon this topic where people shared some "obscure" books they've read. I think that that sort of topic would be nice as a recurring feature. Do you share my view? If yes, how would we go about actually doing it?
I dig it, but -- and as much as I hate to go full meta right away, here goes -- maybe obscure is the wrong word, since I feel like it prompts people to try and "dig deep" to find books that are really unknown, even if they may not love them. Like, "obscure" is a criteria on which things can be independently ranked and competed on even if people don't really like to admit that's what's happening. Seems like a lot of "obscure book recs." threads on other forums tend to devolve into "I read De Animi Tranquillitate Dialogus." "Oh yeah?! Well I read a 3rd-century BCE Greek text that the author only communicated by screaming into a cistern on the equinox." Not that I think people here are that fussy, but I'd hate for someone to feel uncomfortable suggesting something like a Svetlana Alexievich book just because she has a Nobel -- her books are not very well-known, but they're not obscure.
Maybe that's just me, and maybe just because it's 2 PM before a three-day weekend so I'm extra mellow? I dunno. I'd be into a monthly "so, whatcha been reading that might be new to some folks here?" one way or another.
I think that's a valid concern, it's the first time I encounter such a thread so I haven't thought of the possibilities you've described. So something like you suggest could be better. Frankly I don't really mind as long as I'm discovering new books :)
I'll second the idea! ...But with a twist.
Rather than a strictly 'obscure' books thread, what do you think about just a regular "What are you reading this week/month?" kind of topic.
I really like the idea as a way to discover new titles (as you mentioned) and was actually considering starting one myself. Perhaps users who've read some rare or unusual books could put an Obscure heading on their posts, if we wanted to apply a special emphasis to obscure works?
If the idea really catches on then maybe it could spin off into two separate threads; one for general reading and one for exclusively obscure books.
Edit: I didn't read JuniperMonkeys comment closely enough. What they said!
I'm fine with it being just a "What are you reading this week/month?" kind of topic. I wrote obscure because, well, the other topic was titled so. An initial thought was to exclude more popular and self-help etc book in doing so, but now rethinking it, that'd be selfish anyways. I don't like them, but then it wouldn't be made for the community here, but for me. I'm sorry for that.
Hey, no worries! I've found the obscure book thread a pleasure to read as well, I was just thinking that, given the current level of activity, a more general thread might be more sustainable for the moment.