We were all impatiently waiting, but the day is finally upon us and it is with pleasure that we announce the official kick off to the first Steemit Book Club.
Taking into consideration personal requests from some of you, we came to the conclusion that next Monday, September 12th at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST/2 a.m. GMT/11 a.m. (Tuesday) UTC would be the ideal time to finally launch this.
For those who may have missed the preliminary plan, maybe it would be a good idea to let you know that one of the perks of this steemit based Book Club is the possibility it allows for book lovers to earn rewards all while reading a beautiful masterpiece in good company.
In a nutshell, all Steem Dollars generated from the weekly posts of the Book Club will be divided equally among book club members after finishing each book.
All you have to do is to attend 75 percent of the calls or chats, remain in the book club until the completion of the book, and, obviously, read the whole thing.
Yes, our “ulterior motive” is to use this to motivate everyone to complete these epic tomes.
The first book we’re going to launch with - as many of you know already - is James Joyce’s masterpiece: Ulysses. This particular book choice if you may recall, came as an almost unanimous decision in this post.
This was a book that was so controversial that when it first was released, this happened:
According to Modern Library, Ulysses currently ranks first on the 100 best novels of all time. So what better way to launch a Book Club than by starting at the top – especially with a book so many people want to read, yet few are able to penetrate.
Here are the final details:
What: The Steemit Book Club (SBC)
When: Every Monday at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST/2 a.m. GMT/11 a.m. (Tuesday) UTC
Where: Our first session will be held via Freeconference. You can join via internet by clicking the link below:
https://hello.freeconference.com/conf/call/6291831
Or you can join by phone by calling one of these toll free numbers (800) 719-6100 or (218) 339-7800 if you are calling from within the United States. The participant access code is 629-1831#.
If you’re calling from outside the U.S., click on the same link, then click “join conference” and choose the option “Call by Phone.” In the “Dial-In Numbers” tab, you will see a long list of additional toll-free numbers from around the world.
Where Else: Some book clubbers will also be in steemit.chat on our channel #steemit-book-club during the calls, so feel free to write comments and enter discussions there instead—or in addition.
How: Just call in. Or go now to steemit.chat and register in #steemit-book-club to receive a private message containing this information on how to join the conference. These details will also be posted on a pinned post on the channel for everybody to see.
How much: There’s no reading assignment for the first call. Just show up and we’ll do the first reading aloud together. Though if you’re feeling feisty, read Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man first.
Which: Preferably order the Gabler edition of Ulysses, which has line numbers in the margins so we can all communicate clearly.
If you don’t want to buy the Gabler edition or can’t find it in your country, grab an earlier edition of Ulysses for free via Project Gutenberg or Kindle or in your favorite format.
Privacy: Fortunately, Freeconference grants us the option to host a club meeting using only audio. That means there’s no need to reveal your identity at all, especially if you use the web link option to join the call.
Troubleshooting: If you are having any trouble joining the call, post a message in #steemit-book-club and we will get right on it.
Absences: Don’t worry if you miss a session. We’ll post weekly summaries along with the reading assignments for the following week, and, if everyone is comfortable with it, recordings of each call.
Meanwhile, the discussion will be open all week long in our steemit.chat channel (#steemit-book-club), which is now accessible to everybody. And judging by the brain-picking aspect of Ulysses, my guess is there will be a lot to talk about in the chat room.
This is going to be a fun adventure, and we hope that you will join us in making this initiative a success and in expanding all of our minds.
Until Monday, we remain…
Your Book Club Co-Captains,
P.S: If you have any suggestions or feedback, please let us know in the comments section below. And of course, the next book will be chosen by those who survive this first book.
P.P.S. Please welcome the members of my Inner Circle mailing list. They are just about all new to Steemit and I’m sure some will become active members of the community. Make them feel at home!