Ready, Set, Read! The One Book, One Twitter Discussion Schedule

By Marcela Valdes

Tomorrow morning is the official premiere of One Book, One Twitter (#1b1t). For anyone just arriving, huffing and puffing, to the shindig, we're reading American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. So now that we know what we're reading, we still have to answer the question: how do you get thousands of people to read one book together without ruining the suspense and twists for anyone? After all, some people like to read in delicate sips of ten or twenty pages, while others — like me — prefer greedy three or four hour binges. And many of you have already devoured the entire book, or are reading for the umpteenth time!

You can read (or reread) any way you want during the next eight weeks – God help us if we tried to stop you – but please, please be kind to others and stick to the following schedule for your comments. That way even the most delicate readers among us will have a chance to enjoy Gaiman’s finely-crafted thrills.
 
If you feel slightly queasy about tackling such a big book, use this schedule to divvy up the task into manageable chunks. Each week, this schedule covers 70-100 pages, which you can nibble down bit by bit every night before bed, or gobble down in one great, lazy Sunday bender, but keep in mind that the discussion of anything in those chapters is fair game starting from day one. Happy reading everyone, and remember to follow @1b1t2010 for updates and to add the #1b1t to your tweets!
 
Week 1 : May 5-11
Caveat, Warning for Travelers
Epigraph
Discuss Chapters 1, 2, & 3
 
Week 2 : May 12-18
Discuss Chapters 4, 5, 6
 
Week 3 : May 19-25
Discuss Chapters 7, & 8
 
Week 4 : May 26-June 1
Discuss Chapters 9, 10, & 11
 
Week 5 : June 2-8
Discuss Chapters 12, & 13
 
Week 6 : June 9-15
Discuss Chapters 14, 15, & 16
 
Week 7 : June 16-22
Discuss Chapters 17, 18, & 19
 
Week 8 : June 23-30
Discuss Chapter 20 and Postscript

Comments

[AtheneNumphe]

So, are we to wait until the end of the week to discuss the chapters for the week or are we to discuss the chapters during their assigned week?

[Jane Oliver-Purton]

I heard some people in Wisconsin were going to do this in October. Does anyone have information on that? Not that I can wait!

[Coryrobertson]

I think it's probably best to let the schedule dictate what/how you comment on the book, especially given American Gods' twists and turns.

[Joseph4th]

I know this is going to sound stupid, but I just joined this train and it took me a minute to figure out which book to read. Nowhere in THIS post do you mention it.

I clicked on the "One Book, One Twitter" in the first paragraph thinking maybe it was going to take me to an official One Book, One Twitter website, instead it is the Wired article. This article has a picture of a tweet (listed as 'a minute ago' because it's just a picture) that makes it look like the book is Fahrenheit 451.

The Gaiman link just takes me to Neil's blog.

Okay, eventually I got to the actual blog instead of a direct link to this post, and read the previous post and figured it out. But I thought I should mention that sentence reminding everybody of the specific book would have been nice.

[Jeff Howe]

I'd say all the comments here are spot on, Joseph. Let me try to clarify, then I'll change the post.

1) I think we can begin discussing the chapters right away, keeping in mind some people won't have finished Chapter 3 by tomorrow, etc.

2) I have had no contact with the Wisconsin splinter cell.

3) It is American Gods. That probably seems self-evident to some of us, but not to anyone arriving today. Sorry!

[Carol Jago]

Is this where the discussion of American Gods will take place?

[MattMorris]

Jeff -

Thank you for pulling this together. I'll be on tour for most of the 8 weeks of One Book One Twitter, and I'm looking forward to bringing this mobile book club along with me!

My very best to you in all your endeavors,
Matt

[MaryGaughan]

I'm wondering if we might want to make up some hashtags to help categorize tweets, such as #shadow #myths #questions. I suppose these will be generated naturally as we roll along. Can't wait to dive in!

[D.]

maybe people could hashtag their comments with the chapter they refer to, (i.e. #cpt3), so as not to spoil the fun for the others who might be at an earlier chapter still?

[Jeff Howe]

@D ... This is a wonderful idea! I'm going to propose it on Twitter today! Thanks ... I love the chapter hash idea.

[Scamp01]

Downloaded to kindle on my phone last night and read Chapter 1, so I'm actually still on track. Thanks for putting this all together, Jeff. Enjoying this ride and also looking forward to the next one. :)
Sue

[Steampunkin]

The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin is holding an American Gods "Low-Key Gathering" at the end of October... (Let me pull down the information from my ticked confirmation)

October 29-31st, 2010
Unlimited admission to the House on the Rock
Admission to the Friday night Neil Gaiman reading and Q&A
Admission for the Saturday Workshops
Admission for the Saturday evening event - food and raffle ticket
and Scavenger Hunt

I was VERY excited to find this project because I was wanting to re-read the book before October and the event... there are links floating about the interwebs for more information. I know that there are a couple facebook groups for this event as well.

[Dr Pauline Kiernan]

Why American Gods? Can you give reasons for your choice? Just wondering what criteria is used. Just personal preference or what?
Dr Pauline Kiernan

[Sue]

This is a great idea! I have just found the links on Stephen Fry's website, and ordered American Gods from Amazon, so I'll have to read fast and catch up with the schedule when the book arrives. I have seen favourable reviews of the book, but I have not yet read it, so this is a good opportunity. I'll be interested to see how Neil Gaiman's work compares to Martin Miller's books.

[Phantomsmask]

This is just amazing. I'm a huge fan of Gaiman and this book was just on my list of TO READ! this just gave it a push to the top of the list and I'm already in love with it. Gaiman is an amazing writer and the idea of a bookclub on twitter is great. THANK YOU

[Joshua]

I love Neil Gaiman's work, but he has millions of fans on Twitter that have undoubtedly read American Gods. Is this an artifact of crowdsourcing--to collectively choose a book that everyone has already read?

Great idea.

Lame result.

[Golfing Sessions]

Wow nice thanks for discussion schedule..
Nice this great..

[coach handbags]

glad days filled with friendliness,
bright days filled with cheer,
warm days filled with happiness
to last throughout the year!

[nursing top]

oh this are excellent books! i enjoyed reading of it, i mean some of it.

[jamison]

At the initial stage of the event, Nintendo put a lot of advertisements with considerable impact, embedding the game characters into the well-known photographs and images. Come to Buy Must-Have Pearl Pendant supplier,http://www.volumerates.com/category/pearl-charm ! They Are Now at the Most Competitive Price! For example, Nintendo puts its most famous game character "Mario" on the Berlin wall; puts Yoshi's face on the Gene.Simmons's face, the lead singer and bassist of the "Kiss" rock. At present, the advertising campaign has entered the second phase. The new game products are launched with the same theme and form. And they once again strengthened the Nintendo brand positioning "to create the innovators of the popular culture".

[r4itt]

i have buy a game card for 6 days,but i havn't receive the card,do you bought game cards of the website named http://www.r4fords.co.uk?

[Jaipur Hotels]

thanks for sharing this information! it's very useful for a lot people try to understand how we can use this product.

[pratap bhawan]

that's really a fantastic post ! added to my favourite blogs list.. I have been reading your blog last couple of weeks and enjoy every bit. Thanks.

[true religion cotton jeans]

true religion man's jean see a variety of options for men in terms of colors, material textures and designs. They come in both earthy as well as flamboyant tones, with prints such as the famous skull prints, love hearts etc inspired by the tattoo designs. In fact many of these jeans also sport embroidery of tattoo designs and this provides a very trendy look! With these patterns differing across products, some jeans have them all over, others just on the front or only on pockets etc.
true religion joey jeans ensures that these jeans don't just look good but fit good as well and that solves more than half the problem for men! What is left is the price. Lets look at why wholesale can be a better option. You would probably agree that men don't go shopping for clothes as often as women do, and the clothes men buy are definitely priced higher than those for women. Buying Ed Hardy jeans in wholesale provides two things for you, one is the price falls and you save considerably on money and two your wardrobe is stocked with variety for some time to come.
Wholesale shopping can inspire the best in quality and price as the shop keeper is extra sure to please a customer wanting to buy bulk stock. Wholesale shopping of true religion cotton jeans is also a great option if you want to gift your dear and dear, both family and friends. Buy great style and the best prices and then comes the party, with Ed Hardy!

[r4itt]

i know a site,there has many game cards as r4itt,r4i,r4 sdhc revolution,r4 sdhc and so on! it makes me so happy! if

you like play game too,you can visit the site. http://www.r4fords.co.uk i believe you can have your fun from it.