Voting Results (Which Ended July 19)
Selected Books Listed Alphabetically
A calendar for the books will be displayed in the usual spot under the “Reader Resources” menu tab.
| Book # | TITLE | AUTHOR | PUB |
| 04 | A Calamity of Souls | David Baldacci | 2024 |
| 11 | Death in Brittany | Jean-Luc Bannalec | 2015 |
| 05 | Devil’s Corner | Lisa Scottoline | 2005 |
| 13 | Night Moves | Jonathan Kellerman | 2018 |
| 06 | Poison | John Lescroart | 2018 |
| 19 | The Blood Promise | Mark Pryor | 2014 |
| 17 | The House at Sea’s End | Elly Griffiths | 2012 |
| 07 | The Last Alibi | David Ellis | 2013 |
| 08 | The Law of Innocence | Michael Connelly | 2020 |
| 21 | The Lost Man | Jane Harper | 2018 |
| 20 | The Spy Coast | Tess Gerritsen | 2023 |
| 01 | The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | 2020 |
Instructions
We will be choosing the 12 books the group most prefers to read for our next reading season which starts in September 2024 (and ends in August 2025)
If you are planning to attend and discuss the books during our next season, please participate in this process!
You have until midnight, Friday, July 19 to learn about each of the 21 books and to make your choices on the Book Ballot for 2024-2025.
You can choose from a list of 21 possible books.
You will need to use 3 separate materials during this process.
Materials Used in the Voting Process
1) The BALLOT REFERENCE LIST
The Book Reference List gives detailed information about each of the 21 possible choices. Take note of the “type of mystery,” the “setting” for each book, and the publication date, as these can all be factors in your enjoyment. Take your time to read the entire “blurb” … to determine if each book is one you would really like. There are two versions of the Book Reference List available to you:
- Paper Version: The 12-Page printed version of the Book Reference List was distributed to everyone attending the MBC June 28 meeting. If you want a printed copy you can, of course, print your own if you have a printer. Click here to open a PDF copy to print. Alternatively, you can come to the Library and ask Maddy to give you a copy, or email her and request that a paper copy be mailed to your home address (be sure to include address with email).
- Online Version: Click here to see it on your computer or ipad. It might be difficult to view on your phone as there is a lot of text to read (10 pages of book information). The Online Version can do something the Paper Version cannot do: The Online Version has active links to author information, and most importantly, a link that makes it quicker to find a sample of the book you can read (usually the first few chapters). See where the link is found on each book listing by checking the example listing below:
2) The BALLOT WORKSHEET
Use the paper “Voter Worksheet” while reading through the above Book Reference List. It is just one double-sided page with all 21 books listed– Here are some ways to use the Voter Worksheet as you read through each book description listed on the Book Reference List. Do what works for you:
- Use a simple code, like: + (Yes!), √ (OK, Maybe), or – (No!) ….OR,
- Use a number code like: 5 (Definite Yes); 4 (Strong Possible); 3 (OK, Maybe); 2 (Doubtful); 1 (Absolutely not) ….OR,
- At least cross out ones you know you do not want to vote for, as a way to whittle the list down to your best preferences.
Like the Book Reference List, a paper copy of the Voter Worksheet was distributed to everyone attending the MBC June 28 meeting. If you want print your own copy of the Worksheet, click here to open a PDF copy to print. Alternatively, you can come to the Library and ask Maddy to give you a copy, or email her and request that a paper copy of the Worksheet be mailed to your home address (be sure to include with email).
After you have made a decision on each book and noted it on your Worksheet, it is time to vote.
3) The Actual BALLOT
It is really, really helpful if you use the Online Ballot. How do you find the Online Ballot? You will be sent an email with your own special link on July 1 or July2. That email will look like this (from Google):
Other Ballot information:
- You may vote for 12 books.
- You do not have to vote for twelve. If you only really like 7 books, and none of the others, then just vote for them. That actually makes those seven votes more weighty and more likely to be chosen if others also vote for them.
- Make sure – double-check! – that you do NOT vote for MORE than 12 books. Such a ballot will not count and you will perhaps be contacted to correct it so that it may be counted.
- Complete the process as soon as you have done your research but not later than midnight, Friday, July 19.
- If you have trouble using the Online Ballot, please contact Maddy Willwerth for help. Meeting with her at the Library is ideal so that she can assist you. Otherwise, if necessary, Maddy might ask you to use a blank Worksheet as a Ballot and send it to her. She will have to enter your choices into the Online Ballot system.
Other Tips
- Start working on book selection as soon as possible. That way you can save the final two weeks before the next meeting to read our July book.
- I hope to make a video explanation ASAP to explain different “Types of books.” In the meantime, let me briefly address two overlapping types: Cozies are a sub-category of the “Traditional Mystery.” All “traditional mysteries” are typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore or violence. A “Cozy mystery” is a traditional mystery in which the lead character is an amateur, not a professional – not a cop or private detective, for example. The lead in a “cozy” is a bookstore owner, hairdresser, librarian, carpenter, nurse, etc. Christie’s Poirot is a private detective (so not a cozy); her Miss Marple character is an amateur (so, yes, a cozy). But the Poirot books and Miss Marple books are both “Traditional Mysteries.”
The Final Deadline is Midnight on July 19.
We’d like to tally and prepare to share the results at our July MBC meeting on July 26, 2024.
For voting results on last year’s books (i.e., 2023-2024 book list) click here.