The Timeless Tome Society
MEETS VIRTUALLY
Next meeting: Saturday, January 18 at 6:00pm - EST
7 members
About The Timeless Tome Society
How our club opporates:
• We are an inclusive group all are welcome.
• We are an adults only group. It's not that we don't want young people to be exposed to great literature it's just some themes are awkward to discuss with children if you are an adult.
• All members are invited to join our discord server. We would like to foster a sense of community so feel free to get off topic in the general chat. This is also where we will host meetings.
• If it is found you broke a rule of our club you will be given a warning by an admin. The warning will come in the form of a direct message explaining what rules was broken and the proof you broke it. After a discussion with the admin everything will be saved and screenshotted. Like in baseball, three strikes and you are out. However warnings are reset a year after they were given.
• Meetings will be recorded. The recording will be shared with all members in case they miss a meeting and would like to hear the discussion. BY JOINING THE MEETING YOU ARE CONSENTING TO BEING RECORDED. There will be a written reminder in chat before every meeting and it will be mentioned that the call is being recorded before the discussion starts.
• We are not starting a YouTube or other social media show with our bookclub. These are private meetings for members only.
• You may choose to have your video on or off that's up to you.
• You may choose to be as engaged or disengaged with this group as you wish. There is no attendance requirement. We only ask if you RSVP to a meeting please keep it up to date so we don't waste time waiting for you.
• Any book suggestions that are accepted are for the following year. We want to be as understanding as possible to everyone's financial situations. Sadly public libraries are becoming harder and harder to come by and sometimes it can take a long time to save up your pennies to purchase a book. So we want to give people as long as possible to be able to borrow or buy our picks without having to say they cannot afford it.
• Picks for that month for the following year will be done by poll the day after that months meeting. Please attend the meeting or listen to the recording before voting.
• For Example: If we are in April 2025 the pick for April 2026 will be given in the April 2025 meeting.
• We opporate off of a theme for picks for each year please suggest accordingly.
• For example the theme for 2025 is "Time of year" all the picks correspond to the month we read them.
• The theme for the following year will be determined by poll the first week of January. We will only opporate one year in advance to cut down on confusion.
• We will keep a running list for books and when we are reading them that will be available via Google doc on discord. Only the Admins will be able to edit this document.
Club Rules:
General:
• This is a 21+ group. By joining you are certifying you are over the age of 21 if it is found you are not you will be removed immediately. No warnings.
• No suggestion is stupid
• No question is stupid
• Keep in mind this is a bookclub. While we understand and support people making personal connections to the books and sharing them, remember this is not a therapy session. Please try and refrain from over sharing and taking up too much of others time in meetings. We are all here to discuss a topic we have in common, literature.
• Please keep major triggers in mind when making suggestions and list them in your book suggestions. We are all adults and can be exposed to adult themes, but this does not mean we should purposely surprise people with sensitive topics. Breaking this rule will result in a warning.
• Every member is to also do their own do diligence for personal triggers for suggestions as well. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to list every possible trigger.
• For Example: If you would like to suggest "Black Boy" by Richard Wright the suggestor would have to write "Possible Triggers: Racism, Child Abuse, and Violence" in their suggestion description because these are major themes in the book with in depth descriptions. However triggers like abject poverty, death and illness do not need to be included in this case because abject poverty is apparent by its front and back cover and the others are more minor themes and do not come up as often. This is where a readers do diligence would come in.
• If you feel you cannot finish a book you do not have too. But please know all themes will still be discussed in our meeting if you do not wish to engage in the discussion or the discussion veres into a topic you are uncomfortable with you may leave the meeting at any time you do not need to announce your leaving.
Community Rules:
• No abject racism, sexism, homophobia, religious discrimination, etcetera will not be tolerated. If you are found to be engaging in such you will be removed immediately with no warnings.
• For example: If you are found to be using slurs of any kind against other members you will be removed immediately. However if you are simply engaging in a line of discussion like "I don't believe Rocky Horror Picture Show is homophobic" or "I enjoy Dave Chappelle" these are not things that merit action from our admins. We would suggest simply blocking that member if you do not wish to engage.
• No trolling. If you are found to be engaging in inciting behavior simply to get a rise out of others you will be given warnings and removed.
• This should go without saying but; no bullies allowed. Basically if you can imagine Regina George in Mean Girls saying or doing it, don't do it.
• Do not be creepy. Leave people to their privacy do not ask for others contact information, real names, etcetera in general chat. You may offer your own information if you choose to do so but do not harass others for theirs. If a member has been harassing others for their information in private chats (asking more than once after being told no in anyway) send screenshots to an admin and that member will be given a warning.
• No soliciting or advertisment. This is a group for book discussions not a place to market your product, service, or socials.
• If a member leaves a meeting early it is not to be discussed openly in chat by other members. An admin will follow up privately to make sure that member is ok.
• Discussing literature, and art in general, is inherently political. If you cannot discuss and debate opposing views without getting heated you will be asked to leave. This goes for both side of the aisle.
• For example: If we are reading "The Handmaid's Tale" and we discuss the theme of female servitude as displayed by sexual violence the topic of abortion might come up as a natural line of conversation. BOTH sides of this argument are to be heard and any discussion that turns into an argument will be met with swift action. If say the topic of gay rights comes up in relation to this same title we will start from a place of basic understanding that people do not deserve to die, be incarcerated or otherwise tortured based solely on their sexual orientation or identity. Any argument to the contrary will also be met with swift action. However if someone says they feel they should not have to interact or serve the LGBT+ community that is not against our guidelines and can be discussed.
• Basically treat everyone with respect and basic human decency.
Book Suggestions:
• To suggest a book create a message on bookclub with a link to the book and version you would like to read on Amazon and include a brief description and any triggers. Suggestions without these things will be dismissed.
• Please keep to the theme for the year you are suggesting.
• There are no off limit topics, all books can be suggested as long as they follow our other rules.
• Uncensored versions only. If it was the way the artist wrote it that's the way we should enjoy it.
• Please try to keep suggestions to classical literature
• Please keep in mind time commitments when suggesting. For example we read one new book a month very few people are going to be able to read Les Miserable or War and Peace in a month.
• Please suggest books that have been professionally translated into English.
• Any translated suggestions must have had the authors permission. For example if you'd like to suggest a Manga or Graphic Novel make sure the author was paid and gave consent to translate their work. THIS IS A NON NEGOTIABLE RULE We don't want to steal from artists. Posthumous translations are fine.
• If you would like to suggest a book that might not fit all of our guidelines (like Practical Magic on our reading list) please give a short description of what rule it does not correspond with and why you feel it should be considered for our reading list. We will discuss and vote in the next meeting.
• Any suggestions that need to be voted on CANNOT break more than one rule. Any book that breaks multiple rules will not be discussed or voted on. You will then receive a message from an admin explaining what rules your suggestion breaks. These are not warnings, you will not get in trouble for making suggestions.
• We are an inclusive group all are welcome.
• We are an adults only group. It's not that we don't want young people to be exposed to great literature it's just some themes are awkward to discuss with children if you are an adult.
• All members are invited to join our discord server. We would like to foster a sense of community so feel free to get off topic in the general chat. This is also where we will host meetings.
• If it is found you broke a rule of our club you will be given a warning by an admin. The warning will come in the form of a direct message explaining what rules was broken and the proof you broke it. After a discussion with the admin everything will be saved and screenshotted. Like in baseball, three strikes and you are out. However warnings are reset a year after they were given.
• Meetings will be recorded. The recording will be shared with all members in case they miss a meeting and would like to hear the discussion. BY JOINING THE MEETING YOU ARE CONSENTING TO BEING RECORDED. There will be a written reminder in chat before every meeting and it will be mentioned that the call is being recorded before the discussion starts.
• We are not starting a YouTube or other social media show with our bookclub. These are private meetings for members only.
• You may choose to have your video on or off that's up to you.
• You may choose to be as engaged or disengaged with this group as you wish. There is no attendance requirement. We only ask if you RSVP to a meeting please keep it up to date so we don't waste time waiting for you.
• Any book suggestions that are accepted are for the following year. We want to be as understanding as possible to everyone's financial situations. Sadly public libraries are becoming harder and harder to come by and sometimes it can take a long time to save up your pennies to purchase a book. So we want to give people as long as possible to be able to borrow or buy our picks without having to say they cannot afford it.
• Picks for that month for the following year will be done by poll the day after that months meeting. Please attend the meeting or listen to the recording before voting.
• For Example: If we are in April 2025 the pick for April 2026 will be given in the April 2025 meeting.
• We opporate off of a theme for picks for each year please suggest accordingly.
• For example the theme for 2025 is "Time of year" all the picks correspond to the month we read them.
• The theme for the following year will be determined by poll the first week of January. We will only opporate one year in advance to cut down on confusion.
• We will keep a running list for books and when we are reading them that will be available via Google doc on discord. Only the Admins will be able to edit this document.
Club Rules:
General:
• This is a 21+ group. By joining you are certifying you are over the age of 21 if it is found you are not you will be removed immediately. No warnings.
• No suggestion is stupid
• No question is stupid
• Keep in mind this is a bookclub. While we understand and support people making personal connections to the books and sharing them, remember this is not a therapy session. Please try and refrain from over sharing and taking up too much of others time in meetings. We are all here to discuss a topic we have in common, literature.
• Please keep major triggers in mind when making suggestions and list them in your book suggestions. We are all adults and can be exposed to adult themes, but this does not mean we should purposely surprise people with sensitive topics. Breaking this rule will result in a warning.
• Every member is to also do their own do diligence for personal triggers for suggestions as well. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to list every possible trigger.
• For Example: If you would like to suggest "Black Boy" by Richard Wright the suggestor would have to write "Possible Triggers: Racism, Child Abuse, and Violence" in their suggestion description because these are major themes in the book with in depth descriptions. However triggers like abject poverty, death and illness do not need to be included in this case because abject poverty is apparent by its front and back cover and the others are more minor themes and do not come up as often. This is where a readers do diligence would come in.
• If you feel you cannot finish a book you do not have too. But please know all themes will still be discussed in our meeting if you do not wish to engage in the discussion or the discussion veres into a topic you are uncomfortable with you may leave the meeting at any time you do not need to announce your leaving.
Community Rules:
• No abject racism, sexism, homophobia, religious discrimination, etcetera will not be tolerated. If you are found to be engaging in such you will be removed immediately with no warnings.
• For example: If you are found to be using slurs of any kind against other members you will be removed immediately. However if you are simply engaging in a line of discussion like "I don't believe Rocky Horror Picture Show is homophobic" or "I enjoy Dave Chappelle" these are not things that merit action from our admins. We would suggest simply blocking that member if you do not wish to engage.
• No trolling. If you are found to be engaging in inciting behavior simply to get a rise out of others you will be given warnings and removed.
• This should go without saying but; no bullies allowed. Basically if you can imagine Regina George in Mean Girls saying or doing it, don't do it.
• Do not be creepy. Leave people to their privacy do not ask for others contact information, real names, etcetera in general chat. You may offer your own information if you choose to do so but do not harass others for theirs. If a member has been harassing others for their information in private chats (asking more than once after being told no in anyway) send screenshots to an admin and that member will be given a warning.
• No soliciting or advertisment. This is a group for book discussions not a place to market your product, service, or socials.
• If a member leaves a meeting early it is not to be discussed openly in chat by other members. An admin will follow up privately to make sure that member is ok.
• Discussing literature, and art in general, is inherently political. If you cannot discuss and debate opposing views without getting heated you will be asked to leave. This goes for both side of the aisle.
• For example: If we are reading "The Handmaid's Tale" and we discuss the theme of female servitude as displayed by sexual violence the topic of abortion might come up as a natural line of conversation. BOTH sides of this argument are to be heard and any discussion that turns into an argument will be met with swift action. If say the topic of gay rights comes up in relation to this same title we will start from a place of basic understanding that people do not deserve to die, be incarcerated or otherwise tortured based solely on their sexual orientation or identity. Any argument to the contrary will also be met with swift action. However if someone says they feel they should not have to interact or serve the LGBT+ community that is not against our guidelines and can be discussed.
• Basically treat everyone with respect and basic human decency.
Book Suggestions:
• To suggest a book create a message on bookclub with a link to the book and version you would like to read on Amazon and include a brief description and any triggers. Suggestions without these things will be dismissed.
• Please keep to the theme for the year you are suggesting.
• There are no off limit topics, all books can be suggested as long as they follow our other rules.
• Uncensored versions only. If it was the way the artist wrote it that's the way we should enjoy it.
• Please try to keep suggestions to classical literature
• Please keep in mind time commitments when suggesting. For example we read one new book a month very few people are going to be able to read Les Miserable or War and Peace in a month.
• Please suggest books that have been professionally translated into English.
• Any translated suggestions must have had the authors permission. For example if you'd like to suggest a Manga or Graphic Novel make sure the author was paid and gave consent to translate their work. THIS IS A NON NEGOTIABLE RULE We don't want to steal from artists. Posthumous translations are fine.
• If you would like to suggest a book that might not fit all of our guidelines (like Practical Magic on our reading list) please give a short description of what rule it does not correspond with and why you feel it should be considered for our reading list. We will discuss and vote in the next meeting.
• Any suggestions that need to be voted on CANNOT break more than one rule. Any book that breaks multiple rules will not be discussed or voted on. You will then receive a message from an admin explaining what rules your suggestion breaks. These are not warnings, you will not get in trouble for making suggestions.