Is it possible to control access to book nodes in such a way that each user could have their own book, viewable by others, but editable only by them?
Actually, my ideal situation would be to have the ability to specify a small set of users who could edit each book, while it remained viewable by all. Or some other heirarchy of nodes, similar to what books provide.
Organic Groups are not an option. They're being used for something else on the site, and the settings required by one use conflict with those needed by the other.