To Book Club or Not to Book Club? That Is the Question!
I took last week off of Friday Coffee Chat because of Bloggiesta, but the week before that we talked about whether we should be serious readers, fun readers, or both. Make sure you check out Jennifer from Girls Gone Reading’s Friday Coffee Chats as well. She does some great ones!
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This week on Friday Coffee Chat I want to explore book clubs. So many readers are in them and since Oprah started her book club, it seems like they popped up everywhere. I myself have been in two book clubs over the years, and just tried a new one last week. Each book club seemed to have its own personality, and I definitely enjoyed some more than others.
For me personally, the book club I enjoyed most was the purely fun reading one. It was a group called Thrill Me! that I went to in Austin. I initially went to this book club because I was trying to expand the genres that I read. I miss this group of people because they were SO fun. We read things like Lee Child, Janet Evanovich, John Connolly, Tami Hoag, and others. Probably one of the funniest moments in the group was when someone pointed out that Jack Reacher (from the books by Lee Child) never bathed but he was super popular with the ladies. I loved that someone thought of that because I honestly hadn’t thought of it while reading it. This group usually sat around and talked about the book for 20-40 minutes or so and then we would just shoot the breeze at the café for a LONG time afterwards. I loved that because we really enjoyed each other’s company outside of just talking about books.
My other book club tended to be much more cerebral. It was fun for sure and my brain usually got a workout from it. The company was good and we usually had some good food too as well as pretty in depth discussions about the book that would go on for quite awhile. While I thought this group was great in its own way, I have to admit that I enjoyed the thriller book club more just because it was crazier.
Last week, I tried a new book club. Everyone was really nice and welcoming, but they tended to pick literary fiction (or so it seems) and while I enjoy literary fiction from time to time, I have found that I more like the company in book clubs than just talking about the books we read. When I get together with readers, I do love talking about books, but I also really want to know them as people too. I also admit that I get a little intimidated by those literary books because I read more for the story than the technical aspects of books. When people in the group talk about the technical aspects I admit that sometimes I get bored and sometimes I feel stupid! Should I be admitting this? Maybe. Maybe not, but I am owning that this is something that I actually feel during book clubs.
Thinking about what type of book club I look for, I realized that not all people even like book clubs. Some people prefer to read on their own while others enjoy chatting about books with friends. It made me wonder what people’s motivations were when they either chose not to do a book club or sought one out. Are people just shy when they choose not to join a book club? Is reading a private thing? These are some questions that have come up in my mind now that I’m searching for new readers with which to connect.
This week’s Friday Coffee Chat questions are:
- Are you a member of a book club?
- If so, what are your motivations for joining a book club?
- What do you look for when you join a book club? Do you seek out strangers to talk about books with (like on Meetup.com) or do you only do book clubs with friends you know and are comfortable with?
- What kind of books do you prefer to read with a book club?
- Do you like themed book clubs like romance, thriller, literary, chick lit, etc.?
- If you don’t like book clubs, tell us all why you prefer to read alone? Is it because you are shy or because reading is just private to you? Is there some other reason?
Logging you in...
Posts
leeswammes 78p · 739 weeks ago
I am in a book club, in fact, I started one myself! I had been one in my previous town, and this one runs along the same lines, which I love!
We are all friends of friends (so yes, some are strangers for me to start with, but I guess we decide who we should ask to join, on the basis of whether they would fit in, so the group gets along well).
We discuss the book sometimes only for 30 mins, sometimes for 2 hours, depending on the book. We also discuss our kids, our lives and anything else. I love that mix! We never get too serious about the book either. It's just a fun evening.
So, my motivations are having fun but also, getting some book ideas that I might not otherwise read. Like you said, reading out of your own comfort zone.
We host the group at our places alternately and the host can choose the book for next time (vetoes allowed, though). So we read a whole range of books, which is nice.
winstonsdad 43p · 739 weeks ago
chachic 47p · 739 weeks ago
amymckie 73p · 739 weeks ago
Misha · 739 weeks ago
Ellie M · 739 weeks ago
Sarah · 739 weeks ago
scrabblequeen 40p · 739 weeks ago
Brenda · 739 weeks ago
Zee · 739 weeks ago
I was part of a bookclub for a while when I lived in Edinburgh but I had to give it up when my hours at work changed. It made me really sad. I enjoyed discussing books with other people.
For the past two years my English lit classes have kinda filled the bookclub function but since I don't know which lit classes, if any I will be able to take this semester I might want to join the library bookclub.
My other experience with bookclubs was with my aunts one. I happened to be in town and had just read the book they were discussing. It was the Book Thief. I really enjoyed the discussion. I got so much more out of the book discussing it with others.
I don't have any preferences when it comes to the type of books to be discussed but they need to be thought provoking.
mbgrl 15p · 739 weeks ago
I'm not in a book club, though years ago I sort of tried to start one. I say sort of tried because it consisted of myself and three of my friends...and it fizzled quickly after the first book.
I think I would like to join a book club, but part of me isn't sure. I tend to read slowly because there is always so much going on for me in my life outside of books. Right now I'm sort of doing a read-along project with EM, but that's about as close as it gets to an actual "book club".
I guess if I tried to join one, I would be more comfortable knowing at least a couple of people in the group beforehand. I don't mind meeting new people that way, but I know me...I'd need at least a couple of friends there so I wouldn't feel so awkward.
I can see feeling intimidated in a more cerebral group. Sometimes I get the technical aspects of a given book, but more often than not, even when I notice them I let it slide. Reading is a pleasure activity for me. If I have issues with a book, it has more to do with my own visceral reaction to the story or the characters. (Stuff along the lines of, "this character is annoying")
I'm hoping once my career path is allowed to finally change, I might see about joining a book club to give it another legitimate try. We shall see. :) For now, I just read for myself and I end up discussing books with those friends I have that enjoy reading as much as I do.
searchingthesky 30p · 739 weeks ago
I've seen discussion topics where people practically write essays in response to each other, that isn't really going to happen in a face to face book club and if it does can it really go as in depth? I find it a lot easier to organise my thoughts through the written word any way.
Also, what I like about the online book club aspect is that you can dip in and out of it without feeling like you need to obligate yourself. It's easier to just have a mini-read and also... there's something interesting reading with people from all over the world. Different opinions, backgrounds etc that you're not always going to meet in one place.
I think I would like a book group that wasn't so much about reading a specific book because I don't like deadlines. I'd like a social group just for book lovers who can discuss books and swap them and talk about them - without the organisation.
imbookingit 30p · 739 weeks ago
My main motivation in joining/starting the club was social, with the added perks of intellectual conversation and being introduced to books I wouldn't otherwise pick up. In general, I'm looking for about one hour on book discussion, and an hour (or more) of social time.
The two book clubs I'm involved with were with friends (first one) and a small community (parents at a specialized elementary school for the second). I think it would be fun to join a group with people I don't know, but two is enough, particularly now that I'm blogging and have commitments there as well.
I like to read books that are enjoyable but still have something to talk about. An occasional book that meets just one of those criteria is fine.
Both of my book clubs are fairly eclectic, with one having a more literary bent than the other. That one also has an ongoing fascination with World War II.
Debbie · 739 weeks ago
I posted about them here http://thefridayfriends.blogspot.com/2011/01/psss...
bokunosekai 49p · 739 weeks ago
EMR · 739 weeks ago
While I wouldn't say that I am Anti-book club, I have never had an overwhelming motivation to join one. Could this be due to having many friends and family who like to read and discussing books with them in general fills that need? Possibly. But I also think that I would be uncomfortable in a group of people I don't know discussing things. Regardless of what people may say, I am a bit reserved when it comes to discussing things and saying the wrong thing and looking like an idiot. Sometimes I notice things that others don't and then I feel like an idiot for bringing it up when everyone else so obviously went in another direction. As well, I hate people that find symbolism in everything. I hate it!!! It has it's place and I completely undertand it as a writing technique and appreciate it. But when people find symbolism in the smallest things (which in my opinion is not symbolic) it makes me crazy. Maybe I just don't play well with others? Sigh.....
Like you asked of us the other week, it depends on if everyone reads for pleasure for education or a mixture of the two. Maybe the few that I have observed hadn't struck the right balance of what they read and why they read for it to feel like it was something cohesive. So maybe I just need to keep trying them until I find one I feel comforatble in. Until then, Reese just has to put up with me.
Nose in a book · 738 weeks ago
Toka · 728 weeks ago