Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never attended a book club. My impressions (which may be completely wrong) are that book clubs tend to either read angsty books and then have angsty discussions about how they connect with the books, or read “literature” and then have literary discussions as described above. Neither of those types of experiences interests me (although there may be other book clubs that offer something completely different, of which I am simply ignorant.)

This discussion has caused me to reflect on what type of book club would appeal to me. The book club I’ve imagined, I would love to attend, but am doubtful it exists. Does anyone know of a book club where:

Each member reads 2 books each month. One would be a designated book (fiction or nonfiction) everyone read to anchor the theme, the other would be a tangential book that they would individually choose to provide insight and stimulate discussion during the book club.

So for example:

If the book club read A Tale of Two Cities, members might read about France, the French Revolution, Dickens, Paris, London, etc.

If the book club read a biography of George Washington, members might read about colonial America, plantations and/or slavery practices of the time, the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, how the role of president has evolved over time

Members could pick whatever individual book interested them, however niche, and in doing so would explore interests and perspectives that might not have ever occurred to the rest.

Does such a group exist?

I'm one of the PPs who has been in two book clubs (with limited success). This sounds like a GREAT idea for a book club. I would definitely do this.

Where do you live?

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never attended a book club. My impressions (which may be completely wrong) are that book clubs tend to either read angsty books and then have angsty discussions about how they connect with the books, or read “literature” and then have literary discussions as described above. Neither of those types of experiences interests me (although there may be other book clubs that offer something completely different, of which I am simply ignorant.)

This discussion has caused me to reflect on what type of book club would appeal to me. The book club I’ve imagined, I would love to attend, but am doubtful it exists. Does anyone know of a book club where:

Each member reads 2 books each month. One would be a designated book (fiction or nonfiction) everyone read to anchor the theme, the other would be a tangential book that they would individually choose to provide insight and stimulate discussion during the book club.

So for example:

If the book club read A Tale of Two Cities, members might read about France, the French Revolution, Dickens, Paris, London, etc.

If the book club read a biography of George Washington, members might read about colonial America, plantations and/or slavery practices of the time, the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, how the role of president has evolved over time

Members could pick whatever individual book interested them, however niche, and in doing so would explore interests and perspectives that might not have ever occurred to the rest.

Does such a group exist?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have tried twice. The key to a good book club is not having one dominant personality who bulldozes everyone with their opinion and doesn't let anyone else speak. I experienced this twice and it's permanently put me off trying again.

We have discussion questions based on the book that we take turns answering. This keeps the dominant talkers somewhat in check as people are taking turns speaking.

That is smart. I think the other thing I experienced was that I was a Literature major and the dominant person in each of these two instances was not, so their responses to books that went on and on and on were always very personal and emotive and off track rather than remotely interesting or analytical. I expect having questions really helps avoid that.

Haha, yes, I’m sure your lit degree means that your opinions are more valid and more intelligent than anyone else’s.

no they're just different. if you're not used to analyzing texts you wouldn't understand, which I suspect you don't. It's not snobbery it's just different skills.

Your response indicates otherwise. You sound pretty insufferable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have tried twice. The key to a good book club is not having one dominant personality who bulldozes everyone with their opinion and doesn't let anyone else speak. I experienced this twice and it's permanently put me off trying again.

We have discussion questions based on the book that we take turns answering. This keeps the dominant talkers somewhat in check as people are taking turns speaking.

That is smart. I think the other thing I experienced was that I was a Literature major and the dominant person in each of these two instances was not, so their responses to books that went on and on and on were always very personal and emotive and off track rather than remotely interesting or analytical. I expect having questions really helps avoid that.

Haha, yes, I’m sure your lit degree means that your opinions are more valid and more intelligent than anyone else’s.

no they're just different. if you're not used to analyzing texts you wouldn't understand, which I suspect you don't. It's not snobbery it's just different skills.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first book group I was in was with a group of friends/friends of friends who were all decent readers. We'd move around house to house, the person hosting would also present 'her' book for the evening. It was a potluck dinner situation which was distracting with all the fussing around food. Not everyone would have read the book, so it mostly just turned into a dinner party with people who had mostly read the same book and were kind of discussing it.

The group I'm in now is more serious and has a facilitator we pay a nominal amount to. We choose the books in 3 or 4 month increments, mostly Booker winners or such. Sometimes we'll toss in a memoir to mix it up. It's in the evening, no food beyond tea/coffee and a small snack or dessert. It's in a member's house who is centrally located to the rest of us. I love this group! The discussions are largely kept to the book, the author, but on occasion we'll veer off if someone has personal anecdotes that relate to the work. It's so interesting, I read things I otherwise would not and it takes me out of the rest of me life.

That second group, the one you're in now, sounds perfect. No alcohol, no distracting food and people have come actively wanting to read the book itself. Hang onto that one!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in one with a group of friends, but half the time we got derailed with other conversations or people wouldn’t read the book.

I love discussing books but am very much a mood reader. Hard to commit to a book club where books are pre-chosen.

Same! Having assigned reading makes me feel like I'm back in school.

You're not being graded. It's not assigned. It's voluntary.

It's voluntary to join and participate in a book club, but most of them do pick a book to read so it does feel like it's assigned.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have tried twice. The key to a good book club is not having one dominant personality who bulldozes everyone with their opinion and doesn't let anyone else speak. I experienced this twice and it's permanently put me off trying again.

We have discussion questions based on the book that we take turns answering. This keeps the dominant talkers somewhat in check as people are taking turns speaking.

That is smart. I think the other thing I experienced was that I was a Literature major and the dominant person in each of these two instances was not, so their responses to books that went on and on and on were always very personal and emotive and off track rather than remotely interesting or analytical. I expect having questions really helps avoid that.

Haha, yes, I’m sure your lit degree means that your opinions are more valid and more intelligent than anyone else’s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have tried twice. The key to a good book club is not having one dominant personality who bulldozes everyone with their opinion and doesn't let anyone else speak. I experienced this twice and it's permanently put me off trying again.

We have discussion questions based on the book that we take turns answering. This keeps the dominant talkers somewhat in check as people are taking turns speaking.

That is smart. I think the other thing I experienced was that I was a Literature major and the dominant person in each of these two instances was not, so their responses to books that went on and on and on were always very personal and emotive and off track rather than remotely interesting or analytical. I expect having questions really helps avoid that.