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#Post#: 71691--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: oogyda Date: November 14, 2021, 12:01 pm
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[quote author=Bada link=topic=2204.msg71622#msg71622
date=1636709788]
I'm currently trying to start up a new book club around a genre
(eg Sci Fi book club, but not that). I'm hoping it will draw
people who are genuinely interested... People joined the
Facebook group for the club, but now they won't respond to sny
questions about what we should read or when we should meet. Why
join the group only to be silent?!
[/quote]
In my experience (admitting other people's experiences may
vary), people often join things they have no interest in
leading. Some people are great participants, but don't want the
responsibility or liability of making decisions. By liability,
I mean setting themselves up for criticism or argument.
I would suggest you name the first title and discussion time.
At that point, I would ask again for input, but have another
title ready to name if there is none forthcoming.
#Post#: 71703--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: Bada Date: November 15, 2021, 8:14 am
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[quote author=oogyda link=topic=2204.msg71691#msg71691
date=1636912905]
[quote author=Bada link=topic=2204.msg71622#msg71622
date=1636709788]
I'm currently trying to start up a new book club around a genre
(eg Sci Fi book club, but not that). I'm hoping it will draw
people who are genuinely interested... People joined the
Facebook group for the club, but now they won't respond to sny
questions about what we should read or when we should meet. Why
join the group only to be silent?!
[/quote]
In my experience (admitting other people's experiences may
vary), people often join things they have no interest in
leading. Some people are great participants, but don't want the
responsibility or liability of making decisions. By liability,
I mean setting themselves up for criticism or argument.
I would suggest you name the first title and discussion time.
At that point, I would ask again for input, but have another
title ready to name if there is none forthcoming.
[/quote]
I basically did that. I have a friend in the group and we
figured out what works for us and "voted" for that. Now we'll
see if people show up. We planned it for January, after the
holidays are over. Hopefully it pans out!
#Post#: 71704--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: lowspark Date: November 15, 2021, 8:18 am
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[quote author=holly firestorm link=topic=2204.msg71648#msg71648
date=1636753829]
Only quarterly? Monthly or every other week sounds more fun
socially.
You should probably send a few email reminders, maybe one month,
two weeks and 3-4 days ahead of time.
[/quote]
I agree. Quarterly meetings would put me in the mindset of "I
have plenty of time!" and then the date would sneak up on me
such that I might actually run out of time.
My book club meets monthly and I still wait till about two weeks
before the meeting to begin the book because if I read it too
early, I forget too much by the time we meet.
Also, I can't remember if you said, but who is picking the
books? We take turns picking and I think that helps to
incentivize people to read. When I've picked a book, of course,
I'm going to read it. But I want the other members to read it
too, so I'm more likely to read their picks to reciprocate.
I know some book clubs ask for suggestions, and vote on which
books to read, or just have one person pick, or other such
variations. But in my experience, actually having a schedule
that rotates through the membership works best.
#Post#: 71714--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: NFPwife Date: November 15, 2021, 11:30 am
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I picked the first selection, then we did a survey and voted. We
tend to have a discussion about what to read next and come to
consensus. I think the date does sneak up on people so I'm going
to schedule emails to go out as reminders then I'll pose having
participants select books on a rotating basis. I'm also adding
the "There will be spoilers" disclaimer. Hopefully this leads to
a better experience for all.
#Post#: 71962--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: malfoyfan13 Date: November 23, 2021, 2:48 pm
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This reminds me of the knitting group I was in pre-Covid. A
couple of the people didn't knit at all. One crocheted. It was
really just for socializing. I actually wanted to join a group
of knitters, to share patterns and info, etc. and just talk
about my hobby with others. I enjoyed it after a fashion but I
wasn't heartbroken when Covid broke it up.
Now, a book group....yes, I would definitely expect people to
read the book and want to discuss it. Otherwise, what's the
point of calling it a book group? I have heard many stories
about how book groups are really just women wanting to socialize
and drink. That's why I've never joined one. Also, a few
people on Nextdoor were trying to start a book group and the
book they wanted to read, I read back in the 70s when it was
published and would not read it again. So, not only would a
book group have to actually read, they also would have to choose
books I wanted to read. Might make it difficult. So, no book
groups for me, I guess! LOL
#Post#: 71971--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: lowspark Date: November 24, 2021, 7:42 am
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LOL. Yeah, being part of a book club does mean you'll end up
reading books you didn't want to read, or may not enjoy. That's
the price you pay. However! My experience also includes reading
books I never would have read, maybe because the idea or title
didn't appeal to me, or maybe because I never heard of the book,
which I ended up loving! So it's a balance.
#Post#: 72155--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: malfoyfan13 Date: December 1, 2021, 3:59 pm
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Lowspark - I'm OK with reading a wide variety of books, my issue
is that I would not be interested in reading stuff endorsed by
celebrities, because in my experience with reading some of
Oprah's picks back in the day, I didn't like the type of story
they usually depicted - women in terrible conditions who have to
overcome a lot of adversity, in danger, etc. I just don't like
stuff like that. I also don't like overly sentimental books,
which tend to be popular with book clubs. It's just me - that's
why I'll probably never join a club. I'm not much of a joiner
for the most part anyway.
#Post#: 72189--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: lowspark Date: December 2, 2021, 3:42 pm
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[quote author=malfoyfan13 link=topic=2204.msg72155#msg72155
date=1638395953]
Lowspark - I'm OK with reading a wide variety of books, my issue
is that I would not be interested in reading stuff endorsed by
celebrities, because in my experience with reading some of
Oprah's picks back in the day, I didn't like the type of story
they usually depicted - women in terrible conditions who have to
overcome a lot of adversity, in danger, etc. I just don't like
stuff like that. I also don't like overly sentimental books,
which tend to be popular with book clubs. It's just me - that's
why I'll probably never join a club. I'm not much of a joiner
for the most part anyway.
[/quote]
I totally get that! And agree! I guess I'm lucky to be in a club
with people who have diverse interests and ideas. So yeah, once
in a while, in the past, I've gotten stuck reading a book in a
genre I detest, but mostly there has been a good variety.
But yeah, book clubs aren't for everyone. :)
#Post#: 72333--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: NFPwife Date: December 9, 2021, 7:29 pm
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I just talked about establishing a "there will be spoilers if
you haven't finished" expectation with two members of the group.
They're on board. I'm supposed to do a little blurb about it in
our next organizational meeting, so I'm going to promo the new
guideline then, with everyone.
While we're chatting about book clubs - any must read books you
loved?
#Post#: 72374--------------------------------------------------
Re: The first rule of book club...
By: pierrotlunaire0 Date: December 10, 2021, 6:41 pm
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I am a huge Malcolm Gladwell fan, and I would particularly
recommend The Tipping Point. The premise of the book is that
everyone thinks of social and cultural change happening very
slowly, almost glacially, but he talks about times when social
change happens so fast that it is more like a virus.
What I love about his writing is that he takes ideas and makes
you look at them in a very different manner. I talked my entire
family into reading this, and everyone loved it.
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