Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (ot, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?
Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?
These are some really great questions. Heidi and Litlove have asked these questions.
I’ve been a member of a couple of book clubs. The majority of books were selected by group consensus. I’m also currently part of an online book club that I started that has the book selected by me with assistance from the other members which provide options for books they would like to group to read. I have found that the discussion portion of the two “physical” book clubs were minimal, and that came about because there was really no distinct leader when it came to discussion.
The second part of this weeks Booking Through Thursday struck me as quite interesting. I don’t find that my enjoyment of a book alters because it’s read as part of a group or because I selected it on my own free will. It is the book that speaks for itself. If the book is good I’ll enjoy it regardless of why it’s being read and the same with a bad book. The reason I’m reading doesn’t affect my thoughts on the book. On the other hand it will affect my finishing a book. If I don’t enjoy a book I’m more likely to finish a book I’m not enjoying if I’m reading it for a book club or for one my book challenges.
That's the Book! 