Monday, January 11, 2010

To Book Club, or Not to Book Club?

I have been thinking a lot about my reading schedule lately. With books I buy, books on my back list that I have been meaning to read for a long time, writer's group manuscript edits, and books from publishers, I am very busy. On top of that I have now added myself to TWO book clubs!



I was wondering what you, my readers and friends think of book clubs. Do you enjoy them? Do you like them at first and then quit them later down the line?

Here is your chance to add to my list of pros and cons about book clubs:

Pros
  • you are exposed to books you otherwise might not have picked up -- and sometimes they are great books!
  • it gives you a chance to listen to many different opinions about a book
  • as a mom, it can give me a night out with great friends
Cons
  • you are exposed to books you otherwise might not have picked up -- and sometimes there is a reason you didn't pick up that book...
  • if your friends are not really open minded then discussions about differing opinions about a book can cause sore spots (I don't let it cause sore spots, but I know I am VERY opinionated about my books...I like them or I don't, I like characters or I don't and no one can change my point of view 99.99% of the time. Regardless of their arguments, I always have a counter for my opinion. I worry it can cause sore spots with my friends on the other side of said discussion! I got it from my dad.)
  • It can create an obligation that is sometimes hard to fulfill. If someone picks a long book and I don't get to it until a few days before the book club, I feel out of place trying to discuss a book that I don't know the ending.
What do you think?

4 comments:

Ratliffs said...

Haha, I find this post really funny as I was just talking to my husband about not starting up our book club this year! (We've done one for the past three years.) I thought it was very fun and I picked up a lot of Great books that I enjoyed a whole lot! It was fun to get out of the house too! But as time went on, pregnancy, kid starts school, and millions of other things, I found myself going less and less. And I noticed that a lot of my friends were doing the same thing. Now I just want to stay home due to all the other activities we have going on, not to mention the fact that I think I've read maybe two books in the past 3 or 4 months. :) Good luck in figuring out what to do!! You may just have to try it out for awhile and see if it works for you!

Jenn (Books At Midnight) said...

Hm, I don't know either. I'm not that into book clubs because they don't always spotlight books I like and, as you said, the obligation involved. Though if I find one perfect for my tastes, I'll consider joining. Nice post, and good luck! :)

Randi said...

wow you have a lot going on! I can't give an opinion just yet seeing as I am just now joining my first book club, but I really liked the first book. I'll have to wait and see what is to come.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

I am in a book club that I started in August of 2001. I really enjoy the group - there are 18 of us now and we love getting together. We are pretty laid back so if you did not finish the book it is not "off with your head!" :)

I really enjoy the discussions we have, the movies we see on the books we have read, the fundraising and the extras we do above and beyond the book talks.