Motivating a reading group

[Karen]

At work we have two reading groups. The larger of the two groups has members who are struggling to read books at a pace fast enough to keep up with the library loans. I have been trying to think of challenges to get the group reading faster, but don't want to de motivate them by pushing them to read a book by a certain date.

Ian suggested using a short story collection -a great idea and I am following this up.

I wondered if any others had ideas to motivate people with busy lives and who use social media a lot, rather than reading.

I would welcome all ideas.

Thank you
Karen

[DrMama]

Maybe if, by now, you have an idea of what type of book appeals the most, you could do a bit of 'behind-the-scene' fixing? Say, line up a couple of 'good' books that best fit what the group seems to like most, so far? Then once they are all more in the habit of reading-because-enthralled, you can branch out??
Also, how often do you meet, how long do they have to read them? We meet monthly, and although for some the RG book is the only one they will read in the four weeks, some of us get through far more. However, we are now all fairly comfy with giving up on a book if we know it's not for us. Yet most people still come along for the discussion, and join in as much as they can: some take it out again, inspired to finish if the group talk inspires them. Many of us do 'try' to finish, for 'the group' but we are okay with saying enough is enough.
It's difficult, I know in my group we were having a moan recently about a bad run of books. We toyed with the idea of trying to be more 'informed' with our book requests, but then we all remembered/decided that the thing we love most about the group is being made to read works outside our comfort zone. However, I guess that has come from years of ... bit of peer-pressure and lovely enthusiastic, informed Librarians
'Yay! Go Kingsbridge!'
Don't know if this helps (not a Librarian, but used to teach EngLit), but good luck.

[Karen]

Thanks for getting back to me. We have only been going since November and the books have not been ones that appeal to the majority of readers in our group. We also have difficulty meeting as one big group due to different shift patterns and have had a couple of small group meetings, which is nice.

At the moment I feel that the group is together to access books easily rather than get into the read a book a month, meet and discuss type club.

We have a smaller group of six people who read fast, but even then it is so difficult to find a time we we are all free ...it can take weeks to find a date!!

We are on facebook and I am going to try this short story book to get feedback on Fb to make the group feel more cohesive. A good first step I hope.

I think we are going to have to progess as a virtual book club with just a few small meetings. A little different to the usual book club, but still working. I will go in to,the library to see if they can get a more appealing book to us next time.

Thanks again
Karen

[DrMama]

Hi Karen, If you are a registered Devon Libraries (CC??) 'Reading Group' you should get a list of all the books that Devon Libraries have in large enough 'sets' for R Groups. We chose ours a few months ago: for the next 6 months, I think. The problem is, that although our Librarians send off a list of as many alternative choices as we're allowed to make (based on the books that we in the group have ticked on the list - And we don't consult with each other, in the group, so that it still ends up being quite a mixed bag ...), we don't always get the things we've asked for. I think Devon has over 300 RGs, so some months ALL our choices will already be out. IT's then that we get some books that we would never have chosen.
I guess if you are not a registered group you may be even further down the choosing list.
Also, is there any way you can set a time for the group and just say: 'That's it! Come then or not' [?!] A bit harsh, I know, but it would maybe sort out who is committed and who isn't. In fact, if, maybe, you could combine that approach with the 'virtual' approach you could perhaps please more of them. Our group is a Thursday afternoon - so mainly retired/not working/part-time/freelance folk. It's been going for over 10 years, and some of the original members are still there. Some with jobs, or who travel/whatever, just come when they can. Out of about 14 members, we usually have 9-10. The lowest ever was 4, but we had a wonderful discussion!! I hope you manage to sort something out. I wouldn't be without mine!
PS I'm Carole 'DrMama' is just my well-worn book-blogging name.

[Karen]

Hi Carole,

Thank you. We have spoken before Carole, after my review of a Margaret Atwood book.

Yes, I think I will set a day and date and see who comes along. Small meetings are very good. We sent in our list of books, each person chose a couple of books. It is an eclectic list and so far the books chosen by the older members have been supplied. The younger members haven't had their choices yet...I hope they come in soon.

We are still finding our feet really.

[DrMama]

Yes, I remember now! So many people on here. I think I'd thought that was 'Ellen' ... was that the person I got mixed up about when we exchanged messages? If so, 'Oh Dear' ... apologies, I'm trying to do too much, too fast, and brain cells dying as I speak!!
I hope it all works out, and good for you for organising it.

[Ian]

I think you are doing a great job Karen - supporting two reading groups is going some. I'm sure members here will have lost of suggestions.

[Angela]

Hi Karen - maybe pacey, fast read novels available as e-books would go down well, e.g Gone Girlor Before I Go To Sleep for starters. I have also enjoyed short story collections by Alice Munro, Kazuo Ishiguro and David Eagleman Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives. Good luck!

[Karen]

Kazuo Ishiguru used tobe my line manager back in the 80s when I worked in a hostel for homeless people! Wish I liked his writing, but am not keen.

Oh yes! Gone Girl...I have heard about that! Great idea.

Thanks
Karen

[Rose]

We have a very successful reading group at Bideford Library but the numbers do change which sometimes means we have lots of new people and others leave which can be problematic. We have a good chair who keeps everyone in order and we focus on the book for the first hour - after that it's tea and free time. Sometimes we break up into small groups to discuss the book and then come back with our thoughts to the main meeting.

[Ian]

Rose wrote: "We have a very successful reading group at Bideford Library but the numbers do change which sometimes means we have lots of new people and others leave which can be problematic. We have a good ch..."

Sounds like a good group - possibly a little more disciplined than ours - we also have a great convenor but tend to gently drift into the book after catching up socially for a while, then we talk about the book, then discuss anything else we are reading/have watched. Our group has been pretty stable for quite a while with a gentle turnover of people so we all kow each other pretty well. We meet in a hotel lounge in Barnstaple and go for a meal together twice a year as well. All great fun

[Karen]

Excellent recommendations. One of the groups loves the sound of Gone Girl, and Before I go to Sleep has been recommend to me by a few people. thanks

[Karen]

We have had a few poorly attended meetings, but they have been great fun. A chance for us at work to talk about things other than work.

It tends to be the younger members that don't come to meetings and find it hard to read a book. I wonder if social media is partly to blame for that. They really want to read, but don't find the time.

I have the book of short stories now Ian. Very good recommendation. I hope to pass it round the group and each person write a few lines about each story in our facebook page.
Thanks
Karen

[Ian]

Hope you enjoy it Karen. was that the William Trevor collection?

[Karen]

Yes, I am going to read a couple of the William Trevor stories as I have got hooked on the piano tuner's wife. Thanks Ian.

Angela's recommendation of Gone Girl has been popular, I have also heard about the popularity of Before I Sleep.

[Angela]

Karen wrote: "Yes, I am going to read a couple of the William Trevor stories as I have got hooked on the piano tuner's wife. Thanks Ian.

Angela's recommendation of Gone Girl has been popular, I have also heard..."
Glad to hear that Gone Girl went down well -it's a fast read that quickly hooks you into the plot, and it may just encourage your group members to get into reading!

[Karen]

Have just read the first short story...I am so not a short story person. I love getting involved in a book and entering that world..
With a short story it ends and I think oh no! What now!

[Ian]

Karen wrote: "Have just read the first short story...I am so not a short story person. I love getting involved in a book and entering that world..
With a short story it ends and I think oh no! What now!"

I know what you mean but somtimes I find the intensity of a short story lives with you longer. I remember on e by William Trevor that was literally someone walking past a woman in a garden, a momentary sense of each other - but so beautifully written

[Angela]

I sometimes enjoy reading a couple of short stories by way of a 'brain rest' in between longer novels, especially if the novel has been rather intense.

[Karen]

Ian wrote: "Karen wrote: "Have just read the first short story...I am so not a short story person. I love getting involved in a book and entering that world..
With a short story it ends and I think oh no! Wh..."

Yes, an excellent writer. I think the Piano Tuner's Wives will stay with me for a long time, as I am contually pondering should I have found it funny, or was what the second wife did sad. Yes, I must admit I should give it another try.

[Karen]

Angela wrote: "I sometimes enjoy reading a couple of short stories by way of a 'brain rest' in between longer novels, especially if the novel has been rather intense."

Yes, a good idea. I hope to inspire the younger readers with the shorter stories. I think social media has made younger readers less willing to read long novels. Of course, this coild be a massive over generalisation, but so far only one young reader in our group has manged to finish any of the books!

[Angela]

Karen wrote: "Angela wrote: "I sometimes enjoy reading a couple of short stories by way of a 'brain rest' in between longer novels, especially if the novel has been rather intense."

Yes, a good idea. I hope to..."
Have you tried any graphic novels? I think they are quite popular with younger people. They are not my cup of tea, but then comics never appealed to me as a child! Devon Libraries do stock a range of graphic books, so it might be worth investigating.

[Karen]

Hmmm, might be worth a try. Thank you Angela. Ian that short story you describe sounds lovely. I am going to give short stories a try...a little at a time. So you have one potential convert!