Are You Happy when your book club picks a book you've already read?

[Kate]

I know that I joined 2 very different book groups to be exposed to authors and genres I might not necessarily choose to read. This month one of my clubs has selected The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley which was published last summer and which I enjoyed while on vacation last August. I am so relieved that I can read some selections for myself instead of reading something I am not interested in. Are others disappointed when this happens or are you also relieved? I know some groups are very strict about this sort of thing - my ssiter-in-law belongs to a group where no one is allowed to read the book beforehand.

[Ann]

It's a mix for me, depending on how much time I have. I confess to often being relieved if it's something I've already read, but if every month was like that, it wouldn't be ideal.

I do like when nobody has read the book before, but of course that increases the risk that people won't like it. I think I prefer a mix -- the fewer rules the better.

[[deleted user]]

Kate wrote: "...Are others disappointed when this happens or are you also relieved?..."

More often than not I'm disappointed when a group I belong to picks a book that I've read within the last five years. I have so many books in my stacks (and audiobooks in my queue) that I rarely want to take the time to re-visit a book I've recently read. And too, often when I'm reading a book the first go-around, it gets a thorough going over so I'm kind of over it by the time discussion begins. That said, a Classic is always worth another go and; lately I've been itching to pick up SHANTARAM (by Gregory David Roberts; narrated by Humphrey Bower) again. I nominated the latter for discussion, but the size was too intimidating for most.

I much prefer to cover a book that's new-to-me. Like you, the reason I joins groups, clubs, etc is to be exposed to something different than I would normally choose for myself.

[Linda]

This year when our moderator (librarian) gave the suggested list for the year, one of my friends said, "Can we read something that Linda hasn't?" I think I had read all but 4 on the list - and this month's was changed to Cutting for Stone which I read in January. It is still interesting to hear and be part of the discussions. Sometimes, the book is my discussion and I get surprising results. I loved The Time Traveler's Wife. I had suggested it to two friends (1 male, 1 female) who both loved it. The book discussion group was not as enthralled as I.

A lot of times the book picked is one that is on my list, but I haven't gotten to yet. Having read the book already has helped me at times because there have been times that I have not gotten the book finished by the time of the meeting. For Cutting for Stone and when the group read The Help, I have listened to the book. It gave an added dimension and sometimes insight.

My only problem is that I try to read everything and I do it faster than most people I know who read.

Maybe I feel that there is too much stress in my life right now, so one place I can find relief is through the book discussion group and if I have read the book already - less pressure yet.

Linda

[Jarrod]

I recently moved back some to small town Alabama due to being laid off and going back to school. I was able to find a local Book Club to join, but it is interesting because I am:

a) The Youngest by 30 Years

b) The Only Male

So some of the selections that the make are basically the books that Old Southern Women would read.

(By the way Ann, I need to Thank You for Mentioning the 'To Kill A Mockingbird' celebration on the latest Podcast. I checked the map and I am only about 45 minutes away!! So I will be partaking of the sights.)

How would you suggest I go about broadening their horizons??

[Linda]

Suggest. Our group is predominately women with a male librarian as our moderator. We do have about 3 men who show up on occasion. Last week we had a male drop in - from Columbus! (50 minute trip). I recognized that the book we read The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey would appeal to males. I want to appeal to diverse group of people and welcome insight from males, young, experienced, etc.

Bring a friend - I would think that would show the group that your serious about staying in the group and want to contribute.

How does your group pick books? Mine takes suggestions.

[Jarrod]

I just sent off a list of Suggestions to the group as well. I tried to include a range of books, all some that I could lead the discussion on easily if need be.

That list was..

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larson
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Graeme Smith
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

[[deleted user]]

It happens a lot that the selection is one I've already read. Mainly because I'm acknowledged as the most well-read member. As such, I'm more likely to have read the book that's chosen, and more likely to choose something interesting from my mental storehouse of well-remembered reads.

I'm glad it's that way. I have a voracious reading agenda, and it's always a plus when I'm self-directed.

[[deleted user]]

Kate wrote: "I know that I joined 2 very different book groups to be exposed to authors and genres I might not necessarily choose to read. This month one of my clubs has selected The Sweetness at the Bottom of..."

I like to read new books in book groups because normally the selections are those I wouldn't have chosen on my own (some I've liked, some not so much).

[Joel]

I have had very bad luck with the three books clubs I have joined so far... Poor meeting turnout, people attending who haven't finished the book and don't have anything to say, discussion wandering too far from the topic for my taste (I'm all for socializing but I want to actually talk about the book for more than 5 minutes). So it's nice when I see a group on Meetup reading something I've already read, so I can try a new group without a big time commitment.

I've learned that book groups are tricky things. One, the organizer was very controlling and had picked the next six months worth of books (all her "favorites"), only one or two of which appealed to me. I made an effort the first few months but attendance was sparse, I think because the choices weren't interesting enough to grab new people (I mean, an obscure Philip Roth book from 30 years ago is worth reading and all, but...). She ended up disbanding it after all the pre-scheduled meetings were up because of poor participation, but I think it was because the members had no say in what we read.

My current group is sci-fi focused, but again, the organizer is a little flustered and ended up canceling our last meeting and then moving it at the last minute, so turnout this month is going to be three people again.

The other issue I have is that I'm in my 20s and everyone else at all the groups I've attended has been at least 20 years older. Not necessarily a bad thing, but part of the reason I wanted to go was to meet new people in my age range. I haven't experienced the "no men" problem other groups have however.

Maybe I need to try starting my own and seeing how it goes.

[Jarrod]

Hey Joel,

I feel with you on the Age Gap thing. Like I said.. I am the youngest by almost 30 years at my meetings.

I have given some thought to starting my own as well.. but have no idea how to go about it.

Jarrod

[Mona]

Jarrod: Maybe you can start with CRAIG'S LIST. I think there's another site called MIRL.COM that might work.

[Joel]

I think meetup.com is a good bet, but it's kind of expensive for what you get. I think it's about $12 per month.

[Ann]

Check with your local bookstore and see if they will let you host a group there, and spread the word? Or, if not a bookstore, how about a local pub or coffee shop?

I think that no matter what, when you are starting a new group, it's best to have the first meeting where people come prepared to talk about 1 or 2 books they've read recently that they really like. It's more of a "salon" format, and allows for you to get to know a bit about what people like, how they talk about books, etc. From there, you can decide how to proceed.

[Linda]

Or your local library???????

[Jarrod]

I have to say.. right now.. I am getting more out of Goodreads discussions than I am out of the Library Book Club.