Reading Group

[maggiebee]

Thought about joining a reading group recently, but when I saw the reading list - War & Peace etc. I decided it wasn't for me - way too high brow? Today I received an e-mail from the group leader about putting up a poster (an attachment) to attract more members:

"Each group could do with another couple of members each so please do try to pin up one or two each and that will help avoid recent low numbers that all groups seem to be suffering from.

Choose your locations carefully though: museums, art galleries, nice cafes, etc, places of culture and reflection, not Asda or the Bus Station!!!"

Need I say more - know where I'd like to stick his poster!

[EvianBaby]

Maggie print a whole load off and go and stick them up in all the nearest fast food restaurants.

Also court houses are places of culture and reflection :)

[sunny-dave]

What a pompous twerp (him not you) ;)

If you want to join a reading group then I'm a member of an online one - and we don't read War & Peace - this month it's Erin Morgenstern "The Night Circus".

[rockyracoon]

I'm going to my first ever book club meeting tomorrow night, jeez, if it's like that I'm out the oor.

[maggiebee]

Good idea Evian - going to do just that.

sunny-dave, could you let me have details. Just had a look at "The Night Circus" on Amazon and it sounds like my type of book.

[giveup]

We've got one like that near here. Pretentious or what? Sunny-dave, have you any more details on the on-line group.

[Infomaniac]

Why not set up your own group? Mine comprises only six people and we make it a social occasion. Whoever chooses the book (we take it in turns) hosts the lunch. We meet at 12.00 and have lunch at 1.00. I've read books I wouldn't otherwise have chosen, and although you can't like everything, it is very enjoyable.

[sunny-dave]

http://forum.thebookp...showthread.php?t=1741

Very friendly, not just books, not just internet - lots of chat and also optional 'real world' get togethers two or three times a year.

[B00]

Dont understand the problem?

I wouldn't like to hold a meeting (or whatever you call them) in Asda or the bus station either.

Am I missing something?

[sunny-dave]

I think the point was that he was trying to recruit new members & didn't want any advertising where 'riff raff' might see it ;)

[B00]

ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I see!

Geddit now SD, I thought that the meetings were to be held in museums etc, not where the fliers would be posted.

But seriously, what Neandertholic (that a word? It should be!) riffraff would go to a book club anyway? Most can't string two words together, never mind read them!

[joggerjayne]

I think book club meetings should take place in pubs.

Only because you are then visible, and might attract new members.

[Mosaic]

Maggie, I've come across this in other groups - suffering from falling numbers (frankly, people dying off and average age 400+) - they say they want to raise numbers of people attending, but they want it all to be *on their own terms* ie they want the group to be viable but never, ever to change or to adapt to people who aren't - well - clones of them.
I think this is why most of these groups have a finite lifespan. The good ones adapt and change over time, and so survive.

[jno]

is the idea that reading group types don't go by bus? That sounds a bit odd

[joggerjayne]

I'm sure there have have been some literary giants who used to travel by bus.

George Orwell, maybe?

Okay, that's just a guess.

[sunny-dave]

I usually get the chauffeur to take me in the Rolls ...

[joggerjayne]

Actually, if you were a keen reader, you'd be better on the bus than driving.

I only read at traffic lights.

And I sometimes look at the crossword in really slow traffic.

[sunny-dave]

Yeah - the pages keep blowing over when the bike is moving ;)