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!
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".
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.
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!
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.