Is there any interest out there in a monthly book club here on Hollywood Flakes? I need to get motivated to start reading again and would love any suggestions/ideas.
Hi. I'm a lurker, but wanted to make a comment about the book club idea.
We stared a book club that we did as a message board. It worked well when there were people who helped channel the discussion, and it worked well for books that people really wanted to read. Our biggest discussions always centered around Harry Potter and it seemed that many people didn't want to read any *ahem* REAL literature. (I love Harry Potter, but there is some seriously good classic literature out there too!)
One thing that was important to us when we started our book club was determining in advance any content restrictions we wanted to place on the books we were going to read as part of the club. Then when people suggested a book, we could evaluate it against the pre-determined standards to see if it passed. Then it wasn't a book-by-book "oh, I don't think it is good enough" type decision.
Anyway, good luck with your club. I hope it is successful for you.
I don't really have any suggestions / tips, but I'd be interested in joining if you started a bookclub. I read like it's going out of style, so I think I'd fit in pretty well ;)
I love to read also, but I am pretty picky about content. I don't want to read any bosom heaving romance novels or anything sleazy...so I guess it would depend for me on what we were going to read.
As far as book ideas, I'd want to stick more to newer stuff that most people haven't read. My main complaint about book clubs is that I've already read the books because they came out 10 years ago or that the books are too "fluffy." Certainly no "bosom heaving romance novels" would make the cut, Heffalump!
We could possibly all nominate books and post links to reviews then at the beginning of each month take a vote to see which one we want to read. There is no pleasing everyone of course, but if we could get 10+ people each month reading the same thing I think that would be sufficient enough to have a good discussion during the last week of the month.
Let's keep brainstorming though to get a good format to make this work.
I'm (for sure) with "the content restrictions" type decision that inexperienced dad suggested.
Three simple rules for me: No anything explicit. New stuff is good. And if there's nothing interesting out there (that follows suit with my first two No, thanks! rules) I'll still love to read the classics. Whatever you (Sarah) called classics. :)
Glittersmama, you crack me up! It sounds like you need a change of pace from your regular romance reading.
Erica, it looks like we're generating some interest here, now I'm just trying to figure out the how. Inexperienced Dad gave me some good ideas to mull over.
I'd join. I already do a book club "in person" but most months I have time for another book in between. Plus, my book club is a little more on the fluff side since we're all busy Moms. So, I could use a little substance.
I'm always intersested in reading a fiction (and I generally wander towards the juvenile fiction section...) It sounds like fun!
Anonymous said…
I'm usually just a lurker, but would love to be in an on-line book club. I sometimes find my real life book club less than fulfilling. If you're looking for a book selection, a few months ago I read "These is my words" and LOVED it. I don't know if it's new enough or what you're looking to read, but it's one of my new favorites.
The book club I was going to went defunct because no one could agree on what book to read next. So on online book group would be fun.
And if there is to be no explicit material, then might I suggest we steer clear of Wally Lamb's writing? Makes me gag...just a little.
Anonymous said…
Sounds like a great idea. I might not participate every month, but I love to read!
I just recently read I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing up in the Holocaust by Livia Bitton-Jackson. A little reminescent of Corrie Ten Boom, but shorter...
I am in the middle of Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate. As an "underline" reader, if this was my own copy, I'd be reading with red pen in hand. Very thought-provoking.
I'd love to read what you have to say about books. As for reading them? Eh. It depends on the whens and whats.
I pulled up my "things to read after I graduate list," and found the following (somewhat random) suggestions ;)
* Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
* Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte (Author)
* Hiccup The Seasick Viking by Cressida Cowell
* Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country by Patricia C. Wrede amd Caroline Stevermer
Oh. And if you want a suggestion of something I've actually read before, "The Namesake," by Jhumpa Lahiri is a very book club-like read as is "Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister" by Gregory Maguire.
Can I join the book club,too? Maybe we could take turns suggesting a book or just all suggest books we'd like to read. I have a list of books to read that I haven't read yet that were recommended to me, including (but not limited to):
My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber
A Town Like Alice by Shute
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks
Carry On, Jeeves P.G. Wodehouse
1066: The Year of the Conquest by David Howarth
I know very little about any of them, so I refuse any responsibility for heaving bosoms which may be contained therein.
Anonymous said…
I must say I am really nervous to leave a comment! I felt this way when I left one on DaringYoungMom!! It's like you guys are celebraties, and I am a silly fan. Oh well, count me in. I always have to have a book going. Whenever I ask for suggestions at the library I tell them I can't read about war, nothing to "romancy", and no sci-fi.
Melissa, you're too cute. We're about the farthest thing from celebrites that you can get but we just pretend to be hot stuff. I really love it when ANYONE comments, I promise I don't rank them on level of coolness!
Thanks for all the good book suggestions you guys! I haven't heard of any of them but will check them out and try and narrow it down to a few. I'm going to start a book club website/discussion board in the next few days to accomodate a good monthly discussion. It will take me a few days to create it since I've never had my own domain before but it looks like we'll have a pretty good group once it's up and running.
I'll let you guys know when it's up and where to go. I'm thinking sarahflake.com with a bookclub section (someone already has hollywoodflakes.com and won't let me buy it.)
Thanks again for all the great ideas! Please feel free to drop a few more.
Anonymous said…
Here's a great book to read: "Suite Française," by Irene Nemirovsky. An amazing read. I've referred to it on my own website. For an idea of what it is, click here. I'm already in a great HPHS book clubk with Mr. D., your old English teacher presiding in benign majesty over the proceedings. Half the joy of literature is in the sharing and discussing. The other half in the reading itself, so I applaud your plan to form an online club and discussion group. Good luck!
Anonymous said…
Another tremendous and intellectual read, as well as a spellbinding story, is the Letters of Heloise and Abelard. Trust me on this one.
Anonymous said…
Oh, here's a spectacular book, The Memoirs of Vigee LeBrun, about the daughter of the court painter Charles LeBrun during the time of the French Revolution. She gives personal witness to what she experienced at court, often contrasting with the sensational accusations leveled by the french anti-monarchy propagandists as represented in the recent movie based on ANOTHER excellent book, Marie Antoinette, by Antonia Fraser. I love Sophia Coppola's movie based on that book, as she is showing the popular conception of M.A., which spiraled way beyond the truth about this complicated and fascinating woman of her times. Anyway, you get another view, an eyewitness view, of some of those characters, like Madame DuBarry, which is polar opposite of the representation in the movie. Only about a hundred pages, this is a short read but absolutely spellbinding!
Comments
We stared a book club that we did as a message board. It worked well when there were people who helped channel the discussion, and it worked well for books that people really wanted to read. Our biggest discussions always centered around Harry Potter and it seemed that many people didn't want to read any *ahem* REAL literature. (I love Harry Potter, but there is some seriously good classic literature out there too!)
One thing that was important to us when we started our book club was determining in advance any content restrictions we wanted to place on the books we were going to read as part of the club. Then when people suggested a book, we could evaluate it against the pre-determined standards to see if it passed. Then it wasn't a book-by-book "oh, I don't think it is good enough" type decision.
Anyway, good luck with your club. I hope it is successful for you.
We could possibly all nominate books and post links to reviews then at the beginning of each month take a vote to see which one we want to read. There is no pleasing everyone of course, but if we could get 10+ people each month reading the same thing I think that would be sufficient enough to have a good discussion during the last week of the month.
Let's keep brainstorming though to get a good format to make this work.
I'm (for sure) with "the content restrictions" type decision that inexperienced dad suggested.
Three simple rules for me: No anything explicit. New stuff is good. And if there's nothing interesting out there (that follows suit with my first two No, thanks! rules) I'll still love to read the classics. Whatever you (Sarah) called classics. :)
Someone, anyone, please turn the thermostat down!!!
Erica, it looks like we're generating some interest here, now I'm just trying to figure out the how. Inexperienced Dad gave me some good ideas to mull over.
If you're looking for a book selection, a few months ago I read "These is my words" and LOVED it. I don't know if it's new enough or what you're looking to read, but it's one of my new favorites.
I've read These is My Words. I don't want to read it again. So there's my suggestion. Don't start with that one.
And if there is to be no explicit material, then might I suggest we steer clear of Wally Lamb's writing? Makes me gag...just a little.
I just recently read I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing up in the Holocaust by Livia Bitton-Jackson. A little reminescent of Corrie Ten Boom, but shorter...
I am in the middle of Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate. As an "underline" reader, if this was my own copy, I'd be reading with red pen in hand. Very thought-provoking.
Set up some parameters, and let's read!
I pulled up my "things to read after I graduate list," and found the following (somewhat random) suggestions ;)
* Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
* Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte (Author)
* Hiccup The Seasick Viking by Cressida Cowell
* Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country by Patricia C. Wrede amd Caroline Stevermer
* Austenland: A Novel by Shannon Hale
My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber
A Town Like Alice by Shute
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks
Carry On, Jeeves P.G. Wodehouse
1066: The Year of the Conquest by David Howarth
I know very little about any of them, so I refuse any responsibility for heaving bosoms which may be contained therein.
Whenever I ask for suggestions at the library I tell them I can't read about war, nothing to "romancy", and no sci-fi.
Thanks for all the good book suggestions you guys! I haven't heard of any of them but will check them out and try and narrow it down to a few. I'm going to start a book club website/discussion board in the next few days to accomodate a good monthly discussion. It will take me a few days to create it since I've never had my own domain before but it looks like we'll have a pretty good group once it's up and running.
I'll let you guys know when it's up and where to go. I'm thinking sarahflake.com with a bookclub section (someone already has hollywoodflakes.com and won't let me buy it.)
Thanks again for all the great ideas! Please feel free to drop a few more.
THEhollywoodflakes.com????
I just started "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards and can't put it down (except, of course, to read blogs.)
http://bookclub.phpbb3now.com/index.php