Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
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to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.
What to Do
1.) Post on your blog answering this week's
question:
Do any of your book club members
have a blog? Do you compare
notes if they do?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)
2.) Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Billy's blog.
3.) Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts.
4.) Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit
Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!
My Answer
Well, this one should be short and sweet, lol.
I would love to belong to a book club, but just don't. I would need to make some time for this. Actually, I do belong to several clubs on Goodreads, but never participate.... I feel so bad about that, too, because I keep receiving emails from them with their current book-of-the-month selections, and I never join in with the books they read. So technically, I'm not really a member.
On my other book blog, MindSpirit Book Journeys, I have posted the button for The Classics Club in my sidebar, but again, I have not participated as yet....I want to, and will try to do so in the near future. Meanwhile, the button is there, for any visitors to click on and check out the club.
Having said all of the above (hmmm....not so short and sweet), I have to now add that I do discuss books with other book lovers, through my blog and theirs. I just don't do that with members of a book club.
One thing about book clubs: I think they're much more fun in person than online. Maybe that's why I haven't joined in with any discussions in my Goodreads groups. I just really wish I could join a book club where I could sit down and participate in group discussions....it would be SO much cozier! We could all share snacks afterward. We could even have trivia contests for favorite books. Oh, it would be SO much fun! Alas..... I don't know of any such clubs in my area....I think I need to do some Googling. There HAS to be at least ONE such group in Miami! But my suspicion is that there isn't. On the other hand, I really MUST stop being so negative, and get going with good ol' Google! Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised!
I would love to belong to a book club, but just don't. I would need to make some time for this. Actually, I do belong to several clubs on Goodreads, but never participate.... I feel so bad about that, too, because I keep receiving emails from them with their current book-of-the-month selections, and I never join in with the books they read. So technically, I'm not really a member.
On my other book blog, MindSpirit Book Journeys, I have posted the button for The Classics Club in my sidebar, but again, I have not participated as yet....I want to, and will try to do so in the near future. Meanwhile, the button is there, for any visitors to click on and check out the club.
Having said all of the above (hmmm....not so short and sweet), I have to now add that I do discuss books with other book lovers, through my blog and theirs. I just don't do that with members of a book club.
One thing about book clubs: I think they're much more fun in person than online. Maybe that's why I haven't joined in with any discussions in my Goodreads groups. I just really wish I could join a book club where I could sit down and participate in group discussions....it would be SO much cozier! We could all share snacks afterward. We could even have trivia contests for favorite books. Oh, it would be SO much fun! Alas..... I don't know of any such clubs in my area....I think I need to do some Googling. There HAS to be at least ONE such group in Miami! But my suspicion is that there isn't. On the other hand, I really MUST stop being so negative, and get going with good ol' Google! Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised!
What are your thoughts on
this topic?
Please leave a comment,
and I'll go check out your post!
I have similar sentiments about book clubs, I wish that there was more time. You raise a good point, the entire book blogging world is a partial substitute for this. I allows us to discuss books with others. I think that we have both reflected this was one of our reasons for starting a blog.
ReplyDeleteRead make things even more interesting, Of course, as you know they take work. There is always the issue of lots of people initially participating and then people out too. I have never participated in a face to face book club, but I would think that this is a problem there also.
Hey, Brian!
DeleteYes, book blogging is a way of discussing books similar to book clubs.
"No man is an island", stated John Donne, and it's so true! We love to share opinions with our fellow human beings. That's why I feel a bit sad when I see that one of my posts has no comments.... Interacting with other bloggers is a HUGE part of the enjoyment we bloggers get from our hobby. Whether we blog about books, or something else, exchanging opinions with others of like mind is very important.
I do still wish I could participate in an actual book club, in person....I just think it would be more fun to actually talk with people about our favorite topic!
It's sad when people -- whether online or in person -- stop participating. Of course, this also happens with blogs. I'm still feeling sad about, and missing, the blog FIVE ALARM BOOK REVIEWS. As you know, the blogger in question, Steph, passed her "Shelf Candy Saturday" meme on to me. I really miss her posts!! She always had great ones. And, for her SCS posts, she planned ahead of time, contacting publishers in order to get information about the cover artists she featured on the meme.
In the nearly six years (gosh, times does fly!) I've been blogging, I've seen many excellent blogs come and go. I guess that's just the nature of blogging.... Life gets in the way.
I'm going to do some Googling to see if I can find an in-person book club in my area. I'd love to go on Saturdays, for instance.
Thanks for the GREAT comment!! :)
I am in a Book Club with wine and good food and amazing friends. Oh and books. But I am the only blogger. I also belong to a few groups on Goodreads and a few members there have blogs. I especially enjoy the South African Book Lovers group. We chat a lot and it feels "close to home". Here's my Friday Meets: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2016/08/friday-meets-12-august-2016.html
ReplyDeleteHi, Mareli!
DeleteYou're in an actual, in-person, book club? You LUCKY girl!! It sounds GREAT, with wine and food indluced!! It's too bad you're the only book blogger there, but hey, talking to actual people about books is a HUGE plus!! I am SO jealous! Lol.
I need to do something about my Gooodreads groups. I think I might cancel all of them except one, and then make an effort to participate in that one.
So you belong to the South African Book Lovers group? Is that where you live, South Africa? WOW. Fascinating! I wonder what genres you guys read. I might go take a look, although I won't become a member. I'm a whole ocean away, in the U.S.! Lol. Even though it's online, I wouldn't have anything in common with people there, I think.
Thanks for the nice comment!! :)
I haven't had the best luck with book clubs. I've joined a few but they were all connected through a Mom's Group and were more about a night out than the book except for one that formed because the members wanted to show how literary and intellectual they were. That one was exhausting and the other was lots of fun but not very bookish. I haven't done much participating in Goodreads book clubs either. I think I prefer the idea of a face to face.
ReplyDeleteHi, Katherine!
DeleteYou know, you mention two possible problems with book clubs that I hadn't thought of.
it's too bad when a group that supposedly meets to discuss books turns into more of a social gathering. Of course, book clubs are also social gatherings, by their very nature, but the focus is supposed to be on books, not on whether so-and-so's kids are enjoying summer camp, or whether Aunt Martha is going to marry her fifth husband. Lol.
As for clubs in which members vie with each other to show how "literary and intellectual" they are, that soon becomes VERY boring and pretentious. Book clubs are not supposed to be ego trips, but an egalitarian exchange of ideas. Unfortunately, this would be in an ideal world, I guess....
Maybe I'm better off not trying to find an in-person book club.....lol. I'll stick to my blogging, and maybe try to get involved in a Goodreads group. But even there, you can have tempers flaring, and even putdowns. Oh, well....
Thanks for the great comment!! :)
I also wanted to join a book club in real life, but I could never find any book clubs in real life. But hopefully I will soon! Here’s my Book Blogger Hop!
ReplyDeleteHi, Ronyell!
DeleteYeah, they don't seem to be that common....I hope you do get to join one at some point in the near future!
Thanks for the visit and the comment!! :)
I was part of an in-person book group for a short while, but it didn't work out schedule wise. It was a rather large group as it was, with rotating members, which was also kind of off-putting. It was hard to get to know anyone that way.
ReplyDeleteThe local independent bookstore has a number of book groups that meet throughout the week, which I would love to attend, but unfortunately, they are not at a time I can attend. Either work or my family make it impossible.
I have had good luck with online book groups for the most part. I am not as active in them as I used to be, but I have made some good friends through them. We sometimes talk more about life than books these days, to be honest. And then there is my postal mail group, which I just love. We are all book bloggers and literally we do compare notes since a notebook travels with each book we send along to each other along with our notes about each book we read.
As for Goodreads groups, I feel for you there. I haven't had much luck with them. I don't like the way they are set up. Their group notifications are lacking. I much prefer the yahoo groups. They are easier to follow and keep up with. At least for me.
I hope you have a great week, Maria!
Hi, Wendy!
DeleteI agree that having a book club in which the members are constantly rotating is, indeed, rather disappointing. But I guess that's because of everybody's personal schedule. Life can get hectic sometimes. Still, this doesn't make for much of a friendly atmosphere.
I've researched book clubs here in Miami, and, to my surprise, actually discovered that they do exist! Unfortunately, none of them are close to me, and most meet during the week, which is bad for me, as I work afternoons and nights.... Besides, I've also discovered that none of these groups read YA, paranormal romance, science fiction, or urban fantasy. They exclusively read literary fiction. That would be okay, except that the types of literary fiction they read are not interesting to me, lol.
Maybe I should start being active in my Goodreads groups.
That postal book club sounds GREAT!! This is a very unique concept, having a book travel around from one person to another, with a journal included! Sounds AWESOME, and must be very heartwarming!
Hope you have a great week, too!! And this is my last week of vacation..... :(
Thanks for the WONDERFUL comment!! :)
I am in the same position as you. But I also discuss books with people I work with. Unfortunately they don't like the same genres as I do.
ReplyDeleteVisit my blog for more reviews: Sportochick's Musings
Hi, Teri!
DeleteYeah, it's not easy to find people around you who like the same books you do. Someone at work recently gave me a copy of a Ken Follett novel they had already read, and no longer wanted. I would like to read it, as I'm very curious about his work.
Thanks for visiting and commenting!! :)