The most fun thing about reading books to me, is discussing them with others. What better way to savor a story than to discuss it with a friend. To share your favorite parts or how you felt during pivotal moments in the story. Whether you saw a plot twist coming, if you figured out who dunnit, or saw the big bomb coming before it got dropped. But none of my friends read Contemporary Romance, so I never get to discuss the books I love.
As a writer, I’ve brainstormed with friends about our books, helped them work out their plots, and gotten advice on mine. I used to belong to two writer’s groups. There we critiqued each other’s work. But no one in the groups wrote Contemporary Romance and none of them wrote Christian. Eventually, I joined an online Christian writer’s group and found a critique group there. Again, we all wrote Christian, but no one wrote Contemporary Romance. Still, planning and plotting with writer friends is so much fun. Across genres and writing styles, our love for the craft bonds us.
It’s often said that writing is a solitary pursuit. But reading can be too. The pure joy of reading the same book
with a friend and then discussing it eludes me. I’ve always wished I could find a book club to join. There used to be one at our local library, back when my son was young and I didn’t have time. Now that he’s grown and married, the book club no longer exists. Though I fantasize about finding a book club, I’ve never really understood how they work. Who decides what the group will read? Do book clubs read all genres? Are there book clubs, that read only one genre?
I’ve spoken at a couple of book club meetings. Both times, I hoped the members had already read my book and we could discuss it with me there. Both times, they bought my book from me and planned to read it later. I felt like we all missed out on discussing my book together. I’d love to discuss my favorite books with the author.
So tell me, does anyone here belong to or have you ever belonged to a book club? How does
yours works? Who decides what the group reads? How long does everyone have to read the book? Do the members stick to one genre or a variety? Do you ever host local authors and discuss their books with the author there? Where do you meet? How many are in your group?
If not a formal book club, do you have friends who read the same genre as you? Do you ever read the same book and then discuss it? Who decides what books to read? Do you take turns picking? Where do you meet? How many are in your group?
Answer my burning questions to enter the drawing for a print copy of Sweetheart Reunion, my two-in-one with Tina Radcliffe. U.S. and international. Deadline: Feb 17th.
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
I was on an online book club. It use to be really good but then there was a change of leaders and they choose the books in a different way. We normally had different genres each month and would choose out of a list of books released in the past few months but it would give time to buy the book and read the book. They changed it and would pick about 6 books to go for 6 months but some were not printed so it was harder to get the books to read and often books that were more expensive and there was set genre.
It use to be fun when we had time to read and discuss the book.
First, I apologize to everyone for just showing up. I should have mentioned it in my post, but my day wasn’t scheduled when I set it up. A guy I’ve known since the 9th grade ended up being a deacon in our church and an Arkansas State Senator. He invited my husband to open today’s Senate Session with prayer. It was supposed to happen last week, but we had icy weather, so it had to be rescheduled. It was really fun and interesting since they were voting on bills for our state. We got to see his office and meet a few people, then stay for the session. After we left and ate and got home, my brain was fogged over from the eventful day. And okay, I might have taken a little nap.
Hey Ausjenny, I’ve wondered how much time book clubs allow to read. Some readers are slower and have less time. So that would be a challenge. I don’t guess I ever thought about an online book club. That sounds fun. But it’s always more fun to meet with friends face to face if possible. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I tried to start one here it just didn’t work. back when I joined the online one more books were paperback than ebooks. but often they cost just too much to ship here. But I did get to join in with several discussions. they did a giveaway which again often meant it took too long to get here. I also liked they had each month set for different genres, (suspense, CCR, historical, etc which was good too)
I have daily chronic migraines so I’ve never been to any book clubs. I can’t commit to set times and reading limits. I did try online a couple times through one of my reading groups because it was the whole month for the book and at the end of the month is when we would discuss but even if you couldn’t finish or couldn’t make it there was no pressure and you could try again the next month.
I’m truly sorry, Joannie. That must be a challenge. But the book club you found sounds fun. I love no pressure memberships. I guess you can call me clueless. I had no idea they existed online. Hmmm. I’ll have to look into that.
Joannie I feel for you as I too have chronic daily migraines. And like you there are times you can read and times you are just to tired. I hope you have something that helps even a little.
Never. There were a few years ago, but it seemed more about wine and gossip than the books so I didn’t go back.
My favourite part is the reading. For me the book is the platform from which my imagination is fired.
Hope you find some answers and hopefully a CCR book club too :)
Hi Dianne, I have seen them portrayed that way on TV. I would want it to be about the book too. Yes, books bring the story to life through the imagination. I like movies, but the book is always better.
Hi Shannon, so much of what you say really resonates with me! I don’t have any friends who read contemporary romance, or Christian romance and I’d love to be able to chat about books.
I’ve never been part of a face to face book club but I joined one set up on Amazon by the author Jenna Hendricks, it’s for clean independent romance books and we’ve read some good choices so far, this month it’s Jenna Brandt’s new romcom. Unfortunately there aren’t that many people on the group who comment so there’s still not much chat about books, but it’s nice to read along with others.
One of the reasons I enjoy this blog is it feels like a chance to chat to people who enjoy the books I do!
Hi Ruthie, most of my friends and family don’t even read. Period. It’s a sad. I can’t imagine not reading. My mom is an avid reader, but she likes suspense.
I might check into the Jenna’s bookclub. It sounds enjoyable. Thanks for mentioning it.
Me too, on this blog. This is the first group CCR blog I encountered and I’ve really enjoyed being here.
I was never in a book club. But after I read my books, I give them to my sister. She reads them and then we discuss them.
That sounds fun, Anita. I have an aunt who loves my books. I’m not sure what else she reads. Maybe I’ll check with her and we could do that. Thanks for the idea.
I’ve never been in a book club. To be honest, it really doesn’t sound that appealing to me. I have talked with a couple of authors about their books, though! I do find that fun! I have a couple of friends who are in a book club, and they take turns picking out books to read, but they don’t limit their books to CF, or even to fiction. They try to find books that libraries will have plenty of copies of so that they don’t have to buy the books. Someone at church told me I should start a book club. If I was really enthusiastic about discussing books, I might try to find the time, though adding another book to a specific time frame would be a tad hard to do sometimes, with the ones I’m already proofing/editing!
Hey Trudy, my cousin used to live in St Louis and her husband headed up a program at the library where he found authors to come and talk to the bookclub after they read the author’s book. I’d love to do that and he planned to line me up.
But then they ended up moving here, so it never happened. I have heard of several churches having book clubs, but none in my area.
I’d have to join a no pressure bookclub since there would be months I wouldn’t have time to read.
No never been in a book club I have an aunt that reads Same genre as me so when I’m done I sent her them but we don’t discuss the books. I really like love inspired and harlequin heartwarming books .
Hey Kendra, I always see discussion questions in the back of longer length books, so I’m wanting to know who discusses them. But I’m glad you share your love of reading with your aunt. Those are both good clean reads.
I have never been in a book club, but I do have a friend that I discuss books with that we read.
I need to find a reader friend, Patricia. Both of my friends, outside of church or writing, only read my books. I appreciate them reading mine, but they don’t have any interest in reading other books. Pretty much the same story with my church friends.
I’ve never been in a real book club…but my best friend and I have read and recommended a lot of the same books. One time I was about to order a book, but before I could, it went out of stock. Then my bestie texted about how great a book was that she had just read. It was the book that I tried to order! ☺
I’ve never gone to a book club in person, but I’m in an online one. The people that run it post a list of each month’s chosen book so we can decide if we want to read it or not. Then once a month we get together online to discuss the book. I don’t always join in but when I do it’s quite fun discussing what you liked about it, and seeing other opinions too.
That sounds fun, Megan. I might hit you up to find that group.
Hey Marti, having a reader friend that in sync must be awesome. I bet y’all have lots of fun.
I don’t belong to a book club, but I have family members that read the same books. We certainly discuss.
How fun that must be, Mary. I’m envious.
I belong to an online book club. The author who has the group and Facebook page decides on the book. We have a book a month. She interviews the author. We submit questions we would like her to answer. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Debra, what’s the name of the group? I’d be interested in that.
I’m in a book club with a bunch of ladies from my congregation. We’ve grown to about 12-15 of us each month. We pick the books at the end of one year for the next, and assign a book for each month. We read across multiple genres because all of us have favorites. This expands our minds and makes for very interesting discussions. We do try to do at least one classic book each year as well as one non-fiction. And we try to do a “spookier” one around Halloween and a Christmas one for December. We’re on our third or fourth year now and I’m loving it. You’re right. There’s much to be gained from discussing what you read with others.
I also have friends who post each month what books they read and which were their favorites. I’ve picked up a few of my own favorites that way, and tend to share others with them if I know they’ll like them too. And being on Goodreads, it’s sort of like a book club because you can see what your friends on there read and if they liked it or not. :)
Well Amy, I wish we lived closer. I’d love that group. None of my friend are on Goodreads, except for author friends, so I can see what they’ve read. And I’ve tried new authors that way.
I don’t belong to a book club and never have been in one. I don’t really like group situations very much. I am also a slow reader and prefer to choose what I want to read, not follow the crowd. I will, however, take recommendations and discuss a book with close friends.
I’d probably only be able to participate once a quarter myself, Linda. With reading what I want, writing, and editing, plus my family and church, I wouldn’t have a lot of time for a group. But I would enjoy it.
not in one
Me either, bn. But I’m looking.
A group of my friends and I all read the books then we get a group chat on FB to discuss the book
That sounds fun, Shelia. Maybe I can look into that. Thanks for the idea.
I have never been in a book club. When I finish my books I either pass them on to friends or co-workers!
Hey Teresa, that could work. Then after everyone has read the book, y’all could discuss it.