My husband and I are trying to read through the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer together. We always attempt to read something together so we can discuss our thoughts on it and spend time with each other. We are also doing a big Christmas gift of 'A year of Reading' where we each pick one book for a month for all 12 months that we have read, wrap them up, and give them to the other. We have one month to read the book and once we finish, we sit down and discuss the book.I can't wait to do this project with him! I'm also in a book club where we meet every month and discuss a book that is within the theme we have for the year.
My husband found the idea while scrolling on Facebook. He thought it would be a great gift to give each other since we got back into our love of reading.
I’m not in a book club at the moment because I have yet to find a book club where their book of the moment coincides with the books I want to read in the coming weeks or months 😂 I am looking forward to Simon Haisell hosting Things Fall Apart though by 2025 so I think I will be ready by then.
I subscribe to Elizabeth Marro's Soark Substack which is a sort of book club and always has great book recs. And I'm a member of the Bookish Road Trip (FB) Book Club that meets online. Coming up this Wednesday at 3:30 PST. We always get an online author talk and the book picks are awesome--last one was Happiness Falls by Angie Kim. I'm also in a writing group and we often share books, too. I love talking about books!
I'm lucky enough to have known her before. In fact, hers was my very first newsletter that I followed on Substack. Her novel Casualties is quite brilliant and I think also quite important.
I do like to read books recommended by people on some of the forums I frequent and the like, because it is really nice to be able to share in the discourse over these ideas. (Thanks for creating this space where we can talk about books!) I've never actually been in a book club though. I probably miss out on some great discussions I could otherwise be having in person. I've occasionally had shared reads with a few other friends. Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" was memorable in that respect.
The library I work at used to have a program called "on the same page" where they would promote a book, generally one popular on the national level, to encourage community discussion. I always kind of balked at this because I think in many ways we should be "on a different page." Perhaps its just being a contrarian, and not wanting to read whatever is the book of the moment. I'd rather encourage people go into the stacks and find a book that is mostly forgotten and read that. (I keep a list of underread books to read.) At the same time I can't help but recommend books. The drive to share is huge, as you can see from my posts on your substack.
So my recommendation for the day is "In the Vineyard of the Text" by Ivan Illich. It's a commentary on the Didascalion, a kind of training manual and encyclopedia of theological learning, by Hugh of St. Victor and traces the way reading transformed from reading aloud in monastic communities to the silent internal reading we take for granted today.
Happy reading, alone or with others, and cheers to all!
Three. One on line monthly: popular fiction only within 3 years very diverse group of 15 women age range 20-78 we vote on which books to read for the year.. One in person monthly (12 people, each take turns leading discussion and each person recommends one book), recent publication available in audio, kindle, in print all sorts under 400 pages. Another on-line reading 5 new-ish novels and/or collections of short stories: meets every other week in the winter months of December- January; small (6), intimate group from all over the world. Facilitated by an editor based in Europe who has chosen the collection we will read, European authors in translation. Love being in each one, Glad to have reading in community. Thank you Zoom.
I don't belong to an IRL book club, but I participate in quite a few group reads here on Substack. I like them because the Substack author/leader has already chosen a book he or she wants to explore, so they are already speaking from a place of enthusiasm for the book and from a willingness to dive deeper.
I belong to two online book clubs, one of which I created and that has been around for almost 10 years. It started as a group to read through the Rory Gilmore reading List (from Gilmore Girls), but then evolved to reading contemporary literature (leaning towards literary fiction). We also aim to have at least six diverse reads per year. The second one started during the pandemic, and focuses exclusively on Caribbean Literature (I'm from the Caribbean). I am also part of a book review TV show that also focuses on Caribbean literature and is broadcast in St. Vincent, and streamed on YouTube.
I'll be honest: my book club is more of a social club. Sure, we agree upon a book and we have a pretty good track record of everyone finishing or being close to finishing when we meet but we'll only talk about the book for 15 or so minutes and then we catch up on each other's lives. We've been meeting for just over 6 years though so it works for our group :)
Our book club has also been going for about six years and we tend to spend at least an hour chatting about the book itself.. I know our group is perhaps unique though!
Not in a book group. But my recently published short novel The Wiccan Tales was selected by local book group for this month's reading. I'll be at their meeting in mid-October to find out how they liked it. Doing my best to stay calm!
I’m reading, for the second time, The Divine Comedy as part of the 100 Days of Dante. I love the Ciardi translation that I’m using and the lectures on each Canto. This is on YouTube.
My wife and I recently visited Highland (James Monroe house in VA; adjacent to Monticello and much less famous). We met an older woman who had visited all but three of the Presidential libraries. On the flight home, we decided to read a book about each president and then visit their library. It will take a long time...
Also, partly based on being part of The Big Read, I decided to try out a read-along on my Substack. Since I write national security thrillers, we plan to read old-school thrillers that we grew up reading. The first book is The Hunt for Red October and we'll start next month. The book has a personal connection for me bc I met Tom Clancy when I was a plebe (freshman) at the Naval Academy and he was still selling insurance in Maryland. I served in submarines for 6 years after graduation. Should be fun.
In a way, you inspired it by mentioning the Caro series on LBJ. BTW, in response to your note last week (?) re reading The Power Broker, I say, yes, add it to the list.
Just moved to a new state and city this summer and finding a tribe of readers was a priority for me in retirement. I found two! My library has a club that reads by theme and offers a suggested reading list of six titles each month -- we've done mouse books, Southern Gothic, medieval fiction, etc. Always interesting to hear about what others have read and there's trivia! The other club is sponsored by a little independent bookstore and we all read the same book, usually literary fiction. It's a small group in a cozy space like meeting in someone's living room. I'm also buddy reading long distance three books with three friends. Good thing I am retired with all this reading going on!
I was in an official family book club when I lived at parents, where one book would get recommended by my aunt and then everyone would have read it within a week and talk about the following week. Since that one been looking out for a new one, and eventually started a solo one (see my newsletter!), the closet I get is probably commenting when other talk about a book I have read.
I am not in a book club at the moment, but I tend to buddy read. My husband and I have worked our way through all of NK Jemisin together and many other large fantasy or sci-fi titles. My best friend, who lives out of state, and I recently decided to buddy read Gender Queer together. Can't wait to see what we both think!
My husband and I are trying to read through the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer together. We always attempt to read something together so we can discuss our thoughts on it and spend time with each other. We are also doing a big Christmas gift of 'A year of Reading' where we each pick one book for a month for all 12 months that we have read, wrap them up, and give them to the other. We have one month to read the book and once we finish, we sit down and discuss the book.I can't wait to do this project with him! I'm also in a book club where we meet every month and discuss a book that is within the theme we have for the year.
What a fun idea for a gift. :)
My husband found the idea while scrolling on Facebook. He thought it would be a great gift to give each other since we got back into our love of reading.
I’m not in a book club at the moment because I have yet to find a book club where their book of the moment coincides with the books I want to read in the coming weeks or months 😂 I am looking forward to Simon Haisell hosting Things Fall Apart though by 2025 so I think I will be ready by then.
Simon does great stuff!
Thanks Jam!
I subscribe to Elizabeth Marro's Soark Substack which is a sort of book club and always has great book recs. And I'm a member of the Bookish Road Trip (FB) Book Club that meets online. Coming up this Wednesday at 3:30 PST. We always get an online author talk and the book picks are awesome--last one was Happiness Falls by Angie Kim. I'm also in a writing group and we often share books, too. I love talking about books!
Elizabeth is great! I love her newsletter too.
I'm lucky enough to have known her before. In fact, hers was my very first newsletter that I followed on Substack. Her novel Casualties is quite brilliant and I think also quite important.
I do like to read books recommended by people on some of the forums I frequent and the like, because it is really nice to be able to share in the discourse over these ideas. (Thanks for creating this space where we can talk about books!) I've never actually been in a book club though. I probably miss out on some great discussions I could otherwise be having in person. I've occasionally had shared reads with a few other friends. Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" was memorable in that respect.
The library I work at used to have a program called "on the same page" where they would promote a book, generally one popular on the national level, to encourage community discussion. I always kind of balked at this because I think in many ways we should be "on a different page." Perhaps its just being a contrarian, and not wanting to read whatever is the book of the moment. I'd rather encourage people go into the stacks and find a book that is mostly forgotten and read that. (I keep a list of underread books to read.) At the same time I can't help but recommend books. The drive to share is huge, as you can see from my posts on your substack.
So my recommendation for the day is "In the Vineyard of the Text" by Ivan Illich. It's a commentary on the Didascalion, a kind of training manual and encyclopedia of theological learning, by Hugh of St. Victor and traces the way reading transformed from reading aloud in monastic communities to the silent internal reading we take for granted today.
Happy reading, alone or with others, and cheers to all!
Thanks for sharing all this!
I joined three book groups at different times and regretted each and every one. They are not for everybody.
Oh bummer! Sorry to hear that, Denise.
Three. One on line monthly: popular fiction only within 3 years very diverse group of 15 women age range 20-78 we vote on which books to read for the year.. One in person monthly (12 people, each take turns leading discussion and each person recommends one book), recent publication available in audio, kindle, in print all sorts under 400 pages. Another on-line reading 5 new-ish novels and/or collections of short stories: meets every other week in the winter months of December- January; small (6), intimate group from all over the world. Facilitated by an editor based in Europe who has chosen the collection we will read, European authors in translation. Love being in each one, Glad to have reading in community. Thank you Zoom.
How fun, thanks for sharing!
I don't belong to an IRL book club, but I participate in quite a few group reads here on Substack. I like them because the Substack author/leader has already chosen a book he or she wants to explore, so they are already speaking from a place of enthusiasm for the book and from a willingness to dive deeper.
There's an abundance of reading groups on Substack — it's great!
I belong to two online book clubs, one of which I created and that has been around for almost 10 years. It started as a group to read through the Rory Gilmore reading List (from Gilmore Girls), but then evolved to reading contemporary literature (leaning towards literary fiction). We also aim to have at least six diverse reads per year. The second one started during the pandemic, and focuses exclusively on Caribbean Literature (I'm from the Caribbean). I am also part of a book review TV show that also focuses on Caribbean literature and is broadcast in St. Vincent, and streamed on YouTube.
What a great routine you're in! Thanks for sharing.
My TBR is growing by the minute. I have found that buddy reads, book clubs slows me down from my list. With that said, I do enjoy discussing books.😫
Lol I hear ya!
I'll be honest: my book club is more of a social club. Sure, we agree upon a book and we have a pretty good track record of everyone finishing or being close to finishing when we meet but we'll only talk about the book for 15 or so minutes and then we catch up on each other's lives. We've been meeting for just over 6 years though so it works for our group :)
Our book club has also been going for about six years and we tend to spend at least an hour chatting about the book itself.. I know our group is perhaps unique though!
Not in a book group. But my recently published short novel The Wiccan Tales was selected by local book group for this month's reading. I'll be at their meeting in mid-October to find out how they liked it. Doing my best to stay calm!
Ah cool! I imagine that's a bit harrowing, though, mentally!
Yeah, I’m trying to stay focused on other things and doing my best to refrain from biting my nails.
I’m reading, for the second time, The Divine Comedy as part of the 100 Days of Dante. I love the Ciardi translation that I’m using and the lectures on each Canto. This is on YouTube.
Oh cool, what a great idea.
My wife and I recently visited Highland (James Monroe house in VA; adjacent to Monticello and much less famous). We met an older woman who had visited all but three of the Presidential libraries. On the flight home, we decided to read a book about each president and then visit their library. It will take a long time...
Also, partly based on being part of The Big Read, I decided to try out a read-along on my Substack. Since I write national security thrillers, we plan to read old-school thrillers that we grew up reading. The first book is The Hunt for Red October and we'll start next month. The book has a personal connection for me bc I met Tom Clancy when I was a plebe (freshman) at the Naval Academy and he was still selling insurance in Maryland. I served in submarines for 6 years after graduation. Should be fun.
Oh my, I love your presidential reading project! I've read bios of every president, but visiting libraries takes it to another level!
In a way, you inspired it by mentioning the Caro series on LBJ. BTW, in response to your note last week (?) re reading The Power Broker, I say, yes, add it to the list.
Just moved to a new state and city this summer and finding a tribe of readers was a priority for me in retirement. I found two! My library has a club that reads by theme and offers a suggested reading list of six titles each month -- we've done mouse books, Southern Gothic, medieval fiction, etc. Always interesting to hear about what others have read and there's trivia! The other club is sponsored by a little independent bookstore and we all read the same book, usually literary fiction. It's a small group in a cozy space like meeting in someone's living room. I'm also buddy reading long distance three books with three friends. Good thing I am retired with all this reading going on!
Love it!
I was in an official family book club when I lived at parents, where one book would get recommended by my aunt and then everyone would have read it within a week and talk about the following week. Since that one been looking out for a new one, and eventually started a solo one (see my newsletter!), the closet I get is probably commenting when other talk about a book I have read.
I am not in a book club at the moment, but I tend to buddy read. My husband and I have worked our way through all of NK Jemisin together and many other large fantasy or sci-fi titles. My best friend, who lives out of state, and I recently decided to buddy read Gender Queer together. Can't wait to see what we both think!
Oh fun! Love that. Still haven't read Jemisin, but she's high on my list. :)