Book Groups

[chesilbeach]

The other problem when the group gets too large is that side conversations start up and it can be difficult both to hear and be heard - I find it incredibly rude, but some people still insist on it.  If they do it when I'm talking, I just stop - even in mid sentence some times - and wait for them to finish in the hope that they get the message.

[frankie]

The other problem when the group gets too large is that side conversations start up and it can be difficult both to hear and be heard - I find it incredibly rude, but some people still insist on it.  If they do it when I'm talking, I just stop - even in mid sentence some times - and wait for them to finish in the hope that they get the message.

 

Even if it's 'unofficial' and not for school or something like that, I would also find it very rude if people started talking in smaller groups when someone is speaking Because it's expected that everyone is there to talk about the book: and if they don't listen to someone but talk about their own things, it's basically saying 'I'm not interested in your opinion'. I'm sure the people talking in smaller groups wouldn't admit to that or even agree, but that's how it reads, in my opinion! Humbug

[Athena]

I agree with you both, this bothers me a lot. While I'm not in a book group, I wanted to let you know anyway, to show you're not alone! It would especially bother me in a book group because it is very rude. Normally, in any large group (more than 4 people) it bothers me because I hear everything so depending on the group I can hear 2-3 or more conversations going on at once. This is really confusing and usually ends up in me not being able to follow any of them.

[Eleonora]

I don't know if it's only because my group has only a 3-months-life and we're too polite because we've just started,but we have a rule: we can't speak only after raising our hand. So no buzzing background.. well, for the moment. I don't mind if the majority of people is in their 50s or 60s, I love hearing their point of view 'cos it's so different from mine: we have different ages and different experience. Once I said I love Nick Hornby, espacially A long way down: it made me think about all the unsuccesfull event of my life and made me feel less alone. A woman couldn't understand my point of view because she actually belongs to a generation in which a job was something the took for granted and she couldn't understand what being 30 today means. The discussion helped me to get into her world and I believe she's more into mine.

[Kidsmum]

Wow, thanks everyone! It's really interesting & helpful to read everyone's experiences. I like the idea of there being no set questions & people just being able to express their opinions that seems very informal. I'm also surprised at how big the groups are, i actually would feel more comfortable with a large group because there's not as much pressure on you to contribute every time if you'd rather listen to other peoples opinions. If there were only three or four of you i wouldn't feel able to abandon a book if i didn't like it, also more people means more points of view which is good. It's not a problem for me if most of the people are older in fact 'm kind of expecting it. I suppose they're the age group who have the most time for reading so are most likely to join a book group i guess. Anyway it'd be nice to be the youngest in the group 

 

Willoyd - That was one of the things that worried me about joining a group that if i regularly didn't enjoy the chosen books it would be a waste of time joining in but i have a few of your selected books on my shelves already When We Were Orphans, Alone In Berlin & I loved The Help & Notes On A Scandal, recently watched the movie for the first time & i thought Judy Dench was amazing 

 

Janet - I would be very happy with your book group choices. I recently read A Time To Dance by Melvyn Bragg & i love his writing style & so I've added quite a few of his books to my TBR pile. I totally agree about Dorothy Koomson, one of my eldest daughters friends leant me a copy of one of her books so i felt obliged to read it, not an experience like to repeat but judging by Amazon she's very popular with other readers.

 

Anyway thanks to all your info i'm really excited about going along & finding out what my book group will turn out to be like 

[frankie]

Kidsmum, let us know how it turned out, okay?

[willoyd]

If there were only three or four of you i wouldn't feel able to abandon a book if i didn't like it,

Don't be afraid not to finish a book! I know some people seem to think that you must read the full book in order to comment on it (Amazon reviews seem to be full of them!), but I've not come across any of them at the two groups I've been to. Rather the opposite, there's always one or two (or more!) people who haven't finished for any number of reasons, including time, boredom, dislike etc.! They (me on a couple of occasions!) contribute just as much. After all, if a book can't make you stick, then that says something relevant about it. One just needs to be honest about it so that people know where you're coming from. It's meant to be enjoyable after all, not a penance!

 

Anyway thanks to all your info i'm really excited about going along & finding out what my book group will turn out to be like 

I still do get a buzz before each meeting - it's really good fun to be able to discuss books with fellow book lovers, even more so face to face, even when you don't like the book (actually, that can be even more fun!). I miss that as part of the conversation at work, especially as the one other real book lover is leaving. Do please tell us more once you've been! Edited May 23, 2013 by willoyd

[Kidsmum]

The first meeting is on June 4th & I shall definitely let you all know how i get on