vodkafan Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 It's all very laid back and friendly with no heated debate or flaming plus you can pretty much post or read what you like. l! Kernow I can't believe people would start a flame war and argue over books!! I guess I got the best forum first try. Quote
pickle Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 I wanted to join one in my local area but there were only 2 one which met during the day and seemed to be made up of mums in a local village, and the other an exclusive set of people who live in the Cathedral Close. Its mainly why I joined here as i wanted some new ideas for what to read. Quote
BookJumper Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 A small, cozy pub with a bit of money behind the till for members to spend sounds ideal to me - I had many a literary discussion with Liverpool Uni friends at the small, cozy pub on campus and the atmosphere was awesome. An early afternoon setting and Speculative Fiction (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror etc.) titles would clinch the deal. Quote
vodkafan Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 I finally heard back from the first book group. They left me a message on my answerphone with details of when they meet and the book they are reading. To be fair, the lady sounded very nice, I am still rather put off though. I guess I must have passed whatever vetting process they had! They have probably had you under surveillance Nellie now they want to induct you into their secret society. If you survive the grisly initiation that is. Quote
AbielleRose Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 There is this unique little coffee house here in SF called The Firehouse. The best way to explain it is like a movie set with different rooms but they are all open with only seperating walls between them that go part way up to the celing. Each room is set up like a living room and they are all different colors and different styles of furniture. You can go in and choose a room for your group and enjoy coffee while you read/discuss. There is also a main room with a stage for bands and stuff but it is far enough away so that you can even have your group while a band is playing and not be too drowned out by the music. I love that place Quote
BookJumper Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 ... I've changed my mind, can I have my book club meet at The Firehouse please? Quote
AbielleRose Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 ... I've changed my mind, can I have my book club meet at The Firehouse please? Of course! Their coffee is to die for too... much better than that pathetic Starbucks place. Quote
vodkafan Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 Yeah Abby that sounds one hell of a cool place. When I lived back in Daventry 200 years ago (or so it seems) there was a great old ramshackle pub that was like that, well probably not exactly but the same atmosphere, all little rooms one after another all of a different character. And different sorts of people would inhabit each room, the old men with their pipes and dominos in the top room (it had a real open fire) and students discussing the world in the other end past the bar and games room .....if you went out passed the tiny toilets there was a corridor leading to yet another room ..that had a tiny dance floor and a minstrels gallery above it and another separate bar. Reminiscing now....spent a lot of time courting my first wife in that pub Quote
Peacefield Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 I'm not part of a book club currently, but during college I was in one for about 3 years. We used to meet at this place downtown called Jitters, and it was so comfy. It was right on this street where there were no cars allowed, and where they held the farmer's market and small concerts. So during the summer it was nice because the social atmosphere used to spill outside . That place is where I first became addicted to almond lattes, and we used to either sit around on big sofas or at these old-fashioned formica tables. My last year of college they added a bar and a stage for bands and then it just turned too trendy and obnoxious unfortunately, but it was fun while it lasted! Quote
vodkafan Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 I'm not part of a book club currently, but during college I was in one for about 3 years. We used to meet at this place downtown called Jitters, and it was so comfy. It was right on this street where there were no cars allowed, and where they held the farmer's market and small concerts. So during the summer it was nice because the social atmosphere used to spill outside . That place is where I first became addicted to almond lattes, and we used to either sit around on big sofas or at these old-fashioned formica tables. My last year of college they added a bar and a stage for bands and then it just turned too trendy and obnoxious unfortunately, but it was fun while it lasted! aargh everything changes peacefield doesn't it? But you had the best of it... Quote
Peacefield Posted April 3, 2010 Posted April 3, 2010 It does, doesn't it vodkafan?! It's maddening, but I guess that is yet another reason to appreciate things while you've got them, eh? Quote
Habeebi Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I was just wondering if there were many folk on here part of a book club that does not include online? I've always been tempted to join one mainly to meet other book enthusiasts but have no idea where to look for one! Quote
Raven Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I would be interested in joining one, but the only one I've come across locally to me doesn't have a very inspiring reading list. If you are looking for one, you could do worse than to ask in your local bookshop. Also have a look on Meet Up. Quote
chesilbeach Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I go to my local library reading group. I did it to force myself to socialise a bit more, and also to be able to discuss books with people as none of my friends or family are big readers. I really enjoy going, and I've read some great books I would never have touched if they hadn't been chosen for the group. We read two books for each meeting and It's one night a month that I look forward to it more than I thought I ever would, and I'm really glad I joined. However, although it tends to be a group of about 12-15 people each meeting, I am more often than not the youngest by about 20 years (and I'm no spring chicken!), and as I moved back to my home town to settle down, some of the women in the group are actually the mums of people I went to school with, and even some of my old teachers, and, the group is also all women, so I do often find I'm a lone voice with my views on the books being of a different generation, and the discussion can sometimes be limited due to the single sex makeup of the group. I also sometimes wish the book choices could be a bit more diverse, as we tend to stick to literary fiction with a very occasional travel book or classic. I would love to be able to pick some YA or maybe venture into sci-fi or fantasy occasionally, but I think I'd be on my own when it came to reading the book! If I'm honest, I would love to join a group of younger people, a more of 20-45 age range, although I wouldn't want to stop going to the library group, but I've not been able to find one particularly locally. There is a book shop I know that runs a couple of groups, but it's about an hours drive away from me, and I think it's too far for an evening out, but that might be another place to look if you're interested in joining a group. Quote
Weave Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I keep meaning to find out about a reading group at my local library Quote
Habeebi Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Hi Chesilbeach I totally know how you feel! I've been in contact will a few of the book club contacts in my area, gave them a call to see what the crack is and discovered they are mainly groups of retirees that gather and the average age is 60-80. Now I am certainly not ageist and think opinions from those with so much life experience would be invaluable however part of the reason of joining a book club would be to get me out socialising more and it would be nice if there are more book clubs for those in their 20s and 30s. I will keep looking though and hopefully find something although I'm not holding my breath! I did however upon phoning one of the organisers of these retirees groups have a great chat with him on the phone for about 20 minutes about some books we'd read lately and I had such a difference of opinion on some things, probably due to the 40 years age difference but he was so excited to have me in the group because of this ! However they met in the morning and alas, I work so it was a no go! Quote
chesilbeach Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I would definitely try your local libraries if I were you Habeebi - even if it's not perfect, anything that increases library usage must be good in these times of closures. Despite the fact that I would like more diversity in the group, I wouldn't give up going for the world at the moment, as it's still lovely to talk to the others each month, not just about the books we've chosen for the group, but also to have a chat about other books people have read and we often swap books as well. If I could find another group to join with a wider/different range of people, I would probably go along to both, as I read so many books, I could easily fit the extra books in each month, it's just not something I've been able to find within a reasonable travelling distance Quote
Habeebi Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Ah its a pity we didnt live near each other we could start our own group off! One of the guys I spoke to said shouldnt I be in the pub rather than a book club haha. how many books do you reckon you go through then? I'm probably on 3 a month or so! Not nearly as much as I want! Quote
chesilbeach Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Yep, it's a shame - I would love to be able to meet up with people on the forum to have a live BCF book discussion! I don't drink, so I'm not a huge fan of pubs, but put me in a Starbucks or a Caffe Nero and I'd settle in for the entire evening I'm currently reading about 12 books per month at the moment, but it does vary - fewer in November and December, but more when I'm on holiday. Quote
Habeebi Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Where do you live then? Wow 12 books a month impressive! Quote
Raven Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 One of the guys I spoke to said shouldnt I be in the pub rather than a book club haha. Why not do both at the same time? Quote
Habeebi Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 Well after ringing round my local libraries I have found a book club to join eek! I've been thinking about it for a while as a way to meet other book lovers in the flesh but I've never really had the confidence as I've never really written a book review or talked about books with anyone before! (Apart from the folks!) SO! It starts next Tuesday evening and it is just a small group of six people a few of which are round my age, late 20s early 30s which is nice as a lot I enquired about catered for retirees and mature people only! Not that I am ageist but I would like to use it as a social venture too! So the book they are reading for next week is The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters which I actually picked up at the marker over the weekend and I was going to ignore it as the cover looked chick - lit but the stall owner recommended it to me so I took it home. Looking at the reviews on Amazon they are very very mixed and it will be interesting to read something I would not normally choose! Wish me luck eeek! Quote
Kylie Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 Good luck Habeebi! I've heard a lot of good things about Sarah Waters. I hope you enjoy both the book and the meeting. Quote
Kidsmum Posted March 22, 2011 Posted March 22, 2011 Good Luck Habeebi, let us know how you get on with the book & the reading group Quote
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