This post first appeared on my former blog January 10, 2011.
Now that I’m finally reading Harry Potter from start to finish—and it has been worth my time, plus it’s been fun—I find I’m digging into what others are reading more and more.
Of course, there are always dozens of people reading J.K. Rowling, Dan Brown, Stieg Larsson, Stephanie Meyer, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, Tom Clancy and other big name authors. That is to say, dozens of people I meet. I’m sure there are millions reading those authors. But there are also individuals who love to share their latest finds in authors like Therese Walsh, P.J. Alderman, Courtney Milan, Barbara White Daille, Susan Gee Heino and Kris Kennedy.
Since so many readers I meet love to mention what they’re reading, I’ve started to wonder: how many of them belong to some sort of book club or forum to discuss their reactions to books? Do YOU belong to one?
Some readers are more than happy to say what they’re reading, but they’re not as prepared to share their thoughts. I often get, “I liked it,” or, “I really liked it.” Occasionally, a writer friend will dish specifics, such as “the use of key adjectives in the setting description not only set the scene, but made the setting another unsettling character in this urban fantasy.”
Okay, not all readers talk this way. Heck, not all writers talk this way, but a lot of us did some term papers on “compare and contrast” various books, plays, stories in college. So, yeah, some of us actually do talk this way.
So, here’s what I’m dying to know from READERS, i.e. people who read books:
Do you belong to a formal book club or discussion forum?
Do you look beyond the basic plot to discuss character, theme, symbols, and such?
Do you read book reviews, and do they encourage/discourage you from buying a book?
If you do belong to a club, how’d you find it?
If you don’t belong to a club, is it because you couldn’t find one, or are you not interested in discussing the books you read?
Thanks, all. And hey, if you know any links for online resources about book clubs or forums, please include them in your comments.