Saturday, April 11, 2009

Book Club Blog Member Call

Hey Friends. . .about 6 months ago I had wanted to start a book club blog but scratched the idea but I think I'll start one now. Here is the platform of the book club.


  • It'll be a members only club but the blog will be open to the public to read. Anyone can join in the club.
  • I will host the first book just to get started. If you've read the book, that's fine but don't discuss the book until the end of the first book session.
  • Members will have 2 weeks to read the book. If 2 weeks is too short of a time, when I have the members in place, we can decide what length of time is reasonable.
  • Each member will suggest a book they "want" to read (not already read). Members will vote which book will be chosen for the next session. When choosing a book, please do your research online first. Don't just choose a random book.
  • The member who suggest the "chosen' book will host the next book club meeting.
  • This book club will be a non-specific genre book club meaning it can be any type of subject and not specific to one subject area. Book suggestion will include non-fiction books. It can be spiritual, self-improvement, healthy lifestyle, biography, auto-biography, history, etc. Non-fiction books will be once every 3 months. I ask that non-fiction books don't include diet books, specific self-help books, exercise books, or instructional type of books. The "subject theme" of non-fiction books will be voted by the members. For example, each member will suggest a specific subject (spiritual, self-improvement, history, etc.) . We will vote on the subject theme then each member will suggest a book and we'll vote on which book to read. Got it?
  • If you want to join the club, you need to be able to have the time to read a standard novel within two weeks or a length of time voted by the members. If you don't have the time to read then you may visit the blog and comment but you won't have the privilege to choose a book, host or vote on the next book.
  • You will need to be an active participant by answering the posted questions.

Hosting:

  • As a host you will post 5 to 10 questions on the blog after the 2 week reading period. Each member will answer the questions and discuss it by commenting. We could do a forum based discussion if you prefer on a Yahoo group site or something like that. We can decide what is the best way to discuss the book once I gather enough book club members.
  • Questions can be thought provoking, clarifications, depth of understanding, etc. Here are a few general question suggestions but the host will post questions specific to the book.
  • Of the questions posted by the host, you have a choice of 3 questions to answer or you can answer all of them. The questions are just to get us started on a discussion about the book, gather a better understanding and differing perspective of the book. It's amazing how different we sometimes interpret a book.
  • The book club is meant to be fun not at all feel like we need to write an essay on the book.

Discussion Questions for Any Book for fiction/novels:

  • Did the actions of the characters seem plausible? Why? Why not?
  • If one (or more) of the characters made a choice that had moral implications, would you have made the same decision? Why? Why not?
  • How does the setting figure into the book? Is the setting a character? Does it come to life?
  • Did you feel you were experiencing the time and place in which the book was set?
  • How would the book have been different if it had taken place in a different time or place?
  • What are some of the book's themes? How important were they?
  • How are the book's images symbolically significant? Do the images help to develop the plot, or help to define characters?
  • Did the book end the way you expected?
  • Would you recommend this book to other readers? To your close friend?

These are just suggestions.. . you can post any questions that you want.

  • For non-fiction books, the questions will be different. I'll get more into it later.

Anyway, I'll start the blog in the next few days. For now, I just need to know who may be interested in joining.

  • Comment if you would be interested in joining. We can work out the details later.

8 comments:

manybooks said...

OOoo - me! I'm interested! Sounds like a really nice idea!

Tracy.H said...

Hey Maria,

I might be interested. All the questions kinda scare me though!! ;0) I am rereading the Twilight series right now...just started Eclipse today!

Bumbles and Fairy-Tales said...

Count me in Maria ;)

I'm always reading! Sometimes 2 to 4 books at a time, LOL! ;)

Randi said...

Very cool card Maria!! I would've been interested, but cannot join right now. I am taking an exam and I won't be done studying and taking it until after July. So, after April, no more "fun" books for me. Only serious. Yuck.
I just got Breaking Dawn, too!!

Maybe I can join in after my exam!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Mary said...

Hi Maria. I am just now getting back to reading again. As a matter of fact I am reading Twilight. I'm not sure I could finish a book within 2 weeks due to all of the other things I have to do. But I'm willing to try. :)

Mary

Amanda said...

I want to join!!!!

Heather said...

I want to join! I love to read and we live too far from the "nearby" book club. I started a book club a few years ago and it was great fun.

Theresa said...

I'd like to join, Maria! I got the Kindle 2 back in Feb and I've 'rediscovered' the joy of reading and have been wanting to join a book club (but not wanting the stress of having to clean my house for the gathering, LOL.) The Host has been on my wish list for a while, so I am excited about that being the first book. My e-mail addy is tabergen@embarqmail.com. Sign me up :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Share |