When Reading Selections Go Awry
Regular contributor Jamie Layton shares some of the highs and lows of her reading group's selections...and why she might consider breaking some book club rules.
I'm in a quandary. I started and facilitate a reading group that has been meeting at our store for more than five years. Some members have attended since our first meeting in November '02 and some have joined within the last few months, but we've been going strong with an average turn-out of eight interesting, intelligent and diverse women who like to read. Selections over the years have run from Salinger's short stories to Barbara Kingsolver's essays; Steinbeck's classics to Eggers' modern fiction, House of Sand and Fog (our first book) to Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits (our most recent book). We've discovered a strong proclivity for historical fiction and short stories, and almost every meeting includes at least one member stating, "I didn't vote for this book, but I'm glad I read it!"
Every six months I spend days putting together a list of potential titles from which to choose our next books. I include at least twelve titles from a wide variety of genres utilizing all the tools that I as a bookseller have access to, including suggestions from the group. Members are emailed a brief summary of each book (including any important reviews or awards) that they may look over at their leisure. At the next meeting, each woman votes for the six books she would most like to read from the proffered list; I tally the votes and voila! The six top vote getters comprise our next reading list.
Sometimes we accidentally end up with a list in which a majority of the titles touch on the same subject, like the spring we read Confederates in the Attic and March and The Known World. How to predict that the Civil War titles which only comprised a quarter of the original list would get picked and end up being half of the final list! Then there are the winters when the entire group starts griping because "we always read sad books! Why don't we ever read happy books?" My stock answer to this complaint is that "there is very little to discuss in a happy book." (Yes, I know, there are always exceptions. But really, have you ever tried to fill two hours by discussing a happy-happy-joy-joy book? Let me know.)
Right now we are in the middle of our current list. And after years of picking very few duds, we've really managed to stick it to ourselves this time. I have to say in all fairness that the year leading up to this list was pretty darn good and hard to top. We devoured Julia Child's My Life in France, swooned at The Awakening & Other Stories (Kate Chopin), dove into The Highest Tide, sprung for A Thousand Splendid Suns in hardcover and finished the year with a lively January discussion of Whistling in the Dark, in which we were joined via telephone by author Lesley Kagen. Maybe we unintentionally set ourselves up. All I know is that so far our current list sucks.
We started off in February reading a contemporary classic set in Latin America (and recently made into a movie) that, while we all agreed the writing was exquisite, we did not care for at all. Adding insult to injury, it was a very long, time consuming book. Next up was a novella (or was it short stories?) that totally missed the mark in terms of character development, depth of plot, etc. Someone mentioned that maybe a second or third reading would somehow bring it all together, but I doubt anyone is going to devote any more precious book time to this one. Now we are into dud number three --- an aid worker's account of two years spent in an Asian country. The locale is totally foreign to me so that is somewhat interesting, but the writing is very tedious, almost completely narrative and I am very, very disappointed.
I am now working under the superstition that the next three books left to read will probably follow in the footsteps of their list mates. What should I do? Risk losing new members whose only experience with our reading group is these three books? Change our list, which I never, ever do as a rule but which might appease everyone? Cross my fingers and toes and tell myself we couldn't possibly have picked six blah books in a row? I really don't know what I'll end up doing. but I do know that I only have two days left to figure it out and read the aid worker's book because another thing I almost never, ever do is not finish a book. Who said rules aren't made to be broken?
---Jamie Layton
I'm in a quandary. I started and facilitate a reading group that has been meeting at our store for more than five years. Some members have attended since our first meeting in November '02 and some have joined within the last few months, but we've been going strong with an average turn-out of eight interesting, intelligent and diverse women who like to read. Selections over the years have run from Salinger's short stories to Barbara Kingsolver's essays; Steinbeck's classics to Eggers' modern fiction, House of Sand and Fog (our first book) to Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits (our most recent book). We've discovered a strong proclivity for historical fiction and short stories, and almost every meeting includes at least one member stating, "I didn't vote for this book, but I'm glad I read it!"
Every six months I spend days putting together a list of potential titles from which to choose our next books. I include at least twelve titles from a wide variety of genres utilizing all the tools that I as a bookseller have access to, including suggestions from the group. Members are emailed a brief summary of each book (including any important reviews or awards) that they may look over at their leisure. At the next meeting, each woman votes for the six books she would most like to read from the proffered list; I tally the votes and voila! The six top vote getters comprise our next reading list.
Sometimes we accidentally end up with a list in which a majority of the titles touch on the same subject, like the spring we read Confederates in the Attic and March and The Known World. How to predict that the Civil War titles which only comprised a quarter of the original list would get picked and end up being half of the final list! Then there are the winters when the entire group starts griping because "we always read sad books! Why don't we ever read happy books?" My stock answer to this complaint is that "there is very little to discuss in a happy book." (Yes, I know, there are always exceptions. But really, have you ever tried to fill two hours by discussing a happy-happy-joy-joy book? Let me know.)
Right now we are in the middle of our current list. And after years of picking very few duds, we've really managed to stick it to ourselves this time. I have to say in all fairness that the year leading up to this list was pretty darn good and hard to top. We devoured Julia Child's My Life in France, swooned at The Awakening & Other Stories (Kate Chopin), dove into The Highest Tide, sprung for A Thousand Splendid Suns in hardcover and finished the year with a lively January discussion of Whistling in the Dark, in which we were joined via telephone by author Lesley Kagen. Maybe we unintentionally set ourselves up. All I know is that so far our current list sucks.
We started off in February reading a contemporary classic set in Latin America (and recently made into a movie) that, while we all agreed the writing was exquisite, we did not care for at all. Adding insult to injury, it was a very long, time consuming book. Next up was a novella (or was it short stories?) that totally missed the mark in terms of character development, depth of plot, etc. Someone mentioned that maybe a second or third reading would somehow bring it all together, but I doubt anyone is going to devote any more precious book time to this one. Now we are into dud number three --- an aid worker's account of two years spent in an Asian country. The locale is totally foreign to me so that is somewhat interesting, but the writing is very tedious, almost completely narrative and I am very, very disappointed.
I am now working under the superstition that the next three books left to read will probably follow in the footsteps of their list mates. What should I do? Risk losing new members whose only experience with our reading group is these three books? Change our list, which I never, ever do as a rule but which might appease everyone? Cross my fingers and toes and tell myself we couldn't possibly have picked six blah books in a row? I really don't know what I'll end up doing. but I do know that I only have two days left to figure it out and read the aid worker's book because another thing I almost never, ever do is not finish a book. Who said rules aren't made to be broken?
---Jamie Layton
posted by Carol Fitzgerald at
9:10 AM
5 Comments:
Without seeing the last three books it's hard to suggest what to do. The book group that I belong to meets once a year in January to select books for the entire year.
Each person (that shows up) gets to pitch 2-3 books. After all the books have been pitched.. we take a vote. Then we decide WHEN each book should be read. We choose a lighter book for November since there is often so much going on with the holidays, etc.
We also try to rule out too many books with the same backdrop or theme. So if there are three books on China..we vote for the one book we want to read.
This keeps each month "varied" and it allows everyone to have a say in what is chosen and when it is read. There have been times where we have missed the mark two months in a row.. but not often.
I think you should stick with the books you have chosen.. but maybe re-evaluate WHEN each should be read. Perhaps that will break the dud cycle.
Ti
I realize that there are alot of bookgroups that "vote" on their book choices. My bookclub has never done that. We give each member a chance to choose a book of their choice for their month.
Choosing books one year in advance leaves out the option of including the most current popular book which could give life to your group if it's in a slump, IMO.
lI would blame the weather. Seriously.
I don't know of anywhere in North America where there has been a nice, enjoyable winter or spring.
There could be other reasons as well -- economy, never ending political debates, financial worries etc.
Bottom line is that people are feeling gloomier this year. These could have been three great books, but timing is everything and this is just not their time.
In short, your group is just not "into" them. It is also possible that they are getting reader fatigue -- the list this year sounds similar to last years.
Its time to change things up before the "group" thinks all six books are duds.
Options: 1) use the weather as your excuse to have a discussion about the upcoming books to gauge the interest of the group. Keep two of the upcoming months free to slot in best sellers that are normally released in June and in October and have your members suggest books for the remaining months.
2) Make the next meeting a more lighthearted event - perhaps serve a tea or baked treat that is typical of that culture. Instead of talking about the plot/characters of the book, per se, talk about what the group has learned about reading what the aid worker had to say about another culture or place.
3. Remind your group members that the group only succeeds if the selection reflects their interests. If they can't / won't suggest books, then, have them talk about their favourite books and why they are favourites.
For example my fave is by Andrew Greeley and is called Angel Fire. I always read it when I have a bad day -- there is something that speaks to me. The premise is delightful with a bit of mystery, a bit of supernatural and a bit of romance. You would write the book title and a couple of key words mystery, romance etc.
So, as the books are named, you continue to write them down on a large piece of paper or flipchart with key words. Remember this is no "wrong" answer so there is no editing or challenging someone's suggestion. If it is brought up it is written down.
It is important that everyone can see the titles and you can use stickies (postits or avery coloured dots) for each member to "vote" for the next book they want to read.
This encourages more involvement and more movement (other senses) by the group than just writing the names on slips of paper that are counted up by someone else. It is in front of them. They can see the books being selected.
My final suggestion is for you. Not all books have to be printed -- you can show a move or dvd that originated from a book and look for key themes / characters or talk about how the involvement of others changed the original work.
Or try reading one of the new anime books. Or an audiobook -- these are becoming more popular as iPods invade our culture.
In other words, relax. This is supposed to be enjoyable. If you feel you have to finish the aid workers book then read the last five pages. Then you are done.
Focus more on the company, warmth and fellowship of your group and less on making it a lit class.
Reading between the lines it looks like you have ended up with the lions share of the work. Remember the success of the group relies on its members, all of its members!
Good Luck! Hope this help
Our book club has been going on for several years and we all discuss which books are next. Perhaps you are forgetting the "we" of the book club. It seems that you are totally in charge and accepting the blame for anyone else's criticism of a book. Relax and just enjoy the company of others. I am sure everyone else will appreciate the change.
I've read all the comments and you've received some excellent advice. I guess I just want to share what my group does. We choose 3 books every 3 months. For instance, in June we will choose what we will read this fall (Sept/Oct/Nov). In Sept we will choose for Dec/Jan/Feb. Everyone does their homework in advance of these meetings and brings suggestions. Each member has a chance to speak about their recommendations. All suggestions are written down on a clipboard which is passed around the room. Everyone puts a checkmark next to 2 titles and the top three check-getters are the books we read next. This leaves room for new paperbacks that come out throughout the year, plus if we find ourselves in a rut we can pick something really different to shake us out of it. Only once have we had two "duds" in a row! Good luck,
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