Book club | Mumsnet

WormBooks · 2024-04-15T13:09:19+00:00

I'm in a book club. We're meeting tonight. We've had since mid-February to read a fairly easy 500 page book. I'm the only one who's finished it. Two of them are close and will finish before we meet. Fine. Two of them are 'nowhere near finished'. Judging by the emojis, this is is hilarious. Why bother being in a book club if you can't be bothered to read the book? It's not GCSE English, you don't ^have^ to read the book. If you can't be arsed, don't be arsed but don't bother joining a book club.

Original poster

WormBooks · 15/04/2024 14:10

It's not a group of random strangers, we're all friends and friends-of-friends.

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stayathomer · 15/04/2024 14:13

I’m an avid reader (blogger and author) and my brain does not allow me to finish a 500 pg book. I can read four novellas in a week, two or three three hundred odd pages books (if I’ve free time) but 500 pages I just slow down. I think all book groups have different types of people in them and there’s a chance your gp is more along for the social aspect or perhaps do find it more taxing than you. And that’s ok. Everyone is different!

DanceMove · 15/04/2024 14:13

WormBooks · 15/04/2024 14:10

It's not a group of random strangers, we're all friends and friends-of-friends.

That may be the problem. If you know each other anyway, meeting to discuss a book can turn very easily into just chitchat, hence it doesn't matter whether or not you read the book, to some people. With strangers, it's clearer that you're meeting for a specific purpose.

RainIsCosy · 15/04/2024 14:14

Book clubs are all different. Some have a rule you don't come if you haven't read the book. Others understand that some people's lives don't always allow them to complete the book or read it every month. Isn't only about 10% of book club spent discussing the book anyway?

Original poster

WormBooks · 15/04/2024 14:16

No, we do actually spend a lot of time discussing the book each time 😂If I had to put a number on it, I'd say 80% discussing the book. We're weird.

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JosieRay · 15/04/2024 14:16

I think it depends on whether you are enjoying the book or not. I’m in a book club and sometimes none of us finish it because we just don’t like it. Fair enough. What annoys me are the people who don’t finish it then try to stop us discussing the ending as it ‘will ruin it for them’. We want to talk about the whole book and this makes people feel like they are mean for wanting to refer to the ending.

ApolloandDaphne · 15/04/2024 14:19

What is the book? Sometimes I start a book and hate it so much I have no desire to keep reading it. Our book club places absolutely no importance on actually reading the book.

DanceMove · 15/04/2024 14:21

JosieRay · 15/04/2024 14:16

I think it depends on whether you are enjoying the book or not. I’m in a book club and sometimes none of us finish it because we just don’t like it. Fair enough. What annoys me are the people who don’t finish it then try to stop us discussing the ending as it ‘will ruin it for them’. We want to talk about the whole book and this makes people feel like they are mean for wanting to refer to the ending.

Yes, that would be maddening. If you don't finish it, own it, and recognise that other people will be discussing parts of the text you didn't get to.

It's good that your book club actually discusses the book, OP. I mean, otherwise don't join one, just go for a drink with your friends.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 15/04/2024 14:22

My book club also spends around 80% of the time discussing the book - one new member said that she loved that, all other book clubs she'd been to had spent five minutes on the book and then the rest of the time on chatting! I'm there to talk about books - I've got plenty of friends to chat to otherwise!

Marblessolveeverything · 15/04/2024 14:24

YABU. Some books will grab you some won't. A 500 pager wouldn't be a choice on our group. We tend to aim c. 300 and choose a light option and a heavier option, it seems to work.

I would read large books for my own pleasure but not the book club.

drawnfrommemory · 15/04/2024 14:26

JosieRay · 15/04/2024 14:16

I think it depends on whether you are enjoying the book or not. I’m in a book club and sometimes none of us finish it because we just don’t like it. Fair enough. What annoys me are the people who don’t finish it then try to stop us discussing the ending as it ‘will ruin it for them’. We want to talk about the whole book and this makes people feel like they are mean for wanting to refer to the ending.

We have one of those in my book club - absolutely drives me potty, especially as she does it most meetings now. I'm going to ask her to leave the room next time we meet so we can talk about the ending.

Madickenxx · 15/04/2024 14:26

I'm also in a book club and every month someone hasn't finished. It's no big deal and if they are over half way through they can score it, if not, their score doesn't count. We probably only spend 30-40% of the time talking about the book though and the rest of the time eating and having general chats. There has been a few books that I've just not managed to finish as they were so awful. Gone are the days when I would always finish a book I'd started. These days, if I'm not seeing any potential after 50 pages, I happily give up in favour of the many, many, unread books I have on my shelves.

RainIsCosy · 15/04/2024 14:29

Madickenxx · 15/04/2024 14:26

I'm also in a book club and every month someone hasn't finished. It's no big deal and if they are over half way through they can score it, if not, their score doesn't count. We probably only spend 30-40% of the time talking about the book though and the rest of the time eating and having general chats. There has been a few books that I've just not managed to finish as they were so awful. Gone are the days when I would always finish a book I'd started. These days, if I'm not seeing any potential after 50 pages, I happily give up in favour of the many, many, unread books I have on my shelves.

I've started doing this too. Way too many books to labour through a book that isn't enjoyable. I did always read the book club books but resigned my book club in the end, after 15 years.

MatildaTheCat · 15/04/2024 14:31

JosieRay · 15/04/2024 14:16

I think it depends on whether you are enjoying the book or not. I’m in a book club and sometimes none of us finish it because we just don’t like it. Fair enough. What annoys me are the people who don’t finish it then try to stop us discussing the ending as it ‘will ruin it for them’. We want to talk about the whole book and this makes people feel like they are mean for wanting to refer to the ending.

OMG this.

When our book club was getting started over 20 years ago there were some members who’d try this. I was absolutely clear that yes, we would discuss the ending and any other aspect of the book since that’s the purpose of the meeting.

Im older now and do drop books I’m not enjoy. Life got a bit short.

Original poster

WormBooks · 15/04/2024 14:40

I take your points. I also give up on books I'm not enjoying - life's too short.

I think its the emojis that annoyed me. Its absolutely fine to not finish a book because you can't get along with it - I gave up on "You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty" which was our last set read.

But I was apologetic and explained why I gave up on it.

The emojis were more like "Ain't finished LOL"
😂😂😂

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