Book Club

[bettys]

Would anyone be interested in a book club thread?

The vague idea at present would be to choose a book at the start of the month, and then discuss after a couple of weeks or so. I have no previous experience of Book Clubs so if anyone has, or has any pointers about how it could work virtually, they'd be very welcome!

The first book suggested is 'When We Were Orphans' by Kazuo Ishiguro.

What does everyone think?

Add my name please!

Thanks Lucy123 (I think) . I don't mind kicking things off, but we should take it in turns to get things going. So far the suggestions are;
When We Were Orphans - Kazuo Ishiguro
Atonement - Ian McEwan
We should probably add a classic or light fiction or biography or travel book.
Any more ideas?

Bettys, I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear. What I meant was that maybe we should choose two or three books for the months ahead, such as Book A for September, Book B for October, Book C for November, etc just so we could be forewarned.

As well as novels I'd like to see other genres - what about books like Fast Food Nation, for instance?

Nominating a chair is a good idea, it gets the discussion off the gropund, in real life anyway, LOL! Maybe the person who suggests the book?

And Atonement is brilliant - stick with it.

The books you end up choosing may well make up my holiday reading. Hope to join in, but don't get through even half as many books as I'd like to.

What do people prefer, one book a month or several?

Bettys, for me, several would be better, since then I could choose which one (or maybe all of them) to read. We could always have different threads for different books couldn't we? It would mean that if there was a book I absolutely wasn't interested in - in my case, say, War and Peace - then I could still join in. But I understand if choosing one is more practical.

Yes please, count me in, one book per month (loads of wine!!!!!) Re: Ian McEwan - anyone read 'Amsterdam'? We discussed it at our last Book Club but most found it rather odd.

Just come in on this - yes please. I have always wanted to be in a book club but never managed to co ordinate babysitters with frineds. I have read When we were orphans and do fancy Atomement.I like the idea of having books of the month in adavnace.

Lindy, I read Amsterdam and loved it too. I love all of his books though so I'm biased!
For me I would prefer one book per month, but whatever happens I'll be happy to partake in more wine!

Count me in too!
Perhaps we could have one fiction, and one non fiction book per month?
I fancy Fast Food Nation and Atonement!

Count me in! have read Atonement and liked it, would like to read the Kazuo Ishiguro book too. Please don't make me read Fast Food Nation, it'll just make me feel more crap. I am currently reading The Siege by Helen Dunmore which seems very good.

Okay I'm going to stick my neck out now and suggest we choose 3 books per month. Some may have already read them, or only want to choose, or may not like the genre, so it provides a bit more choice. Discussions to start the 1st of the following month. But it would be a good idea to start choosing books now for September, October etc so people can reserve them from libraries, order them etc.

How about if I kickstart things for August then hand over to others?

Have just scrolled down at random with eyes shut and pointed at.......

Fionn! Can you choose books for reading in September?

SueDonim - as it's difficult for you to get hold of books could you nominate the ones for October?

Thereafter that month's chair can randomly select for a couple of months ahead.

So for August the choice is....
When We Were Orphans - Kazuo Ishiguro
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Aberystwyth, Mon Amour - Malcolm Pryce

No idea what the last one is like, a sort of noir detective. Just chose it because I went to Aber Uni.

Hope that's alright.

Typo ; some people may only want to choose ONE book to read.

Briliant Bettys. I'll read When we were Orphans then. So can we read all of them or just one?
Enid, The Seige is excellent, but kept me awake at night.. wasn't a relaxing bedtime read!

It's not too late to join, is it? Dh has read Aberwystwth Mon Amour, so I think I'll start on that one.
I've always wanted to be in a book club, but never found anyone like minded amongst my friends (I think they'd think I was being a bit poncey)

Great idea! Our real (ie non-virtual!) one is a lot of fun but I really like the idea of having three to choose from. I'm going with the Aberwystwth (?sp) one as well.

well done for taking the lead, bettys. Perhaps you should let the mumsnet people know so they can put in a direct link to the books at Amazon (that being the only way to get affiliate money out of them). I won't be able to get this month's books in time - looking forward to that September list!

Good point, Lucy123 about a mumsnet link to Amazon, if it gets more money into the mumsnet coffers. I also hope they don't feel it's digressing too far from a mumsnet theme. I'll try & get in touch with them.

And yes, there's nothing to stop people reading & discussing all 3 books.

If anyone has trouble getting hold of books (are you in Spain Lucy123?) maybe we can do swaps/share info on bookshops etc. There must be some ex-pat English bookshops out there.

yes, ks, plus the fact I was always useless at "literature" at school, and was(am) scared that my idea of an "insightful" comment will be so shallow and pathetic that I would be drummed out of the club. But I know mumsnetters are kinder than that (plus I don't have to see your faces when you're reading my comments)

Because I always come straight to the Talk section I've only just realised that on the Home page are direct links to Amazon and The Bloomsbury Group, which has a whole section on reading groups. I haven't got time to look at it now, but will do so later and see if it has any helpful info. Might be useful for anyone trying to get hold of books though.

Count me in too !!!!