If you’re like me, looking at your empty April calendar will make you think one of two things:
1) See you later TBR pile!
2) I miss people.
I’m feeling this so much lately. I’ve been considering starting an online book club for a few months, and what better time to start than now, when my potential book club members are stuck in their own homes? There’s literally no escaping me or this idea.
You need to have a facebook account to join, that’s it. My book club is essentially a ‘group’ on fb that anyone is free to join, and our first meeting will be held via a facebook live video on Thursday, April 16, 7pm MST. We will be discussing Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown, a Canadian author and journalist. I’ve been dying to read this book for a few months now, and it’s getting a ton of attention and accolades, so I’m confidant in this first choice.
For those who aren’t familiar with Facebook live, when someone is recording a video, comments scroll up from the bottom of the screen, which I will then read out loud to prompt more questions and reiterate what people are saying. I’ve never hosted an online discussion before, but I’ve hosted a ton of in-person discussions, so I can guarantee I won’t be terrible at this. And as always, I encourage feedback, good and bad, so let me have it!
We already have 53 group members, and many have already read the book and confirmed it’s good, so what are you waiting for? Also, this particular book has actual recipes in it, and some of the book club members have followed the recipes and posted photos of their efforts, so not only are we encouraging people to turn off their tv’s and read, we are starting a home baking revolution! Join us won’t you?
PS-bring your favourite treats to the discussion, I’ll be munching on my ever-present chocolate stash!
This sounds fun! I don’t have Facebook, but I do keep hearing about folks using it to talk with each other. I’m currently in a new book club that meets every other night. We read a couple chapters and then get together. It works well because there are about 5-8 of us. It’s a great way to not only talk about the chapters, but get off track just a little and talk about life. It feels like I made new friends. We use Google Meet, which I’d never heard of before, but it works well. It would never work for the size of your club, though! I hope you do a post and let us know how it went.
I definitely will, and update post, good idea! It sounds like you sort of belong to a ‘reading group’, which I actually love the idea of. When my kids are older, maybe I can look into starting one š
I didn’t realize there is a difference between book club and reading group, but I see what you mean.
Bummer. I don’t have a Facebook but the book sounds fun! Best of luck with it. Maybe you can recap after the event? š
Definitely!!!!
Ha ha, include me in the No Facebook club. The three commenters here may be the only three people who donāt use it. (I used to use it but no longer.) I hope your discussion goes really well, though! Itās funny, I would have thought that this scenario, being at home without the capability to work from home, would mean Iād be reading up a storm. But it hasnāt actually been that way. Negotiating āfamily timeā and āschool timeā and āalone timeā is a real challenge! But Iām finding my way back into reading more. š
I actually feel the same way Laila-I’m busier than ever now that the kids are home full time! I savour my alone time for reading even more now haha
Make that four commenters who don’t Facebook! Sounds like fun though – hope it goes well!
thanks FF. I figured the time difference alone would make this a ‘no go’ for you haha
Thanks Anne! Canāt wait for the discussion. Not sure I can get the book and read it before the 16th but will try š
Thanks for signing up Mary Lou, hopefully you can get a copy! We will decide what our next book is at that meeting.
My FB has been dormant for years although periodically (and more so in the past year) I log on, just to reconsider deleting it (the privacy policies used to disturb me, their current policies regarding political advertising – in particular the trouble that some social justice writers have had when indie bookshops have tried to advertise their book lauches/events in Canada has made me furious). But simultaneously, I feel as though I am missing out on a few things that unfold there — like your new book club. This seems like a great book to choose!
Just log on and participate in our discussion! I’d love to have you, and then you can help us decide our next book š