How much of your reading do you share with others (outside of blogging?) Do you belong to a book or library club? Do you trade books with friends? Do you tell others what you’re reading?
Reading used to be a private enterprise because my attachment to books and tireless perusal were such bewilderment to friends. Books and reading never chug into the center of social conversation, moreover I didn’t want to anyway, because I do not want to oblige people to small talk about books at which they are not passionate. Like relationship, reading circle takes time to develop, and often emerges when I least expect. I have begun exchanging books with a couple people who are friends with whom I have coffee in the morning. Recently one person has heavily influenced my readings. We have exchanged book ideas, talk about books, and scour bookstores together. This blog has, to my surprise, reached out to friends with whom I never speak about books.
Filed under: Blogging, Book Blogging, Books, Meme, Personal, Reading Tagged: | Books, Meme, Musing Mondays, Personal, Weekly Event
I think that’s wonderful that local friends have emerged with whom you can get excited about books. Often I too feel as if I am bewildering people (to say the least) when I get all passionate about a book. It’s nice to exchange ideas on line, but I agree it would be even better to do it (additionally) in person.
I get my social book talk with my students at my middle school and with a few close friends.
I have a few close friends who give advice. .. I do miss the great book club I was a part of in my old town!
My social book talk mostly comes from my book club friends. Lately, my teenage daughters seem to be more interested in book talk too, and that makes me happy!
I talk about books to my blogger friends more than my friends because they rarely read.
It’s amazing how we (the book blogging community) feel as if we knew one another though we haven’t met, huh?
To me, it is a pretty special bond if you can talk books with people. Since I’ve started my blog, these bibliophiles have come out of the woodwork. They may not read as many books, but they do love them, and are eager to talk about them. I also just joined a book club a few months ago and have been pleased overall. It isn’t perfect, but have to keep reminding myself to lighten up and go with the flow!
I usually only tell my family about the books I read
I am fortunate to have family members and a few friends that are readers.
I guess I have not developed a proper reading circle, because most people I know find reading a rather odd thing. I think I need some new friends…lol
I mainly talk about books on my blog but I do have a couple of close friends who really like reading too so we sometimes share recommendations.
My circle is very small. I have a couple of friends with whom I regularly discuss books (literature/fiction, mostly) as well as other art forms. My partner and I read books aloud to one another, and of course, discussions occur during and after these readings. The Internet has been a nice adjunct and widened my horizons.
rhapsodyinbooks:
I am more outspoken on books when I’m around readers/bookish friends. otherwise I try to keep that side of me to myself.
Staci:
Some of my students are warming up to me that they would seek recommendation on books outside of the syllabus.
Amy Reads Good Books:
I have yet to find a book club to which I can commit. The indie book club hosts a few with different themes but what they have selected to read sometimes don’t interest me at all.
JoAnn:
It’s great that you can chat with your daughters about books. My family, despite the fact that they’re far away, doesn’t read much. I cultivated my love for book pretty much on my own growing up.
Melody:
I know. Some of my friends think I don’t have much of a social life because I bury my nose in the books!
Sandy:
I tend to foray into book talk if people initiate them. Otherwise I am very well aware how far I can steal the whole conversation with books. So I have refrained myself. If people want to talk books, I’ll give them the full dose but I rarely initiate book talk. At the coffee shop, I get lots of questions, or at least conversation starters about what I am reading.
Vicki:
That’s good for you. My family doesn’t read much.
Nise’:
I usually chat about books and exchange book ideas with some of my close friends who read.
caite:
At least you can exchange ideas and discuss books with bloggers. I hardly had anyone to talk about books other than a couple people before I started blogging.
Dot:
My friends often make good recommendation as they are familiar with my taste. Otherwise I make my decision based on bloggers’ reviews.
Greg S:
I think it’s so sweet that you and Tom read to each other. I wish I can do the same; at least we read together over coffee.
that’s awesome. i’ve been able to talk about books to some people i wouldn’t normally because of my blog as well. i joined a book club but it’s more for the people than the books- the books are often quite dull! but i love the people and plan to stay. i even made a new best friend there. and we have totally different taste in books.
as far as the hulme and hollinghurst books, it’s really kinda scary how close our tastes are sometimes! good luck with the hulme- i’ll be interested to know what you think.
I’m amazed at the number of people I know who don’t read, who in fact seem to find it amusing that I read all the time. That’s the reason I started the blog–to have people with whom I could share. Even in my RL book club, I think only two of the other women actually enjoy reading.
Marie:
I have always wondered how a librarian’s social reading life is. Since librarians talk books and help patrons with locating books at the job, do they take a break from books when they hang out with friends? Like anything in life, people are what make a party or book club fun.
Priscilla:
Recently, actually yesterday at the coffee shop in the morning, this person walked in with his brand-new (since it’s spotless and glowing white) Kindle. Two cups of coffee later, he still hasn’t turned it on and left. I am amazed how many people who have the gadget but don’t read!
[...] Discussion from the many participatory bloggers revealed that, while in some cases, readers have found a way to reach out to each other in the non-virtual, real-life world through book clubs and the like, there are still many who are frustrated by the lack of [...]
I am a member of a book club, mainly to get ideas and to read books I would not normally choose. It is also a very social group, and for some members, reading the book is seen as optional. I go to literary events when they are run by the local book shops, colleges, university and libraries. There is also a local writer’s group. Some people at work, casual friends and acquaintance also read and this is the trigger for interesting discussions.
The area where I find no interest and no support, is poetry. Reading, while not always understood, is seen as a socially acceptable activity. Poetry on the other hand is believed to be deviant.
The lack of understanding or acceptance of poetry does trouble me. In response, once a year (around the time of my birthday) I send a poem I have written to all friend, contacts and associates. I think at least once a year everyone should read a poem.