Online Book Club (readers' Group)

I’ve decided to start an online Book Club! Well, actually, I can’t take credit for it myself; my online friend Lucy suggested it. Thing is, I already lead a real-time Readers’ Group and post the discussion summary on my Diary page (last one was Joanne Harris’s Chocolat if you want to read it) and I think it would be interesting if this was extended to online discussion as well. What do you think?

READER PARTICIPATION

I have to be honest, I don’t have time to read any more books than I do at present, so you – my readers – would have to be content with reading the books my real-time Book Club choose. But if you’d like to contribute to the discussion summary by commenting (I’ll make sure a link goes on Mel’s Muse each time so that you can leave a comment, as this isn’t possible on my Diary page) it could be fun.

The book we’re reading at present is The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. It was short-listed for the Mann Booker prize in 2007. I’m only half way through but I’m finding it a really good read: compelling, with a great deal of thought-provoking stuff in it. My Readers’ Group meets on 21^st January 2010 to discuss the book.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

I do hope you’ll join the discussion. Not every book will suit every reader, of course. And although the group I lead has a Christian slant on it, I don’t want that to exclude those of you with a different take on life. As long as it’s not abusive, I’ll include your views on my website. Hope to hear from you soon. If you’ve already read the book, please leave a comment now.

NB: COMMENTS HAVE BEEN DISABLED ON THIS POST. PLEASE GO TO THE FULL DISCUSSION TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENT AND TAKE PART IN THE DEBATE. Thank you.

Here’s how it will work:

1. Every 6 weeks (or thereabouts) I’ll post a reminder on my Diary page for the date and book title of the next Book Club event.
2. You read the book.
3. My real-time Readers’ Group meets to discuss the book.
4. I post the discussion questions and summary on Mel’s Muse.
5. You post your comments on the Discussion Summary on Mel’s Muse.
6. You may make observations on your own opinions of the book; or you may wish to criticise or agree on the summary arrived at by my real-time Readers’ Group.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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