Is this stupid???
 

Over winter break, I decided to do some reading, but of classic books. I'm currently finishing "The Fountainhead" and I realized that I haven't read a lot of books that "educated" people should be reading... SOOOOO I was thinking of starting a book club. Like, picking one book a month and meeting at the end of the month to discuss it. Do you think people would actually participate in it? I would pick cool books, but GOOD books that people should have read! What do you think?

That's not stupid at all. I think it's a great idea! One of my friends is starting a book club in January. We're going to read books by various female authors. Best of luck with your club! :)

I am starting a book club for my sorority this semester. I have never belonged to a book club before but I have read a lot of books so if you want any suggestions or want to give me any suggestions please do.

Thanks!

Re: Is this stupid???
 

I think it's a great idea, however, I will tell you that in all likelihood, you will spend the first 45 minutes to an hour discussing the book (if even that long) and then you will spend the rest of the time, discussing life, relationships, etc. (i.e. gossiping!) That's how it's been in all of the book clubs that my various friends belong to! :D

This is a very good idea! In fact, you might even want to let each "member" of your book club get a chance to pick a book so that you're all reading things that appeal to different audiences.

I think it's an awesome idea!!!

I have a group of friends that we all have very similar tastes in books and movies. We pass books around and talk about them, but have never formed a club. Might be a cool thing though. I think anything that gets people to read good literature is wonderful.

GREAT IDEA! I wish I could be in it!

Being well read
 

Being well read is an excellent idea. The more that you read,
the better your vocabulary will become,
the more culturally literate that you will become,
and the more enhanced that your analytical thought processes
will become.
:D
AOIISilver

WOO HOO!! I'm glad you guys think its a good idea! Does anyone have any ideas for the books? All I have thought of is "White Oleander" but it was made into a movie so I don't know if people will want to read it. I was also thinking of something like Little Women but I don't know if anyone would actually want to read that. Any suggestions???

PhiSigFly, isn't The Fountainhead an awesome book? I would love to read my copy again if it wasn't so freaking huge and my attention span seemed to completely die during my senior year of high school.

If ya'll liked The Fountainhead, you'll love Atlas Shrugged.

I've read White Oleander and it's an awesome book! I haven't seen the movie yet- waiting for it to come out on video- but the trailer was interesting and that's what made me want to read the book. I couldn't put it down.

Only other suggestion I have if you can find it, and if you can handle some explicit writing, is Amy Sohn's "Run Catch Kiss." It's a great book about the life of Amy Sohn (a writer for all sorts of New York magazines), and it was her first book. That all depends on if you're interested though.

Good luck with your club!

Not at all!
 

The Fountainhead is one of my all-time favorite books, it actually inspired me to become an architect. :)

The book club idea sounds really cool. You're considering having books that are semi-classics, not typical trade paperbacks, right? I think that's a great idea--either way you go. I always felt that there should be a list of books to read if you want to consider yourself culturally literate.

Hey! My book club spends about 15-20 minutes discussing the book, and the rest of the time chatting about other things! We usually try to meet for dinner or drinks one night a month. We also bring a list of good books we've read or heard about to the "meeting". It is great fun, and although we don't always spend much time talking about the book, I always know what to look for the next time I'm in the bookstore! Also - most of the larger bookstores (Barnes and Nobles, Borders, etc.) have bookclub questions to contemplate for popular books.

A book club is a good idea. Maybe you can join a book club that already exists through your local library, church, temple, or bookstore. Good luck! :)

PhiSigFly,

Do you want to stick to "classic" books only? Or a mix? If you want to do some more modern works, I'd wholeheartedly recommend The Virgin Suicides. It is short enough that people can fit it into their schedules, but there's enough in it to talk about for weeks.

Thanks guys! I've heard from a few other people that "She's Come Undone" is awesome! I think that its going to be our first book!!

Atlas Shrugged
 

I never did get all the way through it. One of my suitemates had a huge hardback copy of it. We used to take turns carrying it around because we thought it gave us "intellectual tone."

I recommend anything by Jane Austen. Most people just think they're sweet, but they totally miss how she's making fun of the entire social structure of her society. It's hilarious!

"Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan. Really, anything by Amy Tan. She's amazing, and she gives a look at women in Chinese/Chinese-American culture that is beautiful and realistic, yet open to a Western audience. She is one of my favourite authors.

I still reccomend Harry Potter. It's J-fiction, so it's easy to read, but I know college professors who sit around and analyse the book to death. Very fun, whimsical and just a good read.

~Emma

Book Club
 

I'll second that on the Jane Austen. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, which I happen to be reading right now. good luck with your book club.

Courtney