Tell Me Something Tuesday was hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings, but she has (temporarily?) stopped blogging. So a group of us that had been doing posts (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Karen from For What It’s Worth, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About and me) decided to get together, come up with some more topics and keep the meme going.Michelle made us a logo and we’re off and running. For more details, check out this post where I reintroduced the meme.
I can be sporadic, but when I do join in I will always share next week’s topic at the end of the post. So, today is about…
Do you like to read with others (buddy reads, readalongs, bookclubs, etc)?
YES! I LOVE IT!
About 5 or 6 years I joined my first book club. I had met Felicia The Geeky Blogger in the blogosphere while I was living in St. Louis for Grad School. But when I moved back home to Dallas-Fort Worth, where she also lives, she invited me to join two book clubs she co-hosted. I ended up only regularly attending one of the book clubs – but I grew to love it and the members so much. Some very dear friends I met at the Cover Girls book club. We attend signings together and have a yearly Christmas Party. Most the members attended my baby shower and, though COVID has complicated our ability to see each other (especially since it was already harder as a new mom), I still stay in touch and try to join in virtually from time-to-time. Since then, I’ve joined another local book club (though I haven’t attended since COVID sadly) with a bunch of local school librarians.
And in March of 2020 our COYER Reading Challenge responded to the stress in our awesome community by launching a social element to our reading challenge. So we started a monthly book club which I moderate/host. We read 1 Young Adult and 1 Adult book in a selected genre each month and have a Facebook Rooms chat the last Sunday of each month. In addition, we piggy backed on Anne’s Psy-Changling Readalong and the Sunday following each review date (see post for schedule) I moderate/host a Facebook Rooms chat about the book. You’re welcome to join both BTW, click the links for info!
AND we also introduced Buddy Reading to our COYER Reading Challenge, actually back in 2019. I was excited to try it, but also hesitant because I’m a slow reader sometimes. But it’s turned out to be one of my favorite ways to read. I almost always am in the middle of at least 1 buddy read, if not more. This year I’ve buddy read at least 15 books (I say at least, because I have a Goodreads shelf where I try to remember to track buddy reads, but I’m not certain I’ve remembered each of them).
I find that reading with others takes reading to a new level for me. I’m more thoughtful about what I’m reading, because I want to share thoughts with the person I’m reading with… or have comments to bring to the discussion in book club/readalong chat. And I also get so much out of their observations, thoughts, and questions. If you haven’t tried it yet, I really recommend joining in to a group or a buddy read (and COYER is a great way to do that, if you’re interested).
That’s awesome! I tend to be a discuss AFTER reading person myself.
Karen @For What It’s Worth
“I find that reading with others takes reading to a new level for me. I’m more thoughtful about what I’m reading, because I want to share thoughts with the person I’m reading with”
Exactly! And isn’t it fun when you try and speculate where the book is going, only to have the author pull the rug from under your feet? 😂
I’ve never been into reading with others but most of my blogging buddies don’t read the same genre as I do.
That’s neat about touching base with Felicity like that. I’ve enjoyed Buddy Reading and duo reviewing because it makes me more thoughtful of what I read, too.
yes you said it all here. I can’t always buddy read with people but I enjoy it with you.
Buddy reads are great! I’m actually reading Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost with a friend right now and also doing a readalong of The Odyssey.