GRAB(ook) Club – an Online Book Club for People with Limited Time

Here’s the problem with book clubs.  You join one, and it seems like it’s going to be great.  And maybe the first book discussion or two is great.  But then you always end up reading something that you grumble through, that you would have never read otherwise and there’s a reason for that — it’s not your type of book.  Sometimes you read this book and no one else bothers to except the one quiet person in the group, so now you’ve read a book you didn’t want to read AND you don’t even really get to discuss it.  This is why I continuously drop out of face-to-face book clubs.

For a long time, I ran Barren Bitches, but I wanted to resurrect an online book club using an even easier format with an even more straightforward read-it-or-don’t-read-it method in order to come together to discuss general fiction and non-fiction.  It’s open to anyone and everyone.

So I present to you, GRAB(ook) Club.  GRAB stands for
Gonna Read Anyway Books.

Meaning, these are the books you were going to read anyway, so you might as well grab it (get it?) and read it now so you can discuss it with others.  Or, if you never had any intention of reading the book choice or you’re too busy to participate in the moment, forget it and wait for the next book because there will always be enough people participating to get a discussion going.  Drop in or drop out depending on your needs/desires so you always have good feelings towards your book club.  It’s a fun space; not a chore.

Participating is simple.

• Look at the book choice each month as it’s posted. (This post serves as the sign-up post for the first book.)

• If you want to read it, leave a comment stating that you’re in.

• On a mid-month Thursday (you can see the dates next to the book list below), post a single question on your blog, no longer than one paragraph.  If you don’t have a blog, no problem.  Post your question to the GRAB(ook) Club Facebook Group or the GRAB(ook) Club GoodReads Group.  Include a link to the book so people who are hearing about the book for the first time can read more and quickly join in the conversation after they read the book.  Of course, those who are participating in the club will be able to comment immediately.  Do not write a long post about the book; it’s just a single question and a link to the book.  That’s it.

• Come back to the main post on this blog that will serve as the virtual living room for our discussion and use the linky tool to add a link to your blog post.  There will be a general link to the Facebook Group and GoodReads Group each time too.

• And then jump from link to link, reading the question and leaving your thoughts in the comment section.  See, the discussion takes place in the comment section vs. needing to prepare a long post.

That’s it.  So no long post to write beforehand, no long post to read the day-of, and the discussion can unfold over many days inside your comment section.

I’ve chosen my book, Measure of Love, to be the inaugural book.  I know this is all sorts of hubris, but so many people have said they’re reading it that I thought this would be an easy way for me to jump into the discussion too.  So no apologies — I’ve picked my own book as the first book.  If you’re reading it anyway, go read it and discuss with us.  Participation in this book club selection counts as two entries in the contest where you will get a character in Apart at the Seams named after you.  If you sign up today to participate in reading/discussing Measure of Love, make sure you go to that contest post and leave a comment there too since every comment counts as one contest entry.  Got it?  Leave two comments if you’re joining: one here (so we know how many are in the group) and one there (so it serves as a contest entry).

If you’re not into reading the first book, no hard feelings, though I hope you’ll join along for a future book.  Here are the upcoming summer books:

• June’s Book: Measure of Love by Melissa Ford (discuss on June 13)
• July’s Book: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (discuss July 18)
• August’s Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (discuss August 15)
• September’s Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (discuss September 12)

So, consider this the sign up for the first book. Who is in for the June book, Measure of Love by Melissa Ford (remember, joining along counts as two entries into the contest to have a character named after you)? Leave a comment below letting me know your intent, and we’ll come back to read each other’s questions (and leave a lot of comments) on June 13th.

Even if you don’t plan to read the first book, please join the Facebook Group or the GoodReads Group or sign up for the email list below so you can be sent reminders twice a month. Or hey, sign up for all three.

Participants in Measure of Love (for June 13th)

• Bereaved and Blessed
• Sticky Feet
• Me Plus One
• Are You Kidding Me?
• The Road Less Travelled
• Biogirl
• Two Adults, One Child
• Lavender Luz
• Better Full Than Empty
• Bionic Mamas
• Two Bees in Love
• CD1 Again
• Queen of the Slipstream
• Slaying, Blogging, Whatever
• Adventures in Writing, Reading & Bookcrossing
• River Run Dry
• The Book Diva’s Reads
• Inconceivable!
• Pepper (on GoodReads/Facebook)
• Linda (on GoodReads/Facebook)
• Anne (on GoodReads/Facebook)
• Amy (on GoodReads/Facebook)
• Jacqueline (on GoodReads/Facebook)