Random House launches ReadersPlace for book clubs

Alexander Turcic · 05-21-2009, 06:56 PM

Maureen from Random House just dropped us a line to let us know that her company has officially launched ReadersPlace, an online community where book clubs can interact and have live chats with their favorite authors.

From the press release:

Quote:

The Random House Group is launching ReadersPlace (www.readersplace.co.uk) - an innovative social networking site for book clubs. ReadersPlace provides complete online guides for book clubs and enables users to interact with each other and like-minded groups around the globe.

Friends separated by geography or time restraints can meet up virtually online to swap thoughts and ideas about their favourite books. They can also webchat live and direct with authors – giving an extra special new dimension to book club discussions with unique and firsthand insight into featured titles.

Over · 05-22-2009, 03:35 PM

Sounds like an excelent initiative.

bhartman36 · 05-22-2009, 06:13 PM

It does sound like a good idea, but looking at the page, I think the execution is mediocre, at best.

It seems like one of those scenarios where someone says, "Hey, everyone's got themselves one of them thar Interwebs now! We should get us on one, too!" Instead of having a list of book clubs you can join (irrespective of location), the first thing they have you do is enter where you are. If there are no book clubs near you, the only options you have are joining one of the other 4 groups displayed on the Club page, or starting your own. And then if you want to start your own, you have to give a physical location. What's the point of an online club if you have to give a physical location?

It's a decent germ of an idea, but as implemented, it looks like it's just a way to get people's e-mail addresses for marketing purposes.

guyanonymous · 05-22-2009, 09:30 PM

Alas, the Anarchists Cookbook will not be one of the book groups offered.

NormHart · 05-24-2009, 03:47 PM

Given that Random House is a firm supporter of DRM and has implemented TTS blocking on many of their books I'll give this a pass.

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05-22-2009, 03:35 PM	#2
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	Sounds like an excelent initiative.

05-22-2009, 06:13 PM	#3
bhartman36 Wizard Posts: 1,323 Karma: 1515835 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey, USA Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021)	It does sound like a good idea, but looking at the page, I think the execution is mediocre, at best. It seems like one of those scenarios where someone says, "Hey, everyone's got themselves one of them thar Interwebs now! We should get us on one, too!" Instead of having a list of book clubs you can join (irrespective of location), the first thing they have you do is enter where you are. If there are no book clubs near you, the only options you have are joining one of the other 4 groups displayed on the Club page, or starting your own. And then if you want to start your own, you have to give a physical location. What's the point of an online club if you have to give a physical location? It's a decent germ of an idea, but as implemented, it looks like it's just a way to get people's e-mail addresses for marketing purposes.

05-22-2009, 09:30 PM	#4
guyanonymous Guru Posts: 692 Karma: 27532 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Ebookwise 1150 / 1200	Alas, the Anarchists Cookbook will not be one of the book groups offered.

05-24-2009, 03:47 PM	#5
NormHart Semper Carpe Bufo Posts: 537 Karma: 21676 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Napa Valley, California Device: Kindle2 & Kindle3	Given that Random House is a firm supporter of DRM and has implemented TTS blocking on many of their books I'll give this a pass.

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