Did too much democratization kill the BOOK CLUB subforum?

Dr. Drib · 02-08-2025, 07:58 AM

OK, with a purposefully chosen incendiary title (albeit one meant to generate a positive number of thoughts and comments), let's proceed and try to have some thoughts on why the BOOK CLUB is currently in a somewhat moribund state.

Disclosure: I really never participated in the discussions over there. For me, it seemed way too complicated and involved - and too drawn out. Too, with some exceptions, the choice of titles suggested/chosen didn't particularly interest me. It's difficult to fully explain, but I was always interested in the other forums. Too, my 'duties' at Mobileread (interpret that as you will) were more involved in other areas, so I prioritized other discussions and events rather than get involved in the BOOK CLUB. I also realize that my choice of books does not really align with the majority of members. As you can see, there were a multiplicity of reasons,

Mobileread has hundreds (if not thousands of people who read), so why doesn't a website that includes the concept of reading have a moribund sub-forum with a limited number of contributors? Look at the latest few posts made in any number of threads:

I know for a fact that a number of people worked hard to invigorate the BOOK CLUB and to make it a viable option at Mobileread.

Thank you to those members and Moderators who contributed their time and energy.

A discussion such as this may help revive this sub-forum that is beloved by a few members and Moderators. To be clear: The BOOK CLUB is NOT dead.

Here's the link: Go and investigate and explore:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=245

issybird · 02-08-2025, 06:55 PM

I loved the book clubs at MR and I was a heavy participant in the three main iterations. I like book clubs; it's talking about my favorite thing. Beyond that, I read more deeply when I know I'm going to be discussing a book which is very rewarding.

I've been thinking about this since I saw this thread and I think there are three main reasons why there's no longer an active book club. That said, I think the main clubs were successful and had good runs.

Structure. Too much structure and a club collapses under its weight; too little and nothing ever happens. We kept tweaking and tweaking the structure at the various clubs, but eventually it stopped working. And of course everyone has a different opinion on the ideal format!
Commitment. You need a core group that will always show up. Droppers-in are nice, but they won't sustain a club over time.
Attrition. By the nature of things, people are going to drop out, but it's hard to pull in new punters. Groups by their nature take on a "closed" aspect and are hard to crack, no matter how much they want new blood.

Going forward? Much as I'd love to see a new book club, I'm not sure there are the numbers at MR to sustain one anymore. While that doesn't mean that book discussion has to be dead, it's the book club structure that has people proposing books and showing up in a timely manner.

So. I guess I have two points if people want to discuss books here (which I would love to see).

The commonality of interest at MR seems to be SF/F. Propose a book in the Reading Recommendations thread! Or maybe something in the Deals thread will catch people's eye! I think ad hoc discussions are probably the way forward.
That said, remember those MGM musicals with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney? "Let's put on a show!" Anyone is welcome to start a book club. And if you want some help especially in regard to things a mod can do, only ask.

jackm8 · 02-17-2025, 07:51 PM

Imho, site needs a reset. Put everything into archive threads, and start afreash with empty and smaller sub forum sections. That way, site traffic is directed, and less dispersed. It's a truly daunting task navigating various areas of this forum, and then when you unearth threads aged years, it gives you little incentive and hope in starting another thread there.

Catlady · 02-18-2025, 12:55 PM

Just thinking out loud here. Instead of (or in addition to) formal book clubs, what about a dedicated discussion section for various book genres--Classics, General Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers, History, etc.--where folks could start a thread on specific title. Anyone interested in that title could just join in whenever.

That's pretty vague, and I could see it becoming unwieldy. But?

02-08-2025, 07:58 AM	#1
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,264 Karma: 58706883 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Did too much democratization kill the BOOK CLUB subforum? OK, with a purposefully chosen incendiary title (albeit one meant to generate a positive number of thoughts and comments), let's proceed and try to have some thoughts on why the BOOK CLUB is currently in a somewhat moribund state. Disclosure: I really never participated in the discussions over there. For me, it seemed way too complicated and involved - and too drawn out. Too, with some exceptions, the choice of titles suggested/chosen didn't particularly interest me. It's difficult to fully explain, but I was always interested in the other forums. Too, my 'duties' at Mobileread (interpret that as you will) were more involved in other areas, so I prioritized other discussions and events rather than get involved in the BOOK CLUB. I also realize that my choice of books does not really align with the majority of members. As you can see, there were a multiplicity of reasons, Mobileread has hundreds (if not thousands of people who read), so why doesn't a website that includes the concept of reading have a moribund sub-forum with a limited number of contributors? Look at the latest few posts made in any number of threads: I know for a fact that a number of people worked hard to invigorate the BOOK CLUB and to make it a viable option at Mobileread. Thank you to those members and Moderators who contributed their time and energy. A discussion such as this may help revive this sub-forum that is beloved by a few members and Moderators. To be clear: The BOOK CLUB is NOT dead. Here's the link: Go and investigate and explore: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=245 Last edited by Dr. Drib; 02-08-2025 at 08:06 AM.

02-08-2025, 06:55 PM	#2
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,041 Karma: 232487499 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	I loved the book clubs at MR and I was a heavy participant in the three main iterations. I like book clubs; it's talking about my favorite thing. Beyond that, I read more deeply when I know I'm going to be discussing a book which is very rewarding. I've been thinking about this since I saw this thread and I think there are three main reasons why there's no longer an active book club. That said, I think the main clubs were successful and had good runs. Structure. Too much structure and a club collapses under its weight; too little and nothing ever happens. We kept tweaking and tweaking the structure at the various clubs, but eventually it stopped working. And of course everyone has a different opinion on the ideal format! Commitment. You need a core group that will always show up. Droppers-in are nice, but they won't sustain a club over time. Attrition. By the nature of things, people are going to drop out, but it's hard to pull in new punters. Groups by their nature take on a "closed" aspect and are hard to crack, no matter how much they want new blood. Going forward? Much as I'd love to see a new book club, I'm not sure there are the numbers at MR to sustain one anymore. While that doesn't mean that book discussion has to be dead, it's the book club structure that has people proposing books and showing up in a timely manner. So. I guess I have two points if people want to discuss books here (which I would love to see). The commonality of interest at MR seems to be SF/F. Propose a book in the Reading Recommendations thread! Or maybe something in the Deals thread will catch people's eye! I think ad hoc discussions are probably the way forward. That said, remember those MGM musicals with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney? "Let's put on a show!" Anyone is welcome to start a book club. And if you want some help especially in regard to things a mod can do, only ask.

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02-17-2025, 07:51 PM	#3
jackm8 Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 3000000 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: none	Imho, site needs a reset. Put everything into archive threads, and start afreash with empty and smaller sub forum sections. That way, site traffic is directed, and less dispersed. It's a truly daunting task navigating various areas of this forum, and then when you unearth threads aged years, it gives you little incentive and hope in starting another thread there.

02-18-2025, 12:55 PM	#4
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,399 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Just thinking out loud here. Instead of (or in addition to) formal book clubs, what about a dedicated discussion section for various book genres--Classics, General Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers, History, etc.--where folks could start a thread on specific title. Anyone interested in that title could just join in whenever. That's pretty vague, and I could see it becoming unwieldy. But?