Obviously this question only applies to the people who have stopped coming!
Just tonight only two of us showed up, which seemed a real shame as there were so many of us when we originally started it that there were complaints the discussion was too large and not everyone got a chance to speak!
Obviously there are reasons why sometimes you just can't make it even if you really want to go... but I was just wondering if maybe there was a common reason some of you had stopped going altogether.
eg
- the weather (in which case, why don't we meet at a pub, and then head down to Finsbury Park?)
- the books (too many? too difficult? too easy? not interesting enough? in which case, shall we do a poll for the next one)
- the timing (too early? some people haven't been able to make it from work... would 8pm be better?)
- the group (not everyone feels welcome? wasn't as fun going as you thought it would be? discussion was boring?)
- too busy/too much commitment (in which case, fair enough!)
- didn't manage to finish the book (does this really matter if you have something to say about it?)
any other reason?
It would be good to know, because I don't know about you, but I thought it was really cool the way we managed to start this book club, and I would really like to try to keep it going!
Might be easier to make this a poll so you can vote anonymously but I don't know how to do that...
Comments
I'm new on this forum but have been following it for quite some time. This may not be the appropriate message under this thread but I am interested in joining the bookclub, unfortunately I can't do Mondays. I understand that you may not want to change the day just for one person, but if more people agree on another evening during the week I'd be definitely up for it.
I didn't come last night as I had the most outrageous hangover as a result of too much red wine on Sunday (always a mistake!), and after just about scraping through the day at work I just didn't think I could muster the energy to drag myself out again.
Also, I didn't really enjoy the books as they were both a bit too gloomy for me although that wouldn't usually stop me from trotting along as different opinions often make for good discussion.
I would prefer 8pm if that suits everyone else as it can be a bit of a rush to get home in time to go out again for 7.30. I missed the one before this due to a work meeting dragging on.
It would be good to do a poll of some kind for the choice of book, as I'm never organised enough to bring along a choice for next time and ideas always jump out at me afterwards. One that I had thought of is 'Water for Elephants' by Sara Gruen.
I do think that it's good that we managed to start this book club and I too would like it to keep going. The summer is always a time when numbers dwindle though - sunny evenings, holidays etc.
I'm keen to hear what other people think.
I'd be in favour of moving it to another night if it means more people can make it. I can do any day except Tuesday as I have to work on Tuesday evenings. Moving to 8pm sounds like a good idea too. Perhaps we could vary the day if it means more people are likely to come?
I don't mind discussing gloomy books but I am up for any suggestion.
It may also help if we met at a pub with a garden for the summer months. Sorry old diary your pub is great, however when it's sunny it is nice to be outside. I'm on holiday for next month's but will come in August. I picked June's choice and it was very depressing and when I was reading it I thought oh no this will depress everyone! Sorry. Anyway I agree it's something we should keep up and am I am confident people will keep coming.
Angelab, I really loved Lullabies, was glad you chose it!
I am totally cool with wherever people want to meet up, but I do think that winter is nicer for a book club.
Most people are out enjoying the sun during what little we get of it !
An outside option is a much better option during the summer months The fullback though is often packed and very noisy when its nice, bearing in mind that it is one of the only decent beer gardens in the area ! (Yes I truly wish I had a beer garden)
Adam
Adam, I truly wish you had a garden there too.
This month's book does sound good but I'm afraid I can't make either of the dates you've mentioned. Mondays are normally much better for me but I'll just play it by ear each month. I do think I'll come more in the autumn/winter months. I'll keep an eye out for what you set for the August book and what the date is in case I can come.