Book Clubs
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
August 30, 2008 12:23pm CST
I have held memberships in up to five book clubs at once in the past, but due to living on a budget I decided that some of them had to go. I am now down to two clubs, The Literary Guild, which offers a variety of reading material, and Rhapsody Book Club, which is geared more towards the Romance fiction genre. These two clubs work very well in satisfying my need to read. I really do miss my Stephen King Book Club membership though. Are you currently a member of any book club? Have you had a book club membership in the past? I first discovered book clubs over thirty years ago, and have maintained a membership in at least one for all these years.
5 people like this
15 responses
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
30 Aug 08
I am a member of The Litery Guild myself and also The Mystery Guild book clubs. I need to call and cancel one of these myself. I wanted to join the Stephen King book club myself at one time. I still might but right now I am still paying what I owe to The Mystery Guild book club. I get a little behind on paying them. Once I do I am going to cancel them. I enjoy reading as soon as I hear about a new book by either Stephen Kind, Dean Koontz or Iris Johnson I want to read them.
2 people like this
@jimmymormn (25)
• China
31 Aug 08
Wow,you've got so many points which really make me envy you! Reding has always been considered as a good habit,So stick to it!
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
We share a similar taste in writers, Shaun, and I couldn't agree with you more that as soon as they release a new book I want to get it immediately. I had also fallen behind in one of my clubs, but just caught up on the payments. I think people who don't read have a hard time understanding why people like you and me have to read. Reading is an essential part of my life.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
31 Aug 08
i did belong to one a long time ago. i go to the library & friends & i swat out books all the time. i use to never go in any place that sold books & not buy one. they are like everything , prices have gone out of sight.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
That's quite true, ANTIQUE, prices are high, but the clubs give you a nice discount if you are unable to physically visit the library on a regular basis.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
31 Aug 08
that's true but still expensive & i have no outlet for them once i read them other than to share w/friends that like to read. our library did deliver books to your home. i don't know whether they still do that or not i had a little friend that was disabled & they brought her books which is a very nice thing for them to do. so far i can still get to the library but u never know when that might stop.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I plan to follow up by calling the library tomorrow, ANTIQUE, to find out if they have any service available for the disabled in my area.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I am familiar with ebay, gabs, but find it somewhat daunting because I've never used it. Maybe you could email me some pointers.
2 people like this
@whittby (3072)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I've had bookclub membershps in the past - Doubleday and a mystery one too. I loved having those books arrive in the mail. However, I read way too fast and would get done with the book in no time.
I'm willing to bet you treasure and keep your books. If I were that way, I would still belong to a book club.
I read constantly, but don't like to keep the books. I go online at the library and have a bunch of books reserved at all times. I visit the library at least once a week. Love the libraries here.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I have an incredible inventory of books on hand, whittby, and even though I know I need to get rid of many of them I am quite lazy. I do so wish that I could visit the library like I used to in the past. We even had a Bookmobile that came around and I don't know why it was discontinued.
1 person likes this
@kenchiprincess (5296)
• Philippines
31 Aug 08
Hi there, yeah i was a member of one of the bookclubs in my place before. i enjoy the benefits of joining a book club for you have an opportunity to be up to date with the latest books and at the same time you are not paying a lot since you are simply renting it. :) Though now that i am working i could be that active any longer. But i make sure i do still read books whenever i am free. :)
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I always make time to read during my day, kenchi, even if it's just a chapter or two while I'm in the bathroom.
1 person likes this
@deem1977 (242)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I have never joined a book club because I have no more room to store books in my house and no more room for book shelves. I like reading and I use the library a good deal though not so often since I have been on MyLot. LOL By using the library to borrow books, I figure that I am saving money as well as space in my house. Even though book clubs save money over book stores, I still can't afford to spend all of that money on books that I can borrow for free from the library. However, I am glad that you are enjoying your book clubs. I am sure it is convenient and a good way to pick your next book (from the catalog they send for you to make your selection).
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I would not use the book clubs, deem, if it was convenient for me to get to the library, but you have given me the idea to try and schedule a trip there, maybe once a month.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I have wanted to be a part of a book club, but there are not very many good book clubs in my area.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Some of the larger ones like Literary Guild and Doubleday might be available in your area, rogue. Maybe you could visit their websites to inquire.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Sep 08
I've been a member of several book clubs over the years but never for long. The books are way too expensive. A decent paperback costs about $15 in Australia...hard covers are around $40. I buy most of my books in second hand shops or at sales.
I worked in bookshops for many years so I have heaps of books, unread, on my shelves...enough to last me an age. I don't read much these days.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I think I have belong to almost all the book clubs at one time or another, I love to read. Right now Im a member of Woodworkers and Homestlye books. I just cancelled 3 bookclubs this year. It can get expensive. So I have been going to book sales and such instead more. I have also joined a place on line where you can trade books and things.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I will cancel my memberships in some of them from time to time, Ithink, but they usually will lure me back eventually -despite my resolve to remain book-free.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I am also a member of The Literary Guild and was at one stage a member of a mystery bookclub that I can't remember the name of. I cancelled that after a few months, as it just got too expensive for me to belong to two different bookclubs. I haven't bought anything for a while as I've been taking books out of the library instead. Budget is a bit tight this year.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I guess books are my biggest vice, maddysmommy, so I sacrifice in other areas in order to buy a couple of books occasionally. They can be expensive.
@crazy_ol_lady (1014)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Hi worldwise,
I have been with several book clubs over the years. My last one, Zooba, has now become BOM2. Every month I get a book of my choice for only 9.95. I also get books from several friends. We share our books. It helps to have several people that have the same interests. We have discovered different catergories to read. Right now we are into paranormal romance.
Have a nice day..
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I love paranormal romance, crazy! It is one of my favorite genres. Christine Feehan, S. Kenyon, and Lora Leigh are some of my favorite writers. I have received offers to join Zooba, but always had too much on my plate at the time. I just might check them out. Happy reading!
@freefogging (356)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Years ago I was in a few bookclubs,then I found a used bookstore in my town that I could buy books for .50 . So I started buying used books to read and when I was done with them I would take them to work in a box and the girl would love it. Free books for them and a good deal for me. I still do that,only now I buy from the flea market and when I'm done with them,I box them up (after my kids have gone through them)and my husband takes them to work for eveyone to read. When they are done they pass them along to people they know that like to read. Good idea huh?
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I used to pass mine along to family members and friends, freefogging, until everyone said, "Enough." None of them share my obsession with reading. I tried to donate some to my neighborhood library, but was told that I would have to go through the main library which is located downtown, and that was just too much trouble for me.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I have received offers for the first two clubs, dogsnme, but I feel that I already have too many irons in the fire, so to speak. I can get books from those genres from my regular clubs also.
@monkeysay (228)
• Singapore
31 Aug 08
Nope, I haven't been with any book club.
I am a mostly silent reader.
1 person likes this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
1 Sep 08
I tried the book club thing a few years back, but found it way too expensive. I found that I could buy any books I wanted on sale at a fraction of the price I was paying.