Book club pressure
I recently read an article in The Week that summarized an interview with novelist Francine Prose, conducted by TheAtlantic.com. Ms. Prose argues that "no one knows how to read books anymore." She says that when book club members read a book, "the whole time you're thinking, 'I have to have an opinion on this and I am going to have to defend it to these people'." She continued, "The whole notion of being swept away by a book pretty much goes out the window."
How has reading a book club selection changed the way in which you read? Do you find yourself reading the book like it's homework? Do you view it as "a way to be deeply affected or transported with delight" as Ms. Prose suggests we should?
How has reading a book club selection changed the way in which you read? Do you find yourself reading the book like it's homework? Do you view it as "a way to be deeply affected or transported with delight" as Ms. Prose suggests we should?
See, we're all too pressured to formulate a good comment for this entry.
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I don't think it affects me any more than reading something for homework ever affected me. I kind of like being able to share an opinion, though.
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I also read this article (I think The Week should be aded to the recommended reading category! Thanks Jane for the subscription) and agree with the author that a book club changes the way you read a book. But for me it is in a good way because I have honestly read several books that I have forgotten I have read. So the book club just makes me focus on the overall scope of the book a little more and get a little more out of my reading. I belive you will still get swept away if a book is good enough, book club or not.
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