Out of the Ordinary
Do you know of a book club, either virtual or in your community, that selects a book based on content rather than how many reviews it has received on Amazon? If so, I want in.
No Thanks, Hollywood
Because I’m an emerging author, I look for others like me. I don’t always read obscure works, but overly hyped or mainstream books turn me off. Like the books with stickers advertising ‘Now a Major Movie.' I usually avoid them. A book should stand on its own, not with help from Hollywood, IMHO.
In the Rough
It's not that those novels aren’t worth reading. I know I’ll get around to reading those anyway, for they are unavoidable. What I really enjoy, though, is finding a gem among the rough. Something that was buried among the heaps and heaps of published works that come out nearly daily. I’ve been searching for a book club that provides that kind of reference, yet I haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for.
Surprise! (not)
In the meantime, I have discovered that the Internet (no surprise) is teaming with reading inspiration. Instagram is an excellent source of authors I’ve never heard of. Similarly, places like Tumblr, iTunes, and, of course, book-related websites like GoodReads are great resources.
Social Media
A friend told me about the Tumblr Reblog Book Club. It has an interesting way of involving readers. By encouraging them to post in the many forms of media that Tumblr allows, followers can uniquely share how they feel about the recommended book. Currently, they are reviewing Ruta Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea. Unaware of this author prior to this book club, I enjoyed this read and look forward to more by Ruta.
[Salt to the Sea, Ruta Sepetys]
Online Book Clubs
Another great find is Reese Witherspoon’s book club. It surprised me. Due to her acting credentials, I assumed it must be filled with work related to those roles. But, I found a few reads I wouldn’t have picked up, like Rick Bragg’s Somebody Told Me…, a book filled with stories he covered over his career as a journalist with significant newsprint outlets. Typically, I stick to fictional works. Yet, I gave this a chance based on the recommendation and was grateful for the opportunity to expand my horizons. Witherspoon has an associated Instagram (@rwbookclub) feed filled with great pics of books displayed in colorful, playful ways. The imagery is impressive and makes me want to redecorate my boring bookshelves. I admire her use of multiple avenues (social media, book marketing sites) to advertise her love of a good read, no pun intended.
[Somebody Told Me, Rick Bragg]
Podcasts
I use iBooks for my e-reader, yet I hadn't considered looking through Podcasts for reading recommendations until an online article pointed me in the direction of Reading With Robin. Besides Robin's weekly (Tuesdays) witty dialogue, you'll find it a fantastic resource for reading suggestions. I’ve discovered a couple of previously unheard of (by me) authors, including Estep Nagy (We Shall All Not Sleep) and Jill Kargman (Sprinkle Glitter on My Grave). Jill is a TV personality on the Bravo network. Since I don't have cable, I had not had the opportunity to learn about any of her work prior to the podcast recommendation. Kargman is just LOL funny. And Estep’s book! It was intriguing and entertaining, with a beautiful setting in Maine, which is one of those wonderful places where it's easy to imagine thrilling and suspenseful things happening.
[We Shall Not All Sleep, Estep Nagy]
Websites
Andrew Luck’s Book Club (https://andrewluckbookclub.com/) is a pleasant surprise. He is an American Football player for the Indianapolis Colts and loves to read. The nice thing about this club is that in addition to a children’s book selection (the rookie book pick) and an adult one (the veteran book pick), he also produces a podcast. I haven't had a chance to listen to the podcast, but I have enjoyed picks from both his rookie selection for the kids and the veteran selection.
Comments
How about you? Do you have a favorite online book club, podcast, or other social way of discovering new books? Have an emerging author you'd like to rave about? Leave a comment below!
~ KTG
© K.T. George 2017 | This post was first seen on ktgeorge.com
There are a million book clubs online. Half of them, I haven’t heard of their authors either. Try citylitbooks.com. They are in Chicago and have an obscure lit book club!