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I would love to hear from anyone involved in or interested in prison reading groups. A colleague and I have been involved for a number of years and are now trying to spread the word and encourage others. We have a website www.prisonreadinggroups.org Do visit it and contact us for more information.

Speaking as an academic librarian, I am wondering about the state of reading in the online era. I am concerned that the culture of the Internet, with its emphasis on skimming and cut-and-paste, is undermining sustained, intensive reading of complex texts. These texts were/are conceived and published in book form - yet often are received/read in electronic form. Is something being "lost in transition?" And are there corresponding impacts on the quality of writing?

I started a bookclub in our small city of 40,000 eight years ago and I know of only two other clubs in town. Sad, but true. We are six similarily aged women and read fiction except for once or twice a year we read non-fiction. We read Margaret Mc Millan's " Paris 1919" and John Ralston Saul's "Reflections of a Siamese Twin" plus some amazing fiction in the last two years. I've found that my reaction to a book was highly dependant on my physical and emotional state,perhaps even my spiritual state. If I was in a bad space I found it difficult to enjoy the book or add to the discussion, something I had not thought about but makes sense. Also what I have just read,for example, I and another member,without each other knowing both read Anne Marie Mc Donald's "As the Crow Flies" and then turned our reading to the club choice of Carol Shield's "Unless" and we were the only two who did not like the book. Mc Donald had us on such an emotional high that Shield''s story just didn't evoke that same level of intensity. I'm grateful to have found your site and enjoyed the other blogs.

I think the pleasure of book clubs varies a great deal. The people obviously matter, but also the location, the time you have available, the comfort of your surroundings...

You see, I live in Reading which is pretty empty of any culture whatsoever but I work for a publisher in Oxford so, when I was told there was a book club at work, I thought, great! like-minded people talking about books in the most bookish city in the world - what could be better? Unfortunately the reality was that the club meets over lunch in the staff canteen in an open plan building so we are trying to squeeze onto tiny tables, surrounded by noise and other people we know, have at most 45 minutes together and being at work already means it is too easy for, you know, work to prevent you from attending.

It's a real shame because I love talking about books. I have certain friendships formed entirely on this shared love. I'm leaving Reading soon so hopefully my new home will be near a 'real' book club!

Great site by the way.

Hello Colleen.

Thanks for posting.

We've just finished our round of focus groups in the Maritimes, and have met many wonderful readers. A few of them are members of book clubs, and some of those book clubs are looking for members. I'll try to get in touch with some of them and direct them to your blog entry.

In the meantime, you might want to check out the book clubs that meet at your local library branch. Or, you could ask a few of your reading friends to form a group with you. They ask a few more friends, and those friends ask a few more. Then, walaa! You've got a book club.

Again, thanks for blogging.