(no subject)

[olivermoss]

* Oh, right, Caitlin Starling is going to be at our horror book club meeting. I really, really need to get The Death of Jane Lawrence read. No wonder I had her on my 'get these authors read' shortlist.

* My bookclubbing has been very disorganized

* I watched the start of a Lady of the Library video. I don't want much of her content, but one on book reccs interested me, because reccs are such a bugbear for me. At the start she talked about her local book clubs fall for online reccs and says she shows up only for snacks and social contact, but wouldn't waste her precious time ever reading the books. I was surprised to see her proclaim that so proudly. People like this have been a problem at my bookclubs. They show up for social contact and free food, but not only have they not read the book, but they had no intention or interest. Not reading the book because the month got away from you, fine. But... literally no interest and there to leech? Know why we've got such nice spaces and other things for the clubs? Local bookstores are covering the costs . And people are like 'oh, y'all have the nice steampunky bar at Kennedy School that was made out of the old boiler room and cake and people to bother to refill my social meter' Like, fuck off, y'all're literally crowding us out of some spaces, and driving off the people we want to interact with.

Also, hot take but as much as I think booktok trends are typically terrible, I like reading what people are reading if it's making reading social. Unless I have an objection to the book, I don't care if it's a bit crappy. I mean, it's not an issue with my book clubs and honestly I think for me it's a great way to ~break free of the algorithm~ and get better reccs, but even if it wasn't, like if you want to be part of a thing be willing to at least have a little buy in to what's going on. If you don't want to expend even a drop of emotional energy or time, maybe at least fucking pretend to not be that person?

* Guild Wars 2 News: Tyria Pride once again smashed fundraising records for Rainbow Railroad. Love to see it. Also, in 2024 I spend half a year farming legendaries for it and my donation was the majority of the most hype prizes and also did a big dono. This year, I didn't/couldn't do either. So, it was nice to see it thriving even without me.

* Breaking Guild Wars 2 News: The new expac was announced today and... the website didn't go live in time and when it did it was half in English and half in French. Also, the morning patch notes spoiled stuff before the announcement. It wouldn't be ANet if they didn't have a bunch of tech issues with announcements.

Comments

[shipperslist]

At the start she talked about her local book clubs fall for online reccs and says she shows up only for snacks and social contact, but wouldn't waste her precious time ever reading the books.

Wait--she didn't read them because she's against the very idea of online recs?

I mean, I could (and definitely would) draw the line on SJM and other booktok romantasy wonders but I'd be so very curious to hear WHY people might think they're the best thing ever.

[olivermoss]

I have a personal nope list when it comes to authors. I wouldn't find trying to join booktok to be a social thing. But like, for a book club it's about like exploring the world of books as a social group. And obvs some groups are more specialized, like my horror book club, but if a new horror book was taking the world by storm I'd be interested in why. Even if I thought it was weak and terrible, I'd want to be able to chat about it not sit there thinking other people wasted their time, while eating their snacks. If I decided to hard pass, I'd just skip that month

[mistressofmuses]

Oh, that's exciting about Caitlin Starling being there. I really liked The Luminous Dead, and I have The Starving Saints on my TBR. The Death of Jane Lawrence might get added on at some point, too!

That proud-ass take about "ugh, I wouldn't stoop to reading a bookclub book, I just want the free food" is infuriating. Like... yeah, if you have to nope out of a book because you *really* don't like it, or your life was a mess some month, or you ran out of time and didn't finish it, then fine. There are legit reasons to be a part of the club and not read one of the books. But going into it with the intent not to participate on the whole purpose of the club is obnoxious and a douchebag move. (Plus yeah; that does end up screwing over the clubs themselves, when it takes advantage of the hosts.)

[olivermoss]

I have Luminous Dead and it's on my TBR, but I haven't gotten to it yet. It was a bookclub pick that was riiiight before I joined I think. I will finish Death of Jane Lawrence in time, just got to stay on track!

And even if a person just wants social and free food, why say it? Why not try to blend a little? Find a summary online. But like, I know why. They don't want to be part of things, they just see us as a resource, a way to refill social meter.

[mistressofmuses]

I'm glad you were able to finish the book for the club!

But right? Maybe at least pretend that you care about the thing that everyone is there for, if you're trying to mine it for social meter points. Wouldn't you get more out of it by at least coming armed with a wiki summary? You're right, of course: they just don't want to be part of things, it's just yet another thing to try and use without giving anything (even attention, interest, connection) back. Which is crappy.

[kay_brooke]

I haven't been to many book clubs, but isn't most of the socialization about the book? How can someone talk about a book they haven't read? Also, where are these book clubs with the free food? The one I occasionally attend just has tea and coffee. I want free food!

[olivermoss]

Yeah, it's reading as social and like exploring what's going on in the world of books together. Some people just like to come to lean on the community space, not be part of it, and just say that out loud. Like, part of why we know this is a problem is that people just say it, treat us like a resource. It's very entitled.

Food varies by venue, depends on if it's allowed. They supply some food when they can, and at Boiler Room Bar lots of people order stuff to share. People keep trying to feed me there!

I'm lucky to have a lot of good book clubs here, but they mostly meet on Thursdays so my D&D game is often in conflict with the meetings. But not this week, I just need to keep plugging away at the book