CORRECTION: Top 6 Alternatives to Traditional Book Clubs
Continued from previous post...
6. Write Reads Podcast
And bookish podcasts in general. It’s super embarrassing that I forgot to include Write Reads, not only because I know co-creator Tania in real life, but because I am appearing on the podcast in May!
The concept is pretty simple: Kurt and Tania choose a Canadian book each month according to a schedule and discuss. I love that their blog lists all the other books mentioned in each podcast, though it’s dangerous for an already overflowing TBR. And I love that they talk about books and authors I’ve never heard of. I mean, I consider myself fairly well read and current, but it’s like there’s this whole other world of CanLit out there that only they can give me access to.
Listeners can and do get involved in book selection, so there is an interactive element. And they write plenty of discussion posts in between podcasts, like this one about a disturbing trend of Canadian writers declining to set their books in Canada.
Here’s their latest podcast, about Nicole Lundrigan’s The Widow Tree. The March pick is Blood by Laurence Hill, which has been sitting on my shelf since October. I suggested that we read Emma Donoghue’s Frog Music in April and you can hear me babble about it sometime in May.
Wondering how I know Tania? Here’s a picture of us from about six years ago:
In addition to being awesomely bookish, Tania is also a belly dancer and instructor. I feel like you need a better look at our costumes:
We will probably be more casually dressed when we record the Frog Music podcast, but you never know.
Anything else I forgot? Do you listen to any literary podcasts? Should I post more of my belly dance pictures?
Reading in Bed 
Thank you for bringing Write Reads to my attention. I love listening to bookish podcasts and i need more CanLit in my life. Can’t wait to start listening.
Added to my podcast list! Thanks!
Yes to belly dance pictures.
Hear…Read This! is another book club podcast that is fantastic. The hosts are the people from The Readers and Adventures with Words (two of my favorite bookish podcasts).
I also love the First Tuesday Book Club (videocast), which is a televised book club in Australia. Good stuff.
@Heather: Thank you for more book podcasts! I already have a steady stream to listen to, but I can always use more good ones 🙂
@Laura: Thank you for the shout out! I really appreciate it!
And, thank you for the blast from the past in those pics! Don’t you think it’s time you joined the bellydance world again? It misses you!
-Tania
Ooh, I will definitely check out the podcast. Yes, to more pics!
I used to go to a book club where everyone just brought what they were reading and described a bit about them and then people would swap based on what they were interested in. Over time the discussion around any given book would become more in depth as more and more people in the group read the book.
And I agree with Heather you should definitely listen to The Readers. Not only is it fantastic but I am one of the co-hosts. 🙂