MUSING MONDAYS with APOOO, September 22, 2008
By APOOO • Sep 22nd, 2008 • Category: Monday Musings •
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Welcome to another first day of the work week!
I’ve found another meme. This one is called MUSING MONDAYS and you can read all about it HERE.
This week’s MUSING MONDAYSpost is about something near and dear to many of our hearts–book clubs–and is very apropo in light of APOOOs HEAD OF THE CLASS features.
So here’s the questions…
Do you belong to a book club? Is it online, or face-to-face (F2F)? How long have you been with the group? What have you learned from them? Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could?
Do you belong to a club?–I founded and belong to APOOO BookClub.
Is it online, or face-to-face (F2F)? –APOOO is an online book club but I would love to start a local group. In the past, I belonged to three local book clubs but my life got too crazy and I had to back out of all of them in order to maintain my sanity. Now I’m ready to come back in F2F and am thinking about starting small with several of my sorors. Won’t entertain or flush out this idea until 2009…want to make sure I have the time to do it right.
How long have you been with the group? APOOO is eight years-old. We were started in June 2000.
What have you learned from them?–APOOO has been in existence for over eight years and I’ve learned a lot from my book club family. First and foremost, I’ve discovered so many new authors/books that I would not have if I was flying solo. I have read and discussed books that I normally would not have. I have learned that we don’t all have to agree on a book…but we should all agree to disagree respectfully. Because APOOO has some of the best avid readers found online, we were able to branch out and start a review team. Last year we reviewed over 500 books and are on track to review almost as many this year! Overall, I have gained a better appreciation for reading, reviewing and writing and I have learned how to better operate within the team concept. :)
More importantly than anything, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago, after my husband/kids, my APOOO family was the first to know. All of them prayed with me and wished me well and two of them even fasted with me while I was trying to make decisions regarding what treatment I would undergo. The way they came to my rescue then…and many of them continue to do now…is what makes APOOO more than an online/cyber book club to me. Many of these ladies are my family and we have reached out across the miles to meet in person for literary events, book festivals and even vacation. I heart APOOO and a day doesn’t go by that I’m not reaching out to my sistahs online or via phone. There are no book club members like some of these ladies. They are definitely the greatest and the bestest and many I call BFF. 
I belong to other online book clubs…but I am partial…none of them give me the satisfaction, joy, elation that APOOO does. 
Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could? For the most part, I like how APOOO is run, but I’m always and evolving and would like for the group to evolve with me. With all the new Web 2.0 tools available to online users, I would love to see more members take advantage of these items and follow me into the new Millennium. Slowly…but hopefully surely…I hope I can get members to do so. First step, is getting everyone more familiar with the Web site, its content, its existence and how we can use it more effectively.
All-in-all, I believe that APOOO is one of the best book clubs–online or F2F, and I love all my book club sistahs! Hope to see some of them in Baltimore/DC this weekend and next year at the National Book Club Conference.
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APOOO is an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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Do you belong to a club?/Is it online, or face-to-face (F2F)?
I belong to a couple of online book clubs in yahoo…I joined a F2F here in Jacksonville. I am a little worried about how it will work because already the 1st meeting was cancelled. one person is borrowing my book to read(desperate Hoodwives) 1 other person actually owns it and no one else has made the effort. Very sad start and I am really upset because I love to read and talk about the books I have read.
How long have you been with the group?
Well..since we have not had a meeting…that is not easy to answer
What have you learned from them?
Some women can really be catty and judgemental….
Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could?
I am hoping that we do get together to talk books. I am hoping that everyone read them and does not just keep borrowing. ( I am really picky about lending books). I hope that people do not see this as a reason to eat and drink.
But I LOVE my online talks…I got 10 new books just from reading my online groups today….boy that pile is growing by the hour with me.
Do you belong to a book club? Of course I do! Only One keyStroke Away (OOSA) Online Book Club
Is it online, or face-to-face (F2F)? It’s online, but we do have some F2F.
How long have you been with the group? Longer than technically it’s been considered a group or known to others.
What have you learned from them? One of the best things about belonging to a group is learning about different authors and books that I may have been closed off to, or just never had the opportunity to get to know. I also have enjoyed getting to know each member, their life, circumstances and making them apart of my everyday life.
Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could? One thing that I love about OOSA is that we’re not like other groups. It’s not a “I” thing, but a “WE” thing. We don’t have one person leading with others following, “WE” roll together. When OOSA does something it’s all of us. We basically utilize ideas and concepts presented to the group. We encourage each member to showcase themselves and prosper as a team. I would love for us to be able to venture out more as a team.
Member of OOSA also, so my first few answers are the same as Nardsbaby.
What have you learned from them? Quite a few things. Probably the biggest thing is the introduction to new authors. Authors that I probably would not have heard of if it wasn’t for the recommendation of another book club member. And that I am not alone in my book addiction!
Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could? Yes, I like how the group is run. But as with anything, there is always room for improvement and a plus about OOSA is we are always looking for ways to improve, grow and expand. With our diverse group of readers, we never run out of ideas.
Ms. Toni’s last blog post..Ms Toni gave 5 stars to: The Ski Mask Way
I’m in an offline book club, although for the past 2 months, the meetings have conflicted with my obligations as an author so I’ve had to miss the meetings. I’ve been a member for about 2 years now. I’ve learned that readers who are engaged in a story will talk about the characters and scenes as if they are real.
Shelia’s last blog post..Staying in the Game by Donna Hill
I don’t compare what I experienced after the birth of my youngest daughter to your experience, but my reading and book blog was just what I needed to get back to a “normal” life. I can relate to how the APOOO community helped you. Thanks for writing about that.
Literate Housewife’s last blog post..#103 ~ First Daughter
Hi Literate H/wife and thanks for acknowledging my experience.
Sheilia…yes sometimes readers can take fictional characters way 2 serious…lol.
Nards and Ms. Toni…being part of book clubs definitely keeps us on our toes!
Lashonda…the book piles the book piles..so what have you pulled out of the pile to read lately?
I grabbed the E Lynn Harris Book to read. I am trying to get it down.