I joined a new book club which I am enjoying. I have an issue though. One member is a speed reader. After every book is announced she will have it finished that evening. (We have 2 weeks to read it!) I recieved my book today and got a message in the chat! “Curious to see what everyone thinks of the ending? I hated it” every time!!! It makes me mad - I’m in the club to try and make friends and I have a problem with being too direct- so I’m hoping another group member will address it. Is this normal? She’s not spoiling it- but starting a book & knowing that the ending “has a twist” or “isn’t great” is so annoying.
When I was in high school I read all the book we were supposed to read through the whole year the first week, I didn’t gave spoilers neither but I loved to participate in the discussions…
The way my teacher treated me, the rudeness and the times she told me to shut up made me almost fail the class
So my advice is, treat her nice when you talk to her. She’s just over excited
I knew someone who claimed to be a “speed reader”; also being someone who would frequently read books two or three times.
I very very rarely reread a book, unless it’s amazing, as I tend to recall what happens, so it’s a bit of a boring exercise usually.
It turns out this person didn’t remember very many details of the books she “read” and was evidently just skimming them to the end to be able to say she had “read” them. These kinds of showoffs are so boring.
I would ask this person directly not to reveal details of the plot as people naturally read at different paces or might have other priorities this particular week, and it’s for discussing at the club itself.
I agree. Huge difference between reading a book the same evening it’s announced and maybe a night or two later. Because sometimes I do have the time to dedicate hours straight. Unless it’s over 1000 pages.
Yeah its normal, the readying process can take longer than expected to be able to come out and tell her she pissed you off, put it in writing on the wall, this is the world we are living in, signs telling people stuff am I right? Sorry to hear you are having stress
We have a rule where you can’t talk about the book club book until the day of the meeting. In the chat specifically, but I enforce it when I’m with people and they start to bring it up in person (I lead). I sort of frame it like fight club. You can’t talk about it.
Since you’re trying to make friends maybe suggest that this line of thinking is still a spoiler for you and gives you pre conceived ideas about the book. Nicely suggest any thoughts on the book be held until the meeting day
You can joke about it first and ask them to not spoil even in a subtle way? “Wow how could you read so fast! I think I’m going to use up my two weeks :) Also, please don’t share details like that until we meet. It’s not a spoiler but even knowing there’s a twist in the end takes away from the pleasure of facing it in the end! Thanks!”
Just text back, Noo don’t tell me! I enjoy the surprise :)
You wanna make friends? Call that shit out and reap the benefits of everyone else coming up to thank you for doing the thing they didn’t want to do. Win-win.
I agree, I find that when I’m annoying all too often most of the group is equally annoyed but also scared to say anything.
IDK that person is just fast at reading and wants to talk about the book. Can’t blame them for being excited and wanting to talk about it right away.
OP could just hold off checking the group chat for a couple of days, yknow?
Have you asked her not to give the opinion about the ending before it’s time?
how many people are you in the bookclub? do you meet in person or only online? if you meet in person maybe you could talk to this person privately and tell them that the “spoilers” aren’t helping you enjoying the reading? or if you have a set of rules maybe add something like “no talking about the book before the meeting”
i get that this person might want to share their excitement or frustration with you guys…but they should be able to wait until you meet to do so
Suggest that she journal what she read and wanted to discuss in two weeks. That way she won’t lose what she wanted to discuss while allowing the rest of book club to read the book in two weeks time.
bro id be so petty id ask everyone to create another group and leave her out😭😭😭
2 weeks to read a book? Sheesh, sounds like you’re all speed-readers. On average it takes me like 3 weeks to do a short novel and multiuple months for something like The Stand
Talk to her. But nicely and not in the rude manner most of the comments are suggesting. She probably doesn’t know that she’s breaking a “norm”, and would be pleased if you told her (I know I would be).
What book are you guys currently reading?
I started reading yesterday anyone knows a book club i can join please?
You can comfortably read a book in 2-3 days, but from the sounds of it they could be skimming them.