How to Join an Online Book Group

For most of us, leading an active lifestyle affords little time to fit in 'extras' between careers, family and home. Still, avid readers can always manage to find time for a good book, even if it means toning up on the treadmill or walking the dog at the same time. However, many readers yearn for something more, such as the stimulation that comes from participating in a book group. No time to join one, you say? The perfect solution is to learn how to join an online book group instead.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Flash software
• Realplayer
• Valid email address

Learn How To Join An Online Book Group

1. Join an online book group with extra features, such as exclusive interviews with selected authors, online community forums to promote discussion of featured books and even full-length lectures presented by literary scholars. An excellent example of this type of online book club is Oprah's Book Club.
2. Join an online book group that offers free daily audio excerpts delivered to you via email, such as the service offered by the St. Charles Public Library. This is a great way to sample a book before deciding on whether to read it in its entirety. Of course, if you're a patron of this particular library, you may also elect to borrow it from its shelves.
3. Check the Web site for your favorite publishing houses. Many offer online book clubs specific to the titles and authors they publish. Note that most publishers include their Web site address somewhere on the flap of their book covers or beneath the copyright notice inside. Alternately, you could simply conduct an online search to locate their Web sites.
4. Read the classifieds of any literary magazines or publications that you may subscribe too. You might find one or more listings to an online book group among the ads.
5. Ask your coworkers, friends or family if they belong to any online book groups. If so, ask if they could supply you with the Web site addresses so that you may join yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Most online book clubs are free to join. However, most also require that you register as a member with a working email address.
• Receiving online audio book excerpts will require the use of RealPlayer software, which can be downloaded for free when registering for this service.
• Viewing online literary lectures will require running Flash software, also available for free downloading from the registration page for this service.

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