A friend of mine just shared an article with me today about an online book club that draws an exclusive audience.  ”The Rumpus Book Club” was started by Stephen Elliot as a place where people who wanted to read “cool” books could talk to the authors, write reviews and pre order books.

With a monthly fee of $25, or yearly of $250, a member can receive a book before it comes out to the general public.  Not only does this help publishers get the word out about their books, but it also makes members feel special and privileged.  The books are all hang chosen by the two man team behind the book club web site, and usually from top publishers like McSweeney’s and Graywolf.  In addition, members can also ask the authors questions during an online pub discussion that gets turned into an interview and posted to the site.

Here is a perfect example of how the internet has changed our daily lives for the better and opened up possibilities that we never thought would be affected.   To be able to receive a book in advance (just like the media does) and then discuss it with the author and/ or other, is amazing.  To be able to do all of that without leaving the comfort of your home takes it to the next level.  A book club like this helps a mother who doesn’t have time to go to Sunday book club meetings to continue enjoying her literary filled life.  It also helps people are quiet to open up about how they felt about books in a setting that is comfortable to them.

For more information: click here

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