Welcome

Hello

This is my syntopical bookgroup.

I started a syntopical bookgroup for my local library when we started a Parent's Bookgroup. We meet each month at the local library, and the Children's Librarian is with the small children while I'm at the table with the parents, talking about books. We also have a simultaneous bookgroup that meets in the evening and is supported by the local community centre.

I have been a member of the local library's one book at a time bookgroup for the past eight or so years. I have a BA in literature and an M.Lit. And I am a stay at home mum.

I went for a syntopical bookgroup, rather than discussing one book at a time, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it takes the pressure off. You don't need to find and buy or borrow a particular book. Also, it means that you can bring your lifetime of reading to the discussion. Reading syntopically also means that we can form a thesis at the end of the discussion - looking at the common themes or findings by discussing literature by genre or period or country etc. It is a deeper, broader, more contexualised, way to read for a bookgroup.

However, we do find that it means our 'to read' list is growing very quickly.

I've done a lot of research for these bookgroups, which I'm enjoying (that's the kind of dag I am!), and wanted to share it more broadly.

You can read by month with us, or just jump in anywhere. I'll be back regularly to keep the conversations going.

Enjoy!