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Lost $120 on a book club pick that nobody actually read
I pitched a 900 page literary novel to my group last spring. Everyone agreed to try it. Three weeks later at the meeting, only two of us finished it and the rest admitted they gave up by page 50. The debate got heated when I argued we wasted $35 each for a book we just abandoned. Has anyone else had a pick flop this hard and lost money on it?
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brooke7123d ago
Oh man, the "nobody finished it" meeting is the worst. I made a rule after a similar flop where everyone agreed on a 500 page history book and then came empty-handed. My advice is to set a hard page limit for picks, like 300 pages max. It sounds basic but it saves everyone from that buyer's remorse feeling you're describing. Also, make people pitch their book with a fun reason to read it, not just "it's important." That way you avoid the hype that fizzles out after page 50. If a book flops, I'd suggest rotating who picks and capping the cost at $20 per person. No point in losing sleep over a bad choice when you can just tweak the system (and keep the peace).
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bettyk5323d agoMost Upvoted
Hmm, 300 is good but even shorter books can flop if the writing's dull.
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