Italic Type Group Reads

When you have a book on your TBR list that you just can’t face alone, when your book club is looking for a way to connect between in person meetings, or when you’re simply looking for an excuse to connect meaningfully with others Group Reads has you covered. We know (and enjoy!) the solitary aspects of reading, but we also know there are times when you are craving connections. Check out the Group Reads “how to”s below for when that sociable mood strikes you. You will learn how to initiate a Group Read with your favorite fellow readers, how to join one initiated by another, and the Italic Type features that foster meaningful exchanges.

How to initiate a Group Read on Italic Type.

1. Select your book

Enter the book title and author until your book pops up or hit enter to see the full list. Once you click on your book, you’ll see an option to “start reading” if you are ready to get started right away.

2. Start a Group Chat for your Book Board

Once it’s been added, your option will update to “Go to Book Board” where you can “Start a Group Chat.”

3. Invite a friend (or two or three… we’ve added as many as eighty at one time)

Enter the email addresses of the readers you’d like to join you. Now you’ve started a Group Read!

4. Your friends receive an email, inviting them to join you.

Once they log in, they can accept your invite and join you in the Group Chat. If they are new to Italic Type they’ll be able to join you after they’ve signed up.

How to join an existing Group Read

Look out for the email invitation.

If someone else has invited you to join their Group Read, they’ll go through the steps above and you can join them once you’ve received your invitation. Voila!

How to participate in a Group Read

Personal Book Board

Every book you read on Italic Type has a space just for you and your notes, even when you are invited to a Group Read. This personal Book Board is where you can keep track of your reactions and discoveries from your reading. During this journey of self-discovery, however, you may encounter a quote or an idea you would be curious to hear others discuss. Grab that thought-provoking topic and share it in the Group Chat.

Keep count

You can mark your current page number (or percentage for digitally read books) and see how others in your Group Read are faring. It can be motivating to share your progress and see their progress as well. You’ll also know if a comment you want to make in the chat might need to be prefaced with “spoiler alert.”

Mention members to respond or prompt

Whether you are responding to someone’s post or have a question for a specific member in your group, you mention them using @ and their name displayed on their profile.

Threads keep conversations organized

Rather than endlessly scrolling through post after post as people react to different comments, keep conversations organized by responding to someone’s specific post in a thread. Simply click the chat bubbles in the right hand corner to reply to that comment or click on “[X] Replies” on the bottom (from your phone you’ll need to first tap the post for these options). Now you and your fellow readers can build on an existing topic instead of creating a whole new post.

Screenshots

Short and sweet quotes can be typed directly into the group chat, but to share a longer passage or graphics in your Group Read, you can take and upload a photo of the selection.

How to use a Group Read in conjunction with your in person book club

Before your in person discussion

When you send the usual details for your in person discussion (meeting location, next book, etc.), you can invite your fellow book clubbers to join a Group Read on Italic Type as well. Before the in person discussion your members can share their reactions to the book in real time, as they are reading. The Group Chat provides a place to share first impressions or encourage each other to finish ones that start out slow. It’s like having a cheering squad to get you through to the in person discussion.

After your in person discussion

If you ever find yourself still mulling over the understandings and conclusions you come to about the book afterward, the Group Chat allows you to continue those conversations.

Group Reads for readers who wish to socialize

From reading with a close friend you want to keep in touch with to reading with dozens of readers you’ve never met before in a virtual book club, Group Reads can bring a little socializing to your next book-centered conversation. With features that facilitate meaningful connection no matter who you’re book clubbing with, you’ll be enriching your next read with ease.