So, what makes a readers group different than a good, old-fashioned book club? It seems to me that they’re pretty much the same thing, and you aren’t handing out any glasses of wine.

What makes one different from the other comes down to what each focuses on, and what participants can expect to get out of the experience.

Broadly speaking, book clubs designate a book or a collection in advance. All participants commit to reading the work before the next meeting where they’ll discuss what they’ve read much like they would if they were writing a review of some kind. Participants share their opinions, have a glass of wine, and feel guilty about the fact they didn’t finish the book (or didn’t read it at all) due to lack of time, being to worn out to pick it up, or weren’t grabbed by the work enough to prioritize getting through the whole thing in time.

There’s nothing especially wrong with that kind of experience—but there’s an element of shame and failing to live up to expectations that are arbitrary, around an activity that should—ideally—be a source of community and pleasure.

By contrast a readers group is focused on reading, itself. Assuming that it is an activity that can be done collectively without reading the work aloud, but that can also bring people together by reading the same thing at the same time, and talking about it afterwards, when the words are still fresh in your head, and the text is there in front of you to look at if you want to look at it again, at any point.

This means that a readers group doesn’t require homework. It doesn’t mean that participants need to have their big-brain hat on before joining the group for the evening—because everyone’s starting from the same point, but also because it will become clear that coming at the story or poem for the first time, no two people will read it exactly the same. Which is kind of the point.

And that’s where the discussion starts, and where your host takes on an important role. Robert . . .

Who are readers groups for? Do I need to have a background in English Lit, or be crazy educated?

You absolutely do not have to be a literary scholar to take part in a readers group. In fact, the wider range of participants, the more interesting a group is likely to be. No one reads the same piece of fiction or poetry the same as another. Even when we see similar things in the same text, what resonates and what falls flat from one person to another is entirely unpredictable. All that participants in a weekly group need to be is ready to put their “reading glasses” on for 50 minutes, and take part in the following conversation ( and while the last bit is encouraged, it’s also not required).

That’s all fine, but is there anyone you would discourage from paying to attend a readers group?

Impensive Readers Groups are not designed with the ESL student in mind. There’s nothing to say that a participant must be fluent in English to come—but because the ultimate hope is for each groups to dig into the material beyond a surface level, the experience assumes a baseline of fluent comprehension.

Do participants get to choose what we read?

You do not. A key part of the Impensive Reading groups is the element of collective reading, without an uneven opportunity to prepare the material or for the discussion in advance.

Essentially: no cheating!

Do I get to keep a copy of the night’s reading for myself?

The short answer is yes. Since you’ll be provided the work to have on hand and read during our first 50 minutes, what you do with that copy is up to you.

In terms of any additional copies you may want or need—if work covered the night of is available open source, you’ll be provided with an online source where you can get a quality, readable copy for yourself to download. In all other cases, that falls outside of the guidelines of “fair use.” However, all publication info (ie. the works cited) of the session will be posted on this website, and be available to reference back to, indefinitely.

I have accessibility issues, but would still like to participate in a Readers Group. Is that possible?

As all the groups are presently held online, if accommodations can be met without additional cost, they will be. Just be sure to reach out before hand so we can make sure the arrangements are in place in advance. [ emailsignal@robertlpowell.com]

I would like to attend a Readers Group, but have some no-go areas, and worry about running into some material that I find too difficult to read and talk about. Can you accommodate those who are struggling with trauma?

This has been a big (and contentious) issue in higher (especially literary) education for quite some time, and it’s become clear that there’s no one good answer to address it. Much of the best literature takes on heavy and disturbing themes, and because of how trauma will affect every individual in different ways, that makes finding universally effective trigger warning impossible, in practical terms. , there is no way to find readings for a discussion group that can be completely trigger free.

In terms of how the Readers Groups are conducted during the gathering, trigger warnings will be provided at the lead of each reading, so participants have some sense of what they’re “getting into.” But keeping alternatives on hand isn’t a feasible way for Robert to prepare to moderate the group effectively.

That said, on the sign-up form you’re asked to fill out upon booking the session for the week, in the comments box provided, you are encouraged to flag problem topics before hand, and every effort will be made to accommodate them (within reason). If, for whatever reason, it’s not possible to accommodate the request, you will be offered refund or credit as per the terms and conditions of booking your spot for the week.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

The full details are provided before checkout on the booking system, which you are encouraged to read. The policy is also available here, as well as under the class descriptions listed on the Impensive Readers website.

Is there any work / homework I need to do before attending the evening group?

Nope.

But surely I need something to participate besides just myself and my scintillating brain?

You need stable internet connection, working webcam + microphone, and access to a standard browser (I can vouch for Firefox, Chrome, Safari). As we will be convening via Google Meet, there is no special software needed, and the time is paid for my end.

You may want some comfy pants and something to drink (for hydration purposes only, of course). Otherwise, you can show up as you like—with the proviso that groups are not clothing optional.

What about taking notes during the group, smartypants? Is that allowed?

You are welcome to write down whatever you’d like, at any point—especially if it helps you organize your thoughts. But keep in mind, our time together operates under a rubric of integrity. It’ s an honour system, but an important one—especially in this era of LLMs and AI. If you make use of another member of the groups ideas in something you write or produce for public consumption—give credit where credit is due. That doesn’t mean you need to cite what you remember or mention in quotations—but do make a note of the fact that what you write or reference was inspired or fleshed out by participation in the group, and a ballpark of when that occurred.

Talking in a group isn’t always my thing. Can I come and just listen to what the other participants have to say?

Readers Groups are not school (though hopefully you’ll get more than just a way to kill time out of them!). No one will be grading you, or calling you out for not “doing your part.” The chat function will be available during the group, so you will be welcome to contribute that way—but there’s no requirement that you speak or type at all.

I want to participate more, but I’m stumped. I can’t think of anything to say, or I’m afraid of putting myself on the spot. What can I do to get around that?

Robert has over ten years of experience conducting and leading post-secondary seminars, as well as teaching. If you’re interested in talking strategies outside of the group—you can send him a message or an email, and he’ll be happy provide you with some ideas, and “tricks of the trade” where it comes to making the experience of a seminar-style group less intimidating.

What happens if no one in the group is a talker? Do we just sit there online waiting for someone’s cat to walk in front of their webcam?

Setting aside the fact that Robert’s cat Titus will probably take the opportunity to walk across the computer at some point during the group, you don’t need to worry—so long as you want to be presented with ways to approach and think about the work we read together from someone who thinks a lot about these things.

Robert will always arrive at a group ready to guide the conversation in provocative ways, and comment on the readings in ways other members of the group may not have thought of. In the event that a group comes together and no one feels like talking—after we’ve done the reading selected for that weeks group, Robert is happy to provide a mini lecture. Which might be fun for you, if you don’t mind him geeking out on the finer points of literary reading

And, of course, you’re always welcome to prompt them to speak about a particular angel with a question—after all, that what he’s there for in the first place.