Läsaren i den informella läsecirkeln
The purpose of this Master Thesis was to study the reader in the informal reading group. To fulfil our purpose we have used the following questions: how did the reader become a reader and what does her reading look like, why do people choose to participate in a reading group, how may the group influence the individual member in her reading and interpretation of a book, does the reading group have a therapeutic function, how does the informant find the group dynamics and different roles in the reading group, and finally how does the informant experience the discussion in the reading group. We have used two studies about reading groups, one by Elizabeth Long and one by Jenny Hartley. Our theory is divided into reading and group psychology. We have interviewed seven women belonging to different reading groups. The result showed that all informants had become a reader in much the same way, following the five stages shown in the theory of Appleyard. Today their reading is varied and important to them. Their reason to join the group stems from their interest in reading, the joy to share their reading-experiences and meeting their friends. The group inspire to new and more reading. The members different opinions are valued. None of our informants wants to ascribe a therapeutic function to their reading group, if anything they would rather call it a social support group. The informants have difficulties in pinning down different roles in the group. All informants agree that the dynamics are dependent on the number of members in the group, too many foil the discussion. Apart from that they find the discussion very stimulating, joyful, open-minded and enriching.