240219 r/bangtan Books with Luv: Schedule Change – Discussion on ‘On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity’ starts February 21st 10 AM PST!

Hello bibliophiles of r/bangtan! ~~♡♡

We were [*just dancing*](https://i.imgur.com/bzPPEt9.gif) for Hobi’s birthday and it’s almost the end of the month now. Have you been enjoying reading about Lenika Cruz’s journey to BTS and becoming an ARMY, as much as we have? We hope you saw the announcement about the [AMA with her, scheduled for February 23](https://www.reddit.com/r/bangtan/comments/1asbd8o/journalist_author_and_senior_editor_at_the/). That is why we decided to **move up the discussion meeting by a couple of days**, so we can share our thoughts with each other first!

## Discussion on ‘On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity’ starts on February 21st 10 AM PST

See you in a couple of days! We can’t wait to gush over our favorites, all over again.

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# Bring it all, I’m doing it all… (I say *more*)

*Below is a discussion guide. Some book-specific questions and other sharing suggestions!*

* Lenika talks about how fans from all over have written to her citing that her story of discovering and immersing into this world could easily have been their own. How many times while reading did you have that kind of relatable feeling?
* This book stands out so well because it is written from a fan’s perspective, and that evidently complemented the journalistic endeavor. Would you recommend it to a non-fan or newbie to learn about BTS’ artistry?
* Did the book shed light on any facts you had not previously noticed or known about?
* The book discusses the universal appeal of BTS seeing as they’re Korean and they have a lot of international fans. Do you recall “the moment” that you, as a fan, realized you were into BTS? How did that transcend language, age, and culture for you?

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**B-Side Questions/Discussion Suggestions**

* *Fan Chant*: Hype/overall reviews
* *Ments*: favorite quotes
* *ARMY Time*: playlist/recommendations of songs you associate with the book/chapters/characters
* *Do The Wave*: sentiments, feels, realizations based on the book
* *Encore/Post Club-read Depression Prevention*: something the book club can do afterwards (on own leisure time) to help feel less sad after reading.

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## On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity by Lenika Cruz

The supersonic rise of the Korean pop group BTS may seem enigmatic to some, but for Lenika Cruz, senior culture editor at [*The Atlantic*](https://www.theatlantic.com/), their worldwide fame is obvious. As Cruz argues in On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity, the group’s trajectory–debuting on a relatively obscure label in Korea to becoming a global household name in just a few years–is a natural result of their authenticity, artistry, energy, social conscientiousness, and general coolness. As a non-English-language band finding record-breaking international success, BTS is helping usher in a fresh, more inclusive era in the music industry. In this love letter to the once-in-a-generation pop sensation, Cruz narrates her own unexpected journey into the fandom, and in doing so might welcome you in, too.

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## Where to get the book (*on the street*)

* Title: On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity
* Author: Lenika Cruz
* Publisher: Atlantic Edition
* Publication Date: January 10, 2023
* ISBN-13: 978-1638930648
* Format: It is available either in paperback and ebook
* Please also check with your [local libraries](https://search.worldcat.org/title/1355358439) (where applicable) for loan availability
* [Link to Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/BTS-Fandom-Sincerity-Atlantic-Editions/dp/1638930643) | [Link to Google Books](https://books.google.com/books/about/On_BTS.html?id=SzstzwEACAAJ) | [Link to Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/us/book/on-bts/id6443818895) | [Link to Barnes & Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-bts-lenika-cruz/1141492779)

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# Outro

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the book or the thread, feel free to tag me or any of the mods or BWL Volunteers.

* u/EveryCliche
* u/munisme
* u/mucho_thankyou5802
* u/Next_Grapefruit_3206

…and the r/bangtan Mod Team

by Next_Grapefruit_3206