240301 /r/bangtan Books with Luv: Marching into a new Readers’ Choice Poll!

Hello book club of /r/bangtan! I must be living in a [daydream](https://i.imgur.com/OS2JomT.gif), can you believe it’s already been 8 months since our first bookclub discussion! Last month’s book, **On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity** by Lenika Cruz, got a lot of us going down memory lane, feeling seen and understood, appreciating informed and inquisitive journalism, and having a blast when the author joined us for an AMA! Thank you to all those who participated in both the [AMA](https://www.reddit.com/r/bangtan/comments/1ay74c9/hello_rbangtan_i_am_author_and_senior_editor_at/) and the book [discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/bangtan/comments/1awipv6/240221_rbangtan_books_with_luv_february_book_club/); if you haven’t already, go check out Lenika’s thoughtful answers and feel free to jump in on the discussion too (it’s not too late)!

*i don’t know* about you all, but with the “Hope on the Street Vol. 1” release schedule and Suga’s birthday coming up, this month is already so exciting. In their honor, we have 5 new [Sope](https://i.imgur.com/gUM4wQW.gif) adjacent books to choose from. These books were either seen on a member’s bookshelf/in their luggage, recommended by them, were seen being read by them, or are books about BTS and their music.

The *ult-list* is much longer but we used a randomizer to choose these 5 for the poll and we’ll have fresh choices for you each month. Take a look at March’s picks and vote on what we should read next!

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# Don’t hit *Snooze* on this

*Some key dates to remember*

(All dates/time are in KST)

| Date | Event |
|:-|:-|
| March 1 | Poll opens now – ends March 6 11:59pm |
| March 8 | Voters’ choice book announced |
| March 20 | Books with Luv discussion meeting |

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# SDL (Some Dank Literature)

*These are the 5 books you get to choose from for the month of March!*

| Title – BTS Connection | Description |
|:-|:-|
| [Demian:The Story of a Boyhood by Hermann Hesse (1923 English publication)](https://www.amazon.com/Demian-Story-Youth-Hermann-Hesse/dp/1614270260) – On Sept. 4 2016, BTS released [BEGIN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR73I0z5ms0) – the first out of four short films for new album, WINGS whose concept drew heavily upon the themes and storylines of Hesse’s book.| The main character of this classic novel, Emil Sinclair, is a young boy raised in a bourgeois home, amidst what is described as a Scheinwelt, a play on words that means “world of light” as well as “world of illusion”. Emil’s entire existence can be summarized as a struggle between two worlds: the show world of illusion (related to the Hindu concept of maya) and the real world, the world of spiritual truth. In the course of the novel, accompanied and prompted by his mysterious classmate ‘Max Demian’, he detaches from and revolts against the superficial ideals of the world of appearances and eventually awakens into a realization of self.|
| [Slam Dunk, Vol. 1 by Takehiko Inoue (2008)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1421506793) – Yoongi loves it!| Winning isn’t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain’s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Takehiko Inoue’s legendary beloved basketball manga tells the story of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a hopeless bruiser, who’s been rejected by 50 girls in a row. But then he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she’s actually not afraid of him! And when she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever…|
| [The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062390627) – [Recommended by Yoongi in 2018](https://twitter.com/JooniesLibrary/status/1633600111040159745) | Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, following our dreams. |
| [The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin (1973)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060914343) – Is referenced, thematically and representatively in the hotel’s name, in the music video for [Spring Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEeFrLSkMm8.)| This short work of philosophical fiction by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin was included in the author’s anthology book “The Wind’s Twelve Quarters”. With deliberately both vague and vivid descriptions, the narrator depicts a summer festival in the utopian city of Omelas, whose prosperity depends on the perpetual misery of a single child. |
| [Living Loving and Learning by Leo F. Buscaglia (1982)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0449901815) – In a [late 2017 VLive](https://twitter.com/JooniesLibrary/status/1494476712855363584), J-Hope introduced us to the edesigned 35th anniversary edition of this book, a lecture on the importance of loving yourself and knowing yourself. | A delightful collection of Dr. Buscaglia’s informative and amusing lectures, which were delivered worldwide between 1970 and 1981. This inspirational treasure is for all those eager to accept the challenge of life and to profit from the wonder of love. |

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# P.O.P (Piece of Parley)
*Below is a discussion guide. We will also be preparing some questions for you!*

– Book specific questions: TBA
– *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 one’s own leisure time) to help recover from the book hangover.

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# Here’s Your Safe Zone

As always, if you have questions or suggestions on how we can make discussions even better please let us know. You can post it here or feel free to reach out to any of our lovely volunteers and mods!

With luv,

Our book club volunteers:

– /u/EveryCliche
– /u/munisme
– /u/mucho_thankyou5802
– /u/Next_Grapefruit_3206

And the r/bangtan Mod Team

# 어떻게 생각해? (What do you think?)

*Vote for the book you would like to discuss in the next book club!*

[View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/1b35e3y)

by mucho_thankyou5802