Hello bibliophiles of r/bangtan!

We have been twiddling our thumbs just waiting for today – it’s book discussion day! We know it’s been a bit of a rush this month, but we hope you’ve had the chance to read our pick for the month. As always, we’ll be keeping this post up so drop a line whenever you have the time. And this is another friendly reminder that the [AMA with Lenika Cruz is happening in a couple of days](https://www.reddit.com/r/bangtan/comments/1asbd8o/journalist_author_and_senior_editor_at_the/). Now, without further ado, *lessgo*!

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

**Synopsis:** 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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# Bring it all, I’m doing it all

*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 your own leisure time) to help feel less sad after reading.

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# Outro

We’ve really enjoyed reading and chatting with you these past 6 months (Happy half birthday /r/bangtan Books with Luv!), and we wanna keep it going! To encourage you to come back, we’ll be doing a giveaway after next month’s discussion! Stay tuned for what our next book will be.

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.

with luv,

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

…and the r/bangtan Mod Team

by Next_Grapefruit_3206