It's not just about the book
Over the years, I have avoided bookclubs. "Too many on my list already, without being told what I have to read."
But lately I succumbed.
The first book I could not get through. (I can't even remember what it was). I got to the end of the first chapter of the second before I gave up. (Not my genre). The third - The Rosie Project - is at my elbow now, tempting me to abandon all plans for my day in order to get it finished for tomorrow’s meeting.
I am never short of a good read. The pile on the table in the living room is tall enough to tumble at any minute.
But what I get out of getting together with these six or seven other readers - all of whom I know to one degree or another - is the discovery that sharing a book, even one I haven't read but hear more about in the meeting, helps me get to know these women better.
Their interests. Their values. There literary expectations and insights.
The first thing we do at our meetings it to 'Check in'. This takes up a good first hour, learning about who is dealing with what relationship-, family- and health-wise. Where we've been. Where we're going. What’s happening in the faith community of which we're all a part.
When it comes to talking about the book, we stick pretty well to a regime of each taking our turn to tolk about the book and our reactions to it before a free for all open discussion about whatever arises.
And there are always snacks.
It’s not a bad way to spend an afternoon. When I should be writing…
Fun post on book clubs. It’s a challenge sometimes having to read the same book but it can also stretch your brain. I belonged to one where we just read a list of what we had read that month with a synopsis of each book. I prefer your book club style.pros and cons of both.
ReplyDeleteLiz
I do like the 'book talking' kind of groups, too. I led one at the library in my last couple of years of work, and always went away with a great list of books to add to my To Read list.
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