I love to read. I do. I love reading a book and getting lost in the world of the book and letting it really become a part of my life. But I've never been a book club person. I have been to book club meetings, I believe, a total of 3 times.
Once I went to discuss a book that I'd never read, it had something to do with helplessness in girls--something about Shakespeare's character Ophelia. I somehow argued an opinion despite my complete lack of evidence and preparation.
The next meeting, I actually hosted. It was about {Stargirl}, one of my absolute favorite books. The group was made up of a lot of college age boys and none of them shared my positive opinion of the main character, although kudos to them for reading it. I was angry and frustrated. And basically gave myself a book club FAIL and thought I'd never go again.
The next book club meeting I attended was 4 years later. I went to discuss {Twilight}. This was soon after the book had come out and before the movies and the sequels and the hype and the life-size Taylor Lautner cut-outs. I only went to discuss Twilight and never went back again.
Fast forward to now. I'm going to a book club meeting tonight. I'm nervous. I read the book, {Wednesday Wars} last summer so I don't even remember the main character's names. I'm not so much prepared as.... not. prepared. I'm not so good at book clubs. My record is very tainted.
But here goes.
For future reference, though--help me out. Are you in a book club? any advice? how is a book club meeting supposed to go?
8 comments:
Hmm. I LOVE to read. But, book clubs are another to-do thing on a long list. So I started an online book club. People participate as they can. We technically have a book list with one book assigned per month, but more often than not, someone reads something good, comments about it on the blog, and we all read it. Next month, if you want to join us, is Robison Crusoe. This month was supposed to be the Federalist Papers, but hardly anyone put an effort in to read that. Instead, we all got excited about a book my sister read called "Why Gender Matters." So far it is FASCINATING. Especially since I have a VERY AGGRESSIVE boy--and this book has some strategies and ideas to guide him within the context of normal male behavior. No medication for my little man. Anyhoo, if you want to join us without the pressure of an actual physical meeting . . . feel free. We'd love to have you!!
I used to be in a book club, but then it was disbanded due to most of the people moving. I loved it. I miss it. I actually don't really read all that often anymore. It's really sad.
I belong to a book club and I will always be grateful that they interrupted their scheduled plan to read the manuscript of my novel. And then they came to my house and we discussed it. They enjoyed getting to know a writer and asking questions about the writing process, and their comments helped me do some effective revisions. A local publishing company is now evaluating the manuscript, so I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Anyway, I haven't loved all the books the group has chosen to read, but I like being able to stretch my mind to think about something that's outside of my usual realm. Like Megan, I find reading compulsive. I write on my blog occasionally about the books I'm reading and sometimes people comment, but I write anyway because that's also a compulsion. I belong to two writers groups. All this is brain food for me. Gotta have it.
I like to read but I have never in my life been to a book club, so I'm no help. I think I mainly don't like having a deadline by which I need to read the book. I thought I'd give it a try last fall, went out and bought "Until We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis, which a reader friend of mine loved (and I love C.S. Lewis), finished it the week AFTER book club, and didn't like it at all. So I'm kind of a book club FAIL. Not the person to ask. Maybe you'll have time to "cram" while sitting in the host's driveway 5 minutes before it starts... LOL Or maybe the best part will be that they have treats.
I came here looking for life-sized Taylor Lautner cutouts. Google sent me.
I'm lying.
I've been in a book club for like 7 years. At this point, it is mostly about the treats and gossip and for some reason every discussion ends up about sex. I don't know if this is due to the inappropriate themes in modern literature or to the dirty-minded ladies in the group, but I do know this is the type of club you want to join. It is not boring. I never miss it.
Plus, these ladies have become some of my best friends. Book clubs are the bomb.
In our little club, sometimes some of read the book - all busy older moms, already having lost our minds. Mostly we just use the book as a jump off point for talking about everything - our kids (we all love each others'), lives - stuff. We spend an hour or so talking about stuff. Then we go home. No pressure. Great company.
Hey, I went to that book club with you to talk about twilight! Awesome. I also have never been back. I would love to join a book club. I can't commit because some of the books other people pick, my not be what I'd choose. ( but maybe that is why people jion book clubs, to find about about good books and broaden their horizons.) I know my horizons need to be broaden. Stargirl, I have never heard of?
I'm in a bookclub! I always play the devil's advocate role and people look at me like they wish I hadn't been invited. I tend to sympathize with the unlovable characters, heck, I am an unlovable character most of the time. I too love Stargirl. One of the best books ever. I wish I had read it when I was in Jr. High and again in High School. I might have really loved myself. I think the thing I like best about bookclub is finding new books I may otherwise not have found. I feel like we've read some fun books. I finally got brave enough to review a book. It was The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas. It made for a super awesome discussion, I thought. :)
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