So last night I went to my first book club meeting. Ever. I’ve toyed with the idea of joining a book club ever since I left graduate school, but I just never bothered. I read voraciously, but the past few years haven’t exactly been filled with the kind of literature one talks about. I’ve been reading a lot of mysteries. And chick lit. I use reading to relax. I couldn’t really see what I would get out of a book club.
But exploring Meetup.com in my new town inspired me to try a book club. Also, besides the parenting group, it was the only one I felt qualified to join. I don’t scrapbook, or crossdress, and I’m not single. So, a book club it was.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it so much. We read In Cold Blood, which is not what you’d call a fun book. It’s extremely well-written and well structured, but it was too sad to really enjoy reading. However, talking about it was a different matter. I can’t honestly remember the last time I had so much fun without involving my children or a vice. Hubby and I talk about books a lot, but we’re always telling each other about our books (or reading passages from them). We give each other book reports, really. The book club was the antithesis of that. It was a great conversation.
My advice to anyone thinking about joining or starting a book club? You should have done it sooner.
1 response so far ↓
Merry Jelinek // May 3, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Hello there, Jerseygirl!
You know, I never did a book club before doing one in blog form… Actually, I finally posted the first entry on Mists of Avalon there, if you want to stop. The live version is probably a lot more fun, blogging wise it reminds me a lot of college literature classes, which I loved. And you don’t get that kind of indepth discussion with just anyone. Usually when you bring up books in a regular conversation it’s just a quick, “liked it” or “not so much” - that’s all most people want to hear.
I like chick lit for a snack, too, anything with a good sense of humor is great for a fun read. But I like to get in a meaty one, when I can, too.
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