Fleeing another book club
At one book club I belonged to, we kinda sorta got to the actual book, but the discussion inevitably veered off in some other direction and we were often there for hours. I’d sometimes wonder why I’d bothered to read the darn book at all. Still, the eats were fabulous; we’d gather cosily around a variety of cheeses, cookies, the occasional cake, noshing and chatting.
The next book club had no social aspects whatsoever. I wonder if the original organizer had previously been a rap-your-knuckles kind of teacher. We gathered for exactly an hour and a half, the first hour involved questions followed by discussion, then one-half hour of refreshments laid out in military precision on someone’s dining table, after which everyone rose at the same time as though a bell had gone off.
The other day I was strolling around the complex here when an acquaintance pulled up in her car and offered a book from the batch she’d acquired at the public library; she was starting a book club. I thought what the heck, why not. It was a book I was planning to read anyway: Emily Oliphant is Perfectly Fine. I took it and am enjoying it so far.
The next hurdle is where/how do we meet. I have no intention of sitting in someone’s living room in these germy times. Hopefully we’ll gather outside somewhere.
But for now I at least have a good book to read. And who knows – maybe this will be the book club that’s juuuust right.
Book clubs a like that. You have to try them for size. I've been kicked out of an online book club because I asked a question about the plot! Accused ot just making trouble, we read to enjoy, not to tear apart. Etc. I explained that to me, analyzing is why I come to a book club, part of enjoying.
ReplyDeleteThen there was one run like a seminar, leader called on people to answer her questions. One session of that was enough, thank you. She strongly discouraged people talking to each other on the topic.
Now I'm in a club of two, done by email, and it's the most enjoyable of all up to now. We disagree, compare notes, rethink what we've said, it's great.
So I hope you can find one that's just right!
Good luck with the new book club though during a pandemic is a little strange. Sure hope you don't have to Zoom it. Heard that book is a good one though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is someone I don't know very well, and it's tricky nowadays to negotiate through other people's Covid comfort levels. They can have it indoors; I'll chat through the window.
DeleteI really liked that book. I have never been a book club member though. Let us know how you go.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know more about the book, could you give a short summary? Perhaps copy the blurb from the back cover? Please?
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm farther into it, it's getting pretty quirky. but the character is really interesting. She seems to be on the autism spectrum.
Delete"Eleanor Oliphant struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's think. . . .Everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling IT guy from her office.
Smart, warm, and uplifting, this is the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and wit make for an irresistible journey."
You reminded me of my friend's analysis of her last book club before she moved the Georgia. I wonder if she found a new club?
ReplyDeleteA Gay relative once informed me that I needed to find a book club for sensitive straight men. I haven't found one.
ReplyDeleteThat would go against the man code of only gathering together for sports events. I feel sorry for men; they miss out on the companionship women find through friends. (Ooo. Just found a blog topic there.)
DeleteI never really got into book clubs. It was the scheduled reading that threw me off. I certainly would have liked the discussing part and also the food.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have a suspicion that for me it was more about the food.
DeleteThat IS a good book! At least you have some promising reading material to start this "just right" club. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm halfway through now, and it's getting better and better.
DeleteI've never joined a book club. I've read plenty of 'book club' books and gazed at the questions at the end always wondering why anyone would want to have a discussion about any of the questions. for me, I either liked it, thought it was OK, or didn't care for it. end of discussion.
ReplyDelete