Over the years, I’ve contemplated joining a book group, but in the end, I always decide against it. I have a few reasons. First, I don’t like to feel obligated to read a book. If I get started and it doesn’t speak to me, then I want to just be able to set it down. Another reason is because, and this I guess is a character flaw, I’m easily swayed by other’s opinions sometimes. Like I might love a book, but then if you argue compellingly against it, then I often start seeing your opinion and the next thing I know, I don’t like the book at all. This bothers me on a lot of levels!
I also don’t like to say bad things about books, even if the author will never hear it. You may have noticed this about me because on Need to Read I only write about books I love and on Goodreads, almost all my reviews are 4-5 stars (I just don’t review books I’m not that hot on).
However, I’ve recently found the perfect solution for me. It’s like a book group, only we discuss whatever novel we’re each reading. We don’t all read the same book, although, we do pass ones around that we love. The group I’ve been fortunate enough to join is at the school. It’s facilitated by my friend, and former librarian, Susan, and the members include me and about six Grade 6 & 7 students. Each week, we bring the book in that we’re currently reading, or just finished, and we each have a few minutes to say what we like about it (or don’t, but mostly we bring books we love). We talk about the writing, structure, characters, and author voice. We share bits and pieces, and often read the jacket copy. It’s a fun and exciting group. My favourite part is at the beginning when everyone is grabbing at each other’s books and checking them out. And then the negotiating begins.
“Can I read this next?”
“No, you said I could have it!”
“But you’re already reading that really long one. I could be done before you’re ready for it.”
“I’m supposed to get that book next. She promised!”
“Would a guy like it?”
“Read the jacket.”
“I read it already. It’s great!”
“I love those books!”
“That author is so cool!”
If you’ve always wanted to do something social around books, but a book club is not really your thing, I highly recommend this. We really only have one rule that I can think of, and to be honest, I don’t think it’s actually a rule, it’s just done automatically, out of respect for each other…we never spoil books when we talk about them. You don’t have to worry about any of us giving away too much because we’re all so excited to have the others in the group read our choices and love them too.
For those of you who read the Betsy books, I’d always thought it would be fun to start a group like The Violent Study Club in BETSY’S WEDDING, and in a way, this is something like it. Now that I’ve tried it with these kids, I’m thinking it might be fun with adults (and wine…I mean, tea).
Are you in a book group? Let me know about your group and how it works. And if you’re not in a group for the same reasons as me, would you be interested in trying something like this?
P.S. Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Eileen Cook!
I love my current book club–maybe because I’m in charge of it! 🙂 We decided to do classics this year, and have read everything from J.M. Barrie’s PETER PAN, to Chinua Achebe’s Nigerian classic, THINGS FALL APART, to Elie Wiesel’s NIGHT, to Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” We take turns being the discussion leader, and we always bring some info about the author (if it seems applicable to the story we’re reading), or the time period in which it was written (again, if it’s applicable). We ALWAYS have treats, and we really have a good time. Even if someone hasn’t read the book, or didn’t enjoy the book and stopped reading it, or didn’t read it at all, they often still come to talk about it. Hard to knock the classics, though! 😉 I think your idea might be a fun to do for one of our meetings. Thanks for sharing! Here’s my book club website: http://www.bookishwomen.blogspot.com.
This is a perfect idea for a book club! I always love hearing about new books. I was in a book club for years. It was interesting as our ages ranged from 17 to 78, we had people with master degrees and a high school drop out. We tended to have very different views on books and I always found that interesting.
Oh man, that sounds like the perfect book club! Now where can I get some 12-year-olds to join mine?