“We’re on our own for supper tonight. Mom has her book club.” This is a monthly refrain in our house. Throughout most of my adult life, I’ve been talking about books with others, either formally in my literature classes or informally through book clubs. In the years just following college, a book club forced me out of my reading comfort zone, broadened my perspective, and provided me with adult conversations and sweet friendships while I was a young stay-at-home mom. That book club ended as life moved on. Several years ago a new book club formed out of a single book discussion at our church. Coordinating schedules can be challenging, but the benefits far outweigh any hiccups along the way.
If you’ve never been a part of a book club, you might wonder how it works. The book clubs I’ve been a part of meet in person monthly, usually in the evenings. Others are made up of friends who are scattered geographically but meet virtually in a group chat or video meeting. Currently, my book club is made up of approximately fifteen women of mixed ages from new mothers to soon-to-be grandmothers. As our group has grown, some members have moved on while others have stayed and invited a friend or two. We meet once a month except during May and December, which are particularly busy. We always have tea, coffee, and treats, but sometimes we meet earlier and share a meal while we talk about the book or perhaps watch a documentary related to the topic.
Some book clubs focus on a particular genre or time period. My first book club started as a way to read the classics, but over time we branched out into books that we simply wanted to talk about. In that group we typically read fiction while my current book club tends toward more contemporary nonfiction, often featuring a current cultural topic or a biography. We find our books through word of mouth, booklists, podcasts, and each others’ Goodreads lists. From economics to religion to current events, we are growing in our knowledge of our world.
After we have read the book on our own or listened to the audio, we gather together. When we discuss a book, we talk about the content, but we also examine the author’s style and voice. Chapter by chapter or page by page, we critique everything: metaphors, poorly supported opinions, and beautiful turns of phrase. Sometimes we have loathed a book by the time we have finished. For others we have loved every page. In all cases, we sift out the chaff and let the good sink down into our souls.
The benefits of a book club are many, some more obvious than others. Books bring readers together whose lives might not otherwise intersect. I have gained perspectives and knowledge from my fellow readers that I couldn’t find in a book. In my first book club, we had a math professor, a librarian, three library assistants, a medical resident, two teachers, and a technical writer/translator who worked in the auto industry. Our ages ranged from college to grandparent. The math professor was also a Star Trek fan and often connected the book we were reading to a Star Trek episode. I appreciate what I learned about these members as people as we talked about books.
Being part of a book club keeps my mind sharp. I’m not just reading to finish a book or scrolling mindlessly through social media. I’m reading closely because I want to contribute to the discussion with questions and comments. Having a group that is reading a specific book keeps me accountable to finish the book even if it makes me uncomfortable or presents challenging ideas. It also forces me to read other genres such as science fiction and fantasy. I would never have read many of the books that now reside in my head and on my shelves had they not been book club selections. As I think through the lists, it is often the more challenging ones that stand out—Voyage to Arcturus, which influenced C.S. Lewis and his Space Trilogy; Made in China, which has led me to think twice before buying just about anything; Blood Brothers about the conflict in the Middle East; and The Rent Collector, which allowed me to sit for a time in a place I will probably never visit in person.
As I was writing this blog, I asked my book club for the reasons they attend.
- “I love reading but sometimes picking what to read next feels too daunting—there are just so many good books to be read, so I like having a set book with a set deadline!”
- “I like our book club for the wide range of ages and experiences that I learn from, and finding spin-off books or audio recommendations from something we read that I can dig deeper with.”
- “I love the community and learning and growing from each other’s life circumstances. We are challenging our brains on non-mom stuff, deepening friendships, and eating yummy food! It is a place to talk about all the things and not be judged but rather be encouraged if we are struggling.”
If you are missing some of these things in your life, gather some kindred spirits and start a book club this summer.
by Danielle Olander
