Book Club

I love to read so when I was invited to join a book club 10 years ago I was very excited.  For the last 10 years I have read some really good books that I probably would not have read if it wasn't on the book club reading list.  I read some challenging books that I had to treat like homework to finish reading. I read some books that were so interesting that I couldn't put them down and finished overnight. At the same time there were a few books that were painful to read, and some books that I really couldn't bring myself to finish (very, very few books). For the last 10 years I have read about 100 books with my book club friends.  I appreciate their suggestions on what to read;  it helps me to read a more wide range of books.

For the last 10 years as a book club we have had a movie night, played games, did cookie exchanges, visited the Ann Frank human rights memorial, had a white elephant gift exchange, and shared many sweet refreshments together. We talked about the books we read, how they applied to us.  We talked about what we learned from them and sometimes we disagreed and had some heated arguments (without bad feelings because we are cool like that).

I was thinking about our book club and I wonder if reading books and having a discussion is a secondary purpose of the book club. I noticed that there are a few clubs are out there for people to seek out and join.  There are quilting clubs, knitting clubs, and book clubs. And there are few of them that they don't necessarily call it a club, but they get together to run, hike, or do other activities and hobbies they pursue together.  I was a part of a play group for a while when I had little kids. Most people seek out others for friendship and a sense of belonging.  My husband said that we are adults so we don't just hang out like teenagers; we need a purpose or goal to get together.  It might be quilting, knitting, reading, or exercise,  and those things will be done when we get together, but he said we are getting together because women need other women and we get together for friendship and support as much as having a literary discussion. I pondered about what he said about the real reason for clubs. 

It is true that I consider my book club members my friends. We exchange recipes, we give and receive parenting tips, share news from old friends, and share garden vegetables.  We know each others children and grandchildren.  We know when someone is having a health problems.  We know what worries others have.  We don't know how many spoons others have in their drawers, but we have a pretty close relationship.  I know I can go to them with my troubles and I will be comforted.  I am truly grateful for the wonderful friends I have.

I am very excited about our new reading list for 2017. I look forward to getting together with my book club friends.

Happy reading everyone.