a sort-of book club

At our last book club meeting in January, we didn’t begin discussing the book until 10pm.  And when we finally did, the whole discussion was over in about five minutes.  Since I hadn’t read the book, I didn’t much care, but still, it is a book club.

In the ten years since I’ve been a member, it feels like the socializing-catching-up part of our meetings has railroaded the book part.  This is a group of smart, insightful women.  There are ten of us who regularly meet.  Most of us only see each other at these meetings, so in fairness, there is a lot to catch up on.

Nonetheless, when I invest in reading a book-club book, I want to discuss it.  I find the comments of others enrich my reading experience, and can sometimes even alter my initial impression.  So tonight, with some trepidation, I decide to broach the subject.  My plan is to suggest we start the book discussion “an hour or so” after we meet at 7:30.  Then we can go back to socializing.

Around 8:30 I say, “There’s a topic I’d like to bring up for discussion,” and all conversation stops.  I say, “I’m a little nervous bringing this up,” and one of the members chimes in, “Then don’t.”  Nice.

But I am not to be intimidated.  I make my plea for a more concerted effort to discuss the book, and to do so earlier.  A couple of people don’t want anything to change.  But the majority agrees, “Sure, let’s discuss the book no later than nine.“

Our book tonight is ML Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans.  The book raises many questions.  The characters are well developed and flawed.  The writing is stilted.  The moral dilemmas are many.  There is much to consider. 

Around 9:45 we get to the book.  By 10:15 our discussion is over.  Oh well, I tried.