Despite my deep and copiously documented love of reading, I’ve not had very good luck with book clubs.
I joined one – a group of smart, compassionate women – when I still lived in west Texas, but I ended up moving away a few months later when my husband landed his job in Boston. A couple of years ago, two Boston girlfriends and I launched a book club, and we read some great books – Unbroken, Jane Eyre, The Weird Sisters, The Night Circus, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. But we lost a few members due to busy schedules and other commitments, and the group eventually petered out.
But this summer, at the behest of my friend Hannah, I joined what we call the “occasional book club,” made up of 10 or so women scattered around New England, from Boston to Hartford to Rhode Island. (Hannah lives in the Boston area, but is from Rhode Island, and she is the common link between us: all the other members know her somehow.)
We meet every couple of months to discuss a book and munch on delicious food. This summer, on a sweltering July night, the menu consisted largely of ice cream. (Not that I’m complaining!) At our most recent meeting, a brilliant and wide-ranging discussion of Gaudy Night, the spread ranged from wine and candied nuts to squares of sea-salt dark chocolate, to crisp slices of bell pepper and apples dipped in hummus and caramel dip, respectively.
On the surface, we have relatively little in common except our ages (and our various connections to Hannah). We are artists, writers, librarians, office workers, therapists, stay-at-home mothers. Most of us claim some kind of Christian faith, though our backgrounds and current practices vary widely. But we all love to read and talk about books. Both meetings I’ve attended have sparked deep, thought-provoking discussions, ranging from questions of style and structure to the larger issues at the heart of the books we read.
It’s often difficult to pinpoint what makes a group work, or causes it to fall apart. In this case, the low-pressure nature of these meetings is definitely a plus: no one has to scramble to read a new book and make fresh travel plans every month. The occasional nature of the club means it feels like a treat when we do get together, and our diverse backgrounds and viewpoints make for fascinating discussion.
So many of the connections I’ve made here in Boston are different than I’d envisioned: looser, perhaps, but also rich in unexpected ways. This book club definitely fits both descriptors.
Are you part of a book club? I’m always keen to hear others’ experiences.
cakes, tea and dreams 
I am currently between book groups and miss it! I have always been to very informal groups, where at least half of the time the book is not discussed, tangents are very much allowed and there is always cake!
I have never been a part of a book club (other than the mother-daughter book club Grace and I participate in – even that is awfully sporadic!). Nobody has ever asked me! xox
I was in a book club years ago when I lived in Vancouver. Found them on a bulletin board at a book store and it was heavenly. I think I’m ruined for other book clubs now, but I’ve never been invited to join another, so who knows?
A good book club is hard to find. I had an amazing one back in Illinois but haven’t found the right fit here. I tried starting one but not enough people could commit to it. A friend invited me to hers but so far I haven’t been able to make it- it does sound promising though!
I just got an invite to come to a book club as a guest author. I think this will be my favorite one ever! (and my first). I’ve always loved the idea of a book club, though. Yours sounds perfect.