Book club (n) : a group of middle-aged (or older) ladies gathered in someone’s living room, drinking tea (or red wine!) and talking about everything but their book of the month.
Now, don’t get me wrong – my idea of a wild night out is indeed an evening spent with a living room full of friends and endless cups of tea.
BUT!
This narrow, one-dimensional, pop culture book club portrayal really ignites my Bunsen burner.
Book clubs can and should be for readers of all stripes, and anyone who loves books should consider starting or joining a book club.
Here’s why I love book clubs so very much:
Book clubs encourage me to read outside of my comfort zone
I know what I like, and I read what I like. My reading ruts are so deep that you’d need a tank to drive over them. I typically read historical fiction, murder mysteries, fantasy and nonfiction. I wouldn’t touch a work of contemporary fiction, or anything with the word “romance” in the back copy, with a ten-foot pole. Even within my preferred genres I have my favourites that I stick to like glue.
By participating in book clubs I’ve been introduced to books that would never have otherwise popped up on my radar. Not all of these books have been winners, but I’m still a more well-rounded reader for having given them a try. And, to my surprise, a few of these novels have become fast favourites.
Book clubs encourage me to finish books
I have the attention span of a gnat. If a book doesn’t immediately grab and hold me, it doesn’t typically stand a chance. I toss books aside with abandon. Sometimes my instincts are correct, but as I’ve learned through being part of a book club, sometimes books, like people, just need a little bit more time to open up and come alive.
Book clubs introduce me to new perspectives and challenge my assumptions
One of the best things about books is that they speak to us in different ways. Gathering with a group of people of different ages and from different backgrounds and walks of life is a fantastic opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, step back, review and challenge assumptions, and look at stories in a brand new way.
Book clubs are all about respectful discussion and creative idea sharing
The best book clubs are the ones in which everyone’s ideas are respected and appreciated. My current book club is a safe space in which to share my honest opinions, because my fellow book lovers are respectful and mature – we don’t always agree on the books we read, but we respect and appreciate each other. A great book club can be the perfect antidote to all the mean-spirited comments we’re regularly bombarded with.
Book clubs help me work through my social anxiety
I am painfully shy, and often find social gatherings incredibly stressful. Book clubs are a great way for me to work through my shyness and build my confidence in social settings. What better environment for a shy, bookish nerd than a small groups of likeminded people with whom I already have something in common – a love of books?
Have I convinced you to join or start a book club yet? I’ve joined and left different book clubs because they didn’t suit my personal style, and that’s OK! Find a book club that works for you, and you’ll find a social group in which being called a bookish nerd is the best kind of compliment.
I love my book club for all of these reasons too and I definitely agree that they’re perks any reader could enjoy 🙂
I would love to be part of a book club because I read and review and all that, but I never really get to *discuss* books in-depth with people. Getting different perspectives, challenging assumptions, new ideas, all of that is what I would love!
I’ve never been part of a book club Jane but I can appreciate their benefits – particularly having to read outside of your comfort zone / favourite genre!
The owner of the local bookshop has some sort of reading group so I must suss out what she has going!