Wednesday, December 11, 2019

A Very Small Book Club


Oddly enough, in all my years as a voracious reader, I've never belonged to a book club. There was a time, early in my marriage when I read and reported on books for my mother-in-law who did belong to one and somehow rarely got around to reading the selected book when it was her turn to report on it.

But I've attended any number of book clubs as the speaker, when they were reading one of my books, and always enjoyed the lively discussions (and the food and the wine too.)

Now I find myself in a very select book club sort of a thing. My friend Allegra and I exchange piles of books  and have lunch and chat about this and that. Several months may pass between our 'meetings' and no one has to make a report on what she's read. If I'm particularly inspired by one of the books, I may email Allegra and tell her so but, so far at least, there's been no detailed analysis of any given book -- in spite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that she's a retired English teacher and I put in nine years as one.

You see in these two pictures the wealth she brought me yesterday. An interesting assortment in the top photo -- I'm looking forward especially to the Patchett and the Chevalier books. And in the bottom photo, the entire Shetland series. I loved the series on television but had never read any of them. I've already deep into the first (not pictured) Raven Black and am not disappointed.

Undoubtedly I'll be reporting on my reading here--in this online extension of our very small book club.

Any suggestions as to what I'm most likely to enjoy in the top photo?


7 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

I liked Shetland the tv series, and I think I read all of the books, but I am not sure. I know that I read the last one of the series.

Vicki Lane said...

I leaped into the first one at once and loved it as I loved the TV series. Great plotting!

Wayfarin' Stranger said...

I read the entire Shetland series and then gave it to a friend who teaches at Michigan State University. Have not seen the TV series and keep hoping Acorn will get it. I've also read her Vera series and have seen that TV series. Enjoyed both.

Sandra Parshall said...

Two very different stacks. When I was younger, I read all of Binchy’s books — gentle stories of ordinary Irish people, Irish famiily life, not a lot of drama. (This one centers around a pub, if I recall correctly.) Comforting books. But I read them at the same time I read Edna O’Brien’s Country Girls trilogy, stories of young Irish women asserting themselves, trying to break free of traditions and enter the modern world. Quite a contrast. You’ll probably enjoy some of the first stack, regardless of which you start with.

Thérèse said...

Wow! Enjoy your time with your friend, it is so valuable.
I haven't read any of the books in the top pile, just read "Me before you" by J Moyes, not a cheer up book by what I remember and a few books from Tracy Chevalier but not this one...
I miss the library book club in AZ I belonged too.

NCmountainwoman said...

I belong to two book clubs and enjoy both of them. But like you, my favorite book discussions are with a like-minded friend. We also pass books back and forth. It is very rare for us to disagree about a book. The established book clubs expose me to books I might not otherwise have read. But I must admit that I do often wonder how someone liked a particular book enough to recommend it for the group's monthly selection.

GPearson said...

Giver of Stars is about the "packhorse library" in Eastern KY. I think you've already read one about it. I love Larry Mcmurtry. Some Can Whistle is good.