What I didn't realize moving in was that there were also opportunities for adults to socialize outside the realm of their kids. Parties at the clubhouse, tennis and BOOK CLUB!! All my adult life I have tried to find a book club. You see one in movies, hear about them from friends, and of course read about them in books! For years, I never had the time, the resources (namely lots of people to talk about books with). Sure, my best friends and I traded books we've read, share kindle accounts, and give each other recommendations. But when we all get together we talk about books but also lots of other stuff! So, I was so grateful when I moved into my house in the suburbs and heard that there was a neighborhood sponsored book club!!
At first, I didn't go, mainly because I couldn't find time to read the books (I just moved remember??). Or I tried to read the novel and couldn't get through it and I vow NOT TO FINISH BOOKS I DON"T LIKE. Big waste of time in my world!
Then finally! I finished and enjoyed one of the books. It was The Orphan Train by Kristina Baker Kline. Totally not a book I would have chosen on my own, and not my favorite genre. But I was able to finish it - hurray! And I didn't totally hate it! Bonus! This meant I could attend my first book club meeting in good conscience.
I had a great time, met lovely women (and one man - which has since grown to 2 men!), had real adult conversations and have been attending once a month, give or take, ever since. In fact, I even give input on book choices now (Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Where'd you go Bernadette by Maria Semple). Secretly, I do this just to make sure some of the books I REALLY like to read are in there.
In between books that I chose or agreed with the choice, there's at least one book I actually loved (The Martian by Andy Weir) and others that I liked and felt like regardless of my love for the book, we had good discussions (Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. And a few I didn't finish, as hard as I tried (A Man Called Ove Fredrik Backman by The Magicians by Lev Grossman).
Oh yeah, there's the one I watched the movie of because I couldn't even get past the first page (Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier), Full disclosure, I let book club members know I did this, and couldn't believe I was the only one!
Total aside...and probably a whole topic for another blog...but I also started listening to books on my commute and love when the author reads their own work (celebrity memoirs, self-help books etc.) Recently, I was listening to Gretchen's Rubin's Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives, and I realize now that in order to create a reading habit, I had to be held accountable - thank you book club!!! Now back to my blog on book club...
I will NOT finish books I don't like is kinda my mantra (thank you Austin Kleon.). But book club at least gets me to try them. And that has made all the difference!
At first, I didn't go, mainly because I couldn't find time to read the books (I just moved remember??). Or I tried to read the novel and couldn't get through it and I vow NOT TO FINISH BOOKS I DON"T LIKE. Big waste of time in my world!
Then finally! I finished and enjoyed one of the books. It was The Orphan Train by Kristina Baker Kline. Totally not a book I would have chosen on my own, and not my favorite genre. But I was able to finish it - hurray! And I didn't totally hate it! Bonus! This meant I could attend my first book club meeting in good conscience.
I had a great time, met lovely women (and one man - which has since grown to 2 men!), had real adult conversations and have been attending once a month, give or take, ever since. In fact, I even give input on book choices now (Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Where'd you go Bernadette by Maria Semple). Secretly, I do this just to make sure some of the books I REALLY like to read are in there.
In between books that I chose or agreed with the choice, there's at least one book I actually loved (The Martian by Andy Weir) and others that I liked and felt like regardless of my love for the book, we had good discussions (Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. And a few I didn't finish, as hard as I tried (A Man Called Ove Fredrik Backman by The Magicians by Lev Grossman).
Oh yeah, there's the one I watched the movie of because I couldn't even get past the first page (Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier), Full disclosure, I let book club members know I did this, and couldn't believe I was the only one!
Total aside...and probably a whole topic for another blog...but I also started listening to books on my commute and love when the author reads their own work (celebrity memoirs, self-help books etc.) Recently, I was listening to Gretchen's Rubin's Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives, and I realize now that in order to create a reading habit, I had to be held accountable - thank you book club!!! Now back to my blog on book club...
I will NOT finish books I don't like is kinda my mantra (thank you Austin Kleon.). But book club at least gets me to try them. And that has made all the difference!
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