So why a book club?

I love to read. I always have and honestly, I always hope I do. I love books. I enjoy the escape they offer. For me, the feeling you get from a good book is almost indescribable. The high I feel from not being able to put down a book until I discover the ending is one of the best feelings in the world.

I know it sounds geeky, but who cares. I am a geek. Growing up, I was not the most popular kid. I did well in school, so that automatically put me in the geek category I guess. Now, don’t say poor Tom as it is not like I had no friends. I had friends. I played and hung out with other kids. I just was not the center of attention or the most popular. Often, I found comfort in books when I did not have a group of friends to turn to. We moved often when I was a kid, so sometimes books were just easier than making new friends. I think looking back it was a good thing as it made me realize I loved to read. I did not come from a family of readers, by any means, so I think had I been more popular or into sports, I would have never discovered a passion for books.

So why not take this passion of books and try to find other people who like to read? Great idea, right? Well, book clubs are hardly a novel idea (pun intended). I even belonged to a book club in my mid-twenties, but I did not like it. I think the setting (in the back corner of a book store) and the group (middle-aged men and one middle aged lesbian obsessed with war books) really did little to make me feel connected. I felt passion for the books, but not listening to the other people talk about the books.



Over the years I just continued to read alone and with the exception of the occasional recommendation or blogging about a book I read, my reading was fairly private. It was usually something I did on the bus ride to or from work. However, I decided recently why not give this book club thing another try. I have a great community of friends and neighbors, who I adore, so why not see if they shared my passion for reading. To see who was interested, I sent some messages on Facebook. I had a few pre-requisites to who could join the club though. To be a part of the club, each member must:

1. Like to read.
   
2. Be willing to meet once every 5 to 6 weeks.
   
3. Be willing to host once a year.
   
4. Be someone I like.
   
5. Like me.
   
6. Live near me (within 3-5 miles).

I was happy to see that within a week I had about 8 people who were interested in joining. Since it was people who lived within a few miles of me (for the most part), I figured the name of the club should be something we all share besides a love for reading. I quickly decided on the Standley Lake Book Club, since our houses were all positioned near Standley Lake.



So every 6 weeks, we will meet to discuss the book we just read. The person who hosts the book club meeting will have the honor of selecting the book, but also the chore of hosting the event in their home, which will include some wine, some appetizers and maybe even the occasional dessert. Let’s be honest, what is book club without some wine and food, right?

I think it will also be a great opportunity for some new friendships to form and a chance every 6 weeks to kick back and have a good time. And if it does not work out, we will go with my plan B – fight club.
I know each member of the book club will have their own reasons for joining, whether it be the social aspect, the love for reading, the wine or just a chance to see everyone else's home, but I hope that most of all, everyone has a great time and sticks with it, as these clubs take time to get into a rhythm.

Happy reading!