I already know your book club is awesome.
Without having been to it, how do I know?
For one thing, you’re in it. And you obviously have good taste in books. (Wink.)
For another thing, any time people gather to discuss books, something special happens. New ideas take shape. Differing opinions begin to make sense. Friendships grow.
Interesting Enough: A Wren Island Novel makes a great club read.
Among other industrious activities, a few of my wonderful neighbors host a monthly book club. A while back, they read Wren Island (as interactive serialized fiction, before it became Interesting Enough) and invited the author (the same girl who walks her dog past every day) to be their special guest.
That evening, Allison’s buzzy brownies were on the menu, along with a delicious soup featuring butternut squash and apple. We also enjoyed mini crab cakes baked in the oven, not fried. (Did you know you can substitute crushed cornflakes for panko crumbs? Might be handy to know, next time you’re cooking for someone who’s avoiding gluten.)
We talked a lot about Wren Island, of course. We questioned why certain characters act the way they do. We guessed at what might happen next.
Club members asked questions about my writing process, and I answered to the best of my ability. (Much of the process is a mystery, even to me.)
We also talked about our pets, recent travels, and upcoming local festivals. We figured out which one of us held the most library memberships. We held a brief but enlightening conversation about why garbage pickup in the area is sometimes later than usual.
We talked about all that and much more—including a couple of topics probably best left unmentioned. (What happens at book club stays at book club.)
So keep showing up at your book club. Connection happens in a most astonishing, refreshing way when people have a safe place to share their real thoughts, ideas, worries, and dreams.
If your book club reads Interesting Enough, check out the discussion guide I’ve created as a launch point for meaningful conversation.
Wondering if I’ll visit your book club?
Thanks for asking! I love talking about Wren Island with book clubs. Does your book club meet in my beautiful part of the country? Maybe I can join you in person! Video chat is always an option too.
And if you’d like to keep up with what I’m currently reading, become a Wren Islander and check out the books section in my emails.
Keep reading! Keep talking about books. And definitely keep looking for ways to connect.
[Photo courtesy of Unsplash.]
