I love book clubs! I joined my first one nearly twenty years ago, and it was such fun to read new books that other members had chosen, especially when their reading tastes differed from mine. I loved hearing the variety of opinions on our monthly selections and discovering themes or insights that I had completely missed. Several books were ones I never would have chosen on my own, but I was glad I read most of them. I can also remember a few books that our club unanimously disliked. I once struggled through 3 or 4 chapters of a William Faulkner novel and just couldn’t finish it in time for our meeting. I went to book club anyway—only to learn that I had made it through more pages than anyone else!
When my own books began to be published and were being chosen by other book clubs, it dramatically changed the book club experience for me. I was a little nervous, at first, but soon learned that book lovers are very kind and encouraging people. The leader of one club asked if I’d like to come anonymously and listen to the discussion before she announced who I was. I said yes, but told her if they hated the book, just say I’m your cousin from Australia. It turned out they loved the book and I didn’t have to converse in my fake Australian accent.
I really enjoy talking about my plots and hearing how my characters have “come alive” for readers. It’s very helpful to know what readers like or dislike about my books so I can write with future readers in mind. And I love to answer questions about the book or about my writing process. Most of all, book clubs are a wonderful way to socialize with other book lovers.
Whenever I’m able, I like to visit in person, especially if there’s food! Some clubs are very creative with decorations and treats that relate to the story in some way. But when distance (or Covid-19) makes it impossible for me to meet with a book club in person, I sometimes visit via Skype or FaceTime or Zoom to answer readers’ questions. Afterwards, I like to question them and ask which other books have been club favorites. It’s a great way to add to my personal reading list.
If you belong to a book club and are compiling this year’s list of titles, I’m very excited to announce that my novel, “If I Were You” has been chosen by Books-A-Million to be a Book Club Pick for the month of August. My book will be sold in Books-A-Million stores and their online website.
Here’s the link for the Books-A-Million Book Club group you can join on Facebook. I’ll be checking in this month to answer your questions and read your comments.
And if your book club decides to read “If I Were You,” my publisher, Tyndale House, has put together a fun Book Club Kit with some special recipes and quizzes for your members to enjoy.
Do you belong to a book club? What are some creative things your group has done? Are you still “meeting” in new ways because of the virus restrictions? I’d love to hear your ideas and comments.
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Congratulations to ‘If I Were You’! I am not in a book club, but I would consider joining after hearing what you’ve said.
I participated in a book club with a group of very nice women for about a year. However, their choice of books, some of which I liked, did not jive with my choice of Christian fiction. So, I decided to read what the Christian fiction bloggers recommend rather than what those book club members recommended. I’ve been a lot happier reader since then.
“… if they hated the book, just say I’m your cousin from Australia. It turned out they loved the book and I didn’t have to converse in my fake Australian accent.”
That CRACKED ME UP, Lynn!! You were very brave to sit in under those circumstances! When I’m invited to a book club that’s discussing my book, I usually try to bow out for the discussion so people can speak freely. I show up in time to answer questions and meet the members. I did get in on a discussion once where one of the women did NOT like my book AT ALL and wasn’t afraid to tell me and the rest of the world so. Thankfully, the other women were very kind and seemed to like the book. Later I learned that this woman hadn’t liked ANY book the club had ever read, which made me feel a little better! 🙂
I helped form a book club in 2004 and was a member for about six years. For the most part it was a very enjoyable experience, and like you, I found I read some books I would never have chosen and liked most of them. We met about every six weeks and the person who chose the book hosted the meeting. We tried to coordinate our refreshments around food, area, or culture represented in the book. I dropped out of the club because my teaching job (retired in 2014) limited my free reading time, and I was spending all that time reading books I didn’t choose. Now I enjoy participating in two online book clubs several readers’ groups, and read books with two friends by authors we all 3 like.
Faulkner really is a difficult author to get through – I read As I Lay Dying and thought I would never finish and wondered why I did. His short story, “A Rose for Emily”, was required reading in a college course I took (the Short Story) and very good.
I love visiting book clubs who are discussing my books either in person or via computer. However, I’m way too scared to attend anonymously! Like Deb, I typically pop in for 30 minutes or so to interact and answer questions and then leave so that they can dissect the book at will. 🙂
I’ve been a part of a Christian fiction book club for about a dozen years. We meet monthly and have so much fun discussing books. We had to meet by Zoom a few times earlier this year, then started meeting outside in person, but still keeping a distance. We’ve met with authors, both in our town and on “field trips” to other locations in Kansas. Several others have visited with us by phone, Facetime, or Skype. Deb Raney and Tamera Alexander are two of the authors we’ve been blessed to visit with. We also have our own Facebook page.