Earlier this year, I joined the Main Pages Book Club. It meets the first Wednesday of each month at
the main branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – which is conveniently located
directly across from the building I work in.
A definite plus! If you’re
looking to join a book club, try to pick a location that makes it harder for
you to miss a session. How can I skip
out when I merely have to cross the street to get there?
The exterior of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
I signed on after spotting a placard in the library while I
was voting last fall. One of the books
they were planning to discuss was one that I happened to be reading at the time
(The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters). That
was an easy in for me. While I now shout
the importance of proper book clubs
from the rooftops, had I not stumbled across one reviewing a novel I was nearly
through, I don’t know it would have captured my attention so quickly.
Why a proper book
club?
Not all book clubs are created equal. I enjoy this one taking place in a library
and not someone’s home. Aside from the
atmosphere of books, it keeps it professional. Don’t get me wrong – successful book clubs
can certainly be hosted at a private residence.
However…they can be cleverly disguised social gatherings. 5%
book discussion/90% wine sampling/5% latest gossip. There was a great New York Times article on
book clubs written by Judith Newman that was published in May. It illustrates several reasons I advocate a
less casual atmosphere. I’m not interested
in what little Susie did at preschool or what the milk man is up to with Mrs.
Johnson. I’m there for information on and about books.
No better atmosphere to discuss books!
It’s important to understand what you want to gain from attending.
For me, I was searching for insight into the minds of various readers. What better way to hone my own skills than with
a group of people who spend the most time with a writers final product? It’s like having a free focus group! Granted, each monthly selection may not be in
the genre that I write, but so many reader expectations transcend those lines. Is the dialogue strong and believable, do the
characters come across as Flat Stanley or do they jump from the page, is the
plot streamlined or too convoluted.
I also needed exposure to other genres outside my wheelhouse. I like mysteries, I write mysteries. When starting out as an author, I never
ventured outside that realm. Reading
strong writing in various styles only provides you more strength as an writer. Here’s a peek at the monthly reading list
from March through August:
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (c2000 – short stories,
humorous)
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (c1905 – classic)
The Girls by Emma Cline (c2016 – contemporary fiction)
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (c2015 – contemporary fiction)
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller (c1961 – classic)
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks (c2011 – historical fiction)
What a beautiful range!
Would I have selected any of these on my own – honestly, no. That’s what makes the right book club such an
amazing FREE resource. It forces you
outside of your comfort zone and the structure makes you accountable. I don’t want to be the one that shows up and
says “Uh…I didn’t read it.” As an author,
you should be exceptionally well-read in your own genre and well-read in all others.
Don’t be afraid to test the waters and find the right fit. While not a book club, I attended a local writers
group in February. The facilitator blatantly
steered people away from traditional publishing and strongly encouraged
everyone to self-publish. Did I mention
the facilitator also ran a self-publishing business on the side? I never went back. If it doesn't feel comfortable, find one that does.
In a book club? Have a horror story about one? An invaluable
experience in one? Let me know in the
comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment