Other than a one-meeting attempt to "join" my mom's book club in Alaska from afar (I read the book and sent thoughts to my mom, she shared such at her book club meeting, it proved to be unreasonable to get reviews and comments back from the meeting, I could not get a copy of the next book without spending $40+ in shipping/customs and with the risk of it taking 2 months to arrive, ...)
I've never participated in a Book Club before.
Last night was a first and it was great! I recommend the experience to everyone!
The BC I joined has been around for a couple of years. Each gal recommends books in the season we know as Spring, books are selected for the upcoming year before the "Summer" break, gals gather their copies before returning in August/Sept, and the monthly gatherings begin in September.
Most of the gals have English as their first language ... that helps ... the books are not easy reads. Gals are mainly from: U.S., Canada, Britain, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa, ... The books are from all over the world and are, therefore, titles I've not had in my radar before this experience.
Last night's book was the all-time worst book the group had ever read. Some gals didn't even attend the meeting because they never got past the first few pages! It's an award-winning book from New Zealand. The author spent many years in and out of asylums, experienced hundreds of electric shock treatments, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, ... you get the picture. Soooooo, the book was definitely written in a random, stream-of-consciousness style and was filled with despair. The author did write fabulous descriptions, though!
On the way home, the two gals with whom I rode and I were talking about why we read books and how that fit with this book. We agreed that we read books in order to grow -- to expand our thinking, be challenged in our character, be renewed in our purpose, etc. Did this book accomplish any of that? No ... the characters in the book did not grow -- they were just destroyed.
So why did I enjoy this experience so much? Cuz it is, once again, amazing to meet people who think totally differently from how I think, have belief systems that totally conflict with my own, make life style choices to which I cannot relate, and are still marvelous people! Each gal is someone for whom Jesus Christ died ... whether they believe He Is or not. Each one is precious.
Undoubtedly, each one is as baffled by me as I am by them!
What adventure awaits -- in and around each book!
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4 comments:
What fun that sounds like! Did you get to recommend a book yet? Or did you miss that time frame?
Back in the Cherry Creek Comm. Church days, Keith had a friend who was showing symptoms of schizophrenia (sp?)and Carol Selander was very helpful to me in trying to find out about the disease. I've read some good books about it if you were looking for something else on it.
Linda --
Yep ... missed the book selection process for this round. 'will do it in April for the next round.
I studied Schiz. and the like during my work on my master's in counseling. The movie, A Beautiful Mind, is a great portrayal of such struggles.
I am sure that you would enjoy this group of gals, Linda!
I seem to always read your blog late at night now. I really enjoy the postings. I just can't think of an intelligable, let alone intelligent, answer. I guess I'm a bit too stretched to comment, so just wanted to say I'm reading and enjoying!
Thanks, Zona! I feel your pain ... Jim and I have been sick with a cold bug for a few days. I'm on the mend but it's a slow process. I don't know if the general foggy conditions are from cold meds or the basic stuffiness but my brain is dull, that's for sure! And I'm off to teach English -- let's hope I don't teach them something that's a rule for French of some such thing! :-)
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