Frank Zappa’s famous quote “So many books, so little time” is how most bibliophiles like me think about books and reading. I like to read in solitude, but I love talking about the book in a social setting.
When you read a good book, you’re consumed by it. Sharing your opinions about the book with others who have read it is the perfect release of emotions. A book club discussion is a bonding experience where folks share their own diverse perspectives while explaining how they relate or react to certain incidents in a novel. With each discussion, we learn a little bit more about ourselves and each other.
Book clubs are to readers what Weight Watchers is to people trying to lose weight. It holds members accountable for meeting the deadline. The icing on the cake is that there are snacks and drinks at the meeting as well.
I have been fortunate to moderate the Blue Jays Book Club at the Swansea Branch Library for the past two years. We read a variety of books, and it was gratifying to hear a member tell me that I introduced her to books and authors she wouldn’t have chosen on her own.
Each branch of Lexington County Public Library offers book clubs such as Scary Story Society, Murder on Mondays, Detectives and Desserts, Rowdy Readers and Shelf Indulgence to name a few. You can join any of these book clubs or start one yourself with our Book Club Sets.
A Book Club Set is a convenient grab-and-go bag containing 10 books of the same title. They come in various genres and titles and are available for checkout with your library card. Some Book Club Set titles we read recently and enjoyed discussing include:
by Jojo Moyes
The book title itself is open to different interpretations and can lead to interesting discussions at a book club meeting. Will was a successful businessman who became acerbic after an accident that left him paralyzed. Lou, a young, pretty and naïve girl gets a job to look after him and they both fall in love. Will is tired of his life and wishes to go to an agency named Dignitas in Switzerland which can help him die. Lou wants to give him a reason to live and be happy. The book has humor and heartbreak. The ending is profound and raises provocative questions about life and death.
by Jodi Picoult
The two main protagonists of this novel, Ruth Jefferson, an African American labor and delivery nurse and Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, both have “moments where they do a small thing that has great and lasting repercussions for others.” Turk and Brit, a white couple, make a specific request that “No African American personnel” should care for their baby. Ruth feels insulted when she realizes that the couple doesn’t have a problem with how she does her job, just with who she is, and the color of her skin. PopSugar writes, “Jodi Picoult tackles race and discrimination in a way that will grab hold of you and refuse to let you go. This page-turner is perfect for book clubs.”
by Sally Hepworth
This is a psychological thriller about two sisters who have fascinating complexities of the mind. Fern is quirky and could be on the Asperger syndrome spectrum. She loves structure and dislikes lights and loud noises. She works in the library. Her sister Rose has always looked out for her. They share a childhood of homelessness and secrets. Rose is yearning to have a baby but cannot conceive due to infertility. Fern decides to get pregnant and give the baby to her sister. The novel has devilish twists and turns, and it will sway your mind in different directions till you finally figure out who among the two is “the good sister.”
by Richard LeMieux
Richard LeMieux wrote this book while homeless. He was rich with a grand house, cars and boats but a loss in business led to him losing all his money. He was evicted from his home and his family abandoned him. He was driven to the depths of despair and yet he overcame. His dog Willow never left his side and gave him unconditional love and support. This memoir is insightful, powerful and emotional. Richard made friends with other homeless people who are real and interesting. He helps erase the stereotypes society has of people living on the streets. This book is a must-read as it will open up your heart with compassion. The author rightly muses that his writing will give hope to the homeless and it will “help someone look twice and think twice when passing by a person in need.”
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Set in Kolkata, India, this book tells the story of two cousins who grew up together. Although their lives took different directions across the seven seas, their hearts remained connected. The author spins a beautiful tapestry of local foods, atmosphere, folklore, festivals, rituals and mythology. I could relate, having grown up in India, and I was excited to explain the glossary of Hindi and Bengali words used in the book. The book club members could relate to the universal bonds of sisterhood and friendship and mused about their own soul sisters.
Look in the book carousel below for more book club picks. What are some of your favorite book club reads?
Book Club Picks
