A couple of book clubs are reading Husband Auditions this month, and I’ve been invited to visit one on a Zoom call. I’m honored, but I’m also intimidated.
See, when I join this book club virtually, the group will have already spent an hour dissecting my story. It’s not likely all of them will love the novel either. I’ll probably feel a little like when you walk into a room, and everyone gets quiet enough that you know they’ve been gossiping behind your back.
I expect this because I’m part of a book club myself. I’ve witnessed many impassioned debates. Of course, that’s part of what makes it fun to read and discuss the same book.
This retirement community book club invited me for a screening of Finding Love in Big Sky.
For example, I present our year-end book club party from last month:
The club president hung pockets for each of the books we read during the year on a posterboard. Then all club members were given strips of categories to vote for by sliding the strips in the corresponding book pockets. Categories included things like “favorite book” and “I can’t wait for the movie” to “I could have written this better” and “refused to finish.” After we distributed our strips into the pockets of our choice, we took turns reading what each book won.
None of the awards were unanimous. Many books received votes from both the best and worst category.
As a writer, I found the exercise fascinating. And encouraging. It’s okay if not everyone loves my books. What a boring world that would be.
I got to be a surprise guest at this book club.
When a person opens a book, they bring into the story their own life experiences and personal preferences. Different readers will take away different things, and those things aren’t always intentionally written. They’re deeper.
The best books are those that successfully reflect the reader back to themselves like a mirror. My job as an author is to polish that mirror as clean as I can. I acknowledge I’ll never make it spotless, and not everyone will like what they see.
So, as I prepare to party with this new book club, I’ll keep such ideas in mind. If nothing else, I hope my book makes them think, and I expect their take on my book to do the same for me.
Are you part of a book club, and if so, what do you love about it?
Angela Ruth Strong survived breast cancer, works as a flight attendant, and uses her own crazy life experiences as inspiration for the stories she writes. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. She and her husband also got to play extras when her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was adapted for film. To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho.
I have been in a couple of online bookclubs but they only did discussion questions. I tried to start one at the church but got no takers.
I do love the vote for different categories. One year I read a book that I would have put as worst because for me personally it was discouraging and made it sound if you are not married by 30 your life is over. I was in my 40’s and still single. I did get down around 30 when I was still single so it was to close to home (never desperate like this character) but most people had it as their top read for the year. (admittedly all were happily married before 30!)
I love how you said its not wrong to have different opinions. I know of a few authors who cant understand why I or others don’t like their book. Its cos we have differing takes. One author wrote to me to take down a comment I didn’t like a particular genre cos she said it made her not want to write. I did at the time but wouldn’t now. I go one to say why I am not a fan of a certain genre but its still valid to me. the same author doesn’t understand why people who love one genre won’t read her books in a totally different genre but again its choice. One of my favourite authors is Susan Page Davis, she write very wide, historical, CCR, Cozy Mystery. Romantic Suspense, Pi or Police mystery series. While I like all these genres I don’t read all the books in them all and she is fine with that. So I love how your group did the different catagories. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all liked the same things and a good author knows not everyone will read their books or all their books.
I like to read wide but I won’t read horror or heavy suspense or the Jane Austin type books in England. (Give me naval romance anyday over regency)
The last time I read a book as part of a group I was probably in English/German class at school, lol! I can understand why you might be intimidated as an author in attending. I also love how you have presented views about book clubs in the blog, maybe I can find one to join.
My first thought was is a book like a song and the author has to reread it to remember it like a singer has to refresh their memory for song lyrics before they can sing the song again? I would be a bit scared they would remember bits of the book I’d forgotten, but that might just be me!
If I was you I would view it as an adventure and think of what a wonderful opportunity to interact with readers, and what an abundance of ideas you could come away with. Whatever happens I hope you have a fantastic time with them and they aren’t too intimidated to talk with you.
Hallo Dianne K – this retired high school English & German teacher chuckled about your opening statement. High school book discussions, especially in German class are different than an adult perspective. Where did you study German? Happy Reading.
I have a neighborhood book club. I love it. We read all different genres.
Bitte Renate, at high school in Adelaide, South Australia, a long, long time ago, though to be fair as teenagers we thought we knew everything including that we were all grown up and adults, lol! Part of my father’s ancestry was primarily Prussian and also from Hesse, so between German and French the choice was obvious. Ich spreche sehr bischen Deutsche, did I get that right, it was a long, long time ago :D Thank you for making me laugh tonight, I’m glad I made you chuckle :D
Dianne K! I was born in Berlin, Germany (Berlin was part of Prussia). My father was a Berliner and my mom was born in East Prussia – near what is today Kalingrad (Russian port on the Baltic Sea). As a teacher, I am intrigued where German is taught. You did well since you studied German a long, long time ago. Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch! Your assessment of teenagers is true. See it in my grandsons (ages 16 & 18). Glad you had an evening chuckle. Early morning in Michigan – the Mitten State. Just returned from taking my granddaughter to school (4. grade).
I’ve never been part of a book club but I’ve always thought it would be fun.
I think you’re so right that people will have really wide opinions on books, there isn’t even agreement on whether so called greatclassic novels are really great lol. I have changed opinions myself on reading something again, particularly if it’s a long time since I’ve read it.
Hope the book group goes well!
Hi Angela! This reader has participated in some local library sponsored book clubs. Our SW Michigan county has 17 libraries, all which sponsor monthly book clubs. As a retiree, even our senior center has a book club. My friend Wendy and I met 10 years ago when we took our granddaughters to a library story time and now attend the Lake Bluff Book Club. She likes non-fiction, I prefer fiction. Before our monthly book club we often met for dinner and if she LOVES a book, I dislike it. If I LOVE a book, she doesn’t. Most of the time the group is split on whether we enjoyed to book and would recommend it to somebody else.
I attend book club, because it forces me to read books I normally would not. During the year we make suggestions on books – a list is compiled / we vote and the top contenders become the next year’s selections. This year I am also participating in 2 online book clubs with an international theme. Enjoy reading books with international settings and with different genres.
I’m not. I’ve been asked to start one, but don’t feel that’s really my thing. Mainly, I hate to “have” to read a book at a set pace. If you meet once a week, I’ll finish the book before the next week, whether that’s the “set thing” or not. If you drag it out for once a month, I’ll be reading the book a few days before, because it doesn’t take me long to read a book, and if I read it too far ahead, there’s so many books I’ll read after it that I may not remember much about that book! And, there’s the part that I really do NOT like to rehash a book and what the author meant by certain things in the book. That’s a huge part of why I hated dissecting books in school! I’m sure the Bronte sisters didn’t write their books for us to dissect them! I do share about books I read, though!
Never been in a bookclub don’t think I would want to. I currently listening to husband auditons through libby not very far into it cause then after I started it my 96 year old grandfather fell and broke his hip then passed away the day after Christmas.
I hope you find a book club that works for you! You sound like you have a lot to offer. And I think newer authors might be more protective of their babies.
Thank you so much for sharing. Yeah, sometimes I do forget things I’ve written. Then if a reader brings it up, I’m analyzing it from a different perspective. I hope you do get to try reading books with a club again soon! It’s fascinating!
That’s fabulous! Do you take turns picking books or do you vote?
Ooh, I love the theme idea! I love that your club votes then rarely agrees on their faves. And I love that you are in more than one club. We can all learn so much from each other.
Sharing is caring! And I get your desire to read for pleasure. I remember secretly reading ahead in my school assigned novels because I couldn’t stop. LOL
Oh no, Kendra! I’m so sorry. Hugs to your family.
Sometimes there’s no time to read, and sometimes a book is just what we need. I’m glad you’re doing what’s best for you.
I used to be and I really enjoyed the comrade and the fun that we all had. I enjoyed how everyone got something different from the same chapter or page. Insights from all over where wonderful. We all read the same christian book and it was so fun. I would do it again.
I’m in a 10-woman book club, which was founded in 2008. We all suggest books and then vote on them at the end of the year for the following year. We have two potlucks (August with a theme matching that month’s book) and at Christmas time. Sometimes we wear costumes that relate to the book, or bring props (for instance members brought their wedding dresses – or photos, when we read “The Gown”). We don’t always agree on whether we like the book, but everyone is comfortable sharing their thoughts. We’ve had authors attend our meetings in person and via Zoom, and I never thought how they might feel until you shared your thoughts here.
Yes. I am part of two book clubs. One is a monthly club which we read different authors with different genres. The other one is a cozy mystery book club. I enjoy reading the books as well as listening to the authors talk about the book as well as their inspiration for the story. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.