Week 9: Book Club Experience
There is a book club that meets at our local public library on the last Thursday of every month, from 6 - 7 p.m. It does not have a standing membership roster; it is open to the community. Participants attend based solely on their own availability and interest in the book chosen that month. There is a leader that kickstarts the meeting, but everybody openly comments. In February, the book club read Misty Creek, by John W. Vander Velden.
Due to the author's proximity, the book club leader made arrangements for Mr. Vander Velden to come in and lead the discussion. It was publicized in the library newsletter as a "meet and greet" and he brought along a few extra copies of books to be available for purchase. There were coffee and cookies provided, although I am not sure if that was typical or just bought for the occasion.
Rather than a meeting room, we gathered in the large conference room so there was space for the treats and a table for the author's materials. There were six attendees and all were very lively and quite adamant about the book. Four loved it, one did not like it, and the other said she was frustrated with the main character but that the ending was such that it did leave the reader wanting to see what happens next and therefor would probably read the next book in the series.
The author began the meeting by having us each state our favorite character or scene, with some minor group conversations of each. He then spoke of how he got the inspiration for the book. He discussed the development of each of the favorite characters and scenes mentioned by the group. I found it fascinating that the story was actually based on his ancestors and that he said he never uses an outline.
This was the only one of their book club meetings that I've attended so I am not sure how it compares to other months. Overall, I thought the conversation flowed smoothly. Nobody commandeered the floor or monopolized the discussion. I like the fact that it is open invitation because that way they know that the people there truly want to be there and are not showing up just out of a feeling of obligation.
How wonderful to have the author in attendance! I am assuming they selected this book especially because of the author's proximity to the library's district. I wonder if they exclusively read fiction, or if this was just a special occasion. Was the book club leader a librarian or an outside hire/volunteer? Did they ask many questions, or did they leave the floor mostly open for the author to control the discussion? I think it's wonderful that a patron was honest that they did not like the book to the author's face. I could never do that, I am way too shy! But I think that bodes well for the energy and atmosphere of the book club, displaying that the attendees feel comfortable enough with each other and in the library to be entirely honest.
ReplyDeleteThe leader is a community member and she generally does kickstart the conversation but leaves it open to the group to keep the discussion moving. In this particular session though, the author controlled the conversation. As for the one saying they didn't like it, she said it tactfully by stating she prefers xxx (I forget exactly what her interest was). If I had more time, I'd attend more book club meetings like these!
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