On Book Clubs
In an e-mail from one of the guys at my favorite soon-to-exist book store, Wordsmiths, Russ asked if the BGB crowd had a “physical” book club. The new store will have space for groups to meet, and Russ graciously offered to host our book club at the store. If we had one. The short answer is “No. We don’t have a physical club.” There are several reasons, I suppose. One reason is purely practical. While several of the BGB crowd live here in Atlanta, others of our group live in the Mid-atlantic, the Northeast, the West Coast, and Texas.
Another reason, and maybe no less a logistical nightmare, is that I don’t think it is possible for all of us to agree on a book. I hate going to the video store with more than one other person, because the time spent picking a movie goes up exponentially with each additional person. Picking a book with 10 people would be worse. Maybe I’m wrong.
My own experience with book clubs is shaky at best. I’ve been a member of one actual book club. When I lived in Miami Beach, a Canadian friend of mine asked me to join a book club that she was forming. I immediately said yes and couldn’t wait for my first meeting.
As it turns out, maybe I should have asked some questions first. The point of the book club was to assemble the most diverse cross-section of people possible (easy to do in Miami), read far left political theory (our first book was Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky), and then argue about them. I’m not big on personal conflict as entertainment (and I hate arguing about politics in particular), but as it turns out we were all like-minded people anyway. It only became apparent to me later (when I was told by my friend) that I was invited to fill the role of the White American Man. Despite my qualifications in this regard, I didn’t meet the groups expectations. Yeah.
Most of the book clubs in my area seem to exist for women to get together, drink wine, and read fairly mainstream, non-controversial books. My wife has been invited to join several. There does not seem to be an active book culture for men – at least not that I know about. Reading: the pastime that dare not speak its name.
I had one false start assembling a small reading group known to me to be hard core and dependable readers (a mixed group). We had decided over beers that we were all going to read Absalom, Absalom and get together to discuss it afterwards. I was the only one to read the book. As far as I know, that original group still hasn’t read the book. Not only had I endured some fairly strenuous reading, but there was no one readily available to discuss it.
It wasn’t a total loss. This web site grew, in part, from that failed experiment. The idea being, let’s all just talk about what we’re reading and let’s not count on ever being able to be in the same place all at once. Internet to the rescue.
What has been your experience with book clubs? Anyone have a positive experience with a book club? Ever? Any good negative stories? Anyone belong to a book club with any men in it? What is the secret to maintaining a successful book club over the long haul?
January 26, 2007 7:14 am 
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By Herman Glimscher, January 26, 2007 @ 7:25 am
I belonged to the Book-of-the-Month Club for a short while many years ago. But that ended the way those affairs always end: with recriminations and letters from a collection agency.
A book club, to me, is too much like going to school. I’ve done my time. Now I want to be free!
By Beth (The Toronto One), January 26, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Okay, I’m insulted by your take on women and book clubs. While we do have a glass of wine (and what’s wrong with that?) we do NOT read “mainstream, non-controversial books.” We tackle “toughies” and we have fabulous discussions/disagreements. We learn from the books and from one another.
Alas, no male members. Well, maybe no “alas” about it. Too many men make fun of book clubs.
I will admit to that fact that as well as discussing the books, we will also (later in the evening) delve into more personal matters. (Another reason why men aren’t really welcome.) It’s like a “support” group. Nothing wrong with that either.
One negative story to report. We did once have to “ease out” a member. Actually, there was really no easy way to do it. This woman kept telling the rest of us that our opinions were wrong, that we did not understand the book. Huh? Twelve women and only she “got it?” Her attempts to control the evening put quite the damper on things.
Secret to our success? A wide range of ages (from early twenties to mid-sixties), great books and we are always happy to welcome new members.
Rant over. (Sorry – sort of.)
By Nitro, January 26, 2007 @ 10:44 am
I completely agree with Beth and think that your stereotype of book clubs is why there are no men book clubs.
My book club has been around for 5 years (and I even recently posted all the books we’ve read on this blog) Anyway – secret to our success is definitely a diverse but respectful group of people. We find that the most boring discussions are actually when we all enjoy the book versus having a lot of different opinions about a book. You also have to make sure that the group are avid readers. Nothing worse than the member who comes to every meeting but never reads the book.
We select our books by taking turns but when it is your turn – you have to bring in 3 books and the group votes on which of those they want to
read.
Worst books ever read – Crimson Petal & the White and To the Lighthouse. Hated by all members.
By DJ Cayenne, January 26, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Uh oh. I think I stepped in it. I meant no offense to women’s book clubs everywhere or in general. I carefully inserted the “most of the book clubs in my area” qualifier at the beginning of that description. I know that there are good book clubs somewhere. There may even be one that includes men someplace. I’m also all for talking about books over wine. I don’t know how I found myself on the wrong side of that point either.
Here are some questions: How did you ease out the know-it-all? And how do you achieve your broad range of ages? How do you moderate the discussion?
By flavawheel, January 26, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
You gotta watch out for them lady book clubs, Cayenne. My wife was in one, and she had the whole lot of them at my place one night. So I’m sittin’ on the couch, trying to watch my American Chopper, and all I hear is “blah-blah-blah-my-emotions” this, and “yada-yada-yada-my-feelings” that.
So I says to ‘em, I says, “Hey, can you hens shut the hell up in there? Paulie’s weldin’ up a kick-ass exhaust out here, and I’m missin’ it with all this cackling.”
So it FINALLY gets quiet, when all of a sudden one of ‘em come charging out, all hysterical like she got her monthlies or something, telling me how she won’t be called a hen and how I need to go back to my cave and some other crap.
So to make the peace, I says, “Look, you came all the way out here, the least you coulda done is grabbed me one of them Bud Lights in the fridge. Come on, chop-chop, honey.” You know, to flatter her by making her feel all domestic and useful, right?
So I figure I’m good, but then I got all of ‘em out there, blockin’ the damn TV, talkin’ about how I got no respect for women and I should be embarrassed, you know, typical girl stuff. So now they’re gettin’ way outta line, so I’m like, “Hey, you broads could at least respect ME by getting my beer out here while it’s still cold, you know?”
And then they all left and my wife is crying and I had to TiVo the rest of Chopper — total disaster. So just a heads-up for there, Cayenne.
By DJ Cayenne, January 26, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
Tell you what, flava, we need to start us an American Chopper Club. Men only. See how they like it.
By Dale, January 27, 2007 @ 5:50 am
Friends of mine have a book and movie club where they only read books that have also have film adaptations. They read, they see, they pizza and chat, no big whoop. They take turns hosting and have a small but sometimes rotating group that enjoy it. They take turns hosting. I haven’t gone but I know they all seem to love it! I don’t go because of my secret shame – I can’t read.
By Dr J, January 27, 2007 @ 11:06 am
A real man wouldn’t drink Bud Light.
By flavawheel, January 28, 2007 @ 2:00 am
I guess you’re too busy plugging in your Prius while you sip merlot and arrange your Hummel unicorns there, J.
By Dr J, January 29, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Wrong, wrong, wrong. I’m a Franklin Mint civil war figurine man all the way.
By shortbus, January 29, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Stupid, stupid men. I’m kinda glad I’m not Mrs. Flava. Anyone know where I can find a smart, not-too-controversial People magazine book club? I’m not sure I like who they keep picking for sexiest man alive.