Book Clubs, By Saralyn Richard
I’ve been thinking a lot about book clubs, and I’ve known a lot of them over the years. Big ones, small ones, literary ones, social ones, online ones, in-person ones. I’ve belonged to a few, myself, but in recent years I’ve attended mostly book clubs where my books were being discussed.
And even those have been varied. Some are book review clubs, where the audience has not yet read the book, but would like to hear about it in anticipation of reading. One of these has been in existence for over 75 years and is still going strong.
Some are into dressing up like the characters in the book and decorating the room with artifacts from the book.
Some are serious readers and love discussing the book using Socratic questions.
More than a few serve meals and like to model the menu after the foods mentioned in the book.
Many of them are in farflung places and meet online, or they meet in person, but stream me into the fun. These are no less exciting and fun.
I feel so fortunate when I’m invited to lead or participate in a book club meeting. It’s an honor to be able to discuss my book with readers in an intimate setting, where all questions and answers are enlightening and welcome. Getting to know my readers makes the writing of the next book more exciting, as well. Since I have a sharper image of who is reading, what they like, and how they think, I can communicate better with them.
All in all, I think book clubs are the best “invention” since—well, you know, books, themselves. How about you? What is your book club experience like?
Saralyn Richard is a multiple award-winning author of seven mystery novels, a children’s book, and numerous short stories, poems, and essays published in anthologies and magazines. Her works include the Detective Parrott Mystery Series, the Quinn McFarland Mystery Series, A Murder of Principal, and Naughty Nana. Saralyn is an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, and she has taught literature and creative writing to high school students and adults through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Saralyn and her husband live in Texas in the house she grew up in.
Love it! I quite agree, “book clubs are the best invention since book clubs themselves!!!” What a following you have, Saralyn!
Thanks for chiming in, Donnell. So happy to share the journey with you!
I currently belong to an online book club (Goodreads Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense) and have read a few books that I would not have even known about. Some great, some so-so. I’ve also been a guest author at book clubs who selected my book and in fact will be doing one of those in June. As you say, it varies. Some are serious, some are all about the wine. Either way, they are a great way to expand your reading and your reach.
So true, Judy, and of all the kinds of clubs in the world (social, political, religious, sports, etc.) I think book clubs are the best!
I was often a guest author at book clubs over the years, but I haven’t had any invitations since moving from NJ to TN.
I highly recommend Zoom. You can go wherever your readers are! 🙂
Great pictures. Your enjoyment and theirs shows. I feel the same way about book clubs. One of my funniest experiences, to me, was walking in and seeing my Sarah Blair One Taste Too Many “Jell-O in a can” recipe made in different flavors and nicely displayed on a silver tray.
Thanks, Debra. I’d love to see a photo of that Jello in a Can display. I’ll bet it was spectacular!
I love speaking to book clubs! I’m in several myself, and always learn from readers in those groups what seems to resonate with them in various books.
I agree, Gay. There’s nothing not to like about a book club, except maybe that there aren’t enough of them.
I love speaking to book clubs. It gives me a chance to talk about my writing process and answer questions about my motivations for writing. The best two book club experiences were when a book club in Hot Springs, Arkansas, asked me to a luncheon in the dining room of the historic hotel, The Arlington, where my first Sydney Lockhart mystery is set. The other one took place in one of the ballrooms of the historic Galvez Hotel, the setting of Murder at the Galvez.
I can imagine how exciting those book clubs were–exactly where the action takes place! Very cool!
I love the idea of previewing a book before club members have read it. Maureen Corrigan on NPR does it so well.
I always grab pen & paper when her report is on.
I agree, Marianne. The event is more “talk” than “discussion,” and there are certain parameters to follow, such as avoiding spoilers or revealing too much about the characters, but a book review club offers a great opportunity to “taste” the book. Thanks for reading and commenting.
The purpose of previewing a book is to pique readers’ interest. I agree, Marianne, Maureen Corrigan does it well 🙂
I’ll have to tune in to Maureen.
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