Monday, December 7, 2009

Book Club


The Boulder Literary and Wine Society. (Formerly Best Book club Ever - although still currently the best bookclub ever, just not in title.)

Est.: October 2008

Members: roughly 12-15

I have been meaning for some time to devote a blog to the book club. I know all the connotations that a book club brings up; old spinsters, sitting around discussing the merits of literature while quietly discrediting their peers.

Definition: A book discussion club is a group of people who meet to discuss a book or books that they have read and express their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. It is more often called simply a book club, a term that is also used to describe a book sales club, which can cause confusion. Other frequently used terms to describe a book discussion club include reading group, book group, and book discussion group. Book discussion clubs may meet in private homes, libraries, bookstores, online forums, pubs, and in cafes or restaurants over meals or drinks.

Our book club? I’d like to think it is so much more than the definition, or the knitting circle that one visualizes. Ours is a mix of women, some from work, some from soccer – some just friend’s of friends. We have a few scientists, which always make the discussions interesting, and I believe we are all extremely intelligent and articulate women. Sometimes I laugh to myself and want to yell out “NERD” when the possibility of time travel, or the speed of sound is being adamantly argued. Or when for example we read Stephen King’s “The Shining” and Michelle brought in a wasp nest for us to explore (complete with dead wasps and larvae still in the honeycombed tomb). But really, I think we’re all just closet Nerds who love getting together once a month for book review, excellent food and of course, copious amounts of wine and girl talk.

Our latest book which prompted our book club name change as Homage, was “The Guernsey Literary and Potato peel pie society”. So far this was the best reviewed book that we’ve read. I embarrassingly have to admit that I shed a few tears when I realized I was almost done with it. What?! I missed that these people wouldn’t be a part of my everyday life, and I just loved the voices of the characters, I know we would be friends if we ever met. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet. Beautiful and simple; it is like a warm cup of tea on a cold evening.

Although our discussions often wane from the subject matter of the book – we do a great job of analyzing and sharing our feelings in a respectful setting, Not that debate isn’t encouraged – as we have many loud and a few more quiet members who both passionately argue their points of view. I won’t even go into the latest argument that involved iphone and website references. Needless to say, we were detoured off point.

The book club is like soup for our souls. Or like sports for women – a boast of self esteem. It’s the perfect pick-me-up on a bad day, or a positive group to discuss the trials and tribulations of men, dating, and relationships. We even add the occasional Movie night when a book we have read is also made into a movie. “The Shining” was a Halloween fear fest; while we all snoozed and laughed at the horrible Wuthering Heights. The most popular one so far was Twilight’s New Moon, last night. I think even if you were team Edward or team Jacob initially, after the movie we were all proud supporters of both leading men. Even our token lesbian member was a fond supporter of Jacob and his abs!

Thanks to everyone in the Book Club. The perfect reason to read, laugh and evolve. I am so proud to know everyone in the Boulder Literary and Wine Society – it’s made me a better person, and is always a good excuse for food, drink and discussion.

Special thanks to co-founder Kate Brandon, with whom the idea of a book club became a reality. And to Hope Serrell whose own alcoholic book club proved the inspiration.

I look forward to many more Books, Movies and drinking.