Death of a Book Club......

15 years. We lasted for 15 years. We met once a month and missed very few. Sometimes one of our members would be out-of-town, or not feeling well. But basically we always had a nucleus of six to eight of the ten who would drive cross town, grab a glass of wine and a comfy seat and talk.

I look at the list of books and am amazed at the variety. Our first book was One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, and we discussed The Life of Pi, and The Kite Runner and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and The Tortilla Curtain. We analyzed Breakfast at Tiffany's, Crossing to Safety, People of the Book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

A few times we chose to go to a movie instead. Sometimes it was the movie adapted from a book we'd discussed, sometimes it was just a movie everyone wanted to see.  We discussed The Faith Club in 2011 and learned about the similarities that link three faith based philosophies: Muslim, Episcopalian and Judaism. The Hunger Games, Renoir, My Father, Lessons Before Dying, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood & The Prison of Belief and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

The list goes on and as I read through it memories flood back. How specific books made me think and may have even changed me a little. Citizens of London, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and Faith.

But this past week I attended my last meeting of this long standing, thoughtful and interesting group of women......and I sent them this email:

To All My Dear Book Club Friends…..

We had a very interesting and “spirited” discussion about the book last night….only three of us, but still our talk was full of insights and thoughtful comments and “revelations”. The book, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus gave us all much food for thought. 

I wanted to say that I thank you all for the YEARS of togetherness, sharing, discussion, friendship, conversation, support and laughter that you’ve all shared with me.

Moving back to Milwaukee in after floating around on a sailboat for two years and jumping right into the full-time work mode was a real challenge for me. It took months for my BRAIN to catch up with the responsibility. And reading helped with the transition!

I couldn’t find a book club….so reached out to some of my co-workers at work and we just started one. I can’t believe that there are still a few original members left and that, even though members came and went, the group went on. Members invited a friend to join, new contacts joined the discussion……all good. I look back at the LONG list of books we discussed and am amazed. We hardly ever missed a month! Because of you guys I read things and thought about things that I never would have done on my own….and for me that’s one of the best parts of any book club. 

But times and lives change. People move away….distance becomes a challenge….older eyes driving at night become a challenge. So, for a variety of reasons in the past few months, several members of the group decided they just had to leave. I will miss you all and I know, that even if it’s not once a month, our paths WILL cross…..let’s meet for a movie!

I found a daytime book club near Port Washington and so will be joining that one. And there is a local one at our library that gives me a chance to meet some of the people living nearby. It won’t be the same…..i don’t expect it to be. But it will be good.

Hugs to everyone……you all enriched my life…..and I thank you.

There are people who make an impact on your life. Others pass through with barely a ripple. "My" book club friends made an impact. Books make an impact.  Discussion and sharing opinions makes an impact.

Go.....read a book, have a discussion.....the experience can and will enrich your life, broaden your horizons and alter your world view. I know....it happened to me.