Why Do Moms Enjoy Book Club?

What is this thing we call the Book Club?  When I was young, I do not remember my mom going to book clubs.  Perhaps it was another type of event that brought moms together for an evening.  In Glen Ellyn alone there are several book club groups.  Many are made up of a few friends and some acquaintances.

It seems that there are several aspects of the typical book club event. There is, of course, the book. Every person has a different genre she likes and it is interesting to read the different selections chosen.  The range of topics is broad. Being in one myself, I can say that there have been books I loved, books I did not love and books I did not think I would like and did. 

Even The Bookstore, in downtown Glen Ellyn plays an important role in the "book club" experience.  It has recommendation lists at the store. It also works with book groups to provide a discount of 10% on book titles that clubs are currently reading.  If you contact them they are very helpful about ordering extra copies too.  Their website is helpful as well because it lists titles of books being read by different groups in Glen Ellyn.

Another aspect of the book club would be the food. We have to have treats for our girlfriends!  We sometimes go festive, but often go basic with a chocolate something and maybe some nuts and other hand snacks.  Perhaps wine plays a part in the evening as well.  On any given night the wine goes, but the snacks not so much. Some here or there, but basically, moms do not eat much at book club.

Of course the biggest aspect would be the discussion of the book.  We usually start off the book club with some casual mom talk unrelated to the book: How school is going, how the kids are and any other current topics.  Usually the host mom will then bring the book topic up and it begins.  Sometimes we have questions, sometimes we just talk about whether we liked it or not. Usually there is some discussions about certain parts that made an impact on certain people in the group.

This discussion can go on for an hour, or be as short as 30 minutes. I think it depends on the book, the mood of the people and how many people show up.  The night then moves into the mom portion where we all just talk about what is going on. This is the support part of the night. Moms share issues with their kids, how their kids are adapting to the new school they started, where they are going for spring break and even what sport they might sign their child up for next season.

Participation varies at book club.  Some moms are quiet by nature and just like to listen and observe.  Speaking from experience, some moms never get to finish the book or even read it, and often just go for the social aspect of it.  There are usually a few moms who are passionate about the stories and enjoy the connections made and the discussions that come from them.  On any given night there will always be a few moms that can't make it. With sports and activities it is hard to fit it in each month. I have missed several of my past dates due to other things and just being tired by the time the night rolls around.  I hope to make a better effort to make the time for it this year.  It is important for moms to take a break and enjoy adult conversation.

Book club is an interesting phenomenon. It includes exploring a novel deeply or on the surface, enjoying some snacks and wine and spending a night out away from the kids and maybe the husband too.  It also offers an opportunity to be around moms who share much of the same day to day routine.  It allows moms to see people they do not see all of the time—as is the case with my book club.

If you are not involved in one, think about starting your own. It can be nice to make time to spend with other moms or just to enjoy books.  I would recommend trying to have a few people you do not know well in the club, because it really adds to the conversation and allows you to get to know people better in a smaller atmosphere.  You can meet as few or as many times as you would like—there are no rules.  You do not have to be a deep literature buff to enjoy a book: book clubs are for everyone. If you are looking for some good titles to start with, here are a few my club read and some others have recommended:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccult