In a recent New York Times review of The Social Life of Books by Abigail Williams, the
reviewer likened the 18th century practice of books being
read aloud to a group to the phenomenon of best sellers which
millions read more or less simultaneously, a contemporary example of
sociable reading. It seems to me that an even better comparison
would be with the reading and sharing of books by a book group or
club
According to The Reading Group, a UK-based website, book clubs have shed their fusty image and
become trendy as well as ubiquitous, meeting everywhere from
libraries and living rooms to online. In addition to helping readers
sort through the huge mass of books being published today, a primary
reason for their popularity is that participants ...“are finding
being a member of a book club to be fun and rewarding, transforming
the personal and private experience of reading a book into a shared
one of discussion and appreciation.”
Or as another New York Times article on book clubs elaborates: “Reading is a solitary act, an experience
of interiority. To read a book is to burst the confines of one’s
consciousness and enter another world. What happens when you read a
book in the company of others? You enter its world together but see
it in your own way; and it’s through sharing those differences of
perception that the book group acquires its emotional power.” Yes,
indeed.
Further delving online
unearthed an interesting 2015 white paper report on book clubs from
BookBrowse.com. A lot of the statistics are no surprise; my
long-time book group could be the poster child. A majority of
members are women, and they tend to be older, empty nesters, often
retired, seeking intellectual stimulation and personal connections.
Higher education plays a role but income a bit less so. They also
are more likely to use their public library. (Ah, we know it's
probably us when all the copies of a relatively obscure book are
checked-out or on hold.)
That report also defines the ideal book.
“Overwhelmingly, book club participants want to read books that
expand their horizons—windows that allow them to see into the lives
of others or mirrors that let them reflect on aspects of their own
lives. Above
all else, books need to have plenty to discuss.”
We hope that we have
chosen books for 2018 that fit that criteria. So without further
ado, here are our selections. I invite you to join us in person if
you happen to be in the Dallas area. Or read along with us and send
any comments from wherever you may be.
