Book Club Experience

I attended a library book discussion group called, "Coffee Talk Book Discussion". (Yes, the name of the group influenced my decision. Book discussions are always better with coffee). The group was an obviously established group of four 60 + aged women. I think the group is sometimes larger, because upon entering the room there was a table set up with coffee and locally made truffles and candies and several name cards already printed, and then blank ones for guests. The participants seemed very comfortable with one another and with the staff member who facilitated the discussion.

After the staff member made introductions (I wasn't the only guest) - the question was asked, "Did you like the book?" After that initial question, everyone discussed and everyone asked questions. There did not seem to be a format, a question would be asked, there would be discussion, maybe an answer or another question. The staff person answered as well as asked questions, but everyone was equally engaged.

The book being discussed was The Light In the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian. The first woman to talk started off letting everyone know she did not read the book, she had a hard time with all the characters - but she had lots of questions and comments - her first question, "Were all the murders as gory as the first?" Answer - in unison - "YES!" Several of the group said they had trouble keeping up with all of the characters in the book, one mentioned having difficulty with the italicized print for the narrator's voice, (due to her vision), but she felt this built tension in the telling of the story.
Another question from the non-reader - Why did he do it? She then assured the group they could share, since she wasn't going to read the book. :)  They also discussed if an audiobook would have helped keep track of the many different characters any better. The group had read at least 3 other books by this author, and other historical fiction. They asked the other guest and myself what books we were reading. I shared that I am currently reading a book for a book discussion at my library. It is nonfiction, but it is written in narrative style, and was history from our region. They were very interested - the staff member facilitating the group reminded them they had not enjoyed non fiction choices before, but they requested the book for a future discussion.

I enjoyed sitting in on the discussion. The ladies were all engaged, they didn't shame the reader who did not finish the book, no one swooped in and stole the spotlight and there was no one who just sat back and did not participate. This book was historical fiction and it was interesting that each lady had memories of fathers, relatives, rationing or something from that time that they could relate to. They had quite a discussion on the effects of war. One woman's family moved to the area due to employment in the shipyards during wartime. Others said they yet had coupon books from the time of rationing. One sang a little song she remembered from childhood, "Whistle while you work, Hitler is a jerk, Mussolini is a weenie, whistle while you work." The group also made comparisons to this book and The Nightingale and The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. They also discussed the role works of art played in the war. Someone had looked up a Chimera (mentioned in the story). They discussed what this might have meant to the story.

Towards the end of the time (the discussion was  1 hour), the staff person, said, "Is there anything else in the book we want to discuss?" Which brought the discussion to a close. This was a very thorough, very full discussion of the book. And while the ladies did relate the book subject to other things - those things related to the theme of the book, or the history etc.  I have been in book discussion where it was sooo difficult to keep the participants focused and keep the discussion on track. I have also seen groups where one person dominated and others sat back in deference. One thing I really liked that I took away from this discussion, when I walked into the room the staff person had the table set up with not only the coffee, snacks and name cards. She had the books for the next discussion as well as read a likes and books that had similar topics.