Be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it. We've often heard this saying before and while it is a bit cliche it rings true for me on many levels. This blog is a funny story about how I longed to be in a book club and was finally accepted in.
Recently, I wrote on my Face book page that I was wanting to start a book club and got many rejections. The excuses were many, but in my mind not valid, and went something like this; I'm raising my kids and I just don't have the time, or I only like reading things that I choose, or I'll do it if we can start in January-a dear friend said this, only out of sheer guilt that I put on her.
I did have an enthusiastic group of out of town friends who were ready to start an online book club but my response to them was, "What's the point?" My visions of book club were twelve girlfriends, getting together, eating gourmet food, drinking good wine, and having detailed intellectual conversations about literature. A night out, without husbands and kids, entered into my mind as well, in a loving way.
So what happened? I was asked in by another friend with an already existing book club. I was thrilled to say the least but a bit hesitant because I'd been told that the group had been together for five years, they didn't do,"Oprah," books and the group was rather political with who they let in. While I felt privileged I was somewhat apprehensive. What if I can't finish a book, what if I don't like the girls, what if I have to host at my house, what if... the list went on.
I am happy to report the group was extremely welcoming and the first meeting was an end of the year party where they spoke of no books, at least not in the group manner I was expecting. The end of the year party consisted of games, food, wine, and great conversation; some about books but mostly about life. The only real talk of any books was the announcement of the first book of the new year called, Until I find You, by John Irving. The host, who picked the book was forthcoming when she said," I'll warn you this is not an easy to read book. The story-line is challenging." This comment came after I was already enthralled by all my new friends. My head swimming with wine and good girl talk, how hard could this book be? The comment about the new book was quickly forgotten.
All of my fears and reservations were taken away as I met the new girls and they welcomed me in. When my friend who invited me said, "Are you ready to go yet? It's midnight." I almost fell over as the time had passed so quickly.
Like Cinderella leaving the ball, I quickly scurried to get my coat. As we flew out the door the host reminded us that we would be meeting next month and she called,"happy reading," after us. I later( around 1am) fell into bed completely satisfied and happy with my new book club.
The next morning I couldn't wait to get on my laptop and read some reviews of my first book for the club. Alas my first mistake. As I read several reviews describing the very long(828 pages) text and the drawn out storyline, I wondered what I was getting into. To quote one of the reviews,' The story reads as though Irving woke from a recurring nightmare and started dictating compulsively.' I have less than four weeks to read this thing( as I now called it) add work, family, training for triathlon, writing, how in the world would I finish it? The very excuses that others had given me were quickly becoming my own.
Hence; be careful what you wish for. My husband laughed immediately as he has listened to me drone on and on about the possibilities of book club. He also remembers my past book club that dispersed after many months of reading,"bad," books only to show up for discussion to find that half of the club did not finish the book. That was eleven years ago. Another common saying comes to mind, time heals all wounds. Humm.
That is not the end of the story, but the beginning. The good news is that being the type,"A," person that I am, I formulated a plan. If I read around 36 pages per day I'll make my deadline. Being a triathlete I understand the importance of planning. So like a training plan, I formulated a book club plan. I'll let you know how it turns out( God knows I'll have a lot of pages to turn) and you'll get my own review of Until I Find You next month. If nothing else you'll get the conclusion of how it all panned out.
Happy Reading!
PS. Don't think I'm ungrateful for the opportunity(because I am grateful), just think of me as someone with a good sense of humor:) Kelly
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