So, in a follow up to my post the other day I started thinking about my "real life" book club that I attend. I've been going for five years now and I absolutely love it! For one, we actually discuss books and I hear that isn't always the case at other book clubs. Sure it's a fun escape but it IS a book club, people. Talk about books! Anywho, the point is, since I've gone to this book club my eyes have been opened to a whole wide range of books I might not have even considered reading before. So, to show you that I'm trying to be more opened minded, myself in my book reading choices, I thought I'd make a list of books I might not have read and how very sad that would have been.
1 Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel
This was the first book we read when I started going and I have to admit I was a little worried. Nevertheless, I was determined to try new things. I'm glad I did because though it was a non fiction and not at all the type of book I would normally read, I enjoyed it a lot. I learned some interesting things and it whetted my appetite for more.
2 Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Now I plan on reading some of her other books too.
3 The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell
A truly beautiful book I guarantee I wouldn't have read on my own.
4 Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
5 A Girl Named Zippy Haven Kimmel
And now I own and have read the sequel. I did not think I'd like memoirs at all!
6 Blessings by Anna Quindlin
7 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I was downright determined NOT to read this one. So, thanks book club, see what I might have missed?
8 The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
9 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
10 These Is My Words by Nancy Farmer
I would have never thought I could like books like these. Just goes to show you what you get if you have an open and persistent mind. So, yeah, thanks book club for not only making me read books I would never have normally picked up but also for teaching me that I really didn't actually know what type of books I liked and that I can like all types! And a special thanks to Suey of It's All About Books for heading up our real life book club!
And Thank you, Jenny, for introducing me to a wide variety of books I'd never heard of. I would probably never have discovered lots of them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of any of the books you've mentioned but To Kill A Mockingbird! And I can't believe you were against reading it! Def plus for the book club. I used to be a fantasy only girl but now I read everything thanks to blogging. Restrictive readers really miss out.
ReplyDeleteNow tomorrow you can list all the ones you tried... and hated! :) LOL! I'm so glad you enjoy the book club so much. Really.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind attending a book club! I'll have to look for some if I have the time. It sounds like heaps of fun - and I love, love discovering new books! (Although it's bad for my wallet & shelf.)
ReplyDeleteTechno Grandma, Well at least you'll read whatever I hand you unlike some people. ;)
ReplyDeleteLan, Yep, those restrictive readers miss out. I know, I used to be one of them.
Suey, LOL, yeah, I thought of several of those too but I still don't regret reading them.
Kaye, Yes, the wallet and shelves suffer but I think it's worth it. If you can find a good book club you should totally go.
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteThis is another great topic for a list! I'm sure every reader who has ever taken a chance on a book outside his comfort zone can relate. =)
Off the top of my head, my own list would include: Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton, The Secret Melody by Trinh Xuan Thuan, Po-on by F. Sionil Jose, The Liars' Club by Mary Karr . . .
I can also name one book I gave up on too easily but realise now that I should have worked for: Possession by A.S. Byatt.
We read The Omnivore's Dilemma and besides changing my life, it really launched me back into serious non-fiction reading.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky that your book club functions so well. I have a friend who is frequently annoyed because her book club "discussions" are really more about social things than the books themselves.
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