Me *clambering atop a desk*: Hey you! Yeah you, with the face, wanna join a book club?
You: Nah, I think I’m in one of those.
Me: Oh?
You: Well, we started one. But we don’t read the books anymore because I never actually see my friends in real life, so when I do, I don’t want to waste time talking about things that aren’t the work that I’m avoiding or the kids that I was glad to escape from.
Me: Yeah, I hear you.
You: And that one time we did read a book, Jamantha got mad because Life of Pi was her favourite book, but then we all hated it.
Me: Jamanthas be crazy! Although I did personally enjoy Lif-
You: I think she only wanted to start a book club because she had just read Life of Pi and wanted to Instagram it #bookclub #wineandbooks #cosyvibes #tigeraesthetic
Me: I’ve unfollowed her. Anyway, I think you should join my book club. You see, I don’t think you should be in a book club with your friends at all. I don’t think you should take it in turns to share your favourite books. I think you should be in a book club with complete strangers, and let this stranger pick all the books. Because, I think being in a book club should be like how university looks on TV. You turn up, having all mostly read the same book and maybe some of you are in your pyjamas. You chat casually, or intensely, about the book, and sometimes you say things about yourself, which can be relevant and interesting to this group of people, because they don’t know you anyway.
You: *looking up from phone* In my pyjamas? I’m listening…
Me, suddenly holding three canvas tote bags: I’ve been running a book club through my bookshop for more than eight years now. Somewhere between 30 and 50 members buy the book each month and I run three in-person meetings to discuss the book.
You: Sounds like you need to join less book clubs.
Me: Maybe, but what I’m offering you is just an online version of the same book club. A remote book club, hosted here on my Substack.
You: Stop saying words in bold. I already have a stack of books to read. Why should I read what you tell me to read instead of what I want to read?
Me: Because the focus point of joining the discussion at the end of the month is a great motivator to get you to commit to a book, and we read a real variety of things. Each month is completely different because we don’t repeat authors, or rely on commercial bestsellers. If you don’t gel with a book one month, it’ll be something entirely different the next. It’s about trying new things, but, you know, actually trying.
You: Sounds like homework.
Me: Sort of, but you won’t get in any trouble if you don’t do it.
You *yawning*: And then do I have to add super intelligent things to the discussion?
Me: Absolutely not. Book club discussions are just casual, collaborative, conversations. We can pick the book apart, sharing thoughts and ideas about what the writer wrote, what the writer wronged, the characters we loved, the punctuation that we loathed. I find that the act of discussing a book I’ve read really helps consolidate my thoughts, and each conversation adds layers of awareness to my understanding of the book. Every person I talk to sheds their own spotlight on some aspect I’d only understood with my own torch until then.
You: This sounds like a cult.
Me: I’m literally figuratively describing Chatting About Books. But the members of my IRL book clubs often say things like “I never would have read this book if you hadn’t picked it, but I’m so glad I did.”
You: It still sounds like you’re trying to make me read books that I won’t want to. How come you get to pick them all?
Me: Because I’ve got great taste. And it’s not my job to impress you, or try and convert you. It’s my job to gently stretch you as readers, to give you focus and motivation, to introduce you to new writers or genres, and to hold your hand when we unpick them together.
You: That sounds like school. Is this like school?
Me: Worse, you have to pay for it. But no, you’d never be on the spot and have me fire questions at you. There’s no test on specific plot points (trust me, I’d fail every time!). But I am there to gently invite you to consider your own response to the book. If you didn’t like it, what was it that turned you off? If you were confused by it, let’s try to make sense of it together. If you loved it, let’s use exclamation marks and go over our favourite parts.
You: …say more about that bit where I pay you.
Me: Ok, so if you were joining my IRL book club at the bookshop, the deal is that you have to purchase the book from me. As we’re doing this book club online, I’m happy for you to pick up your copy of the book wherever you get your books – your local independent bookshop, amazatron or your local library. You can read it digitally or listen to an audiobook. I won’t enquire about how you got your copy of the book, BUT you have to be a paid subscriber to this Substack to join the discussion.
You: I already am. There’s no way I would miss your riveting weekly essays on whatever the hell you wrote about recently.
Me: Thank you so much. Actually, the money I make on Substack mostly goes straight back into the bookshop, because I am my own bookshop’s best customer.
You: That’s the saddest thing I ever heard.
Me: Jamantha thought so too.
You: So when and where is this book club?
Me: My IRL meetings for the October book fall on Monday 30th October, so I thought in the first instance I’d try a discussion thread in the comments of a dedicated paid subscriber post. I’d open the discussion the last weekend of the month (in this case, from Friday 27th Oct), giving everyone the month to read the book without spoilers.
If I get a decent take up and we form a regular little group, we can discuss adding a Zoom meeting option in the future, but I’m aware there are some Stateside readers here (Hi!!!) who could join too, if this was kept to a comment structure.
You: Fine, how do I join?
*Update - the following information was for the October 2023 read.
Please check with me to find out the current read if you’d like to join.*
Me: Just grab a copy of our next/first read, North Woods by Daniel Mason, and look out for the discussion thread in your inbox at the end of the month. I’ll be here, ready and waiting.
You: I’m going to order the book from my local independent because I’m an absolute legend who supports small businesses, but hit me with the link to buy it from you so I can send it on to Jamantha, Jarrie, Jharlotte and Jiranda.
Me: Thanks, you’re the best. I’ve also activated reader referrals to help you earn free subscriptions. Just share this link with your people!
You: Whatever, I have to go and get this book. What’s it called again?
FOUR CENTURIES. A SINGLE HOUSE DEEP IN THE WOODS OF NEW ENGLAND.
A young Puritan couple on the run. An English soldier with a fantastic vision. Inseparable twin sisters. A lovelorn painter and a lusty beetle. A desperate mother and her haunted son. A ruthless con man and a stalking panther. Buried secrets. Madness, dreams and hope.
All are connected. The dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.
Exhilarating, daring and playful, NORTH WOODS will change the way you see the world.
Me: Sounds good, right? If it doesn’t… why not try it anyway?
You: You would say that.
Me: I (North) Wood(s).
If you have any questions or want any further clarification on anything here, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment or reply. I hope we can get an establish a book club group here that’s as invested as my shop groups, who have trusted me for years to lead them into great books. It’ll be friendly, fun, and, hopefully totally mind-expanding. I hope you’ll join in. Please spread the word! - Katie
100% in. I wanted to read this anyway but it would’ve ended up being one of the many books I’d bought in HB and then still not read by the time the PB was published. Wins all round.
Looking forward to this! I am in the US, and am intrigued by the different cover here. I just joined as a paid subscriber - love your posts :)