both feet
Posted by Sherry on June 11, 2007
Last night Mauri and I became part of a start-up reading group. As we gathered around our hosts’ ample-sized table for a salad-and-homemade-bread supper, each of the eight of us took one to four minutes to share our “bibliobiography.” Already intimidated by the abundant intelligence spread across the other seven in the group, I was thankful to at least learn that I’m not the only one who discovered the joy of reading as an adult. When it was my turn, I confessed to having written many’a school book report using only what I could glean from the book jacket. I figured I wasn’t going to fool anyone there, so I might as well come clean right from the start. Thankfully, another reader admitted he wasn’t interested in reading books with too many pages. He thought if the author couldn’t say what s/he had to say in, say, 350-400 pages, then there wasn’t much point in reading it. Whew… Others expressed thoughts about the kind of books we will read, and then it was time to suggest books we want to read. I think it will be okay. For our July meeting we’ll read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Have you read it? Heard about it? Well, I ordered two copies from Amazon. Mauri can absorb the whole essence of a book and weeks, months, years after he’s read the last page he can tell the entire story, even naming characters. I read word by word, never silencing the editor side of my brain. I’ve even been known to write in a book a correction to some glaring error, hardly able to believe it could pass into print. If too much time passes between opportunities to read, I have to review what I’ve read before moving on, especially if I’m trying to track with too many characters. I’m going to have to time my reading to finish the book the day before we meet to discuss it. Otherwise I’ll probably have forgotten it. But ready or not, I’m jumping in with both feet, even if they are a little wobbly.
I’ve read it! I liked it a lot. Amazing she got enough distance from her childhood to write with as little blame as she did.
Sherry,
I’m soooo impressed that you have taken this plunge. You and I have had the conversation about our mutual insecurities when it comes to “bein’learned” and I have avoided book clubs like the plague for this very reason. Wally is just like Mauri, he can quote verbatim most lectures he’s been to or books he’s read. So annoying!
I can’t tell you the name of the last book I read. And I haven’t heard of the one you’re reading, so let me know how it goes!
I’ve been reading the blog from what I think is called the RSS feed…so I hadn’t seen how pretty your blog looks lately. Beautiful…just like the both of you! I so appreciate your willingness to do “new” things at any age. It’s an inspiration. My only hang up with book clubs is that I don’t want to be judged on my choice of reading material. Sometimes I really enjoying books that others might not think are “worthy.” Right now I’m reading “George and Laura.” It’s about the lives of the First Couple and how they came together/have stayed together. Life stories are always interesting to me.
I *love* my book group: it’s a place where I get to chat with folks, read books I wouldn’t normally, and talk about topics other than cloth vs. disposable diapering. I’ve found that the discussion part always jogs my memory, so it hasn’t been too big of a deal finishing the book earlier in the month.
My book group actually discussed that book: makes for some interesting things to talk about - oy.
I look forward to hearing the take on book group and the book from both you and Mauri!