I recently joined two book groups with my Woman’s Club and am happy I did. These book groups encourage you to read books you might not otherwise read on your own. Left to our own devices we may all get stuck in a rut and read one type of genre while in a book group you are given set books to read that the group decides on and analyzes in depth giving you a different perspective which is quite informative and enlightening.
The group I just returned from has a new way of doing things that is interesting. We’ve cut out questions about the books that we hand around to each participant who reads aloud one at a time in succession and we all discuss in a group. It starts animated discussion and analysis and adds to the depth of the understanding of the book and characters.
This group has also decided to try to bond as friends outside of the book group itself which is refreshing. We’ve all attended mixed lunches which is fun and have found that the saying “6 degrees of separation” is so true. We’ve all found that we have so much in common, similar jobs, education, come from similar home states, or live in close proximity now, some of us even finding out we are actual neighbors which we hadn’t known previously. It’s funny, but the saying that that it’s a small world has merit.
We’ve also found friendships starting to blossom with others who have common interests which is wonderful. Speaking with others before and after you might find that someone is a lawyer and your son is studying law at their alma mater sparking great conversations. Or someone owns a home and rents it right in the same area where your sons rent an apartment, perhaps hooking up in a serendipitous relationship beneficial to both of you in the future. It’s amazing.
Then talking about hobbies, you find that someone is a gemologist and someone else has a collection of gems that they don’t quite know what to do with so the gemologist suggests she donate them to the science center she volunteers at.
Another woman makes jewelry that we all think is beautiful and covet. She is even showing it at the Woman’s group expo.
In a diverse group like this it is fabulous to get to know such different characters and meld with each other. It is a pleasure hearing other’s life stories and their take on things. Life really is interesting and good if you seek it out.
© Evelyn Garone 11.12.13
