Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Book Clubs

I stayed up late last night, reading THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  Usually I read Love Inspired books by my favorite authors or single title suspense stories, often best sellers, so this current book isn't one I normally would have bought. However, I'm in a book club, and THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS was this month's selection.

The book is a riveting read and hooked me on the first page.  I'll finish it this evening and will discuss it with my friends tomorrow night when the book club meets.  We rotate homes each month, and the hostess picks the next selection so we get a mix of genres and titles.  In my opinion, that's good.  It forces me to read stories outside my usual reading comfort zone.

Are you in a book club?  If so, share what you enjoy about your group and the way you choose the monthly titles.

Not currently in a book club?  Then share what you're reading, especially if it's a book you normally wouldn't have read.

What do we gain by reading outside our favorite genres?

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti
www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com
www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com



18 comments:

  1. Good morning, Debbi! I haven't ever participated in a book club but they sound like fun. I ususually stick to category romance and that's what I'm reading now. Nonfiction is what I have trouble with. While I can finish a romance in a day or two, it takes me months to push through a nonfiction (if I even finish it!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Debbi, I haven't participated in a book club, but I organized them for each of my daughters when they started reading chapter books. They would each read a book of their choosing. Then once a month we'd have a tea party where they'd each have a chance to talk about the book they read. Some drew illustrations. Some made games about the book. Some brought a craft connected to the book for everyone to do. It really challenged their creativity and expanded their TBR lists as they got excited about other books...
    Sorry for the long post, but thought some here with younger kids might be inspired to try it with their reluctant readers. It helps to have a couple of older, avid readers in the group (we had a couple of big sisters :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. One of my best friends runs a bookclub and I so want to join. Unfortunately, I can't add even more more thing to my plate. As soon as Mike is older, I'm so there.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sandra,I like that your 'long' post. It will help me with my kids.

    I'd always wanted to start a book club, but people in my country are more concerned about making ends meet.

    It's still part of my dream: have a bookclub for young adults, where they can get christian romance books, read and return.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've never been in a book club, Debby, but the experience sounds awesome. I wish we had one around here. I've been reading the RITA inspie book and they are phenomenal reads worthy of discussion!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I know I should read more and especially outside my genre, but my reading time is limited, so I tend to gravitate toward my favorite books--Christian romance. I was in a book club once when we lived in Dallas. I didn't last long, especially after one of the ladies picked a book that was over 800 pages and boring besides. My daughter reads a lot and belongs to two book clubs. They even read one of my books, and I joined them when they discussed the book. That made me a little nervous because I wondered whether they would like it since they don't normally read romance.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Karen,
    Like you, I read more fiction than non-fiction and often the non-fiction takes me a long time to finish! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great idea, Sandra. I'm passing it along to some young moms I know. Plus, book clubs for kids encourage reading!

    Thanks for sharing. Sounds like your daughters are lucky young ladies to have such a thoughtful mom!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pam, I don't know how you do everything you do. You're amazing. Yes, the book club can wait for now. :)

    As you mentioned in yesterday's blog, you've written 23 books! Oh my gosh, that's fantastic, along with being a mom and having a teaching job. WHEW! And I thought my life was busy.

    Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Olufisayo,
    I hope you can start a book club for young adults. I know the members would love getting together and talking about the books they have read.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Linda,
    You probably don't have time to book club either. Our group came together to do a church retreat and evolved into a book club. We've been together for 8 years.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Merrillee,
    I've been able to speak to a few book clubs and always enjoy the get-togethers. Often the members want to hear about the writing journey and what my writing day is like.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Debby, kudos to you for participating in a book club. I love the way yours is set up, so you get a mix of genres. Reading outside genre can open up new ideas and ways of seeing the world. It's tough for me to pull away from my favorites: inspirational and historical or any combination thereof but I did love The Help, which I read after the movie came out. That tells you how far behind I am on the TBR pile!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am in the ACFW bookclub but forget what this months books are. I dont have them so wont be joining in.

    I am not in any in person. tried to get one set up here at the church but no one was interested.

    I just finished Beyond Resolution by Rose Dee, its an aussie book and the sequal. I read til 2am and considering I was almost exhausted when I went to bed you can guess how I feel today. But I just couldn't put it down.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I joined our church book club the year my husband relocated for a temporary year long job. Had not read Christian fiction for many, many years. But was so impressed by the quality and how the books ministered to me. Now I run a book club (ending our second year this month) at our current church. Still going to the previous book club, love the friendships - both old and new.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Christine,
    The Help was one of our book club reads as well. Great book. The following month we read The Kitchen House, which was also so, so good.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sharon, so glad you enjoy Christian fiction. We all agree on this blog! And the quality of stories are wonderful with various genres from which to choose. Thanks for spreading the word about Christian fiction.

    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Ausjenny!

    Isn't it fun when you find a book you can't put down!!! It's like a special treasure. I even start thinking in the writer's voice. I have about 30 more pages of The Language of Flowers to read tonight. Not sure how it will end. Hopefully on a happy note.

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts

Write for Love Inspired Romance?

Write for Love Inspired Romance?
If you do and would like to join this blog, please contact either Margaret Daley or Pamela Tracy

Total Pageviews

Blog Archive