Why does nobody talk about reading the book club pick with a pen in hand?

Our group was stuck for weeks on 'The Overstory' because everyone kept saying the same things about trees and nature. I felt like we were going in circles. Last month, I decided to try something my old English teacher in Madison said: read with a pen and mark three things - one line you love, one thing you don't get, and one question you'd ask a character. I did it for the whole book. At the meeting, when the talk got slow, I just opened to a page and read my question for Neelay Mehta. It changed the whole night. We argued for an hour about his choices. It was the best talk we've had in a year. Has anyone else found a simple trick like this to get past the usual book club small talk?

3 comments

3 Comments

lucas_mitchell141mo ago

Snacks just distract from actually talking about the book, which is the whole point.

sethmartinez21d ago

Consider snacks the social lubricant for awkward silences.

kevin2181mo ago

Try bringing snacks next time. Watch how fast the "deep themes" talk turns into a debate over the best chip flavor. Works every time.