Years ago I read voraciously. The trouble is, as much as I enjoy, and as much as I practice, I continue to be a slow reader. A true turtle. To top that off, as a writer, I feel like I'm insulting the author if I skip over anything - even the most gruesome or explicit of parts :( I read many, many non-fiction books filled with information that sates my curiosity. I find it difficult to read the occasional fiction book as I do not have a reliable source of curation. I've joined no local live book (er, wine) club, and Oprah, though often brilliant, chooses tomes often too disturbing for me.
Then, in early December, an email arrived from Patti Digh. It turns out she hosts a year-long book club. A perfect example of the teacher arriving when the student is ready. Though this is the third year of the book club I never noticed it before. I am now ready to start this project.
I read the titles, did a little research and last week all of the books arrived, shipped to my local Chapter's. No muss, no fuss. All twelve titles at one time. I can read ahead and if I get caught behind, I can just skip around. So civilized!
So far, it looks like this book club will work the way my life works :)
First up? Tonight from 7PM to 8PM we will be discussing We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo. Once I read the synopsis I was terrified that I had made a terrible choice - the subject was so graphic and violent. The difference? It was not contrived or manipulative. I very much enjoyed the book.
Onto read A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki for next month.
How do you find books to read? What have been your favourites over the last few years? Any standouts? Last year my favourite was The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. It had me grinning ear-to-ear with the turn of every page. It was the book I gifted everyone this past Christmas.
