I finally accomplished something I’ve always wanted to do. I joined a book club! Let me preface that by saying I created a book club, and it’s fantastic! 

Being a book-lover my whole life, people can’t believe I wasn’t a member of one. I agree. There were several reasons I was apprehensive about joining. First, I’m a slow reader, and completing a book in a specific amount of time made me feel like it was a school assignment I would have to rush to finish. Also, I have many TBR titles on my bookshelves that I always look forward to reading. Quite frankly, it sounded like unwanted anxiety instead of a pleasurable experience for me until now!

I call us The Unbook Club. It’s no stress. It’s a group of great gals getting together to talk about books. The premise is simple. Everyone reads their own choice of book and we meet about every 6 weeks at someone’s home or an outside venue of the host’s choice. Everyone talks about the book they’re currently reading, whether they just cracked the binding or down to the last 50 pages. No one gives spoilers, just a summary, and their thoughts so far. I don’t take credit for this design. I googled some alternative book club ideas and found some different ones. I then decided what might work best for us.

Our group can also fit the description of an exclusive book recommendation club. I’m keeping a running list of the titles each of us reads. I have the information if another girl is interested in picking it up.

I also wanted to add a fun twist to our meetings. As our club’s first host and creator, I thought a book-related question would be a clever addition. Mine was, “What was your favorite picture book growing up”. I texted the girls a day before our get-together to see if anyone still had their old tattered copy so they could bring it to share. But the question proposed by the host can also be asked during the meeting if there’s no preparation involved. I’m looking forward to some thought-provoking and entertaining questions!

I set precedence by keeping things very simple. I made a delicious cake. That’s it. Of course, I also had coffee, tea, wine, and some alcohol on hand. Making the get-together uncomplicated for the host is important. I wanted the whole vibe to feel stress-free for everyone. It’s something to look forward to instead of a chore. 

I can’t wait to see how The Unbook Club progresses! Talking about books with friends, and having a drink and a snack is my kind of night out! I’m thrilled I found a cohesive group to share my love of reading, minus the hassle and just pure enjoyment! 

See you tonight, girls, and cheers to us!….Amanda, Cheryl, Cindy, Jill, Julie, Kathy, Kristin, and Traci! (and maybe, sometimes Mary)