I've always wanted to start a book club with friends, but for whatever reason things have just never worked out that way for me. I'd toyed with the idea of joining a book club as well, but I felt way too anxious about it and I wasn't sure how to go about finding one anyway. Until I was hired for my current job (I'm a librarian) and suddenly I was going to be in charge of running an already established book club. By myself.
I was extremely nervous, and even going to a few meetings while the previous club leader (who was retiring) didn't really help my apprehension when it was finally my turn to do it alone. The first few sessions were a little lackluster, I admit, but I eventually got the hang of things and I really enjoy book club days now, and I think the ladies in the club do, too!
Today was a book club day and despite a lot of the struggles I had with the book, I thought the discussion went well. It's taken some time to draw some of our members out, but everyone is pretty comfortable now so usually we have a productive discussion with most - or all - of the members contributing. The book we read was My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, about the life of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton.
The consensus was that we enjoyed it, though for me, at least, it was a struggle to read. It was a good book, but I made a mistake choosing it: firstly because it was around 600 pages long, and that's going to take a good chunk of time to get through no matter what; but secondly I have a three month old at home, which made reading an already somewhat daunting book an even more formidable task!
How bad is it to admit I skimmed a bit in the middle? Any time the book dragged, I couldn't help but look at my progress and think There's how much more?! I like historical fiction but I don't love it, and trying to read through it while holding a crying baby dampened the enjoyment somewhat. The worst part is, of course, that I did it to myself - I'm the one who chooses the books for book club! And this time I didn't bother checking the length. I also only finished the book at about seven this morning, reading to go for the book club at ten!
I haven't written a review of the book, but I might do that sometime in the near future.
Until then - or whenever I'm back - happy reading!
