I’m not sure how it happened, but I now belong to two book clubs. Let me back track a little — I have been a member of the Read and Rag book club for 11 years.  When my friend Michelle and I started the book club we had rules (sort of).  We have twelve members, we meet once a month, and whoever the hostess is must provide refreshments. Over the years not much has changed — we lost a few members but replaced them with women who added to the diversity and intelligence of our group.

Our meetings are very literary minded and often quite thought provoking — Well… maybe not always.  Picture twelve women all talking at once! One husband eavesdropping from upstairs described it as “witches cackling”. (A little harsh!)  Don’t get me wrong, we talk about the book — ten percent (okay 25 percent) of the time, and our conversations are thought provoking — just not always about the book. I once did an experiment.  I didn’t read the book, participated in the “10 percent” then later confessed to my literary crime. No one suspected!  I’m not sure what that means, but when I told my “new” book club about it, they were appalled and said they might not ever be able to trust me.

So the woman who can barely finish one book club selection now must finish two.  The first month  of dual book club membership went like this: I finished the new book club’s book two hours before the meeting. ( I couldn’t bring myself to go to the first meeting without reading the book.)  It just so happened that both clubs were meeting on the same day. So I threw the old club to the dogs — I didn’t read the book. I knew they would forgive me. I wasn’t so sure about the new group.

The new book club is starting out very serious.  They talked about the book the whole time.  Made up of ex-teachers, they stayed on point.  They looked up reviews, little known facts about the author, and insisted on rating the book using a one to five scale of excellence.   I was nervous at first, but I was making new friends.  As we packed up to leave our leader handed me a fat binder.  It was chock full of information on our next book selection.  I was to lead the next meeting.– Really!  I believe it will take me longer to read the binder than it will to read the book.

I’m proud to say I’m a member of two groups of insightful, intelligent, and funny women.  I just may have to switch to audio books to keep up! —  Love you guys!  (I changed the names to protect the innocent.) P.S. — I already read both books for this month!