Last week, our seniors’ book club met for the final time this spring. My home replaced our usual meeting place in a local church basement since we were having a little “lunch” after the meeting, tea or coffee, snacks, dessert, whatever we brought to share.
The book was Punishment by Linden MacIntyre and it gave us lots to talk about. MacIntyre has a true sense of small town, east coast life where the weather is a character. His story is woven through its Cape Breton and Ontario settings with great skill.
This long time journalist is a wonderful writer as his second novel, The Bishop’s Man, attests. It won the Giller prize, a prestigious literary award in Canada. Punishment did not disappoint either. MacIntyre’s knowledge of the prison system in this country, acquired over decades of his career in journalism and his own personal interest, make the prison portion of the novel realistic and enlightening. Sometimes though, the real criminals walk among us, unencumbered by the law.
The book was the medium for us, eight women who spoke of our experiences of the book and our own life experiences. There were funny moments too though the book covers a serious topic.
The wealth of knowledge and life experience of our group, whose ages span thirty years in the senior category, are as vast as the country we live in. We represent various parts of Canada from extremes of west to east, immigrants and islanders. We view our lives through the lenses of those experiences and we share a love of books. We have all worked in this country and understand our society and culture. We bring our family heritage and personalities to each book and meeting.
I love to read but it can be a solitary activity. Some of my favourite times with books come from sharing them with others, such as reading to my grandchildren, or discussing books at book club. Such experiences never fail to warm my heart and bring a smile.
The reading will go on but October is so far away!
41 comments:
Sounds like a delightful time of fellowship with the book club. For so many years I read aloud to my late mom, who was blind. It was actually hard to read silently when she first passed away. Hope you have a nice start to the week.
Years ago I belonged to a book club, but these days I just read on my own. It's lovely to share insights when enjoying these kinds of things with like minded people. October will be here before you know it! :-)
Do you only meet once every six months? What's the next book you're reading?
I wish I joined a book club, but then it structures my reading and I may not like that.
I'm like Tabor. I grab a book as I pass it by in the store. Who knows what I might find...today a book on handbags fascinates me.
I've never done a book club. I should look for that book.
We use to belong to a book club, it was very enjoyable.
It sounds like you have a delightful Reading Club. That's a long time to wait to get together again.
Happy reading
I'm with Tabor. At this point, I would prefer to read on my own schedule. But who knows, down the road a bit into retirement, I might be singing another tune. :)
I have never belonged to a book club just because none was easily available to me. At one time in my life I had a group of friends and we would share books so that we could discuss them but you could only talk to the people before you so you wouldn't spoil the plot for the person behind you! A book club would have made that much more fun.
How nice to meet with kindred souls.
At the moment I prefer to read on my own, to my own schedule as well. But am open to change (and new books).
I'll have to look for that book at our newly refurbished Library! I read The Bishop's Man quite some time ago and enjoyed it. Linden MacIntyre is such an interesting man.
We should all turn off the t.v. and read more...at least I should! Andrea
I am not very good at reading books by a certain date since I have so many from the library chosen by me at any given time. However, some books interest me more than others. The last book to be discussed before the summer (in June) is The Paris Secret by Karen Swan which I already picked up but have not started yet.
In April I went with my daughter to her book club (in B.C.). The book of the month was Precious Cargo by Craig Davidson. The May book is The Break by Katherena Vermette (Canadian writer as well).
I am interested in the Punishment which I will request from the library the moment I finish this comment.
: )
Linden MacIntyre is such an excellent journalist and author. I'll watch for this book.
I'm a solo reader and rarely discuss the books I've read. I'm not sure why!
Sounds like a wonderful group and I'll be looking for that book.
Sounds like a great group! I need to make more time for reading, I will go in spurts and read and read and read, then not pick up a book for weeks.
Lovely memory of time with your mom Mildred
Lots of reading in the meantime Jan.
We meet once a month from October to May. Our next book will probably be by an island author, undetermined at the present time.
I find the one book a month leaves lots of time for unstructured reading too Tabor.
I am not a lover of non-fiction Mage, but we do one non-fiction every year.
It is very east coast William.
I enjoy it too Bill.
Summer break, P, when we all go our separate ways.
I hope retirement is wonderful for you SW.
The dis ussion is fun and enlightening Barbara.
Adaptability keeps life interesting EC.
Yay for libraries, Shammi. It’s where we get the book club kits.
The tv is so mindless much of the time it seems Andrea.
I am reading Precious Cargo but not enjoying it. Maybe it will grow on me.
I really enjoyed The Break. It helped me understand the residential school issues of our indigenous people.
I wouldn’t discuss them either until I discovered book club Jenny.
It shows the importance of weather in eastern Canada among other things Linda.
Reading is so relaxing I find, Jenn..
Now I find that very interesting - maybe I would give it a try sometime, knowing that!
Looks like you have a super mix of personalities there Marie, which is good when discussing a book that you've all read, bet there are many diverse opinions ☺
We learn from each other PDP.
Your book club sounds wonderful. It must be so interesting to discuss a book with such a diverse group.
sounds really serious and informative book dear Marie!
reading was my most loved hobby but life is going quite busy and energy levels are not same when i get time to sit so i mostly prefer watching some fav stuff on t.v now days .
glad that you had many friends to discuss your readings ,this is so encouraging for more love for books
It is indeed Danielle. One of my favourites things to do.
Book club is a great way to share a love of reading Baili.
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