Book Club Experience

I attended a book discussion at the Valparaiso Public Library called Valpo Brown Baggers. Moderated by the branch manager, Valpo Brown Baggers meets every second Tuesday of each month at noon. This is an open discussion, so anyone can attend any of the discussions throughout the year; no one has to attend every month. The list of each month’s book is posted on the library’s website. Those who attend are also welcomed to bring a lunch.

February’s featured book was Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. It tells the story of Louisa Clark, a twenty-something who lives a content life, with a job working in a coffee shop, staying with her parents in a very cramped room and a boyfriend who cares more about exercise than her. One day, Louisa finds out she is laid of from her job at the coffee shop and so she lands herself a temporary job as a caregiver for a quadriplegic named Will. Before his accident, Will had it all, a life of luxury until one day he lost it. Will lost his passion for life and it’s up Louisa to help bring a life worth living back to him.  A fellow member requested this book and so the group’s moderator asked the members to request any book they would like for the group to discuss in the future.

Before the discussion began, the moderator had everyone write their names on a piece of paper so she and everyone else can become familiar with one another. Also, she had available flyers for other programs she is hosting such as the movie discussion. One of the attendees bought pizza for everyone to eat as part of their lunch. The room was full, not one available seat. It seemed like everyone was familiar with one another so I can see that mostly all of the attendees were regulars and attended both the brown baggers and the movie discussion when they are offered.

The discussion began a little after noon, the moderator began the discussion with a great question “what do you think the title means?” This is an open for interpretation questions so the attendees all jumped with their thoughts. They all seemed to have so many ideas for the title may reference to and took turns answering. I noticed that when someone was speaking everyone else listened intently to the speaker and waited for their turn to speak. Everyone who attended participated in the discussion and provided their thoughts and opinions when the moderator asked them questions. They all also gave real life examples in reference to the book. I saw this, as everyone was comfortable with expressing and sharing something about their lives because they all linked personal examples with what occurred in the book. No one shied away from giving their opinions of the book or expanding on what others thought of it.  The discussion lasted for an hour and it went by rather quickly. Their wasn’t one quiet moment and everyone actively participated both verbally and non-verbally.

To end the discussion, the moderator gave a reminder for next month’s book and also took names for those who want to check out next month’s book because there were no available copies in the system. Even after the discussion was over, everyone was talking with one another, hanging out. I thought it was a good group and I can tell all of the participants enjoyed both the book and the discussion.