My Bookclub, My Sisters

Reading has always been one of my favorite pass times.  I love curling up, opening a book, taking myself to a different world for a while, feeling the pages between my fingers and smelling a mixture of ink and my beloved library.  I get to visualize my own characters and surroundings.  Books relax me, make me laugh, make me cry and encourage me.  There are countless times when I’ve finished a book and after I’ve read the last paragraph, I close the cover and wish I had someone around to discuss it with that has read it and loved it as much as I did.   That wish has come true!

I was invited by a dear friend to join a book club about a year and a half ago.  I had never been in a book club and had no idea what I was getting in to.  This club meets at a different home once a month and I was so nervous the first time I showed up.  I almost backed out and I am so very glad I didn’t!  I fell in love with each one of those women the very first night.

We have the perfect mixture of personalities, ages, opinions and backgrounds.  Our differences come in quite handy when discussing books!  We all read the same exact words but come together with totally different perspectives.  I may read a book and show up planning on giving it a rating of 2 out of 5.  After discussing this book with my friends, I gain a totally different understanding or perception and end up giving it a 4.5997…because I am a rebel and want to throw Carley off with a weird number.

Since joining, I have gained sisters, a beautiful mother figure and the best of friends.  I know for a fact I can call any of these women if I need something and they will help me within minutes.  They have made me belly laugh, listened to me vent and have comforted me during difficult times.  I love walking in to a home and receiving smiles and hugs because they are happy to see me.  If someone can’t make it, they are truly missed.

We had to choose to “close” our book club because we have grown and you can only fit so many in a home but if you love books, I encourage you to start a book club.  We do much more than sit around in a circle and discuss books.  We share food, wine, laughter, hugs, encouragement, opinions and lasting friendships.  Books are just the bonus!

“One must always be careful of books and what’s inside them, for words have the power to change us.”   Cassandra Clare