Over a year ago, Tim & I had this brainstorming session with friends trying to combine things that I’ve enjoyed doing in the past but create something we can do together as a couple. We had both been in groups with our friends in groups like Book Club, Fantasy Football, and Cards but hadn’t organized anything as a couple. As much as he’s tried to get me interested in FOOTBALL, I just can’t get excited about it. Thank goodness he has guy friends for this! Anyway, I started talking about how much I missed being in a book club. I said it was really nice to be able to read a book and have others discuss what you just read. When we formed our group, we knew we needed to find couples that would commit to reading, discussion and meeting throughout the year.
At that moment Couples Book Club was born! I know this isn’t an original name but we have to start somewhere. First up we needed to figure out the best night to meet and we decided Saturday night is best since Tim & I are usually together anyway. There are other benefits because on Saturday you are well rested, you have plenty of time to get ready for dinner if you are hosting and if you hadn’t finished the book, you still had Saturday to finish! Next was to find couples that both like to read. We started with our friend group and asked our “reader friends” if they were they interested. Over the past year we have had to adjust along the way, we have finally settled with four committed couples that enjoy to read and discuss. It’s perfect around a dining room table!
From the first night until last night we have read the following books:
- The first book we selected was Defending Jacob by William Landay.
- A Simple Plan by Scott Smith.
- Insidious by Catherine Coulter.
- Boys on the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
- 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult.
Last night we met and discussed the book “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides. I actually read this book a few years ago. When I finished the book I thought, “WOW, I wish I knew someone else that had read this book”. It is a “thick book” that was not an easy read, it’s a unique topic which takes the author a long time to give you the background to the situation (half of the book) and provide the story.We all had different perspectives of this book as I found the author to be super funny and Tim found him to get into too many details in parts. Everyone seemed to agree that by the time you hit the end of the book, they were glad they finished it. It just was a challenge to get there. Regardless we had a fantastic discussion!
Over this past year, we have all formed a very special friendship as couples friends. Normally I have a habit of taking tons of photos on my phone to capture awesome moments like this but during Couples Book Club, an unusual thing happened, I put my phone away!! I didn’t want it to distract me from our evening.
After four hours of discussion, it was time to part ways. At the end we were cleaning up from dinner, saying our goodbyes, everyone was heading out and Don & Bonnie just left. As we were working our way to thank our host, suddenly, my picture taking eye, caught notice that Martha Ann, Lisa and Lewis were all coordinated in their outfits, so I had to locate my phone and I snapped a photo.
Next up the coordinated rest of the gang (remember Bonnie and Don just left). We are not as bright and cheerful but heck we coordinate too!
Bonnie LOVES taking photos and may be mad that I took photos right after she left, so just so you see the other literary couple, I’ve hijacked this from her facebook:
Next up, “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer. If you can think of a book that you still remember and would make for great discussion, that is NOT religious, NOT self help, NOT business and not a “girly” romance novel, please let me know. We have a working google document where we collect ideas throughout the year. We appreciate suggestions!
If you like to read, and as I’ve learned from being in a book club, it is much more enjoyable to be able to discuss. I highly recommend this concept. I feel blessed to be reporting one year later that our experiment has worked out! It’s truly a night that we look forward to and enjoy.
Happiness is Possible 