Relax…With Book Club

Relax…Okay, so this post was written toward the end of 2021, but it is out earlier than my Christmas cards 😉

This week at work took stress to a new level. Which seems nearly impossible to continue raising it so often. So I needed some respite.

Book club, here I come. A group of women started a book club at work. Many emails were sent out, and I never joined. I don’t have time to read extra books. So each time the email *ding* happened, I just ignored it. But this year, as I said, had already filled me with stress. So when the email came out, I responded. I didn’t have to read the book. I could audiobook it and listen on my commute. I don’t know if there is a vetting system to the group. I think it is mostly, can you read this email enough to make a coherent response. And so there were five women who let me join to make it six.

Each month, a woman selects the book and creates (or searches for) questions for the group to talk about. I’ve read two books so far with this group. I don’t think I would have been likely to pick up either on my own. They are both a little out of my subgenre comfort. But, surprisingly, I enjoyed both. How Lucky, by Will Leitch, has our POV character in a wheelchair with SMA. I didn’t know much about SMA other than having heard the name. Will did such a lovely job of getting the reader to understand what the character experiences with SMA. All while trying to solve a missing person mystery. The story delves into friendship, familial relations, hope, and survival. It is really something to pick up. But be ready as it does have some tense moments.

The second book I read for the group was My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. Understanding the satanic panic of the 80’s might bring you more depth and background knowledge for the book. Maybe it could make some of the moments that seem unlikely or unbelievable, believable. I read it not knowing much about it and still enjoyed the book. Except, I never enjoy reading about animals getting hurt. That’s all I’ll say about that so not to spoil anything. It takes high school mean girls to a devilish level.

But the great thing about book club is the talking and snacking. I didn’t realize just how much I needed that book club meeting that night, until I got there. It helped me shake some of the day off, and what was stuck, these women helped remove through care and life advice. Also some fun financial and retirement talk. No one likes thinking about retirement more than a person who just had a rough day at work.

So if you are needing a way to relax, a book club just might be the ticket. And if not a book club, just consider a book.