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The librarian at my branch finally told me I was reading book club picks all wrong

I've been in this book club for about 2 years now. Every month I would read the book cover to cover, take notes, highlight passages. Thought I was doing it right. Then last week after our meeting, the librarian who runs the group pulled me aside. She said I was treating it like homework instead of a conversation. Said I was missing the whole point by trying to be the expert instead of just reacting to the story. She mentioned I should try reading the first 50 pages only and then jump right into the discussion with just that. Has anyone else had that moment where you realized you were over-preparing and it killed the fun?

2 comments

2 Comments

shah.zara1d ago

@john_murphy that blog post makes a lot of sense actually. I think the 50 page trick works because it stops you from building up a whole case in your head before hearing what others picked up. It's like going into the club meeting with just your first impressions instead of a thesis.

john_murphy1d ago

Read something similar in a writing blog once. The guy said readers who over-analyze books miss the emotional gut punch. That librarian is right about the 50 page thing. You get the vibe and the characters without trying to solve everything. Might try that with my next club pick, see if it feels different.