Book club is a sanctuary for homeschool moms. It is a place for literature lovers to come together and share their thoughts. If you aren’t in a book club or want to get one started, this is for you.
I’ve been part of a book club for a few years now, and the best part is the intellectual stimulation I get from hearing other viewpoints on a book. My favorite part, is we love to read weird books because the book club meetings are more about the conversation than the books we read. Trust me, we’ve read some weird ones.
This post is going to be all about books you can add to your book club list.
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Find or Start a Book Club for Homeschool Moms
Mom, you need to find a group of moms that are in the same place you are. Homeschooling and working from home can be isolating. We are home all the time, and we can’t always go on all the outings. And that’s ok. You don’t need to go on all the outings, but find a group that is intellectually stimulating for you.
Even you can’t find a book club in your area, then start one. We meet every 6 weeks or so. The commitment isn’t overwhelming, and we get to talk about books. It is totally worth making the time for.
We usually meet at a local coffee shop to discuss the book. Coffee, books, and pastries that is my kind of mom’s night out.
Many books will also have book club questions that you can start using. So you don’t have to think of everything yourself, and you can start somewhere.
Basically, I’ve just eliminated any excuses that may be floating around in your head. This is one of those things that you don’t need to think about for too long, just do it.
Read Out of Your Comfort Zone
We usually pick a book based on a majority vote. That’s why we’ve read some weird books. But I like reading out of my comfort zone. Yes, there have been books that I just did not like, but I don’t regret reading them or discussing them.
We do have certain topics that are totally taboo. Like homeschooling or parenting books. Romance novels, horror, and explicit books, we just don’t read.
There are some great books that we’ve read and new authors discovered. However, you do your book club be sure to read out of your comfort zone.
10 Book Club Books You Don’t Want to Miss
1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This was our first book we read, and it was an interesting one. The premise surprised us, but it created great conversation.
2. I was Anastasia by Ariel Lawton and The Resurrection of the Romanovs by Greg King and Penny Wilson
This is one of my favorite ways to read historical fiction and historical accounts. We read the fiction book first and then the nonfiction. We were able to discuss the creative license taken by the author in the fiction book while comparing it to the actual events.
3. Life and Death in Shanghai by Cheng Nien
This is a true story of Cheng Nein. She was a Chinese citizen who was wrongfully imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. The author is a masterful storyteller. You feel that you are with her in the prison cell. It raised a great discussion on parallels in the US, how would we respond, and what can we do to prevent something like this.
I passed it to my oldest son to read after we finished with it. He thought it was also a very good book.
4. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
This was definitely an out of the box read for most of us. We wanted to pick a fun fiction book that would be different. The discussion was definitely lively because we had so many rabbit holes to go down. Dan Brown has a way of interweaving interesting ideas, out there conspiracy theories, and strange facts into an exciting, heart-stopping story.
5. Marmee by Sarah Miller
This was a fun easy read. It is perfect for Christmas time or summer read. It is the story of Little Women from Marmee’s point of view.
I am always skeptical of author’s who try to write well loved stories because they usually miss the mark. This one was surprisingly good, and really nailed the story and character of Little Women.
6. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
The true story of Corrie ten Boom, and her family is sure to inspire you. It was a great read and a great discussion. This is a must read for your book club.
7. One Flew Over the Cukoo‘s Nest by Ken Kesey
This falls into the realm of weird, but it was a thought-provoking read. It led to some very interesting discussions.
8. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
I am an Agatha Christie fan. This one isn’t my favorite one, but it was still a fun book to read.
9. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite modern fiction authors. She gives so much depth to her characters. I really enjoyed this book, but I was sick for the discussion, and that was disappointing.
10. Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author handles the nuisances of this era very well. Although the book is fiction, she sticks very close to the historical events.
10 Book Club Books I Want to Read
1. Where the Crawdads Sings by Delia Owens
I’ve read this, but I would still love to read it again as a book club book. The discussions we could have from all the topics in this book. They would keep us going for a while.
2. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I haven’t read this one, but my husband keeps telling me we need to read it.
3. On Stories by C.S. Lewis
I love reading about the creative process. This is a book of essays from C.S. Lewis on writing fiction. For book lovers, this would be an interesting read.
4. 10 Books that Screwed Up the World and Five Books that Didn’t Help by Benjamin Wiker
The title says it all. I think this would be a fun non-fiction book.
5. The Exodus by Leon Uris
This is one of my favorite books. I think I read it four or fives times now. It is one of the best historical fiction books on Israel becoming a state. It is well researched. Leon Uris did more than a 1,000 interviews for this book.
6. A Personal Odyssey by Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is my favorite non-fiction author. He is incredibly intelligent. This is his story, and it is well worth the read.
7. A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Every once in awhile we need to read a dystopian novel to give us perspective on our world today and where our culture is at.
8. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
There are so many cultural references to this book, I want to find out why. I haven’t read it yet, but I think it would be a good addition to a book club list.
9. Dorothy Sayers
I am interested in reading any of her books and discussing. Whether it is a mystery or a philosophical book. I think it would be interesting and make for a great discussion.
10. Night by Eli Wiesel
My oldest son read this for school, but I’ve never read it. Hope in the midst of horrific darkness is a necessary reminder, and we should always read these accounts of man’s capacity for inhumanity.
Final Thoughts: Creating a Book Club That Thrives
Mom, a book club is a great place to connect with other moms. It is more than just reading books, it is also about having a great discussion. Reading outside of your comfort zone will produce thought provoking discussions and add new authors to your to be read pile.
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FAQ: Book Club
Q: How often should my book club meet?
A: Meeting once a month or every six weeks is a popular choice, as it provides enough time for members to read the book while keeping the momentum of the club going.
Q: What should I do if a book isn’t well received by the group?
A: It’s okay if not every book is a hit. Use it as an opportunity to discuss what didn’t work and why. A book club is more about the discussion than the book read. Many books that aren’t liked create a lot of good discussions.
Q: Is it okay to join multiple book clubs?
A: Yes, joining multiple book clubs can expose you to a wider variety of books and discussions. Just make sure you have enough time to commit to each group.
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