2009 is turning out to be a year of change for my book club. Last month, for the first time in our almost-fifteen-year history (that milestone takes place in September), we had an author join our discussion.
When RGG.com contributor Joshua Henkin suggested meeting with my book club to discuss his novel Matrimony, I was a bit nervous about the prospect of trying something new. I had similar anxieties that come along with, say, a first date. What if we don't like each other? What if there are awkward silences? I threw the idea out to the group and left it up to them to decide. They responded enthusiastically, and plans for the get-together were soon under way. It turned out to be the first of several New Year changes.We held the gathering at one of our member's apartments on New York City's Upper West Side. I know this might sound unbelievable to many book clubs out there, but it was the first time that we've ever convened at a member's house. Given that the six of us are scattered throughout the NYC area --- New Jersey, Westchester, Queens, and Brooklyn --- we do what's most convenient for everyone and meet at various restaurants in Manhattan.
We deemed the event a "literary potluck," and our host asked each of us to bring a dish from the What Can I Bring? Cookbook by Anne Byrn. Along with each recipe, Byrn shares tips for toting the dish with you. That night we dined on Italian food (like some of the characters do in the book): bruschetta, baked ziti, Caesar salad, garlic bread and braised white beans with rosemary. For dessert there were luscious lemon bars and a divine Chocolate Buttermilk Sheet Cake, made by yours truly. (I whipped up a test cake the week before the event to try out the recipe and to have an excuse to eat homemade chocolate cake and chocolate frosting twice.)
The food was delicious, the wine flowed freely and the discussion was lively. Meeting with an author really does add a new dimension to the experience of discussing a book (and there were no awkward silences). There's no speculating about why he might have done something in particular with the characters or the storyline. He's right there. You can ask him. Josh shared some interesting insights into the process of writing Matrimony and his thoughts on the novel. The story touches on many different topics --- marriage, friendship, parent-child relationships, how upbringing influences adult behavior, breast cancer and betrayal to name a few --- and our 11-way conversation went on for two hours. We had invited some other bibliophile friends to join us for the evening, another first.
The biggest change to come from last month's soiree is that we've gained some new members for the first time in more than five years. Two people who were at the gathering are joining our book club. I can't wait to see what the rest of 2009 brings.
---Shannon McKenna Schmidt
If you'd like Josh to join your book club discussion, you can contact him through his website here.
