Three Reasons to Join a Book Club

I’ve always wanted to join a book club. I like the idea of socializing with other avid readers, discussing the themes of various stories, and decide as a collective if the story is any good or not. But of course, most of us book lovers are introverts, and the idea of making small talk with strangers, even if it’s discussing one of our favorite topics, is about as appealing as being lobotomized with a spork. However, I decided to be brave and recently joined a book club I found on Meetup, threat of excruciating small talk be damned, and I’m thrilled that I did. First, the ladies in my book club are actually lovely people! And yes, we’re still in that phase of our budding group where we painfully look around at each other, grinning uncomfortably, waiting for someone to break the silence when the conversation lulls. But one thing I wasn’t expecting was the impact it would have on me as a writer and a reader. And whether you’re a reader or also a writer, here are three reasons for you to join a book club:

It Gets You Out Of Your Comfort Zone

You’ll get out of your comfort zone pretty quickly since you’re forced into socializing with new people. At least the people you’ll meet in your book club will be like-minded, and you’ll already have a safe go-to topic to fall back on in those awkward silences. Forget talking about the weather, you could spark a huge debate asking who everyone’s favorite author is, or what book(s) they’ve ready more than once, the list goes on. And who knows, you’ll probably have more in common with them other than just reading, and you could meet someone who could change your life entirely. You never know until you go.

It Makes You a Well-Rounded Reader (and Writer!)

People are creatures of habit, and we tend to stick to the same routine over and over again. We go to the same places, hang out with the same people, read the same genre or authors. One benefit to a book club is you have an opportunity to really taste the spice of variety. You’ll read many different types of stories, and get exposed to different voices that you may not have discovered otherwise by sticking to your old routine. Who knows, you could discover a new favorite, all because someone in book club voted for the group to read a particular story. And, with so much exposure to different voices and story structure, you’ll see how different authors spin their tales, helping you find the right way to tell your own.

You’ll Make New Friends

This one is a leap. I’m assuming since you’ll be hanging out with like-minded people, new friendships are bound to blossom. It may be a slow bloom with the likelihood of everyone being relatively introverted, but keep watering the plant and watch it grow. I don’t know anyone who complains about having too many friends. Good friends are hard to find, and I can truly attest to the fact that good people are hanging out in book clubs. After all, bibliophiles are typically good people. You may occasionally come across someone who is a self-righteous douche, and if that’s the case, at least you’ll be making friends with new authors or characters in the books you’re reading. It’s truly a win-win scenario. You could also form a mutiny with the other members of the group to shun the douche. People tend to bond over a common goal, giving you all something to look back on and laugh.

Conclusion

What do you have to lose? Be bold, step out of your comfort zone. Dip a pinky toe in the tepid water of meeting new people and then jump on in. I promise you the water’s fine, and you’ll be surprised at what’s waiting on the other side. Recently joined a book club, or have a book recommendation that changed your life? Please sound off below; I want to hear from you!