Join a Book Club in Retirement

For those who are lonely and seeking companionship, there are a number of possibilities to consider.  There are fitness centers, golf clubs and groups that play cards on a regular basis.  One of the pieces of advice my wife always gives is to join a book club in retirement.  Or even start one.  I think book clubs get a bad reputation because they sound a bit stuffy, but I’ve come across a few people who belong to one and their conversations can become quite animated and fun.

The concept, of course, is that a group of people are all going to read the same book and meet to discuss it.  There’s usually a moderator and the meeting can have refreshments that have a theme related to the book that is being discussed.  Some of these details can become quite elaborate so if you join a book club in retirement be sure to investigate what a meeting is like.  Some groups take it so seriously that they dress up for the meeting and take on the personality of one of the book’s characters.  This may be a little bit more than you want to do but, if you think about it for a little while, you can see how it could become a lot of fun.

Join a Book Club in Retirement and it may be the highlight of your month.

Some clubs can be quite large while others are less than a dozen people.  Keep in mind that not everyone shows up for the meeting so be sure to have enough dedicated people who will follow through by scheduling the meeting, sending out reminders and will volunteer to moderate it on a rotating basis.  The books that you choose are up for discussion and that is part of negotiations that take place on a regular basis.  If you join a book club in retirement, make sure most people have the same interests and keep in mind that you can start your own at any time.  Yesterday we attended a lecture at the local library, and they have a number of clubs that meet in the building and are guided by one of the volunteers.  That may be an option where you live so be sure to check it out.

There is a group that got started with World War II as the focal point and the topics change from month to month.  Most of the books are historical but they also do some fiction.  A look at their list for the year had some very interesting topics that ranged from the French Underground to the flight of Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb.  Their novel was the Caine Mutiny, and they were talking about screening the movie that starred Humphrey Bogart.  It was clear that some of the twenty or so members did not think they would ever join a book club in retirement but, there they were having a great time.

My wife and I do a lot of traveling and, on our journey south to escape the cold, we spend three or four days in the car each way.  In some ways we have our own book club although it’s just the two of us.  On our last trip we listened to a book about Captain James Cook who was an English explorer.  He had three incredible world voyages and, when you follow his path of exploration, you feel like a rank amateur because he was just about everywhere, and his statues are all over the place.  On his last voyage, his second in command was Captain Bligh who later was Captain of the infamous Bounty.  Cook's travels to Tahiti inspired Bligh to return.  We have been fortunate enough to go on cruises that took us from New Zealand to Australia and around South America which Captain Cook had done a few times.  We marveled at the extent of his exploration and were very happy we learned about this amazing man.  Books can open up new worlds and, if you join a book club in retirement, you’ll have great company as you expand your horizons.

One of the great things about reading is how it challenges you to think and evaluate topics that you usually don’t pay much attention to.  Some clubs don’t shy away from controversy, and some devote themselves to the political issues of the day.  In the club my wife belongs to, politics is an off-limits topic, and she is very impressed with how much respect is shown for that rule.  If you join a book club in retirement, make sure you think about your comfort level with various topics.

Join a book club in retirement and you’ll meet some interesting people.  It’s quite revealing when you see someone speak about a book because they can’t help but reveal a little bit about their inner self.  If a particular group of people form a close relationship, it can lead to more in-depth discussions and involve follow-up events like a movie based on a particular book or attending a lecture on a related topic.  Book clubs that lean along historical lines may lend themselves to this a little bit more but almost any theme can lead to the formation of a book club with devoted followers.

Book clubs focused on a single author or group of authors from the same genre are quite common and can be a lot of fun.  I haven’t seen a club devoted to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I would consider joining it.  Many authors could easily have clubs dedicated to their works.  Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald all come to mind but so do specific categories like romance, mystery, science fiction, gothic, horror and romantic fiction are among the most popular, but you can easily add to the list.  There is almost no downside when you decide to join a book club in retirement and the people you meet may become friends for a lifetime.  Why not find out?  Why not start your own? It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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