Our book club

Some of my fellow teachers at my school have joined together to form a book club. We all love to read, of course, but some folks joined simply because they crave the after-hours adult conversation before heading home to spend the rest of the evening with their kids and spouse, or by themselves.

So we met this afternoon for the first time and we reviewed the book, "The Pull of the Moon" by Elizabeth Berg. I suggested this book because we were going to read and review another of her books, "A Year of Pleasures"...I also love that book but it has some pretty sad stuff in it and since a couple of members were in pretty much the same boat as the main character, I felt that rather than them being able to embrace this and enjoy the story, they would instead be reminded a little too much of their own losses. So we switched to "The Pull..."

It was so interesting to hear everyone's take on this book. I was so taken by it, as was another teacher, and we took every word to heart...we each marked a dozen or more places in the book that we wanted to share with the others and then discuss. It didn't happen - others either didn't find the book to be relevant to their lives, or they just weren't as enthralled as we were with the story line. Personally, I wanted to go with the character on her road trip and talk with her about Martin and my husband and how we both (she and I) just want to run away sometimes! My friend also found that some of the passages spoke to her; she wanted to go home and tell her husband that she was going to live for HER from now on, and he was welcome to join her on the trip...or not.

Personally, I think my friend and I got from the book exactly what we were meant to get from it. And so did the others.

I guess it is all about relevance.

I should be happy that the others aren't at the place in their lives that they feel this book is a little voice speaking to them, "go, go." But instead, I'm just sad that they missed the point (or so it seemed to me) and found the woman whiny and small.

Or does it mean I'm also whiny and small?