One of the earliest recorded book clubs began in the 1600s on a ship headed west on the Atlantic, where a woman gathered a group of other women to discuss sermons.

She continued this tradition in her new home in Massachusetts. Back then it was frowned upon because, evidently, it gave women a platform to voice their opinions.

It took a few centuries, but book clubs are silenced no more—I am Book Club, Hear Me Roar!

But then the pandemic hit.

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking to five very interesting, yet different, ladies about book clubs. I calculated the tenure of these women in book clubs: over 100 years of being in book clubs!

From speaking with these women, I learned that it’s very common that book selections don’t appease all readers in a group. Which is not surprising, considering book clubs are mostly composed of an assortment of individuals associated by some degree of separation: friends of friends, work colleagues, religious congregations, etc.

The pressure to read the book, whether you like it or not, does exist. One said she wouldn’t dare not finish reading. For her? That was out of the question. Most take their reading and the book club pick in stride, recognizing that it’s part of the obligation of being part of the book group. And if they didn’t enjoy the book? Well, it just adds to the depth of the discussion.

One woman said she could recall only a single instance when she didn’t read a book to the end. But after speaking to these women, all in regular book clubs for years, I wouldn’t describe it as pressure. It’s more like a commitment!

The pandemic changed book clubs a lot, obviously. Enter Zoom and Zoom book club meetings.

The biggest difference, of course, is the obvious—there was no meeting in person. Generally, book clubs meet at a host’s house or a rented space. Some of the women I spoke with met at restaurants or places of worship, but they were always in person. And, naturally, that comes with socializing after the discussion, when you may enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine and some refreshments. It was a night out.

A book club is not only about books; it’s about the human connection we so dearly crave, and it was greatly missed by every single one of the women I met.

But Zoom also opened a new world for participants of book clubs—of all ages! You no longer had to drive in a blizzard or late at night, or race through dinner with the kids, or even get into “real clothes” to make it to the meeting. One could even join the group from Florida or Arizona if that’s where they happened to be.

With no other option but to participate online, Zoom encouraged (or forced) many in book clubs (over 70) to become somewhat tech savvy. Or just tech savvy enough to know how to join their book club meetings.

The extent of some of the research I did is intriguing, especially the stories from years ago, when hours were spent at a library gathering materials. With Zoom, it’s all there with some strokes of the keys. But like everything else in the past year or so, virtual gatherings were, or became, shall we say...not as alluring.

Book club meetings became shorter. Conversations were less personable. A couple women I spoke with even said they were considering leaving their book clubs. It was, simply put, not as fun. One book club paused entirely, until they could meet in person again.

There seems to be optimism, now, for a better and brighter future, including for those in book clubs. This summer, there’s hope that they can meet in a backyard and see some familiar faces. In the fall, things may be back to almost normal-ish, meeting indoors, voting for books, and having lively conversations…in person!

But if need be, in the cold winter months (although let’s not think about winter now!), some have admitted they may go back to the screen for a session or two.

After speaking to these handful of women—who, again, together had 100 years of experience being in book clubs—it reminded me of one of my frequent jaunts to the book store some years ago, when I ran into an acquaintance from high school. She was looking for a certain book for a book club. I helped her find it. She asked if I knew whether it would be a good selection. She was sighing and rolling her eyes, because the last few books they read “sucked!”

It was a good choice. I also wrote down four other books they should consider in the future. The key word being “future.”

Books will always be there and so will opinions. And, hopefully, now that restrictions are lifting slowly, book club participants will truly realize how invaluable their book clubs were, with participants going so far as actually missing not just the human connection but the pressure, commitment, differing opinions, and even books that “suck!”

What is the greatest thing you get out of being in a book club? Let us know here! And if you have any books you’re reading with your book club now, or have read in the past, that are must-reads? Tell us here so we can include them in upcoming newsletters.

xoxo Maya B.