Confessions of a Bibliophile: The Unexpected Stress of Starting an Online Book Club
So, I have been thinking of starting an online book club for some time. It sounded like a lovely way to connect with family over a shared love of reading. I didn’t realize how surprisingly stressful something I felt could be incredibly rewarding would turn out to be.
I recently took the plunge and launched two virtual book clubs: 1. With my immediate family, 2. with my in-laws (yes, you read that right!). Here's a glimpse into the anxieties I have been facing:
1. The "Will Anyone Actually Show Up?" Panic:
I’ve poured my heart and soul into figuring out how to make this work. From choosing the perfect book, crafting insightful discussion questions, and setting up a platform to conduct this on. But what if nobody comes? This fear is real, my friends. It's like throwing a party and waiting for the doorbell to ring, except the doorbell is a silent, virtual waiting room.
2. The "What If Nobody Likes the Book?" Worry:
You thought everyone would adore that quirky historical fiction novel with the talking cat. Turns out, your brother-in-law hates cats and your mother-in-law only reads romance. Suddenly, you're questioning your taste and wondering if you've doomed the club from the start. That hasn’t been my experience. Luckily for my immediate family, I’m the reader and everyone will pretty much go for whatever I recommend. For my second group with my in-laws, my mother-in-law and I are the readers so we just had a private message between the two of us and quickly figured out a book. We both for sure know that she and I will like it because it tends to be the types of books we normally read.
3. The "Awkward Silence" Nightmare:
Picture this: You pose a deep, thought-provoking question about the protagonist's existential crisis. Crickets. Everyone stares blankly at their screens, sipping their tea and avoiding eye contact. The silence stretches on... and on... until you're tempted to fill it with a dramatic reading of the grocery list. We haven’t had our first meeting yet, but that is a fear of mine. How deep should our discussion questions be? I know my mother-in-law likes to read but do we pick up on the same things, are our thoughts provoked by the same triggers? I guess only time will tell, please no awkward silences!
4. The "Tech Gremlin" Terror:
Just as your insightful analysis of the symbolism in chapter three reaches its peak, your internet connection decides to take a nosedive. Or your microphone turns into a robotic monster. Or TEAMS decides to update itself mid-meeting. Technology, why do you forsake me?! Luckily my soul mate works for Spectrum Internet, and we have amazing internet so I have no worries there. My worries are, however, everybody else’s connections. I am not too confident in the wifi capabilities of rural North Dakota.
5. The "Overbearing Participant" Predicament:
There's always that one person who dominates the conversation, turning every discussion into a personal lecture. Or the one who insists on spoiling the ending for everyone. How do you politely navigate these tricky situations without causing a family feud? Just kidding, this is a projection, I fear that I am that person and everyone will hate me. I know my family won’t mind because they are used to be exhausting my breath on the latest book I’ve had my nose in, it’s my inlaws I’m worried about. I was hoping this book club would be a bonding experience that might bring us closer together but what if my bibliophilia is too much to bear.
But fear not, fellow bookworms! Despite these anxieties, I’ve started an online book club and so far I’m still optimistic. The shared laughter, insightful discussions, and newfound connections (hopefully) will make it all worthwhile. I’ll keep you posted!
-Vanessa
