The Glitter Falls Book Club had one simple purpose:
Read the book.
Discuss the book.
Go home.
That was the plan.
Unfortunately, the book club had been operating in Glitter Falls for nearly two years, and plans had become more of a suggestion honestly.
The meetings took place every Tuesday evening inside The Lost Page after closing.
The chairs were arranged neatly.
The tea was prepared.
Bookmarks were provided.
Girl One always brought discussion questions.
Nobody ever used them.
The first fifteen minutes usually went well.
Someone would say:
"So what did everybody think of chapter three?"
People would nod thoughtfully.
Pages would be referenced.
Themes would be mentioned.
Actual literary discussion occurred.
For approximately six minutes.
Then something would happen.
It usually started innocently.
For example:
One Tuesday, while discussing a novel about second chances, a woman casually mentioned she wasn't sure whether she should move back to Oregon.
Twenty minutes later:
- six people had opinions
- Girl One had drawn a flow chart
- the Emotional Support Cherries had somehow joined via speakerphone
- and a retired librarian was sharing life advice she learned during a brief but apparently dramatic period living on a sailboat
Nobody discussed the book again.
The following month they attempted to discuss a mystery novel.
Girl One opened her notebook.
Cleared her throat.
And asked:
"What did everyone think about the author's use of suspense?"
Before anybody could answer, a nurse named Sarah sighed heavily and said:
"I don't know if I want to stay in nursing."
Silence filled the room.
The Book Dragon slowly looked up.
Girl Two quietly put the kettle back on.
Three people immediately said:
"Okay let's talk about that."
The next forty-five minutes included:
- career advice
- emotional support
- tea
- one spreadsheet
- and an alarming amount of honesty
The mystery novel was never mentioned again.
Eventually a pattern emerged.
The book itself became less important than whatever emotional crisis happened to arrive with it.
Books were basically conversation starters now.
Girl One continued trying to maintain order.
Every month she arrived carrying:
- discussion questions
- sticky notes
- color-coded tabs
Every month she left carrying:
- unsolicited life updates
- emotional baggage
- and leftovers
The Book Dragon appeared to enjoy this arrangement.
Mostly because emotional conversations seemed to result in people forgetting snacks.
The Dragon considered this a win.
One evening the club gathered to discuss a book about marriage.
The discussion lasted exactly four minutes before a man named Bill announced:
"I think my wife and I might actually be bad at communicating."
The room collectively inhaled.
Girl One slowly closed her notebook.
The Cherries whispered:
"Here we go."
Two hours later:
Bill had:
- relationship advice
- three book recommendations
- and an appointment with a therapist
The actual book remained largely unexplored.
The breaking point came sometime in early spring.
The club had selected a perfectly normal literary novel.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing emotional.
Nothing likely to cause problems.
Girl One arrived feeling optimistic.
Everyone took their seats.
Tea was poured.
Books were opened.
At last.
A real discussion.
She smiled and asked:
"Thoughts on chapter three?"
Silence.
Then a woman near the back quietly said:
"I think I'm getting divorced."
Girl One stared at the ceiling.
The Book Dragon immediately knocked three books off a shelf.
The Cherries started taking notes.
Girl Two reached for more tea.
And just like that:
the meeting was over.
Three hours later nobody had discussed:
- chapter three
- chapter four
- or honestly the book at all
Instead:
- one divorce had been processed
- two friendships had formed
- somebody decided not to quit their job
- and a retired mechanic received encouragement to finally start writing a memoir
The book sat untouched in the center of the table.
Watching.
Judging.
Waiting.
As everyone packed up for the night, Girl One looked around the bookstore.
People were laughing.
Exchanging phone numbers.
Making plans.
Feeling lighter than when they'd arrived.
She glanced down at her untouched discussion guide.
Then sighed.
Smiled.
And tossed it into her tote bag.
Because honestly?
The Glitter Falls Book Club had stopped being about books a long time ago.
The books were just how people found each other.
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