YC Student View - Why I Joined A Book Club And It's Actually Great

Welcome to our new series, YC Student View, where Yeovil College students can write about their love of all things literary. Whether that's reviewing new fiction, old favourites or adaptations, or talking about what they love - or loathe - about books, we want to hear what our students have to say. They're an enthusiastic and talented bunch who are the reason we do what we do!

"Since starting at college last year, I had made the decision to keep my love of books, literature and reading to myself. I didn’t know anyone here who shared this hobby with me, and admittedly I do not see my friends from school often enough anymore to talk with them about it.

In fact, now that I come to think about it, I haven’t read a book in a whole year! That is just so unlike me! So, when I received the email that there was going to be a book club, I couldn’t reply ‘yes!’ fast enough.

It was and wasn’t what I expected all at once. I thought that just talking about my favourite books, characters and writers would be too much to ask for (because knowing me, I would have signed up to some hard-core Shakespearean cult by accident) but oh, so fortunately, it was everything I wanted it to be and more!

It’s always slightly nerve-racking to start something new especially when it involves meeting new people. And on top of that I have to put myself out there even more by telling them *shiver* my thoughts and opinions (not all of them though, I wouldn’t want to scare them off). So along with the overwhelming excitement of joining book club there was a small voice telling me to go home where it’s safe. I, of course, told this voice to socialise more and marched right into the Learning Centre to find someone equally as excited and nervous as me.

We started with some ice breakers (thank Thor) where we asked each other questions like “if you could live in a fictional world, where would you live?” and this was a very good idea because, as it turns out we like the same books!

Who knew joining a club would help me find someone who shares that interest as me? Anyway, we then talked and talked (which I’m good at - so I’ve been told) about said book and the film and TV adaptations- it was so great! Without realising, I had eased into it and wasn’t nervous anymore. When it sadly started to come to an end we had the most difficult choice to make... Which book do we choose to read?

The choice was between ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ by Cassandra Clare or ‘The Catcher in The Rye’ by J.D Salinger, Now I’m all for reading new books, but City of Bones is one of my all-time faves! I have read the whole series back to back multiple times and I never get bored!

This was of course exactly why we chose to read The Catcher in The Rye; it was something different and new. I definitely do not regret my choice. What I’ve read so far, I have enjoyed a lot; the writing is mature without being difficult to read and the main character's stereotype has already become evident. He is "The Outcast" with that bad-boy thing going on; but most importantly he is likable and a bit relatable.

I’m not going to tell you too much as you will need to read it yourself to find out what happens. So now I have until next book club meeting to finish the book (challenge accepted) so we can talk all about it.

Not only do I get to fan-out with people in the same boat (or should I say ship (ha ha ha, I’m sorry!) but we get to watch movie adaptations too! And I know you might be thinking, “Oh dear it’s just another place for Twilight fans to feed their obsessions”, but it’s not. I promise. There is a whole range of book options and we can even have intellectual conversations about literary classics if that is what floats your ship.

As we are currently reading literary classic ‘The Catcher in The Rye’  I can’t help but feel somewhat sophisticated, as it is one that has been recommended to me many a time. I am anticipating our next meeting with some excitement because our next read could be literally anything: crime, drama, contemporary, horror, history or even science fiction. But don't let me put you off, everyone who comes along can put forward suggestions for group reading, and there really are no restrictions on genre or style.

So, I hope that I have convinced you even slightly to come and join us at book club! If you like reading, or have ever read a book at all, come along and we will welcome you with open arms! "

The author of our first post is a second year Yeovil College student who is joining us at @YC_Reading for a work experience placement, and will be blogging for us about literacy events and all things bookish over the coming months.