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2.15.2011

book club: the first meeting


book club

it started to snow saturday afternoon. for just a moment. and for the first time since that first fateful snowfall following christmas i found myself willing the sky to really open up. i figured a blanketing of the city would be a perfectly valid excuse to postpone the next day's book club meeting.

i was scared.

utterly terrified.

i knew no one. but nor did anyone else.

and then a little gift of the universe: an ice-breaker in the form of a room change. our pre-assigned room--room 401 had been re-assigned for none other than...wait for it...stripperexpertease (yes, please do note how that word is spelled).

i figured if that didn't scare people away, well then, by golly, we were gonna be okay.

the whole thing was lovely. truly, lovely (there was a really good energy in the room {does that sound new age-y and weird?}). and i felt so incredibly lucky to be surrounded by smart, out-spoken women (and one man!).

discussion of the book led to discussion of writing and blogging and our own lives and what brought us to new york and on and on. the two hours flew by but we followed it up with a late lunch at a corner diner and more discussion.

i feel so very lucky to have met such good, brave people and i can't wait until next month. the book has yet to be decided but our tentative date is sunday, march 20 (probably around 3 pm this time) and newcomers are of course welcome and encouraged.

a tremendous thank you to those who came and anyone who read along (please do tell what you thought of the book!)...and until next time.

22 comments:

Krysta said...

Oh, it sounds like you all had a great time. I really wanted to come but had a conflict. I really hope to make it to next month's meeting!

Alex said...

Congratulations on the first meeting! Glad to hear it went well. So wish I lived in NYC so I could join!

kate said...

oh man. i would've been super nervous meeting with a bunch of strangers too.

glad all went well. hilarious room change situation as well! :)

oh, and i loved that book!

Melissa said...

I'm so glad it went well, and am looking forward to joining you guys next month!

Roxy Te said...

I think this is so fantastic! Once I get up to the city, I'm so in!

Anonymous said...

much as i love the idea of a book club, i think i would have stayed in the original room!

Kelsie said...

I wish I could have gone, I think this is a beautiful idea. Too bad I don't live in NYC! I seriously would love to meet you one day!

kylee said...

so glad the book club turned out!

Suzy said...

That is so cool! It sounds like so much fun. I wish I could've gone! But, I did just finish the book, from afar. I'll work on writing up what I thought so I can share, too!

jenn said...

Sounds like fun! If I lived anywhere near NYC I'd be there. I love reading and have always wanted to be a part of a book club.

Ramona said...

I would love to attend the next one! I'm out on long island and always enjoy a trip into the city :) Can't wait to see what you choose for the next book!

Micaela said...

oh to have been there!!!

but i probably would have taken your hand and we'd have done stripperexpertease for a few minutes ;) just to say we did!!! ha

i love the group photo and love that you started this beautiful thing.

Rachael said...

It's pretty awesome that even when you ask people online to come to something, they actually do!
Great turn out! Glad you guys had a good time!

eve said...

hello meg,
i have been following you since last spring and feel that it is time i tell you how much i have enjoyed reading your blog and seeing how you view the world. i so wish i lived in new york, if only to be able to attend your book club!

with much warmth, emily

The Magnificent Lou said...

Holy crap. I'm so jealous of your book club. I only wish I lived in NYC so I could join!

Jordan Neales Murphy said...

Oh, I was so terrified to go as well! I was looking for all these signs that it wasn't meant to be- and boy, did I received them! (E train discontinuing at Herald Sq, having to book it several blocks to Pearl Studios only to still be 20 min late, and then arriving to a sign on the door saying "stripperexpertease"...haha!) But once I walked into the room for "book club" and saw all you lovely ladies (and one handsome gentleman), I was suddenly much less nervous. Guernsey was delightful and absolutely perfect for our first read. I loved that we all had our likes and dislikes and felt comfortable enough to share them, and I also really enjoyed hearing about everyone's background.

Thanks again for everything--especially for being brave enough to invite a bunch of strangers into your club.

Dee Paulino said...

Sounds like so much fun, too bad I live in RI, but I will try to join you at least one day this summer.

Amanda said...

I've always wanted to be in a book club. Super cool.

And I like the creative spelling. That's pretty funny :)

Betsey said...

oh, so much fun - i so wish i could come!

E. Leigh said...

How do I get involved in this book club!? I live in NYC and have been searching for one for a while now.

Jay said...

I'm kinda envious! Let me know if you want to have one of those book club meetings in Norway, and you can count me in ;)

Unknown said...

Inspired by you, my best friend and I started our own little book club. Thanks for reminding us of the cohesive power of literature.