Me & "In favour of Reading Groups"

I overheard in a café today “I’ve been writing the paper for 15 months and now listening to you I’m changing it in my head” This comment made me smile and look at myself I was asked weeks ago if I would blog for Havering Libraries and my immediate reaction was really ME?!

I’ve always wanted to blog but never really had the nerve. I mean I can talk for England but writing it down to the point of actually gaining someone interest that’s a whole different ball game isn’t it? In my head I’ve written pages and pages but in reality nothing. I realised that it had been weeks since being asked and that in a way I was quite similar to the man who said it so here goes.

First let me tell you about myself I’ve recently turned 50 a fact I am very proud of - I had a tattoo to celebrate. I am married with 2 adult children who are both married and we have a grandchild due to be born in a few weeks. My favourite season is Autumn, my favourite drink is tea but recently I have converted to white hot chocolate – it has to be made with milk to get the full effect (if you haven’t tried it go on I dare you, its delicious). My favourite author is Jodi Picoult. My favourite fruit is a nectarine. I love Marmite.

I run a reading group in Rainham Library and go to the knit and natter there. I enjoyed it so much we have now started a Knightly Knitters as well. I also help with an adult craft and chatter group on a Saturday in the library.

The reading group started in January 2007, our first book was “The Reading Group “ by Elizabeth Noble. As the song goes it “is a very good place to start” – it set the scene for future meetings where now we have nibbles and a glass or two whilst discussing the book.

The reason I joined the group was to meet new people and read books I otherwise would leave on the shelf. Trust me I’ve read lots of book through this group some excellent, some good and some that were so awful I couldn’t get passed the first chapter.

We have a saying in the group “Life is too short to read a bad book” really honestly it is. A book is where you can lose yourself and enter into another world. So why would you go into a world where you weren’t happy you just wouldn’t would you? – it's your choice.

Each library in Havering has reading groups it’s well worth taking a look, they are all different but all fun. There is always have enough copies of the book as there is now a new way of requesting them. Some of the libraries have reading groups that are for listening and a new venture is a signing group in Romford. There are huge benefits from being involved in a group.

http://www.thereadingclub.co.uk/lifelong-benefits-of-joining-a-book-club.html

Our group have a mix up of people including a solicitor, teachers, retired, a CEO, a BBC prop artist and we even have a budding author but despite our differences in ages, jobs and gender we all have a love of books.

So that’s me introducing myself and telling you a little bit about the book groups. They really are worth exploring. I’ve recently ventured into other libraries in the Borough and realised there are some excellent fun projects going on in each of them. I just really need more hours in my day but don’t we all wish for that?

Have fun and keep reading.