we have a problem in our book club

[hermykne]

to kinda sum up, one member is not as literary as the rest of us, i am trying to explain this without sounding snobby but certain words are needed to explain this proble,

she always arrives late and so misses the "book" review.
she has read maybe 2/3 books out of the 16/18 we have done. she hasnt even read the awful ones she picks.

she is very confrontational, when points are raised or opinions about the "book" or general chit chat.

its really annoying, it changes the whole ambiance to the evening, last one 3 of us went home furious with her.

i would say she is naive and this doesnt help and shes protecting her ability to be considered a book reader by being so defensive.

anyway one member W sent a txt to another (Z) asking if the problem re her (U) attendance had been solved - text to all nxt event is on X and one must have read the book to attend-

receiver of txt (Z) replied and sent it to our problem member instead (U), stating yes and maybe she'll read the book.

so Z and U had a talk and she was defensive as usual

what to do
we are having a summer recess as some of the other memebrs just cant listen to her silliness for much longer, and these are older members, she is our youngest.
so

We had two book clubs - a really sniffy hoity toity one (aka 'two garages') and another wine-swilling one ('one garage'), where everyone was friendly and understood that sometimes people are just lonely and need an excuse to leave the house... twas a v big thing which book club you belonged to. being a total tart i of course flitted between the two... disloyal to the extreme. and i only had one garage.

heres a selcetion of what we ve read
the island - v hislop
wuthering heights - austen
inheritance of loss - kiran desai
the gathering - anne enright

one of stephen frys books

on chesil beach - our favourite

out of those she read none.
none of them are too high brow for us "literary snobs" as it seems most of you think i (my gang) are. to you lot its amazing what you can say to internet faces.

LIZS we've done films and S&TC is nxt week. please leave the smart arse comments.

MP its structured but this girl always arrvies after the review bit which as s.o pointed out last 30/45mins.

we've agreed its not a drinking session. we do that fri/sat and sunday nights - we are lushes.

had a chair - didnt really flow.

Stroppy knickers - 2 kis bouncing off me.

Oblomov do you like our book choices? dont answer please say it to my face.

gustwriter no one mentioned booting off , its aclub not a physchatrists chair... excuse my spelling

elizabeth green - barbara trapido has been read by most of us outside of the club and we wanted something more challenging thus our choice of books above...

HC txt not nice, i agree, i didnt send thou. The night is relaxed but it she has a knack of upsetting someone every time. she is a nice girl and i am friendly with her brother, also v nice.

This issue has come to a head and so as one would not be accused of being underhand i thought ask the mumsnetters for a bit of constructive advice. i am not an underhand player at all.

topic closed please.

NOG and MsBombastic thanks, will take on board.

what does topic closed mean ?

are you trying to close down the thread lol

i nthink any quite small group it is dificult to manage fi for whatever reason someone deosnt fit in

glad I'm not in your book group that's all I can say...(to OP)

Austen didn't write Wuthering Heights

rofl sophie

you are now eleigible to join

at Sophie.

thanks sophie we did P & P too

i would ban all books that have ever been on tv or filmed in case people thought there was a short cut to knowing the plot

i get the feeling you people are making a farce out of this.

why would you waste your time commenting

One of BC members always asks whether there has been a film done, she is very dyslexic and always a few books behind.

you need to lighten up - book groups are meant to be fun

because hermykne we are bloody annoying

Margaret you need to read my postings - we do lighten up fri/sat and sundays...

Are you American?

You sound American, with all the talk of 'recess' and someone asking for 'leave of absence' or something from the book club?

Have you talked to her about it? If not, why not?

maybe you see too much of each other..that s alot of meet ups

is it all the same people?

lol

It sounds like fun

ALL RIGHT what about this - meet 30 minutes earlier. If she can't make it for the first hour or so, you can have your serious discussion then. Job done!

confederate are you american you deffo sound it

don't you drink at book group then , or eat crisps ? perhaps that's the problem ? wine and discussion= perfect book group harmony

Oh do I? Is the name a give away?

But you know there's that very formal way of saying things which the English manage to say much more simply. Like 'I can't come to this book club anymore, U is driving me NUTS' rather than 'I am going to have to request a leave of absence for a short period.'

lol

well you could always disband the groupand then secretly reconvene

with out her obviously

or tell her she has had 18 seesions on probation as per rule 1006 and you have all voted to show her the door

In my old US book club we had to fill in a questionnaire before we joined.

ooh what were the questions confederate babe

did you have to do blood brothers too

if i post enough i am hoping someone will invite me to join their book group i can read