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One of my New Year Resolutions this year was to start a book club. I did some research (Google), talked to a book club expert (RA) and got some much needed advice from another book club attender (Janet). Without their input I would still be floundering on this whole idea. I looked over my notes and sent out a query email to 20 friends, crossing my fingers for a favorable response. I was surprised when every single one of those friends responded with “Book club! Yes! I’m in!”

So, now we have a Book Club. We meet once a month, have a mix of men and women, single’s and married couples. There are many hard core readers and some more recreational readers. And, to be honest, there is at least one who I think is just relishing in the thought of socializing with individuals who have big brains, lots of ideas, and enjoy a good debate. Regardless, it’s a great mix of personalities and points of view.

After one very successful book discussion under my belt, I decided to detail out my process for starting my own book club for both my own historical/journaling purposes as well a nicely numbered list of informational items for anyone thinking about starting their own book club.

How To Start A Book Club

1. Send out an email to a handful (or a triple handful) of friends to gauge interest. Be clear that this is a book club, not a monthly dinner party or cocktail hour. The expectation is to read the book and attend the meeting prepared to discuss. Be clear about whether or not members can bring friends or invite others who may be interested. If you are still looking for members, consider putting up a flyer at the bookstore or library, putting up a Craig’s List notice, or putting it out there on Facebook or Twitter to find more interested parties. My book club has over 20 people, if we average 12 attending every month I will be happy.

2. Decide how where often you want to meet. I have a large apartment perfectly suited to throwing parties, so I will be hosting Book Club. I also wanted to meet monthly with the knowledge that every person may not be able to come every single month. Our group opted to have Book Club the second Thursday of every month. Other options including alternating the hosting location among member’s homes, or even using a room at the library, church or bookstore to have your discussion.

3. Decide what mix of books you would like. Some book clubs do all their readings from one genre–sci fi, romance novel, biography, memoir–and others have rules on content or length. Because we have a good mix of personalities, I wanted a good mix of book titles as well. I think a page limit is a good idea, so we are shooting for books always under 400 pages and trying to alternate heavier subjects with lighter, easier reads.

4. Decide if you want to choose books that no one has read before or books that a couple of members have previewed and recommend for reading. We decided that we could go either way. Our first book came very highly recommended from a fellow bookophile, and our second book is a very popular memoir at the moment (though I can’t remember if anyone has read it yet).

5. Decide if you want to be the moderator/discussion leader for all titles, or if the person who suggested the book is the discussion leader, or if you want to hire someone to lead your book club. Our group picked my book choice to discuss at the first month’s book club meeting and I will be the moderator for that. Moving forward whoever suggested the title we are reading will also be the discussion moderator.

6. Decide what format you want your book club to take. After reading almost two dozen articles and blog posts on how to start a book club, I decided to have a two-to-two-and-a-half hour meeting in the evening on a week night. The first 30 minutes will be for socialization, chit-chat, and a few light appetizers. The following 60-90 minutes will be a formal discussion on the book. If you don’t want to chit-chat before hand, you can come only for the discussion. If you haven’t read the book and don’t want to hear all the spoilers, you can come before or after the discussion. The discussion is followed by 10 minutes of administrative/house keeping items including reminders of next months’ book and moderator/discussion leader and then people are free to hang out and (hopefully) polish off the dessert platter. At our second meeting (first book discussion) I handed out reminder book marks for next month’s book with a picture of the book cover, date, time and my address.

7. At our first meeting I asked everyone to bring a couple of book suggestions they would like to see discussed. We opted to schedule out a few months ahead with books and moderators, and decide the rest at a later date. It was really helpful to have a good list of books to chose from, and it was a good exercise to have the attendees think about what they wanted to read. Our first few months cover a novel, a memoir, science fiction, and a non-fiction book.

8. Make sure you keep track of all the books that have been suggested, and by whom. You may need that list again. I made a Google doc of the books we have scheduled and others that are up for consideration. I also made a Google calendar with our book club meetings and a reminder email set for 2 weeks prior and 2 days prior, several members have subscribed. You could also use Evite or another, similar service to keep people in the loop and on top of your discussion schedule.

9. I always think food is a good idea for a get-together. At our meetings we will be having a mix of salty and sweet, healthy and not-so-healthy appetizers and snacks. That is in part because I think all parties need finger food, but also because I really like making things that people love to eat. I’m kind of selfish that way I guess. If possible, I would love to include food that somehow relates to the book. For example: if we read The Help I would serve (poop free) chocolate cream pie. RA pointed me towards this book and I can’t wait to dig in to it for some ideas.

10. At some point during your first meeting (and at any subsequent meetings), someone needs to quote Fight Club. “The first rule of Book Club is: You don’t talk about Book Club. The second rule of Book Club is: You don’t talk about Book Club.”Clearly, I talk about my book club and post it all over the internet. I think this would be more accurate: “The first rule about Book Club is: You show up at Book Club. The second rule about Book Club is: You read the book for Book Club.” Sadly, it just doesn’t have the same rhythm or gravitas.

Our first book club discussion was on My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. We talked non-stop for over an hour discussing religion, art, history, talent, and family relations. The book was universally loved and I have already ordered the follow-up book The Gift of Asher Lev. Also, I should note, that I have awesome friends. Of the 22 or so who were invited to Book Club, 20 showed up at our first book discussion. The mix of personalities, backgrounds, and points of view is what made this evening so awesome. Thank you, my friends, for helping me keep my resolution with such class.

{Doorknob}

Admittedly, the whole point of choosing the somewhat random assignment of “doorknob” was to give me a good reason to photograph this particular door knob. I have always loved them. These hand carved doorknobs are on one of the most prominent Salt Lake landmarks. The entire door, equally gorgeous, is here with some more doorknob detail here.

Next week’s assignment for Friday, March 9: Color Green

Check out all the photos in our Flickr group, 52 Pics, and share your own!

52 Pics Photo Challenge:

I have started my own weekly photography assignment with photo-posts every Friday, to try and learn how to use my camera settings and functions. For previous posts click here, or you can download the entire challenge here. If you are participating, upload your photos to our Flickr group, and/or leave a link in the comments!

Format inspired (okay, blatantly heisted) from Stacy at The Cat’s Meow.

My Essentials:

Putzing: This is my quirky way of unwinding; I wander around the neighborhood admiring the old homes, drawing the house plans and planning renovations in my head. Or I’ll wander around the produce section of the grocery store touching the fruit and veggies. I will wander around my apartment, straightening things that don’t necessarily need straightening and dreaming about things that don’t really apply to where I am at that given moment. I make lists just to cross things off,  I imagine fantastical things. Putzing is my alone time, my detox time. I can putz for hours.

Books: I remember the first book I ever bought with my own money. I was working two jobs, saving up for my first semester of college and decided to buy The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series and re-read them before the first movie came out in theaters. I bought the cheapest version the bookstore had—a $4.99 half-sized paperback—one at a time over a few weeks. In the last 10 years I have amassed a considerable book collection and have started to build a bonafide library in the loft space above my apartment. Sitting in front of those shelves, running my fingers over the spines, reorganizing my “To Read First” shelf (yes, shelf) and reliving the stories and memories associated with previously read titles is one of the most calming things I can do at home. (See: putzing) Does this make me materialistic? Maybe. Do I care? No. I’m a paper-and-ink book person and I’m not willing to fight it.

Writing: Writing is therapy to me. For my 8^th birthday I received a journal, a red leather-bound book with lined pages and gold edging. My first journal entry is from my Mom and the next is written in a thick pencil and my shaky, 8-year-old handwriting. I wrote about the weather, my birthday, and my first visit to a restaurant. Almost 6 years ago I started blogging for the general, internet-savvy public however I still write for pleasure and to solidify my thoughts and opinions. I still keep a journal, several, actually. There is nothing quite like the promise of a new, empty notebook of lined pages. I tend to fill them with thoughts, stories, lists, sketches, ideas and rants.

Pursuit of Knowledge: I love learning. I love learning about new things, new people, new words, new ideas. I love learning old things for the first time, random facts, chronology of world events, social or geographic history or myth of far-flung places and interesting factoids close to home. I think I am happiest with my nose deep in a book and a notebook to record my findings.

Fabulous, Fun or Interesting Shoes: I know this may seem somewhat superficial after the magnanimous “writing” and “pursuit of knowledge” line items, but I have found over the years that I am more optimistic, more positive, and generally happier when I am wearing shoes I love. Superficial? Yes. Invalid? No. My day is better in red heels. Always.

Scarves: I will more than often wear a scarf regardless of the weather. I have scarves in almost every hue and the pop of color at my face makes me smile and the snuggle-factor keeps me happy and cozy all day. Yes, even in the summer (hello, office AC). I have thick wool-y scarves and very light, airy ones, but most are a delicious Pashmina weight that are universally perfect for daily wear. I love them.

Razor sharp kitchen knives: I find mincing vegetables therapeutic, but only if my knife is crazy-sharp. There is a knife sharpening shop downtown where I drop off a bundle of cutlery every six weeks or so to be ground, sharpened, polished, wrapped in brown paper with tied with string and then returned to me for my next mincing adventure.

High Thread Count Sheets: Several years ago my older brother found 1,000 count Egyptian cotton sheets on Amazon for something crazy like $100 dollars. He ordered them immediately. I ordered them immediately. Several other family members ordered them. They are heaven. I don’t care if 1,000 count sheets don’t come in cute polka-dots, or fancy stripes, or chevrons, or mod floral graphic print. I have a hard time sleeping in scratchy sheets. I need 1,000 count Egyptian cotton.

Hugs: Yes, I need physical human contact. In some of my more scared moments, or darker days, or more lonely weeks I have been known to go to a yoga class and do the poses a little bit wonky just so the instructor would move my arm to the appropriate place. I have been known to schedule a massage just for the comfort of someone touching my shoulder. Does this seem extreme? Perhaps. But pouncing on a stranger on the street and insisting they give you a hug is highly suspect and usually illegal, and I’m not about to wear a sign around my neck stating “Hugs for Free” because, ew, creepers.

Sunshine: I am one of those people who will never go tanning, I wear SPF 45 every day. However, just a few minutes of sun on my face will lift my mood in amazing ways. I do some of my best putzing sitting in a sunny spot.

Sparkly Unicorns and Pegasus Ponies: Not really. But after “hugs” and “sunshine” it seemed the next logical progression. I am (mostly) kidding on this one. (Or am I?)

My Favorite Non-Essentials:

Chapstick: I’m not talking about lipgloss, or lipstick (neither of which I have worn for years). I’m not talking about Chapstick brand stuff that is pink with a waxy flavor. I will wear Bert’s Bees in a ruby grapefruit color, but I prefer Natural Ice, although it is next to impossible to find in grocery stores, gas stations, big box stores, or boutique stores. Sometimes I’ll find it at REI and stock up. Last fall I finally got the brilliant idea to order a dozen tubes of Natural Ice from Amazon. They are now nicely lined up in my dresser waiting to rescue chapped and dry lips.

White Christmas Lights: I have only ever used white Christmas lights, and typically only at Christmas. However, several months ago I strung one strand around my bedroom window and love the soft twinkling as I get ready for bed or dream up grand adventures, tucked up to my chin in covers and studying the enormous map of the world on my bedroom wall.

Maps: I love maps. I have several hanging in my apartment and have always had at least one map to look at and dream about and study. I loved taking world geography in 9^th grade and learning the names, locations and capital cities of all the countries. I have mostly retained this information and love studying various pockets of the world and trying to sort out, again, where everything belongs. In my next life I will have a couple of gorgeous globes to reign in my library.

Office Supplies: I have an unhealthy obsession with office supplies. Stacks of college-ruled paper, packages of Sharpie’s in a rainbow of colors, boxes of unsharpened pencils waiting to be ground to a point and fill a notebook with ideas. I love office supplies.

Fresh Flowers and/or Live Plants: I love having fresh flowers on my dining room table. I have very rarely had anything fancier than a small bouquet from the grocery store, but even $6 dollars worth of tulips will keep me smiling for two weeks. I have had an aloe plant for 5 years now, and have managed not to kill it. This winter I have added a baby fir tree, a now flowerless poinsettia, an ivy plant, and some IKEA bamboo…so far, nothing has died. We’ll see how long that lasts.

Things I Could Easily Live Without:

Smart Phones: I know, it sounds nuts, but I am becoming more and more anti-smart phone. It’s not that I don’t like the convenience of having a mini computer-communicator-television-navigational system-word processor-camera the size of a credit card, it’s just that after sitting at a computer for 9 hours a day with the expectation to respond to email promptly and answer the phone by the second ring, and then a few more hours at my laptop in the evening reading and writing blog posts, researching tidbits of information, and/or gawking at adorable baby animals, I don’t really care if I am connected for the other 3 hours of my waking day. When my current smart phone (1^st Gen. MyTouch Android) dies I will be downgrading my device and my plan.

Voice mail: I hate voice mail. I keep trying to convince my phone company to turn off my voice mail all together. Remember when it used to be an add-on? Why is it that now I cannot for the life of me turn the damn thing off? If you know me at all you know that I listen to my messages religiously once per quarter…or, if I’m feeling rebellious,every six months. Send me a text if I don’t answer the phone, don’t bother leaving a message unless it’s cool that I don’t listen to it until September.

Popcorn: I haven’t had popcorn since I was in junior high, and I don’t miss it. I like the smell well enough, I won’t gag at the movies or anything, but I have absolutely no desire to try it. None.

{Abandoned}

This is a downtown park that is usually teeming with people. It is the location of the weekend farmer’s market in warmer months, the bedroom of the bulk of the cities homeless population, and was even the theater for the Occupy Salt Lake movement when the entire block was transformed into a tent city. Walking past this park and not seeing a soul was a bit disconcerting. Granted, it was mid-snow storm, but still. Permanently abandoned (cliff dwellings) or temporarily abandoned (see above) is still abandoned.

Next week’s assignment: Dooorknob.

Want to play along? Join our Flickr group, 52 Pics, to share your own photos and see the pics of others who are participating!

52 Pics Photo Challenge:

I have started my own weekly photography assignment to learn how to use my camera settings and functions and to make photography–and all those buttons–a little less scary.

For previous posts click here, or you can download the entire challenge here. If you are participating, leave a link in the comments!

Several months ago I read a book more disturbing than anything I have ever read before. Ever. It was scarier than any movie I have ever seen and made my stomach contract into a tiny, terrified little blob. I lost sleep for weeks. What horror author could cause such a reaction? That’s the kicker, he’s not a horror author. Jon Krakauer is usually an extreme adventure writer, but in this case it was a historical non-fiction/crime drama that kept me up nights. I’m sure you’ve heard of Under the Banner of Heaven, yes? Krakauer’s book delves into radical religious zealots, polygamy (both historic and contemporary), extreme fundamentalism, and particularly, a set of ex-Mormon brothers who went on a killing spree in the early 1980′s. Is this book ringing a bell?

Krakauer weaves several different stories together throughout his novel. There are historic chapters about the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the 1800′s, the beliefs of the Mormons, their leaders, and their migration west across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. The second component of Krakauer’s book revolves around the beliefs and practices of past and current polygamist sects in North America. The third part tells the story of Ron and Dan Lafferty, two brothers who formed their own church so they could practice religion as they wished which included receiving direct revelations from God and resurrecting polygamy and Zionist activities. All of which was fine until they started killing people who opposed them.

You’re probably asking yourself how a true-crime-drama novel where I already knew the ending, justice has taken her course and the bad guys are rotting in jail, would keep me up at night? Those convicted murderers, the Lafferty brothers, lived—and killed—just a few miles from my childhood home. It is extremely disconcerting to read about such gruesome murders taking place on the quiet streets of your hometown. This story is personal to me. Even though the killings, trial and eventual incarceration of the Lafferty’s was almost 30 years ago, it is still stop-your-heart chilling to see the details printed in black and white.

I have started this post a dozen times, and have edited large chunks of ranty-ness out on at least that many occasions. This is a difficult topic to discuss without getting too political, too religious, or too defensive. There are many aspects of Krakauer’s book that paint a people and organization that I respect in a very unflattering light. Krakauer is a self-proclaimed atheist, he does not just think Mormon’s (mainstream or fundamental) are radical and unjustified in their doctrine and beliefs, he thinks any kind of organized religion is a crock. In my opinion his writing on religious faith is biased, his coverage of LDS church doctrine and principles is not complete, has errors, and is terribly one-sided for non-fiction or investigative journalism. If you are looking for a serious or complete work on LDS church history, this is not it. If you are looking for information on the beliefs of the Mormons, this is not it. However, I am not here to talk about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am not here to discuss historical or modern-day polygamy practices (although, you should remember that the LDS church banned polygamy in 1890 and—and this is important—anyone found practicing polygamy is excommunicated from the church, despite the impression HBO or TLC shows would lead you to believe.). I certainly will not be discussing the current presidential political debate or the definition of marriage. Alright, so if I’m not talking about the Mormons, and if I’m not talking about the polygamist clans of Colorado City (or Salt Lake City, for that matter), or politics, what on earth would garner such a lengthy post? That’s right, the Lafferty brothers.

Ron and Dan Lafferty, along with their three brothers, decided to break away from the LDS Church to found their own fundamentalist sect. One of the basic tenets of their new faith, along with Zionist activities and “end of the world” propaganda, was that polygamy was ordained of God. They all wanted more women to sleep with and they wanted their current wives to play along. Except for their youngest sister-in-law, Brenda, the wives agreed to the new arrangement. Brenda was a college student in her early twenties, and she vehemently opposed the Lafferty’s new lifestyle and refused to support it or their new-found faith. Time went by and the brothers became more entrenched in their fundamentalist sect, recruiting more followers, breeding strange ideas and spouting off stranger doctrine and prophesy. Ron’s wife left him, and with the help and support of a friend, Chloe Low, she moved with their children to Florida. They continued on. A local LDS Church authority, Richard Stowe, agreed to meet with Ron and Dan multiple times to discuss their views and ideas. Eventually, acting according to church policy, he recommended that the Lafferty brothers be excommunicated due to their apostate activities. The brothers continued on in their radical practices, getting more extreme in their doctrine. In 1983, it was “revealed” to them that those who had opposed their burgeoning, polygamist faith were to be eliminated. Ron Lafferty believed that God had given him a license to kill, Dan was in complete agreement on this divine instruction:

It is my will and commandment that ye remove the following individuals in order that My work might go forward…First thy brother’s wife Brenda and her baby, then Chloe Low, then Richard Stowe. And it is My will that they be removed in rapid succession. (pg. 190)

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