Got one?
I can kick it off.
For work, I had to take over an existing book club for someone, and the book I first met with them about was Crimson Petal and the White.
For those who haven't read this book, it doesn't take long before it gets into highly descriptive portions about old-timey douching habits, and it doesn't pull a lot of punches.
I was probably 22 at the time, and it turned out this book club was populated entirely by women who were over 50. The women in the book club were as surprised to see me as I was to see them because they didn't know their old leader was headed out, and we got to know each other by not really discussing the book.
I didn't know the group well at the time, but I would come to find out that this was a squeamish bunch. They found David Sedaris to be far, far too dark, and Crimson Petal And The White sort of became the in-joke, the "How did we end up picking THAT one, and how did you get so lucky to have that be your first meeting?"
I clicked this link expecting to sign up for a horror book club.
What I read was much better.
Damn, Snowman! That is funny. I never belonged to a book club. I don't have a book club horror story. My mother belonged to Reader's Digest Book of the month club. Every month she would get a volume of five books chopped down to fit into the skin of one book.
My mother had a very nice library and was awed and enchanted by books all of her life. I never understood why she paid for abridgments. I do have to admit I read a lot of those. I Wonder how much brain damage I suffered. I guess it would depend on who abridged them.
Dear Snowman--
I'm trying to track you down for a piece I'm working on for this very topic.... Please read my PM, thank you!
Howdy,
Will do.
