by Tracy Briseño

I will confess I’ve never been part of a book club. I have often found the books chosen to be interesting and I can understand the draw, but it has never been for me. That got me thinking about how and where I do share and talk about books (aside from regularly in my job).

I realized that sharing books and talking about books happens throughout my life in a variety of ways. The easiest example is the book that my daughter and I are reading together at night before bed. We previously read the “Clementine” series by Sara Pennypacker and thoroughly enjoyed delving into that world together over weeks and months of reading. We were delighted to find that Pennypacker had a new book out with a young girl main character that also included librarians. We’ve been hooked since the first page of “Leeva at Last.”

Thinking about book sharing in my house, my youngest has been the beneficiary of her older sisters prolific reading habits. She borrows books that they enjoyed at her age on a regular basis, always with the strict reminder to take good care of them. The shared books between siblings give them a common topic to talk about when the gulf between elementary, middle, and high school age can seem far.

My spouse and I similarly share books with our kids that we think they might enjoy. It may be an old favorite, or a new title we come across that hits upon a current interest. My oldest is currently quite interested in etymology or the study of words. I bring home books that catch my eye, then she shares back by reading out loud to me the history and development of different words.

My grandmother recently moved to town and I’ve been bringing her books. Our tastes don’t always overlap so it’s always a treat to find a book that we both truly enjoyed. A recent favorite is “The Soul of an Octopus” by Sy Montgomery. She said it was “brilliant” and she immediately shared it with her reader friends.

My middle daughter has discovered a new series by borrowing a book from a friend. She, too, fell in love with the series, and now they trade copies back and forth and discuss their favorite characters and scenes. 

Sharing books happens in so many different ways and always makes us richer for the engagement and conversation it brings.