Our group's vote on 'The Goldfinch' versus 'The Secret History' got heated last month

We had to pick our next read and it came down to these two Donna Tartt novels, with half the group saying one was clearly better than the other. I pushed hard for 'The Secret History' because I think its campus setting makes the moral questions sharper, and we ended up reading it. Did anyone else have a big debate over which of her books to tackle first?

3 comments

3 Comments

drew4762mo ago

I mean, it's just a book club pick.

kim.stella2mo agoTop Commenter

My local library's book club had 12 people drop out last month because they called the pick "just a beach read." Honestly, it feels like we dismiss anything that's supposed to be for fun or community as less important. Tbh, I see it with movie nights and hobby groups too. We act like shared joy isn't a real reason to do something.

leo6031mo ago

Actually, drew476 has a point about it just being a book pick. Sometimes a group needs a clear focus to stay together. If a hiking club switched to mall walking, people would leave too. Not every activity is about pure fun, some are for learning or serious talk. Calling a book "just a beach read" might mean it doesn't fit the club's goal.