Last weekend at a breezy barbecue, our hostess used books to weigh down her tablecloths—and after dessert, she invited each of us to take a book of our choosing home. This is my kind of party favor. Even better than having a friend press upon you the memoir “you simply must read” is to select whatever catches your fancy from a buffet of bestsellers. Our table had a smorgasbord of nonfiction, including Margret Atwood’s Payback and Joseph Heath’s Filthy Lucre—evidence of the economic downturn’s effect on my neighbour’s book club’s choices, perhaps. I like to read nonfiction, though my to-read pile is so high with novels I usually don’t get around to it. But there’s nothing like a gift book to get you started.
Once, at the home of a woman who hosted a drop-in book club at her café and was running out of bookshelf space, we were encouraged to peruse novels she’d displayed on her furniture and take as many as we wanted. Is that a great party or what? I picked up a couple of prize-winning novels whose reviews hadn’t quite grabbed me—and if I hadn’t snatched up Ian McEwan’s Atonement and J.M.Coetzee’s Disgrace from Bev’s credenza, I may never have read them, and that (I realize now) would be a shame.
So, if you want to get rid of some books and don’t feel like carting them to a used-book store or donating them to the local school fair, consider a book party. You’ll gain shelf space—and maybe new friends.
I won’t be hosting any such gatherings myself, since I don’t like to part with books I admire (I often pick them up to examine passages for literary technique). By the way, at my neighbour’s barbecue, I chose a book I’ve been meaning to read for a couple of years. The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, now sits atop my pile of cherished party favors.
If you have any ideas on what makes a great book party (or some other fun way to share good books), please comment!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This sort of party works for me, too. Went to
one recently for new mothers. If you’ve had all the kids you want, why do
you need that guide on how to have a perfect pregnancy? And if your youngest
is in preschool there’s no need to hang onto that book on Terrible Twos.
Rather than just giving them away, it’s much more fun to share these books
at a wine-and-cheese with other mums!
So what is wrong with me — yes, I’ve had all
the kids I want, my youngest is 15, so why can’t I give up books like How to
Breast-Feed Your Baby, my copy of which is now 23 years old (oldest child is
22) — likely I have an obsession with books, cannot part with them no
matter how out-dated or out-of-usefulness they have become
…
Ha, Ha! Slow Reader, you are obviously one of
those people who gets emotionally attached to books! I have a baby names
book on my shelf — but then, I refer to it for naming characters. (And
actually, I am rather attached to it, too.)
MommyChick, that sounds like a great idea. I
guess you could have all sorts of “themed” book giveaway parties, moving
up through menopause and beyond!
Themed book giveaway parties! I love this! I
have SCADS of books about how to parent “difficult” and “challenging”
adolescents … hmmm, what should I call that book giveaway party? Wait,
can’t give those books away yet — our 23-year-old still acts like a
14-yr-old … sometimes I worry that keeping the breastfeeding book on the
shelf means I am tempting fate, i.e., that it might lead to me becoming
“grandma” before I want to!
Mmmmm, Atonement and Disgrace -
two HUGE scores. I read the first in hardcover and only recently discovered
the second – brilliant little novel that it is – very glad I read both. Nice
meeting you at #BCVAN10 (although I don’t think we actually introduced
ourselves, did we?).