It’s better in a book club
Tonight was Book Club night, a Tuesday I look forward to every other week. I wrote earlier about my special book club, which focuses on the works by the Inklings (C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and more.) It was one of the regular meetings – yet every one of them is special.
First the wine and snacks
We can’t have Book Club without wine. Our host offered a lovely Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Another member brought chips and guacamole, as well as flavored popcorns. We always spend the first 30 minutes catching up with each other and sipping wine.
Discussions go everywhere
We’re still working our way through The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. Our talk tonight started with the facilitator asking the group simple questions – and then we were off, from sharing thoughts about the magic, the “between lands” and the character’s names, to the philosophical questions raised by Lewis to even the new Amazon series set in the Lord of the Rings world. We speculated where a traveler from another pool, and another world) would land if he jumped into the pool leading to our Earth. Most of us thought he’d show up in a big city. And we spent time thinking about how closely the sub-creation of Lewis’ world tracks to the Scripture. The temptation of both Polly and Diggory at the Bell of Charn has such close ties to the apple in the Garden of Eden.
A happy fellowship
Each Book Club evening ends with joy and much talking. Even though we “officially” end one hour after the start of the discussion, often people will linger. There are suggestions for the next book we tackle; someone has to sign up to bring snacks for the next time. It’s such a joy to find people with whom you can have a deep discussion with, on theology, fantasy, philosophy, and fairy tales, that it is hard to let go. Trudging out to your car is like leaving a party – you’ve left all the fun, brilliance, and fellowship inside, and now you must make your way through the winter weather on individual journeys to your separate homes.
Notes from Aunt Gem 