Reading with Friends and Family

[Peg Herring]

A note from Barry Eisler got me thinking about reading together, because my husband and I both enjoy his work. Early in my career as a teacher I gave up trying to make all my students read the same book. Although there are advantages, it's very hard to get that large a group to agree on anything for hundreds of pages. It always ended up with a few thrilled, many bored.

It's the same in other areas of my life. I've given books that I loved to friends who were either not impressed or downright offended. (The Poisonwood Bible is one that comes to mind and The Red Tent is another.) Still, it's such a joy when someone else likes the book as much as I did that I keep trying. My huband and I enjoy the ensuing conversations when we both love a book, and I can't help but sneak looks at him when he picks up one I've recommended, hoping he'll like it as much as I did. Since he's more action-oriented, I have to be careful, and since I don't tolerate weak writing just because the plot moves apace, he keeps some of his favorites to himself.

But no matter how much we're alike, we're different. One sister and a very close friend read lots of romances, my children read only nonfiction, and my other sister is stuck on one author and waits impatiently for her next book. It's good that I like a little of everything, or at least I have over my lifetime, so I can converse on all of the above. While it's mysteries that I love best, I'll read what you're reading if you'll talk about it with me when we've both finished it.