22
Book club debates got softer in 15 years, or did we?
Back in 2008 my group in Tulsa spent three whole meetings fighting over whether the unreliable narrator in the novel was lazy writing or a genius trick, people nearly quit over it. Now the same group just nods along to anything, even when the plot holes are obvious, because nobody wants to hurt feelings. Is it just my group that turned into a safe space, or did book clubs lose their edge everywhere?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
terryallen2d ago
Do you think we traded real debate for being polite? That's exactly what happened with my group too, and honestly I blame the way we talk about books now. Back then we'd argue about whether the author meant the narrator to be lying or just confused, and someone would get heated over it. Now if I point out a plot hole, people look at me like I called their baby ugly, so I just say "interesting choice" and move on.
6