I have decided to start a new book club or reading group. This is not my first. Perhaps some of you will remember past iterations of reading groups or book clubs I hosted. The one where we read through Don Quixote. The one where we read through the collected fictions of Borges. The one where we read basically every novel by J.M. Coetzee up to Slow Man. And others where individual members of the group got to select a book they wanted everyone to read, and we did. And finally still others where we read random books based on my fancy.
Mostly, we read novels. Occasionally we read a memoir (does anyone remember reading House of Prayer, No. 2 by Mark Richard in the book club with me?).
This version of my reading group will be slightly different.
Here are the guidelines for my selections in what I’m going to call “Selected Christian Classics” or maybe “Lets Read Old Books by Christian Authors.” Not very catchy titles, I know.
- We will be reading old books. I define “old” as anything published before I was born (1970).
- The books are by Christian authors.
- The book still has something to say to us today, or at least others who have read the book testify that it is still worth reading (i.e. “A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.” -Italo Calvino).
- Since I’m organizing the group, they are books I want to read and discuss with other people
- I have some hope that reading and discussing the book can be spiritually formative for me and others.
I have a first book in mind, and then I have subsequent books in mind, but no subsequent order.
I want to start with Thomas Kelly’s masterpiece of Christian spirituality A Testament of Devotion. I want to start with this short book because, having read a brief excerpt from it many years ago, I know it has something to say to us today. I think I need this book.
For a book of that length, I propose reading it in its entirety prior to meeting for discussion. Participants in the reading group should read the book, and if so inclined, journal about the book ahead of any meetings they choose to attend. At the very least, each participant should come to the reading group with the following:
- Their copy of the book.
- A favorite passage they want to read aloud to the group and discuss.
- A personal connection to something from the book they are willing to share.
- At least one question inspired by the book they would like to pose to the group for discussion.
At this point, I’m thinking of meeting on the first and third Mondays of every month @ 7-8:30 p.m.
Given that books vary in length, some books may get more than one meeting.
There is no long term commitment necessary, but I will ask for RSVPs for each meeting, and will probably create some sort of text or e-mail reminder system for people who want to be a part. If you know anyone in the area who would be interested in this, please tell them and have them contact me.
Robby Prenkert: robbyprenkert@gmail.com
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A select list of possible future books:
- A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly
- Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing by Soren Kierkegaard
- The Way of a Pilgrim (Anonymous)
- The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy Sayers
- Descent into Hell by Charles Williams
- A Diary of a Country Priest by George Bernanos
I’ll probably think of others, and will likely take suggestions from committed group participants.
Here’s to reading and discussing good books with friends.
