I just realized I've been dominating our book club discussions for months

We were talking about 'The Vanishing Half' last Thursday, and I was going on about the themes of identity and passing. After I finished, there was this quiet moment, and then Sarah, who almost never speaks, said, 'I mean, I just kept thinking about how the town of Mallard felt like its own character, you know? The pressure it put on everyone.' It was so simple, but it was a totally different way of seeing the book than my whole analysis. It hit me then that I'd been treating our meetings like a lecture where I had to have the 'right' take, instead of a place to just share what we each got from it. I think I was trying to sound smart, but I was probably just shutting people down. Has anyone else had to step back and learn to listen more in their club?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.val14d ago

Honestly I used to be the same way, always jumping in with my take. But hearing other people's simple thoughts really changed how I see things now.

wyatt13514d ago

Wait, you were talking about The Vanishing Half and didn't mention Mallard? That's the whole point of the book. It's wild that detail got lost in your analysis.

jadej5014d ago

Mallard's the whole heart of the story.