Original Tag: The Book Club Tag!

This winter, my favorite book club is celebrating our 2 year anniversary, and looking back on all we’ve been through together has been a blast. We started just a few months before the pandemic forced us all into lockdown, and these fabulous folks have helped keep me semi-sane during everything that’s happened since. I met a few for the first time through book club, while others I’d known for years — and through two years of triweekly discussions and constant chatting about books and more, they’ve all become infinitely dear to me. In short — book clubs are the best.

So, as part of the anniversary celebrations, I’ve created special tag, and I hope you’ll play along! I don’t know about you, but I tend to think every book has it’s own personality, which is why I’m answering each prompt with the book that fits that sort of book club member type. Before we dive in, the rules:

1. Answer the tag (prompts below) on the platform of your choice (blog, booktube, twitter, anything goes!): If you’re part of a book club, yourself, you can answer with the books you’ve read with them — or you can freestyle it with whatever book fits the question! Or with a specific character from a book who matches the prompt. Really, however you want to do it!
2. Link to the original post and give me a pingback or comment below, so I can see your answers.
3. Tag friends! They can be fellow book club members or simply bookish friends who make your day a little brighter.
4. The most important rule: Have fun!

1. The Fearless Reader — reads everything, constantly, and probably started the book club, not realizing how much work it would be to keep everyone on-track talk about it

This would have to be The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. Our heroine is always reading something, but if she tried to start a book club within the Society, it would result in (delightful) mayhem… because she is surrounded by chaotic ladies.

Runner-up: Sorcerer to the Crown which has a very similar excess-barely-within-control sort of vibe.

2. The Academic — tries to elevate the conversation and suggest Serious Books but is always stymied by the rest of the group (generally doesn’t mind)

Our book club didn’t really try for serious books this year because… well, we had enough going on in life and just wanted fun, you know? But I will admit that Scaramouche was my attempt to add some swashbuckling culture, with mixed results. Turns out, you either love it or you hate it? I try not to judge you if you’re in the latter group… I try. 😉

3. The Joyrider — never knows what book the club is reading but happily shouts encouragement and brings refreshments

Right Ho, Jeeves is just out to have some fun, and I love it. Watching Bertie Wooster make a mess of things only for Jeeves to swoop in and save the day is always entertaining.

4. The Agent of Chaos — just what it sounds like: enjoys stirring things up and dropping chaos bombs before disappearing in a cloud of smoke

Hello, The Blacksmith Queen by G.A. Aiken. Things just kinda happen here, and I still don’t understand it all these months later. But it was never boring!

5. The Mom — is very concerned with the emotional and physical health of the rest of the group and of the characters in the books

The Mom is definitely Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice. These books are as much interested in character development as in the mysteries themselves, and each character is treated with great compassion. The first book, especially, really takes the time to check in on everyone and give weight to their particular cares and sorrows.

Runner-up: Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. This space opera romance had a lot more tenderness than I expected going in. There are definitely dark elements, but ultimately, it’s all about healing and learning to move forward. Moms would approve.

6. The Lovable Ghoul — Mostly harmless but likes to stand in the corner muttering — we pretend it’s normal

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake was such creepy fun. I generally avoid horror or anything horror-adjacent, even, because my nerves can’t take it, but this one surprised me. And it gave me a ghost-fighting cheerleader, which is always a hoot!

And now, I tag… drum roll, please…

• Michaela from Journey Into Books
• Dini of dinipandareads
• Kristin at Kristin Kraves Books
• and YOU

Here are the prompts:

1. The Fearless Reader — reads everything, constantly, and probably started the book club, not realizing how much work it would be to keep everyone on-track
2. The Academic — tries to elevate the conversation and suggest Serious Books but is always stymied by the rest of the group (generally doesn’t mind)
3. The Joyrider — never knows what book the club is reading but happily shouts encouragement and brings refreshments
4. The Agent of Chaos — just what it sounds like: enjoys stirring things up and dropping chaos bombs before disappearing in a cloud of smoke
5. The Mom — is very concerned with the emotional and physical health of the rest of the group and of the characters in the books
6. The Lovable Ghoul — Mostly harmless but likes to stand in the corner muttering — we pretend it’s normal

Now, have fun, and do let me know if you end up doing the tag! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

—b