Yesterday one of the members of my book group hosted a “Book Group Movie Sunday.” It was a double-feature showing of two films based on books we’d read – with a very fun and very smart collection of women.
Usually I don’t like to be inside glued to a screen on a Sunday afternoon, but luck or the “Book Group Movie Sunday” gods must have been smiling on us because it was a perfect afternoon to huddle together in Barb’s cozy family room. Cold, rainy, and occasionally wild and windy – not at all what one might hope for the third Sunday in May, but just great for a Movie Sunday!
The first film, Love in the Time of Cholera, was beautifully rendered, and – we all agreed more enjoyable than actually reading the book by Miguel Marchez Garcia. The film was textured and layered, a visual treat. The book seemed dense and a lot of work. But hey, that was just our take on it.
The second film – after a pizza and wine break – was The Kite Runner, based on the book by Khaled Hosseini, was also visually gorgeous and knock-out powerful. We felt the same way about the book. Though it dealt with some incredibly difficult subjects, this is a book that teaches, enlightens, breaks one’s heart, and begins to mend it. And the film does what a film based on a great book so rarely does – it lived up to the book!
The films, though – as much as I enjoyed both of them – aren’t really what I wanted to write about today. No, the films were only a small part of the experience of “Book Group Movie Sunday” for me. The greater part of yesterday’s enjoyment came from the company of such an interesting women – none of whom I have been connected to for much longer than a year.
I’ve been acquainted with several of the women I now call my reading friends, but until talking about books gave us the excuse, our acquaintance hadn’t blossomed into real friendship. And the great majority of our group are women that I had never even met before joining the group. What a gift I have given myself!
We’re a diverse group. Some retired public school teachers, some currently teaching – from subbing to high school French, to non-credit child care, to college level nursing or art education – a nurse practitioner, a couple businesswomen. Individually and collectively, these are interesting women.
So I’m congratulating myself at least two ways. One, that I get to hang out with these women, and two, that I’m smart enough to recognize just what a gift that is. I haven’t always had the geographic proximity with women friends, and I am savoring the opportunity!
May you have such an opportunity to savor in the coming week – and maybe see some really good films and read some really good books as a bonus!
Sally
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