Book Club Kit

Dear Reading Friends,

I make pizza every Friday night for our family movie time. We have a homemade home theater and love watching – and re-watching – great movies. The best part is the conversation afterwards where we hash out story plots, character moments and the epic finales.

Because, stories are meant to be shared.

Last Friday, as I made pizza, my husband sat at the counter, watching. My son asked him if he’d finished the Wheel of Time book he’d be reading. That launched a thirty minute animated discussion about wizards, heroes, story threads, epic battles and speculation about the next book.

Because, stories are meant to be shared.

Over Christmas, my children got me hooked on Dr. Who. “Mom, just watch the special – I think this is a show you’ll like.”

I watched the special. Met Matt Smith (The Doctor) and tried to wrap my brain around Cybermen and a time-travelling spaceman. While my children lamented over the “New Doctor,” (whatever that meant), over the next six weeks I netflixed the series, watching it over my lunch hour, or at night.

Slowly, I fell in love with the Doctor (#9, #10, #11) and, most importantly, now when my children call from college, we spend a great portion of our conversation reliving old episodes, laughing over Doctor foibles and general savoring the show together.

Because, stories are meant to be shared.

Somehow sharing the experience of reading or viewing a story bonds us, almost as if we have taken the journey together. We can share fond moments, relive the joys, the fears, the happy endings. A great story should cause us to ponder great questions, and prompt conversations about how we might apply what we learned. I love to write books that raise talking points – like, if you found a John Doe, would you try and find his family? And, when is the right time to let go of someone you love? And, should we find significance in the victories of our children?

I’ve put together a Book Group Packet for It Had to Be You to stir up some conversation, laughter, and analysis. My hope is that it will deepen your reading experience and help you savor the story with your friend. Just click here to download and print.