The First Rule of #Outlander Book Club

The only rule for Book Club, is bring whisky!

This month is the month that I am hosting a book club. The rules* are simple: (1) the person hosting the event gets to pick the book; (2) she also provides the wine (or, in my case, whisky) and snacks; and (3) anyone who fails to finish reading the book before Book Club must make amends through a gift of wine (or obviously, in my case, whisky).

I know you will be shocked to learn that for my Book Club title, I chose…Outlander. Inconceivable, I know. *ahem* Right. (And, no, I did not simply choose the book because it is really long and could result in compensatory whisky for me.** Mphmm. Cynics!)

A few of the ladies in Book Club have actually already read Outlander, but they are going to re-read it in preparation. Others have never read it and are only now being initiated into All Things Outlander. I exchanged numerous texts today with one such Outlander Initiate who can now count herself among the legions of JAMMF fans. I recognize the giddy biblio-high on which she is riding: the frantic texting, the swooningly sweet recitations of dialogue…yep, she has it bad.

When I suggested (okay, demanded) Outlander as my Book Club selection, I was drunk with power. Finally, I could inflict SHARE Outlander with other book lovers. I could talk about it in detail without eye rolls and murmurs of “obsessed” and “needs a life” being whispered behind polite smiles. No, after they read it, they, too, would finally understand.

I quickly invited even more people to join Book Club because, kind soul that I am, when I find am amazing book I want to share it. And I was prepared to share it, truly I was. I had dog-eared numerous “important sections,” and I had highlighted all the good parts (sooooo many good parts), and I had even discussed appropriate Scottish themed food and beverage (*cough* whisky *cough*) selections with my husband.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the sense of…of what? Ownership? Protectiveness?–I felt towards the book. I didn’t expect to feel such a need for them to understand it, to be carried away by it, to love it as much as I did. Perhaps it is a wee bit like taking a significant other home to meet your parents, or *gulp* your closest friends. You want so much for them see the best in the other, to get along, to adore the other as much as you do. Sometimes they do…but sometimes they don’t.

It is now just one week until Book Club. Time will tell whether I have added to the book’s legion of fans, or if the book simply didn’t speak to them as it had to me. Still, I am hoping, and planning, and making a list of all of my favorite parts from the first book to share next week. Because when you make these introductions, you always do want to make a good impression.

So, while I fret and worry and obsess over which whisky pairs best with Outlander, feel free to help me win over the newbies by sharing your favorite moments, quotes, scenes, and characters from the first Outlander book in the comments, and I will make sure to bring up these epic bits up at Book Club!

* Actually, there is just one hard and fast rule: BRING WHISKY!

** That is a perk, to be sure, but that was not my motive. (However, slow readers be advised: I like Islay whisky best; Laphroaig and Arbeg are personal favorites.)