To celebrate World Book Day, read about how our Boozy Book Club started and what it means to the people who are part of it.
Boozy Book Club is a monthly gathering hosted in TEN Queen Street at Lawrence Batley Theatre for people to discuss a particular book over a couple of drinks or a brew and a slice of cake.
Our Chief Executive Becky Dash explains how the idea was drafted
“The idea came out of a creative session at a Lawrence Batley Theatre Away Day where staff were tasked with writing down what creative thing they do in their own time and why they do it. I wrote down reading – reading as a way of escapism and a way of using your imagination. However, it felt a bit fraudulent to do so as I hadn’t actually picked up a book in about 6 months choosing instead to spend free evenings binge watching true crime and endlessly scrolling through videos of dogs on my phone."
"Then, as the theatre was re-opening after the pandemic, we had meetings about the role of the theatre and how we could encourage people from the community to come together and use the spaces in different ways and I thought, why not set up a book club as a reason to make me read again more than anything!”
“Before the first session I was super nervous, I have never actually been to a book club, had no idea how it was supposed to work or if anyone would come (except for my colleague Jane and my mum who I had made promise to come along). But low and behold people turned up and we had a lovely conversation about the novel, the themes in it, the issues raised and pretty much anything else that came up and so it has continued. Boozy Book Club has now been running for 18 months. Some people have come and gone, others dip in and out and I still have no idea how a ‘proper’ book club is supposed to run but it’s an absolute highlight of my month to get to chat to such an interesting and mixed group of people, read things I would never have picked up before and make new friendships.”
We asked some of the Boozy Book Club members what brought them to the group, what they like about it and any memorable books they have enjoyed (or not)
“I was newly single with loads of time on my hands so was looking around for stuff to do and I'd always fancied a book club. I googled "book club Huddersfield" and it came up with Boozy Book Club at Lawrence Batley Theatre, which looked really good. What do I enjoy about it? I think mostly the people. I always have a great laugh at book club even if I don't like the book, which is quite often. I like booze too, which helps. Memorable books? Good ones – Moon Tiger but I would say that as it's my choice. Also, Great Expectations was really good. Bad ones - Ove was dreadful, The Corset likewise. That Beryl Bainbridge was hard work too!” - Mick
“I have been attending the book club for the last 4 months. I have read books that I wouldn’t normally read, that have taken me out of my comfort zone of crime/thrillers. I have not always enjoyed the book; however, I have always learnt something new, which is great. I have really enjoyed the entertaining discussions at the meetings, the differing viewpoints & the random tangents the discussions lead to.”- Jools
Our Executive Assistant Jane Sibbald also wanted to share what Boozy Book Club has meant to her
“I joined our book club to stop reading trashy thrillers. We’ve read such a variety of books, some I loved - Where the Crawdads Sing and some not so much - The Rabbit Hutch. But what all the books have in common is that a great bunch of people meet every month and chatter over a beverage, home baked cakes and Pringles. Book clubs attract fabulous characters and personalities – come to think of it, someone should write a book about a book club!”
Since it’s creation Boozy Book Club has grown not only in the number of people of attending but also in what it offers people, the books that they read form the foundation for the sessions but it has evolved into a friendship group. Members look forward to seeing each other each month, hearing the different discussions that arise and, on occasion, keeping the chat going at a local pub after the session has finished. The group also enjoyed their first trip together to the theatre recently to see Philip Stoke’s new play Shellshocked.
The initial idea of creating a space for people in the community to come together over reading a book has formed new friendships and social opportunities for the group and has grown into a great success story!