A good friend asked me what “the deal” behind book club was.

Mike’s voice lowered when he used the words ‘book club’ as though he realised there was a form of mystical value behind this particular institution of womanhood.

Not having the “benefit” (yes, sarcastic quote marks included) of a female spouse to drip-feed him the basics behind these sacrosanct congregations, I happily launched into an explanation. As a long-standing ‘Cherry Blossom’ member, I fly my book-club flag sky-high!

“Well,” I began, in what was probably a slightly superior tone, “there’s book club, and then there’s Book Club.”

The latter has very little to actually do with books – in fact wine seems to be a far more important feature. But moving on…

Book Club is about connection, friendship. It’s about laughing till your sides hurt, and, on occasion shedding tears together. It’s about a band of women getting together, comparing notes, sharing fears and frustrations, and learning things that you are never going to find out about in any other forum.

Most importantly it is about uplifting each other.

Yes, groups of women get a bad rap. We can sharpen our claws on one another, let our jealousies and insecurities run rough-shod over others and take one-upmanship to new levels. But sometimes that’s just part of who we are. The beauty of book club is that it still manages to work its magic on us all.

But back to my questioning mate. “So,” he began astutely, “what you are telling me is that it is really code for wine club.” Hah. Gotcha.

We encourage the menfolk in this belief, so the sacred tradition of Book Club may continue unchallenged. We humour them when, on returning from our monthly gatherings we find they have waited up, eager to hear the latest gossip. We know (as a group) that they must be provided with a few interesting tidbits, to ensure we are always encouraged to return to BC. For how else will the hubbies discover what scandalous community-member is doing what to whom?

Yes, boys, it is all a master plan to protect – at all costs – the sanctity of Book Club. For to many of us it is a lifeline of sanity: part psychological counseling, part slap-stick comedy, part school-girl nonsense….and so very, very vital.