My club picked 'The Overstory' over a thriller and the debate got heated

I argued for the thriller to keep things moving, but we went with the literary novel and half the group gave up by page 200. Anyone else have a pick that split the room this badly?

3 comments

3 Comments

singh.elizabeth24d ago

Look at the page count for The Overstory. It is over 500 pages. That is a real commitment. A good book club pick should challenge people, not just entertain them for one night. The thriller would have been fun, but it would not have left you with anything to talk about except the plot twist. This novel makes you think about the world in a new way. If half the group gave up, maybe they just were not ready for a book that asks for real attention.

evan_harris624d ago

But what if the length itself stops people from even trying? A shorter challenging book might have kept them reading.

jordan_hill24d ago

Ever think about a shorter book with big ideas, like @evan_harris6 said? That way you get the deep talk without the mass bailout.