Hi all,
My coworkers and I have formed an impromptu book club of sorts. One has contributed much more than the rest of us and I want to return the favour by supplying interesting reads.
The only problem is one of the books I currently bought with the idea of reading and supplying relates to some topics (I wasn’t initially aware of) that will hit close to home for her.
I really want to provide her with some good reading as she has done for us all. However I don’t want to blindside her with what will come up. I worry about this because she previously provided me with a book that she couldn’t read because she read the blurb that related to a completely different heartbreaking issue (something a lot of women with children would not enjoy picturing).
So all in all. This is a good book and a very good read. I want to provide her with something I know is good because she does most of the heavy lifting in our book club. However, i don’t know whether I should refrain from offering her this book because of what she has been through with her own experiences (which I couldn’t even begin to understand) or should I politely mention what will come up?
by Lopsided-Exam4950
1 Comment
It sounds like you might be overthinking this slightly. Why don’t you just send her a quick text or email and say that you recently read a book that you really enjoyed and thought might fit with book club, but that you knew from her earlier comments on “X” that she avoids some topics and you’re a little worried about this book, you don’t want to recommend something that’s going to make her or anyone in the group uncomfortable. And then add your trigger warning and see what she says.
I think as long as you talk to her directly instead of bringing it up in front of the group— although I’d also frame it as not making anyone in the group uncomfortable, not just her! – she should be fine. It sounds like she handled the previous issue well.
I’ll also add that she might enjoy supplying the books for the group, and it’s not just on you to help share the burden. You could also let her know that you’ve noticed that she’s coming up with a lot of great reads, and you love it, but you want to make sure she’s not feeling it as a burden – would she be more comfortable if it was something that you all took turns doing, or is she good as is?