We welcome our latest guest blogger Sheridan from The Best Little Bookshop in Town (opposite Cronulla train station in Cronulla Street). Sheridan will be writing some book reviews and providing literary fun facts throughout the year. She recently hosted the first Gen XYZ Bookclub (for the teens, 20’s and 30 somethings).
It is very rare in this day and age to mention Jack Kerouac’s cult classic “On The Road” and receive a blank look. Everybody has heard of it somehow, whether it be on a recommendation, seen it in the “1001 Books To Read Before You Die” list, studied it at school or university, or seen it sitting in the “classics” section of any bookshop. It has been described as “Iconic”, “The book that shaped a nation”, and it is often raved about by people like Bob Dylan and Johnny Depp…. and this is precisely why Kymberley and I decided to read it for our first ever Gen-XYZ Bookclub.
For months and months we had talked about wanting to start a book club for the younger generations (the teens, 20‘s and 30 somethings) of Cronulla. Our current book club is so successful it has been running now for a few years, and is growing from month to month. It is always a great night, with a cheese platter, wine, and of course – long and interesting conversations about books (which can sometimes get a bit fiery). Yet, for whatever reason, the word ‘bookclub’ for many people, conjures up images of middle aged ladies drinking tea and wearing shawls. While this is definitely not the case for our book club, sadly, it is the perception held by many. And so, it was decided that a ‘radical’ new book club should be formed. For 18-35‘ers (give or take a bit either side) to meet other passionate readers, have a drink, and hopefully a lively discussion about what truly ‘makes a classic, a classic.’
Fast forward to Thursday 3rd March, 7pm. Kymberley, myself, and eight fellow book-lovers belonging to generations X, Y and Z are sitting around a table at 2230 Bar, (conveniently located right next door to the BLB) with the sun setting around us, drinks in hand…trying to figure out why it is that Kerouac’s iconic novel…is so iconic? It seems almost blasphemous, given the hype that has surrounded this book for 60 years, to say that our initial responses ranged from ‘yeah, I liked it’ to an indifferent ‘meh’. We spent a good couple of hours trying to figure out why it hadn’t changed our lives, like it has (supposedly) so many before us? By the end of the night, the general consensus was that it was an interesting read, and some of us were slightly inspired, but as times have changed since its publication in the early 1950’s, the generations X, Y and Z of today have somehow, in one way or another, ‘been there, done that’.
The next book for GEN XYZ bookclub
As an interesting comparison to the book that ‘shaped’ our preceding generations, we feel that “How It Feels” by Aussie actor/writer Brendan Cowell seems quite fitting for our next Gen-XYZ Bookclub. ‘How It Feels’ is a coming-of-age story set in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire with stopovers in Bathurst and London. Brendan Cowell’s electrifying debut novel is a devastating ode to youth, capturing the beauty of growing up by the beach, and the darkness which moves beneath its surface…. It is available in the BLB with a 10% discount for all current and new Gen-XYZ members. Our next meeting is Thursday 7th April, 7pm at 2230 Bar. Hope to see you there…
Sheridan, Kymberley, Grant and the BLB crew.
The Best Little Bookshop In Town.
Gen XYZ bookclub
7pm Thursday 7th April at 2230 Bar
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