This month’s book club meeting took us on a journey through time, language, and personal growth—proving once again that books are more than just words on a page. Here are some highlights from our chat!
Want to join us? Book here for our next meeting on the 5th of March!
Re-reading: A Different Book Every Time?
Ever picked up a book you read years ago and felt like you were reading something completely new? Turns out, re-reading isn’t just revisiting a story—it’s seeing it through a new lens. One of us went back to The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford after nearly a decade and found details they had completely missed the first time. Others noticed this in academic books too—especially with subjects like mathematics, where experience changes how we process information. It’s like books grow with us. Or maybe we grow with them?
Lost (and Found) in Translation
Translation is tricky business. One reader had a bilingual reading experience—switching between Spanish and English versions of the same book—and realized just how much gets altered in translation. Another pointed out how Trainspotting and A Clockwork Orange had to invent entirely new slang in translations to capture the same rebellious energy. And then there was the realization that subtitles in movies can strip away humor and nuance—like when a Catalan film’s clever wordplay was turned into something… well, kind of bland in English. The takeaway? If you can, reading in the original language might be worth the effort!
Shakespeare: Marriage, Morality, and Mystery
We had a deep dive into Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays, which left us with more questions than answers. Is marriage a legal contract, or does mutual agreement make it valid? What happens when a seemingly virtuous leader abuses power? And why does Isabella stay silent at the end when the Duke proposes? Silence as consent? Or resistance? We also discovered a great hack—watching performances instead of just reading the text. Shakespeare is meant to be seen, not just read!
The Weight of Loneliness in Literature
One of the most moving discussions was about The Heart is a Lonely Hunter—a book filled with characters seeking connection but failing to truly understand each other. The main character, Singer, is mute, yet everyone around him treats him as their personal confidant, assuming he understands them completely. But does he? And who really understands him? The novel paints a heartbreaking picture of isolation, and while it’s not exactly a light read, it made us think deeply about how we perceive relationships and communication.
You read all the way until here? You might be RSBC material! Join us for our next meeting on the 5th of March! Or if you are looking for a book to pick up, check out the list of book that were discussed last session.