Where Fiction Meets Friction
Some of the best writing about women’s lives happens between women—in group texts, email threads, and the conversations that start before the wine is poured and end well after it’s gone. Book Club Drama is a fictional series about a real thing: what actually happens when smart, opinionated, hilarious women try to read the same book at the same time. New episodes drop monthly. This will be a series of six episodes. — Susan Dabbar, Editor-in-Chief
Subject: Re: Next Month’s Book—All Fours
From: Laurie (Host)
To: Prose & Cons Book Club
Date: Friday, 9:35 p.m.
Hi everyone,
A reminder that our pick this month is All Fours by Miranda July. Can’t wait to discuss! See you next Thursday at 6:30—I’m firing up the salmon.
Laurie
From: Melissa
Date: Saturday, 9:14 a.m.
I’m on page 27 and already deeply uncomfortable. Too freaking explicit. Surprised you chose this, Laurie!
From: Lisa
Date: Monday, 9:27 a.m.
Agree. Had to hide my Kindle from my trainer. I thought this book was supposed to be about a road trip? Didn’t expect Eat, Pray, Dildo.
From: Diane
Date: Monday, 10:05 a.m.
Hey all. It was moi who suggested this book to Laurie after someone said her initial selection (Cutting for Stone) was too long for a fall pick, not to mention all the gory surgery. The New Yorker called AF “profoundly feminist and hilarious.” And everyone in Amagansett was reading it on the beach.
From: Janet
Date: Monday, 10:14 a.m.
It’s about aging and autonomy so our convo should be … interesting. Maybe read past page 30 before judging?
From: Barb
Date: Monday, 10:22 a.m.
I’m on page 42. This ain’t Gloria Steinem’s feminism.
From: Abby
Date: Monday, 11:01 a.m.
I’m halfway through and I’m finding it brilliant and courageous, especially the through line about redecorating a tacky motel room! That’s my kind of community service, lol.
From: Janet
Date: Monday, 11:32 a.m.
Hey Team Estrogen,
I just listened to seven or eight podcasts with the author while I was packing lunches for Meals on Wheels. Did you know All Fours was a finalist for the National Book Award? A prize given out by midlifers not ready to give up passion.From: Lisa
Date: Monday, 11:34 a.m.
Yikes, seven or eight podcasts about perimenopause in Monrovia?
From: Laurie
Date: Monday, 12:02 p.m.
Let’s remember: no spoilers. If the book offends you, we can discuss that respectfully on Thursday.
From: Ellen
Date: Monday, 12:18 p.m.
Just a reminder about my garbanzo allergy, so I would appreciate no hummus. I’ll be there with a bottle of Casamigos.
From: Melissa
Date: Monday, 12:34 p.m.
From: Gail
Date: Monday, 12:48 p.m.
From: Abby
Date: Monday, 1:05 p.m.
Oh no, on top of your sciatica?
From: Gail
Date: Monday, 6:36 p.m.
Yeah, and insane bloating! I’ll tell you ALL about it next month. Fingers crossed I can get in to see my gastro, rheumatologist, and naturopath.
From: Gloria
Date: Tuesday 3:12 a.m.
Greetings from Bhutan. I’m on a yak but with all of you in spirit. I did finish the book and have some thoughts. Many thoughts. Meanwhile, I found some cool bookmarks at a night market for everyone, although I’m not sure who still reads hard copies.
Love and light,
G
From: Barb
Date: Tuesday 7:11 a.m.
Enjoy, Gloria. No biggie, but no matter how enlightened you are, two spaces after a period makes us all look old.
Subject: Last Night’s Meeting
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 8:03 a.m.
Hi everyone,
Thanks to all for coming last night. I’d like to apologize for the heated discussion—and also to my neighbors, who texted to ask if we were “workshopping a play about somatic wailing release therapy.” Next month, I think it’s your turn, Janet. Maybe something with less midlife nudity and more redecorating.
Xo
Laurie
From: Melissa
Date: Friday, 8:19 a.m.
Laurie, thanks again for hosting. The salmon was not overcooked like last time! Sorry if I was one of those who got heated. I just didn’t expect to hear the word “lube” shouted so many times.
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 10:10 a.m.
Yep, we need something drier.
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 10:12 a.m.
Or if it’s wet, the raciest part should be about tea being poured too briskly. Also Lisa, if you’re making cheesecake, please use fermented cashew. Some of us still have gallbladders.
From: Janet
Date: Friday, 10:49 a.m.
Okay then: Next meeting is at my house and the book is James by Percival Everett. A reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, a classic written before Tampax was invented.
See you all next month!
34 Responses
Are you going to spare us Strangers? Are we even more embarrassed? As expected….hysterical…and perfect…
Hi from your seat mate from The Ranch last Saturday. How ironic you noticed I was reading The Bookclub for Troublesome Women, which describes my Bookclub to a T! Looking forward to following your future episodes!
I was squirming and laughing the whole way through — maybe a little too familiar, but in the best possible way.
I keep thinking about this piece. It should definitely become a streaming show. These are such funny characters, there are so many types of homes that could host, so many books to explore, so many laughs to be had.
I want to join this book club!!! I loved this piece, can’t wait for the next!
You would be the sanest!
So good, Judy-keep it comin’! Love everything you write….xoxo
Brava! Brilliant! I Lol’d throughout and I hate that acronym. Can’t wait for a gay man to crash this group!
Season two
This is hilarious. As a book club veteran, it rings a little too true at times.
Thank you for this.
Judi, I just found my junior high school diaries…..let’s talk! I think they could be the start of something – love this whole thing!
Love this Judy. Read the book and squirmed a bit!11
so funny Judy!! if my book group’s emails had been this hilarious, I wouldn’t have quit.
I will hit you up for material.
This is packed with pithy observations on all the personality types that descend on a book! I can’t wait for more in this series.
Congratulations on coming up with a hit just out of the gate!
This made my day. I’m still chuckling. And obviously so relatable. Can’t tell you how many texts my own book club has on food restrictions. Or on who’s having surgery on which body part. Please keep it going!
Reminds me of two of my book selections from a former book club. One we tried valently to finish but even I couldn’t! The the was by Guestlove & I loved the book. Unfortunately I was the only one. We all had our doozies.
Judy, you are the satirist of our age! Or any age, for that matter. So good!
This is hysterical! Your brilliance knows no bounds, dear Judy — my favorite KIAWRDKIA!!!!
My dreams come true. Sign me up
So funny! Are you going to tackle an investment club next????
LOL! That will be the spinoff
Love this! I can see this evolving into a Netflix series! Why limit it to only six episodes?! I’m already looking forward to the next drop!
Layers and layers of laughter and intelligent insight!
Simply brilliant
I am so looking forward to the rest of this series. Can’t think of a better way to start the day. And you have a Melissa in the group, so how can I resist?
You are my muse – thanks for the gig!
I’m already visualizing this as a mid-life comedy; lots of jump-cuts between members of the club as they continue reading and reacting to what they’ve read in the book versus what they disclose in unrelated comments.
I love this! I’ve never been in a book club so this is awesome! Thanks!
Love this! More please! Agree with all of the above. I’ve heard so many stories from people in book clubs, this definitely fits. There is nothing more entertaining than a book, wine and friends.
This was freaking hysterical!! Can’t wait for the next installments. Thank you for the much needed laughter this morning.
Did it’s job, started my morning with coffee and a few chuckles. This day will be good.
Laughed hysterically seeing myself and my friends in each of these characters, when does THE play come out, we need more laughter!!
Thank you this early morning very good chuckle! Read the book so chuckled through the book comments, all of which, besides being hilarious, also totally resonated.
Hilarious. This is how I started my morning and it definitely made me smile.