Elvira Burgo

How It Started 

A couple of pages hooked me. 

“Let’s start a book club,” I said after gifting copies of A Great Country at a birthday celebration. “I’m not interested in a book club. I don’t like to read,” one said. Each holding a book, my friends grinned as they posed for a picture.

I texted everyone afterward, but got no response. Weeks later, someone expressed how much she liked the book, so I chose a date and found a perfect place. 

An Indian Restaurant

Choosing an Indian restaurant made sense because the book followed an Indian family who migrated to the United States. Even better, the restaurant served both American and Indian dishes. And it was a quiet place. 

Our First Meeting    

On the day of our first meeting, I was thrilled. I apologized for getting carried away with excitement about the book club. 

The server brought the paneer (fried cheese) that Priya, a character in the book, had cooked. We shared entrees, conversation, and dessert. But I wasn’t prepared for what came next. 

The Shocker

I was shocked to learn that only one person had read the novel.

As if they were my students, I held up the book and asked, "What do you see happening here?" “What do you think the title means?” I said, “A Great Country is a book about an affluent Indian Family living in a gated community in Pacific Hills.” “I know exactly where it’s located,” another said, and the discussion mounted. 

Not knowing what else to do, I read the first page aloud. “You’ll love this book,” I said. “But you’re going to have to read,” another commented.

Word got around about our lunch, and our friend who turned down the book club decided to join our next meeting. 

Subsequent Meetup 

We welcomed our friend.

To my surprise, one member read six chapters and enthusiastically shared details about the book, while another connected with the character’s emotions. Priya, the mother, had received a disturbing call. 

I passed out a variety of media elements to create a book cover for the title and watched as complete silence fell. In the end, we held up our creations, and the words on a folder read: Elvira’s Book Club. 

Thanks for reading,

Elvira