Tried to tell my book club why I hated the main character and got shut down fast

We were talking about this popular novel where the lead is just awful, and I said I thought she was selfish and the story would be better without her. The group leader cut me off and said 'we don't do character bashing here, we focus on themes.' I had to sit there for the whole hour listening to everyone talk about 'symbolism' while biting my tongue. It felt so fake because I know at least two other people agreed with me from their faces. Has anyone else been in a group where you literally can't give a real opinion on something?

2 comments

2 Comments

brookerobinson5d ago

Ugh, my friend got kicked out of a movie club for saying the plot was stupid. They said he was "not engaging with the text on its intended level." Sometimes these groups just want to hear themselves sound smart.

mila_lopez275d ago

Seriously, those clubs can be so pretentious! I got side-eyed once for saying a movie was boring.