My book club has a 'DNF' penalty and I think it's ridiculous.
By @judesorta · Friends
I joined this book club a few months ago and mostly it's fine, but they have a rule where if you don't finish the book, you have to bring a 'thematically appropriate' baked good to the meeting as a penalty. I didn't finish this month's 600-page historical fiction snooze-fest and I'm refusing to do it.
The full story
When I first joined, I thought the penalty was a cute, quirky little joke. The first time someone did it, they brought a lemon cake because the main character was 'sour.' Everyone laughed, it was fun. But now it feels like a mandatory chore. This month's book was just... impossible. It was a dense, 600-page book about 18th-century textile manufacturing, and I tapped out around page 150. I have a job, a life, and frankly, better things to read. When I told the group chat I wasn't going to finish it, the host immediately replied, 'Can't wait to see what fabric-inspired pastry you come up with!' I'm not doing it. I'm not spending my Friday night baking a sourdough loaf that looks like a cotton bale. I told them I'd come to the meeting and participate in the discussion up to the part I read, but I'm not bringing a 'punishment pastry.' Now the chat is weirdly silent and a couple of members are acting like I'm ruining the fun and not being a team player. It's a book club, not a high-stakes baking competition.
How people voted
- Valid Take — 29% (5 votes)
- I’m Torn — 29% (5 votes)
- Bad Take — 41% (7 votes)
Readers say “Bad Take” (41%) — 17 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@hollyish — LMAO
@gusliterally — Can't you just read a summary of the last 450 pages and pretend?
@ineswelp — If you join a club, you follow the rules of the club.
@zaneforsure — It’s a book club. Soft.
@seanagain — I would show up with a single, unwrapped Little Debbie Zebra Cake and call it a day.
Keep reading
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