It was a big day at the Golden Oak Library. Twilight had called her friends together for an important announcement.
“I did it!” Twilight exclaimed with sheer joy. “It’s finally happening!”
“What is it?” asked Fluttershy.
“You solved the secrets to a mysterious spell?” Pinkie Pie guessed.
“No,” replied Twilight.
“You’ve performed more spells than Star Swirl the Bearded?”
“No.”
“Dear Celestia, Twilight, tell us what it is!” Pinkie Pie just had to know what Twilight’s news was.
“Twilight explained, “As you know, I’ve been wanting to do something that would get more ponies interested in reading. Well, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna approved my plans for starting a book club!”
“That’s great, Twilight,” said Fluttershy. “Congratulations.”
“Truly wonderful, darling,” said Rarity.
“And how!” Applejack agreed. “So, when’s the first meetin’?”
“In exactly one week from today,” replied Twilight. “It wasn’t easy. I had a lot of ideas for reading games and activities, and there were so many books from which to choose. Spike and I spent hours combing through the Princesses’ personal collection.” She sighed with delight. “There were so many great books.”
“And we’ve got ourselves a pretty impressive list,” added Spike, holding up the list.
“What books did you find?” asked Fluttershy.
“Well, we couldn’t pass up classics like Flankenstein or Little Mares,” began Twilight. “And get this: Princess Luna shared with us a story she and Princess Celestia were told when they were fillies. It’s called Selenelion: A Story of Harmony.”
Rainbow Dash glanced over the list. “Is Daring Do on here?” she asked.
“She is, indeed,” Twilight answered.
“Awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“I really had a hard time narrowing down which books to include. I had a bit of a lengthy list to begin with.”
“One hundred and twenty-seven books,” Spike clarified.
“But rest assured, there is something on here for everypony. Ooh, I can’t wait for our first meeting!”
Over the next week, Twilight made a to-do list for preparing for their first meeting and began to set up. By the end of the week, she was ready to call to order the first official meeting of the Ponyville Book Club!
On the day of the first club meeting, Twilight couldn’t be happier to have such a great turnout. “Look at everypony here, Spike. I’m so glad to see this many ponies excited about reading!”
“If anypony could do it, Twilight, it’s you,” said Spike. “There’s no other pony who knows books like you.”
Miss Cheerilee walked up to Twilight. “This book club is really a great idea.”
“Thank you, Miss Cheerilee,” Twilight replied.
“Speaking of book club,” began Spike, “it’s time to start.”
“Ooh, I’m so excited!” squealed Twilight. She stepped forward and addressed the attendees, “Hello, everypony. Thank you for attending the first meeting of the Ponyville Book Club. I know we’re going to have a lot of fun. I’ve got so many books and activities I want to share. We’ll have a silent reading, where we’ll take turns reading to ourselves – that’s one of my favorites! We’ll also hold group discussions, talking about our favorite books and why we like them. So, who’s ready to read?”
Everypony spoke in agreement.
“Great!” exclaimed Twilight. “After all, you can’t spell ‘ready’ without first spelling ‘read.’”
The first few meetings of Twilight’s book club were everything she could ever hope for it to be, so much so she assigned everypony more chapters to read and more questions to answer between meetings. Unknown to her, however, the greater the assignments, the more it began to discourage the club members. Applejack had missed one meeting, needing to help out on the farm. Rarity, too, missed a meeting after having been hired to design a cowpony ensemble.
After the latest meeting, Spike overheard Lily Valley and Rose talking.
“Can you believe all the reading she wants us to do?” said Lily Valley.
“The club was fun at first, but she’s asking way too much of us,” Rose replied. “I think it’s best I quit the club.”
“Oh no,” Spike told himself. “This isn’t good.”
Later that night, Spike found Twilight going through her schedule. He didn’t want her to lose her club members and tried to explain how there had been talk of some leaving the club on account of the work load.
“Uh, hey, Twilight,” said Spike. “What’s this?”
“Spike, I’m glad you’re here,” said Twilight. “I’m trying to decide on our next project. I was thinking we could read all the bit novels and pony dreadfuls about Spring-Hoofed Jack and then write an essay on the facts and fiction surrounding him and his impact on pop culture. What do you think?”
“Twilight, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it, Spike?”
“Well, um, it’s about…” Spike tried to break the news gently. “You know how Applejack and Rarity, among others, hadn’t shown up to the last few meetings?”
“I’m sure they have a good reason. Rarity said she was busy working on her new designs.”
Spike took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m just gonna come out and say it…” He had a hard time getting the words out.
“Say what?” Twilight asked.
Spike couldn’t beat around the bush any longer. “Twilight, you’re assigning everypony too much work and they can’t handle the work load, and some of them are going to leave the club.”
Twilight paused for a moment. “Spike, is this true?” she asked softly.
“I overheard Lily Valley and Rose talking earlier,” Spike replied. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I know how much the club means to you.”
Twilight was silent, staring at her schedule. She spoke, “I think I’m going to call it a night, Spike.”
She left her notes on the desk and walked up the stairs to her room. Spike felt sorry. He didn’t want to see her spirits broken, but neither could he see her lose club members.
The next morning, Twilight called Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash to the Golden Oak Library. They could tell something was on her mind.
“Twilight, is everything okay?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“Yeah, you’re not so booksy,” said Rainbow Dash.
Twilight spoke up. “Are you having fun at the club?” she asked.
“Of course,” answered Pinkie Pie.
“Tell me, please, am I assigning you too much work?”
Everypony was silent.
“Well… come to think of it…” Rarity began, not wanting to be too direct.
“I, uh, didn’t want to say anything,” said Fluttershy.
“Applejack?” Twilight wanted to hear her honest opinion.
“Gee, Twilight,” started Applejack nervously, having been put in the hot seat. Representing the Element of Honesty, she told Twilight the truth. “Readin’ a chapter or two a week was fine an’ all, but assignin’ us nearly half the book and writin’ essays, it’s jus’ too much. Ah cain’t do all that work and help out on the farm. Ah ain’t laggin’ in m’work ‘cause Ah don’t wanna do it. It’s jus’ too much tuh do in a week.”
“I’m sorry, you guys,” said Twilight. “I had no idea. I just wanted everypony to enjoy reading and research as much as I do, but in the process, I’m turning them away.”
“Don’t feel bad, sugar cube,” said Applejack. “It’s your first time leadin’ a club. Nopony gets it right the first time. Ya think Ah could buck apples my first time? No siree!”
“Do you think I could bake such sweet and savory desserts and delectables when I first started?” asked Pinkie Pie. “No-o-o way. It required practice, patience, and determination to get the recipe ju-u-ust right.”
“That’s right, darling,” said Rarity. “If ever you need any help, we’re all here for you.”
Twilight smiled knowing that she had the support of her friends. “Thanks, girls. You really are the best friends a pony could ask for. And thank you, Spike, for telling me what was going on.”
"You're my best friend, Twilight," said Spike. "This was something you really wanted to do and I couldn't let you lose your dream."
By the next club meeting, Twilight had reworked her curriculum with a little help from her friends. Spike, Fluttershy, and Applejack helped to gather all of the club members.
Once everypony was present and accounted for, Twilight had a few words to say. “Hello, everypony. Before we begin, I want to take a moment to apologize. I’m sorry I gave you so much homework. All I wanted was for you to love reading as much as I do. I realize now that in so doing, I may have discouraged you. I have rewritten my lesson plans and I think I’ve found a way to make things a lot more fun: going with my original reading games and activities! So, what do you say? Do you want to give our book club a second chance?”
Much to Twilight’s delight, everypony answered positively. She thought of some words of wisdom which Princess Celestia had given her: “Your first ideas are always the best.” Her first ideas for the book club, including a silent reading and group discussions, and a reading contest whose winner would earn the Reader’s Cup, proved to be the most fun and interactive. Everypony brought their favorite books to share and they had a great time discovering new stories and making new friends. It may have gotten off to a bumpy start, but Twilight’s book club was a big success!