What are you reading?
Many retirees relish reading for pleasure and are eager to discuss their book in a book club setting. “Our book club has been meeting for 10 years this upcoming June,” writes Diane. “It was an offshoot of the Sussex Newcomers’ Club. I am always interested in the others’ interpretations, and everyone is open to others’ opinions. I am leading our next discussion of ‘The Boys in the Boat,’ which is about Americans’ quest for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.”
Barbara, who attends the AAUW Diversity Book Club, says, “My book club has a group of the most remarkable, intelligent, and well-informed women. Books are selected by individual members, and the focus is always on diversity issues, such as race, gender, social issues, environment, and religion. Our latest book selection was ‘The Good Lord Bird’ by James McBride. Next month’s selection is ‘Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash’ by Edward Humes.”
Judy belongs to a “big book club that consists of over 50 people,” but they don’t all come to every monthly gathering, she says. “We are men and women, gay and straight, married and single, who are artists, doctors, architects, lawyers, professors, musicians, anthropologists, government workers and psychiatrists.
“About one-third of us live in D.C., another third live in Baltimore; and about one-third live in Delaware. One of my favorite book club moments was when one man who hadn’t read the book disagreed with another man who hadn’t read the book.”
Mace belongs to a men’s book club of about seven regulars who meet at a local restaurant. “I enjoy the camaraderie at our meetings plus the different interpretations of things we all read. Many of our choices come from various best seller lists. Our next book is either ‘The Boys in the Boat’ or ‘Girl on the Train.’”
Sara attends the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild book club that has met monthly for about six years. “The club is unique in that the person who recommends the book is expected to state what specific writing techniques we can learn from reading it, e.g., incorporating history or research, narrating from different points of view, organization of a memoir. Instead of focusing on whether or not we liked the book, we try instead to comment on why the writing did or didn’t work.”
In most clubs, nominations are solicited, compiled, and submitted for a vote. Tom writes, “The selection process causes me to read books outside my comfort zone and hear other views. We choose a poetry book every six months. Our last selection was ‘Fast Animal’ by Tim Seibels.”
I agree with Tom. I used to read only fiction. Nonfiction book club selections such as “Oddly Normal,” about one family’s struggle to help their teenage son come to terms with his sexuality, and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down,” about a Hmong child, have broadened my thinking. I am reading Joseph Stiglitz’ “The Price of Inequality” because I want to understand why America is no longer the land of opportunity and has become a divided society.
Do you want to try a local book club at the Lewes library? The Lewes Notable Books Discussion is open to all members and guests and meets the first Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. The May 7 selection is “Animal Wise,” a journey to the center of the animal mind by Virginia Morell.
For many of us, joining a book club is as much about socializing as it is about literature. Of her club, PJ writes, “Your book club may have scintillating discussions, but mine can drink yours under the table!”
