The only thing better than reading a book is talking about them with others. Book clubs provide motivation to read stories you perhaps may not have read otherwise. They also provide you with an avenue of community, and an opportunity to meet and connect with people.
The Neighborhood 26 Book Club reached a milestone this April.
The club members met on April 10 to discuss its 150th book, Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. The club meets once a month.
When did the book club start?
Kay Nelson said, “It started fifteen-and-a-half years ago.
When I first moved here, I was looking for a group to join. There were two available, fiction and nonfiction through Lifestyle. I went to the first meeting at Meadow View Lodge. There were around 50 people there. It turned out to be more in a classroom format rather than a discussion group I was totally discouraged. I was looking for a group to share ideas and discuss. As I was leaving, I spotted a neighbor, Linda Dungey. We both felt the same.”
Dungey said, “We decided to start our own group in our neighborhood. In April 2009 we chose our first book, The Schack by William Paul Young. We had around 12 to 15 women originally. Out of that group we have five remaining of the originals.”
Has the group format changed over the years?
Nelson said, “We began meeting in the evening, but the afternoon works better. We went from meeting every six weeks, which began difficult to keep track so we meet once a month.”
Dungey said, “We do something different in December. We gather for a potluck lunch and it is Christmas-themed. We include in that gathering a charitable project.”
Angie Cianciarulo said, “We sometimes have a little fun with the theme of the book. When we read the nonfiction book, The Magic Room, which tells the story of a small-town Michigan bridal shop, we all brought in our wedding albums. When we read a Russian book, we had some Russian food.”
How do they choose the next books?
Nelson said, “We choose in December and we have a rule that you must have read the book to recommend it. “
Dungey adds, “We have all genres and the hostess leads that discussion.”
The group usually gets their books on loan.
Rosemary McKinney said, “We go to the Huntley library and they are able to order the books from neighboring libraries. We also have some members that get the Kindle or audio copy.”
What book had the most discussion?
Sharon Little said, “Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things. It was so interesting to hear everyone’s point of view. It was especially interesting to hear it from a nurse’s point of view.”
McKinney said, “It’s usually a short discussion if it’s a terrible book.”
Mary Paul said, “We look for good character development and quality of imagery. “
Hannon said, “Bobbie (Dieden) makes us all smarter.
She helps us get through the books and we have a better understanding of the book’s characters, plot, and theme.”
Even during Covid, the group managed a way to talk books.
Pat Bosi said, “We all had our list at home and when it was possible, we met, sitting far apart with masks, and then when the weather got warmer, we held the discussions outside.”
What do they like best about the club?
Virginia Nowak said, “I read books that I normally would not pick up to read.”
Dorceen Boyle said, “I enjoy the variety of opinions. The discussions help us to understand situations from other positions, to consider other beliefs, experiences, and viewpoints”
The ultimate question: what makes a book good?
Bobby Dieden said, “I give a book a 10 rating if it keeps my interest, has good character development, the reader can identify with the story and there are good descriptions.”
All the members agreed with Bosi, who said, “The book club is a great way to know the ladies. This was a great way for me to relate to everyone when I first moved into the neighborhood.”
