Book clubs are an opportunity not just for bookworms, but for a new social scene.
Librarian Kathleen Nonneman from the Edith Abbott Memorial Library said the only criteria needed to join this new and exciting social circle is one must enjoy reading.
Nonneman and fellow librarian Celine Stahlnecker lead an adult book club that meets the first Tuesday of each month at the library. Individual club members are reading a book of their own choice and sharing their own summaries of the story -- what intrigued them and drew them into the story.
Book clubs offer an opportunity to learn about a variety of books and explore new authors or genres that a reader may not have taken an interest in before.
Nonneman said the greatest accomplishment for book clubs is that people start looking at books outside the scope they may have been used to reading. For readers, book clubs are a way to look beyond what has become comfortable or common, igniting a spark of new enthusiasm in reading and exploring new aspects of themselves.
The goal this summer is for the adult book club to look at a selection of books and choose from them what they will read as a group. Nonneman said members will submit titles they are interested in and look at resources such as the "novel list" on Barnes and Noble, and the top ten sellers on Amazon for other titles.
The library tries to keep on hand at least five copies of each book the club selects. The majority of members buy their books in advance. With the books chosen in advance, there is the opportunity for members to purchase them online at lower prices.
How it works
Nonneman said book list Web sites often offer an agenda of discussion questions, which serve as a source for some of the group's dialogue.
Each book has a facilitator assigned who prepares for the presentation and meeting. Discussion is wide-ranging as interpretations of meaning vary from individual to individual.
Stahlnecker also leads a year-round teen book club for 25 to 30 teenagers ranging in age from 11 to 18. They meet to discuss books on various Saturdays and also do other activities including community involvement projects. The club occasionally watches the movie version of the book they have read.
To learn more about the current book clubs or how to start your own, call the Edith Abbott Memorial Library at 385-5333.
Grand Island Public Library adult book club list, 2008
- Jan.: "19 Minutes," Jodi Picoult
- Feb.: "Water for Elephants," Sara Gruen
- March: "A 1,000 Days in Venice." Marla De Blasi
- April: "13th Tale," Diane Setterfield
- May: "Family Man," Calvin Trillin
- June: "My Cat Spit McGee," Willie Morris
- July: "Atonement," Ian McEwan
- Aug.: "Worst Hard Time," Timothy Egan
- Sept.: "Teacher Man," Frank McCourt
- Oct.: "Persian Pickle Club," Sandra Dallas
- Nov.: "Bel Canto," Ann Patchett
- Dec.: "Christmas of the Photograph Records," Mari Sandoz
Barnes and Noble recommendations list
- "Sundays at Tiffany's," James Patterson
- "The Last Lecture," Randy Pausch
- "Child 44," Tom Rob Smith
- "Hungry Girl," Lisa Lillien
- "The Hollow" (Sign of Seven series No. 2), Nora Roberts
- "Just Who Will You Be?" Maria Shriver
- "America's Hidden History," Kenneth C. Davis
- "A Wolf at the Table," Augusten Burroughs
- "Yum-O!," Rachel Ray
- "Audition," Barbara Walters
To learn more about book clubs you can access information on line at www.gilibrary.org. For listing of book suggestions go to left side of page and select listings of book club.
