Literascape - Gathering in the Name of Literature

Gathering in the Name of Literature
by Denel Rehberg Sedo

We meet in a friend's home, once every four weeks. We meet to analyse, to condemn and condone, delight in or dismiss. Often we venture outside of our own comfort zones, deliberately stepping beyond the easy satisfaction of the familiar. As our choices have expanded, so has this circle of people we describe as friends.

Such is my reading group. And perhaps it is the same for the thousands of similar groups across North America. Latterly, the Oprah Winfrey show has helped bring these book discussion groups to the forefront of North American consciousness, but they have been in existence in some form or another for thousands of years. In the 1800s, they were known as literary societies; today, they're called reading groups or book clubs. For the men and women who belong to these groups, their love of reading brings them new knowledge, new friends, and a celebration of community.

The recent wonder of reading groups comes at a time when sceptics state that reading as we know it is gone, that electronic communication will replace tangible books. In fact, the opposite may be true. According to a 1991 survey of Canadian reading habits, Canadians read 4.1 hours a week, compared to 3.3 hours fifteen years earlier. And certainly among the readers I have surveyed, reading is not on the decline.

Most book club members I have talked to joined a group as a way to broaden their reading repertoire. Some were looking for a venue where they could talk about something other than work or family. Whatever the reason for joining, these clubs link members' hearts and minds through books. According to Robin Marantz Henig, a medical writer from the east coast who belongs to three book clubs, "Reading the same book and then talking about it in a group helps us weave a coruscating thread of words and feelings that's all the more real for being grounded in fiction."

Starting a book club is as easy as phoning several friends that you know to be readers. Ask them to contact three of their friends. Choose a book, set a meeting place and time, and voilà, you've got the beginnings of a book club. One club I talked to was started by one person putting an advertisement in the local paper! For detailed instructions, I've found helpful how-to information in The Mother-Daughter Book Club: How Ten Busy Mothers and Daughters Came Together to Talk, Laugh and Learn Through Their Love of Reading (Dodson), The Reading Group Book: A Thoughtful Guide to Forming and Enjoying a Stimulating Book Discussion Group (Slezak), and The Reading Group Handbook: Everything You Need to Know, from Choosing Members to Leading Discussion (Jacobsohn).

The variety among book clubs is as diverse as the titles that groups decide to read. Some groups are "women only", others "men only", and some reflect the ethnographic community with which they identify most. For example, I know of groups that constitute members of African descent, groups that admit only gay members, and even groups that insist their members be within a certain age range.

Choosing titles to read can be one of the most difficult tasks. Some groups choose their reading list at the beginning of each year, to allow time for all members to get the books. Other groups, like mine, choose their book on a month-to-month basis. Whichever method you choose, keep in mind that some books must be ordered in advance.* Bookstore personnel can help you choose books and can order reading group guides for certain books from several publishers in Canada, England, and the United States. These guides provide information about the author, questions to ponder about the work, and suggestions for further reading.

If you ask around your office, local library, or any other organization you belong to, chances are that you'll connect with someone already in a reading club that is looking for new members. If you have access to the Internet, try typing "book groups" into your search engine. You'll find literally thousands of different groups that meet in cyberspace. And watch for cbc's new television book club, coming this summer.

Adding this dimension to my love of books has been one of the most fulfilling things I've done. Through book club discussions, I've become better read, learned to look at life in new and interesting ways, and learned to interpret myself and my friends through our mutual love of the printed word. Come. Join us.

DeNel Sedo is the coordinator of Co-operative Education at Simon Fraser University.

* Duthie Books offers reading groups a 15% discount on book purchases; enquire at any branch for details.