December 2019 Spotlight: Westmoreland Club Book Club
Our December Spotlight Group comes from Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania and thinks outside the box!
The Westmoreland Club Book Club was established eleven years ago as apart of an experimental club within a club offered to Westmoreland Club members. I was asked to run the club then, and I remain its leader. We started with a handful of members, only one of which was a gentleman, but eventually we grew to our current membership of 29. Our group consists of all ages, and single, married, or partnered, and 50% of our group are men.
How did I do it? At that time, book clubs were following a traditional pattern. However, I went outside the box and offered reading options each month which appealed to both sexes, planned themed dinners around the month’s books, and, at times, organized group trips of interest. Member’s spouses who came for the socializing quickly became avid readers.
Our most current books were The Price of Time by Tim Tigner and The Escape Room by Megan Goldin, both thrillers and perfect for fall reading. Our meeting became a book-themed costume dinner party complete with prizes. It was very much enjoyed by the group, and the book discussion was lively.
Over the years our members have changed. Some relocated out of the area but still keep in touch. The best part is that all who join quickly become fast and lasting friends. We have and still do meet on the last Tuesday of each month, and I have developed a knack for choosing the books. This happens with knowing your group and a little research. No yearly list for us. Too many great books out there being published all the time. Up next is Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham and The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.
To enter to become a Spotlight group, email a picture and description of your group to info@readinggroupchoices.com. If your group is chosen, we will send you and your group a box of discussable books and a copy of our most recent edition of Reading Group Choices!
Want to meet our previous Spotlight Groups? Read about them here!