Featured Book Club: No official name, formed in 2010
Number of Members: 12
Accepting New Members: With two new members, the club is currently full
Frequency: Once a month on Wednesday at 11am
Location: Rotates at members’ homes for a “yummy” lunch & book discussion
Local plein air artist Pat Ryll was the first to contact Benicia Magazine for our new feature spotlighting local book clubs and their literary selections. Benicia likes to read, and there are many book clubs registered with Bookshop Benicia (Bookshop Benicia has its own book club.) Pat’s group won our $50 gift certificate contest to Bookshop Benicia for future purchases.
Pat shared these details about how their club operates: A moderator researches the featured book’s author to share with the group and emails questions to members in advance in order to facilitate discussion at the next meeting. The moderator also leads the discussion. If members have not read the book they are welcome to attend but can’t participate in the discussion portion of the meeting. At the conclusion of the discussion, lunch is served by the host and the meeting turns social. They keep their mix fresh by including non-fiction, fiction, best sellers and classics. Pat sums up the group this way: “Many of us live alone by choice and the book group gives us a sense of community and belonging that enhances our lives, our health and our well-being.” Members include an English teacher, a librarian, a double master in English Literature and several working and retired professionals.
The group recommends these favorites:
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
In the Land of Invisible Women, by Qanta A. Ahmed, MD
The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
The Three Daughters of Madam Liang, by Pearl S. Buck
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
Southwest Corner, by Mildred Walker
