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January 2025

A New Book Club and an Old Book Club: One is Silver and the Other Gold

Nine pairs of eyes were riveted on Marianne Newman as she summarized the Morning Book Club’s selection, Clear by Carys Davies. They had all read the book; they all liked the book (I’m told that rarely happens!); and they were all eager for their turn to speak.

One by one, around the room: “I loved the writing.” “I loved the characters.” “I hated the ending. What’s going to happen to them? How are they going to manage?” “Totally captivating.”  

Once the group got past the accolades of this historical fiction that took place in Northern Ireland in the 1840s, they dove deeper into the history of the times; the moral dilemmas the characters faced; and the role religion played in the town where the action took place.

The Morning Book Club (aka Gold Club because it’s been around the longest) is organized by Janet Davis. They meet monthly at a member’s home. Whoever chooses that month’s selection leads the discussion.

Jeannie Brown had briefly been a member of the Gold Club right after she joined the Village. Jeannie loves books. She loves reading books. She loves discussing books.  And, she especially enjoys delving deep into a book with other book lovers. After her first meeting she realized the group was too big to easily have the kind of rich discussions she enjoyed. 

So, last January she spearheaded a new Afternoon Book Club: aka The Silver Club. The Silver Club has a similar format: monthly meetings in Villagers’ homes, with snacks, of course. And, now the size of both groups is small enough to have richer discussions. A win-win. 

Some members of both book clubs have been in a book club of one sort or another for 30 years or more. For some, this is their first. Regardless of how long they have participated in a Book Club, they have similar answers for why they stay in the club. 

- The book club takes me out of my comfort zone and gets me to read books I wouldn’t otherwise read. 

- I love the variety of books we read, from general fiction and historical fiction to nonfiction and even poetry.

- What’s best for me is hearing what other people think about the book; what stands out for them can be very different from what stands out for me. 

- While we stay focused on the book and do not veer off and talk about ourselves, we often find parallels in the book to our own lives.  And that can be quite profound.

Readers do not get a gold or silver star for each book they finish, (Remember that in grade school?) but they have made gold and silver friendships through reading. For information about joining either group, contact Janet or Jeannie directly. Their contact information can be found in the Pasadena Village Membership Directory. If you'd like to learn more about the Village or how you can get involved, please contact info@pasadenavillage.org or call the office at 626-765-6037.