Did you know there are many Book Discussion Scheme book clubs meeting once a month in different libraries all over town?
- Read our page on book clubs and reading groups.
- Book club meetings at Christchurch City Libraries.
- Find a BDS book group, opens a new window near you.
One good reason to join a book group you get to meet new people. Many book groups start with a group of already established friends but there is much to be said for joining a group of people from different backgrounds - your book list will reflect diverse interests. Another reason - you will read books you don't normally read. Some books you'll love and some you may leave you conflicted. Did I like that? Is that really how people behave? Does the author really bring a true account of the period? Are the characters rendered realistically? We learn and grow in knowledge and what better place to do that than in a library. Every second Wednesday of the month our Central Library Peterborough book group meets at midday.
This month's title The Madonnas of Leningrad, opens a new window is all about the Siege of Leningrad, opens a new window through the eyes of Marina, a guide at the State Hermitage Museum, opens a new window. It become clear her children have never understood this period of her life which has shaped the person she is. We see how much is hidden inside ourselves. You would think a book about the dehumanizing effects of war would be depressing yet it shows the resilience of mankind and the importance of finding beauty to the human spirit.
As her granddaughter looks to her future and prepares to marry. Marina is spending more and more time in her past due to the ravages of Alzheimers. She begins to rediscover the world seeing it anew as a child might, everthing new and wondrous. Borrow The Madonnas of Leningrad, opens a new window yourself or download an eBook , opens a new window from Overdrive, opens a new window, take a look at the Hermitage's masterpieces, opens a new window and listen to Shostokovich's Seventh Symphony, opens a new window which was composed during the siege from our Naxos Music Library, opens a new window and read Sarah Quigley's The Conductor, opens a new window inspired by these events. There's plenty more to read if you like Russian historical fiction, opens a new window or you might like Still Alice, opens a new window for another novel exploring what it means to have Alzheimers, opens a new window (it is also available as an Overdrive eBook, opens a new window).
If evenings are more your thing, every second Tuesday of the month our group meets at six o'clock at Central Library Peterborough. This month we are reading The Crimson Rooms, opens a new window by Katherine McMahon set just after World War One as women's roles are changing. The main character is a feisty lady lawyer is juggling the demands of family against her independence. This detective novel is a good clean read.
Last month we read A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, opens a new window, a very Alexander McCall Smith-like novel on ethics of competition and courtship. This book is a real treat with a great insight to human behaviour. Even if you are no avid bird watcher you may find you are intrigued to find out more about the birds of Africa, opens a new window to see if these birds truly caricature some of these characters! Listen to their calls, opens a new window while reading for something really atmospheric from our Smithsonian Global Sounds for libraries, opens a new window.
Why not join our book group at Central Library Peterborough, opens a new window or look for book groups and author events on our calendar, opens a new window at other libraries around the city.
Do you belong to a library book club? What are you reading this month?
Add a comment to: Four Reasons to Join a Library Book Group