Interested in joining a book club? Check out VPL’s adult book club programs on Eventbrite!
At the end of summer, I like to do a rewatch of one of my comfort films, The Jane Austen Book Club. I pick this time of year because the setting is crisp Northern California, seemingly perpetually at sunset. It’s a perfect transition into fall. It’s also a great example of what makes book clubs so appealing. In the film (and the book upon which it’s based), the Jane Austen Book Club is formed as a salve for a friend group going through various crises.
As the characters delve into the novels, they start recognizing themselves in Austen’s stories. They bring their own unique experiences and struggles to their understanding of Austen’s themes, leading to thoughtful discussions of characters and events with their own personal spins. Take, for example, the discussions of Mansfield Park’s Fanny Price (“I love Fanny. She puts her family’s needs before her own” “She’d probably be easier to like if she would allow some weakness in others”) or Pride and Prejudice’s Charlotte Lucas (“I kind of admire Charlotte for looking at her situation and deciding to marry Mr. Collins … She knows he’ll never be the love of her life, but that’s okay”).
These kinds of nuanced discussions are the result of a group of disparate readers coming together over a shared book; a single reader might pick up on certain themes, or form certain ideas, but those ideas can be subject to the reader’s prejudice. Sharing them with other readers can open up a whole new world of ideas. One of my favourite aspects of books clubs is simply seeing what worked about a book (or didn’t work) for different readers and getting into why. Whether the group agrees or not isn’t the point—we’re just working those thinking muscles!
If you’ve pledged yourself to a reading challenge this year (the Goodreads challenge, maybe? Or perhaps VPL’s very own Reading Challenge?) joining a book club is an excellent way to reach your goal, but with a more mindful approach. If we’re simply trying to cram as many books into a year as we can, are we reading thoughtfully? Are we picking up on themes? Are we giving ourselves space to absorb, to feel, to interpret? (And that’s not to mention the guilt—yes, Goodreads, I know I’m behind in my challenge!) Book clubs by nature can be a way to make sure we’re actually engaging with the book and not just logging numbers.
Book clubs offer a number of other positives, too. If you’re someone who struggles with finishing a book, being accountable to a group of peers might get you to that last page. They might also get you reading outside of your normal genre or comfort zone—and you might stumble on something you never thought you would enjoy! And let’s not ignore the social aspect, of course. While the term “book club” might conjure images of ladies in lounge wear holding glasses of wine, anyone can be a book clubber, and anyone can benefit from hanging out with friends (old or new) and chatting about books! As the quote from The Jane Austen Book Club goes: “All Jane Austen, all the time! It’s the perfect antidote” “To what?” “To life!”
VPL offers four different book clubs for your reading pleasure. The book clubs are hosted at a number of different libraries, with copies available for pickup at the designated branch (you’re also welcome to bring your own copy, or even check out an audiobook version). We’ll meet once a month and discuss some new and popular books in different genres. If you’re thinking of embarking on a book club journey, check out our programs below!
Great Novels Book Club
Where: Bathurst Clark Resource Library (in-person and online)
If you’re looking for a book club with a more literary flavour, check out our Great Novels Book Club! We’ll dive into themes and characters that will help us get in touch with our own humanity and bring us closer together with deeper understanding. This book club offers a wealth of topics across the literary spectrum, so if you’re looking for a lot of variety in your fiction reading, you’ll want to check it out!
Register on Eventbrite.
Non-Fiction Book Club
Where: Civic Centre Resource Library (in person and online)
Not a big fan of fiction? Join our Non-Fiction Book Club for great discussions on noteworthy non-fiction titles, from memoirs to cutting-edge science to current affairs. These book selections will help us get in touch with ourselves (self-help, anyone?) and better understand the world around us. Come with your big ideas!
Register on Eventbrite.
Romance Book Club
Where: Civic Centre Resource Library (in person and online)
Get ready to swoon with a selection of popular romance titles on a sliding scale of spiciness. As a genre-based book club, you’ll still find lots of variety despite the pre-ordained happily-ever-after! We’ll have fun deconstructing our favourite tropes (fake dating? Enemies-to-lovers? There was only one bed?) and dynamics. Due to the content of the books, this book club is recommended for ages 18+.
Register on Eventbrite.
Sci-Fi Book Club
Where: Pierre Berton Resource Library (in person and online)
Had enough of planet Earth? Can’t say I blame you! Ditch our earthly shenanigans and explore other galaxies far, far away at the Sci-Fi Book Club! As another genre-based book club, our monthly science fiction picks explore the breadth of the genre, and we’ll discuss how authors play within it.
Register on Eventbrite.
That all being said, group reads are not for everyone, and that’s okay! If you prefer to do your reading solo, you can check out our 2023 Reading Challenge instead, where you’ll find monthly themed book picks to help guide you on your yearly reading journey. Remember to read at your own pace and savour each book!