A group of people from Morgan Hill to Gilroy to Hollister have
discovered a way to meet people, establish strong friendships,
share ideas, learn, have new experiences, go through a spiritual
journey and more
– for free. The group has insatiable curiosity, a sense of
adventure and a desire to recapture the awestruck wonder of a
child.
A group of people from Morgan Hill to Gilroy to Hollister have discovered a way to meet people, establish strong friendships, share ideas, learn, have new experiences, go through a spiritual journey and more – for free. The group has insatiable curiosity, a sense of adventure and a desire to recapture the awestruck wonder of a child.
They are fun-loving; they have adventured together through many lands; they have shared in the delight and pain of others they hardly know. And they do it all for free because it’s all vicarious – their experiences together come as they read and share thoughts, feelings and ideas as part of book clubs in the area.
All across the country, the joy of reading is spreading. There are book clubs for adults as well as school age children. In South Valley, there are book clubs or reading groups affiliated with the public libraries or local book stores and others that are formed by individuals in the community that have a passion for reading. In Hollister, the book store closed and the restaurant “Someone’s in the Kitchen” showed support for book lovers by having a small bookstore within the restaurant and hosting the Book Lover’s Tea.
Dorothy McNett, known around Hollister for cookware and her cooking classes, also has a book club – she demonstrates the recipes in culinary mysteries as the group discusses the mystery.
Book club members are generally interested in learning and sharing information and they all seek in different ways. The members of these clubs come from diverse backgrounds – from teachers, stay-at-home mothers, entrepreneurs and office workers to college students, artists and family therapists.
“Many join to socialize, others join for intellectual stimulation. I enjoy the interface with people of different backgrounds and different ages – you get different perspectives and broaden your own knowledge,” said 22-year Gilroy resident and a local landscape oil painter, Julie Denman, who is a member of the Wize Owl Book Club and the Morgan Hill Book Club.
Beverly Vessa of the Morgan Hill Library who has been in the “book world” for 30 years agreed. “Book clubs have become a way for people to interact on a social level,” she said.
The clubs are also a good way for booklovers to learn more about
the books they’ve read and read new ones.
“I’m a big reader … I inhale books. It’s amazing what you learn when you talk to people about books,” said Hollister resident Nancy Black who runs a home-based business, is in three book clubs: the Book Lover’s Tea, the Neighborhood Book Club and the Dorothy McNett Book Club. “In clubs, you read books you wouldn’t have picked, and it expands your insight, your knowledge.”
The group members form a strong connection with each other, and some have even worked on family projects together.
“People also bring their life stories to the club – and people’s life stories affect the way they experience the book so in essence we share in people’s lives,” said Karen Apland, Teen Services Librarian for the Gilroy Public Library.
Most of the groups meet once a month, and some clubs have coordinators that choose the list of books they will read and discuss. Other clubs decide on the list as a group.
Some groups also have coordinators who facilitate the discussions, while others open the floor. The discussions are informal and attendance is encouraged but not required.
Jennifer Cole, a city planning consultant who works outside Hollister, leads the Book Lover’s Tea discussion. She said having a discussion at the restaurant while sipping tea and enjoying good food makes the experience extra special.
“One of our members drives to Hollister from San Jose – 80 percent because of the food,” she said, “and the ambiance and 20 percent because of the books.”
Book clubs in the area
Gilroy
Wize Owl Book Club: Eli Collier (408) 848-9090. 10:30am Wednesdays; call store for evening schedule.
Gilroy Public Library: Karen Apland (408) 842-8207. 7pm, last Tuesday of every month.
First Baptist Church: Pastor Mark S. Milwee (408) 847-6000 Meetings will begin again in Jan. 2005.
Hollister
Book Lover’s Tea: Christy Estrada (831) 636-8205. Fourth Saturday of the month. Limited seating. Call for reservations.
Dorothy McNett’s: happycookers.com. CheckWeb site for meeting times.
Morgan Hill
BookSmart Book Club: (408) 778-6467. 7pm third Thursday of the month.
Morgan Hill Public Library: Beverly Vessa (408) 779-3196 Call for meeting schedule.
