The Joy of a Book Club
By Pat Hurleigh
I’ve been part of the same book club for over 40 years. I first joined when my daughter, Erin, was an infant. Over the decades, members have come and gone—some moved away, some stepped back, and sadly, one passed away. Yet, through all the changes, we’ve remained steady at around 12 members—an ideal number for a book club.
Along with reading great books, we’ve shared in the milestones of each other’s lives, both joyful and difficult. Early on, we realized the importance of consistency, so we chose to meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 8 PM, year-round. We rotated hosting duties, meeting in each other’s homes. Over time, we came to know who made the best blueberry cobbler, who brought the flakiest apple crisp, and who set the most creative table. We truly got to know one another.
Then came COVID. Like so many others, we didn’t want to lose what we had built, so we pivoted to Zoom and kept meeting virtually throughout the shutdowns.
When life resumed, many of us no longer wanted to go out at night, so we made a change. We now meet on Thursday afternoons at the East Williston Village Hall, and we’ve even given ourselves a name: BLTs – Book Lovers Together. These days, there are no baked goods, but plenty of meaningful conversation.
Each meeting begins with warm greetings and quick updates on family and life. Then we share book suggestions to add to our list—ideally ones someone has already read and can vouch for. But the most magical part is always the discussion:
How did the book get its name?
Why did the characters act that way?
What did we think of the ending?
Our club has introduced me to incredible authors—some of my favorites include William Kent Krueger, Elena Ferrante, Ian McEwan, and Adriana Trigiani. I used to buy every book and had quite the collection, but now we rely on the East Williston Library, which has been wonderfully helpful in getting us copies.
If you’ve ever thought about joining a book group—whether to meet new people, enjoy thoughtful conversation, or just to keep yourself reading—stop by the library. They host several book clubs that meet at different times and even offer Zoom options.
You never know, it might just become a cherished part of your life, too.
