As good ideas have a tendency to do, this one rose like dumplings in a bubbling pot of chicken stew.
The idea, the Field School Book Group, now aged to perfection, has been meeting and discussing books – and just about everything else – for 30 years!
Our bookish circle of avid readers was a spontaneous outgrowth one evening following a PTA board meeting. Parents and the principal from Field School gathered to tend to the usual business at hand. Chatting over this-and-that afterwards, the idea emerged and we’ve been meeting happily ever after.
While none of us now have children attending Field School, several grandchildren do. A few of our members are former Field teachers and most of our members live close to the school, while several travel a little further afield to attend. Some of us have been members since the beginning and a few of us are relatively new, but, I can honestly say that we all fit in like well-developed characters in a novel and that each member brings me to books I might not otherwise have read and add interesting thoughts and points of view to our discussions.
We’ve read everyone from Noah Chomsky to Judy Blume, and everything from “Hatchet” to “The Gold Coast Madame”. We have had the pleasure of hosting a few authors who have joined us in discussions of their books, both as part of our monthly meetings or on a more casual venue (think wine and dinner/coffee cake).
We are, shall I say, a “gabby” bunch and sometimes we talk about the book. Actually, we always talk about the book. When we began, three decades ago, book discussion questions were hard to find. Now, they are as easy as the tap of computer keys and many books have discussion questions in the back of the book.
We occasionally take excursions after reading a book. A tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park followed a reading of Nancy Horan’s “Loving Frank” with lunch at Hemingway’s Bistro. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a tour of the location of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition after reading The Devil and the White City by Erik Larson.
Isn’t the tea candle great? One of longest attending members, Sharon, presented each of us one at our recent January meeting, where we have a very lively discussion of “Mrs. Poe” by Lynn Cullen.
Are you in a book discussion group? What have you read lately?
Amazing authors who have spent time with the Field School Book Group:
Tracey Bianchi https://www.amazon.com/Green-Mama-Guilt-Free-Helping-Planet/dp/0310320364
Andra Watkins http://andrawatkins.com/?wref=bif
Tyra Manning http://tyramanning.com
I love your dumpling of an idea. Both your beautiful candle and your 30 years are a tribute to your love of books and the longevity of your friendship. I have often thought about joining one of our local book groups, but I just haven’t done it.
I have joined a Facebook group of kindred spirits who are going to read the Anne of Green Gables books together starting February 1st. So far it has been fun. We have introduced ourselves and told how we first became interested in Anne. There are people from all over the world. Some are reading Anne for the first time and some have read it multiple times as I have.I’m looking forward to starting. Jump on in if you want..
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🙂 Thank you. I really can’t believe that this group has been meeting this long and that I have been lucky to be a part of it. I was in a previous one, which was fun, but, it either disbanded or I didn’t have time. One of the women in that group ended up in the Field group.
How interesting and fun that will be, Janet, and isn’t it amazing how so many of you, bound by the love of Anne, can share a common interest? If I wasn’t so bogged (or should I say booked?” down with books, I would. Is it a closed group?
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It is a closed group, I believe. It is a spin off of a group of Anne of Green Gables fans. I’m surprised at how many in the group fell. In love with the movies first.
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Sounds fun and enlightening, too. I think Jennifer first met Anne in film. While we always love books, it is heartening to know that so many look to literature after seeing a movie. Our book group read Anne of Green Gables many years ago. Quite a few had not yet been introduced to Anne. Enjoy your online discussion. 🙂
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Dear Penny, what a lovely candle and globe and how satisfying it must be to meet with your friends for 30 years and discuss books.
I just finished “Death Comes to Pemberley” and am about to finish one of my favorite novels–I’ve read it at least 5 times–“The Daughter of Time” by Josephine Tey.
Enjoy your week. Peace.
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It is, indeed, satisfying, Dee. Thank you.
You, dear one, have led me to so many new authors and books over these years and now you give me a new author in Josephine Tey and leaves me wondering why I haven’t read “Death Comes to Pemberley”.
I hope you are doing well, Dee. Think about you. Peace.
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Dear Penny, how wonderful to meet for thirty years for the love of books. I just finished “An Artist of the Floatin World” by Kazuo Ishiguro for our book club. One book you might enjoy is “ A Gentleman in Moskau “ by Amor Towles. It’s lovely!
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Thank you, Gerlinde. It truly is wonderful. You are about the fifth person in the past several days that has recommended Amor Towles book. I will put it on my list and hope to read it soon.
How was your discussion of “An Artist of the Floating World”?
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Congrats on your anniversary! That’s awesome! I miss being in a book discussion group. The last book group I was in had a discussion on The Time Traveler’s Wife. That shows you how long it’s been since I was in a book discussion group.
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It IS awesome, L. Marie. Thank you.
I’ve had “The Time Traveler’s Wife” on my TBR list forever. Probably since your last book discussion. 🙂 Even though you aren’t in a formal book group, you hold discussions on your wonderful blog.
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This sounds so great. Me too, I love books, I might look here around to find a book club. Thank you!
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You are welcome.
I would be lost without books, Cecilia, and really am fortunate to be in this group. We’ve read some interesting books and I know I would not have read some of them if it weren’t for my bookish friends.
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What a lovely tea light to commemorate your book club Penny! I remember you inviting me to join some 20 years ago and at the time I was afraid to join a book club because, as much as I love to read, I thought it would feel like homework to be assigned a book! I think I really missed out on a great group. Well, Happy 30th Anniversary to your club… which reminds me of a book about a nearly lifelong book club you may have read – “…And Ladies of the Club” by Helen Hooven Santmyer. Their book club lasted from 1868 – 1932! May yours go on as long!
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It is, I agree, a lovely tea light. Sharon gave us a similar one at 25 years. 🙂
I wish you had joined us, Janet, but, it can feel intimidating to be in a group and often it just isn’t the right time. You would have added much to the conversation – and the suggestions. In fact, as I look at my comments above, I think it was you would suggested “The Time Traveler’s Wife” to me many moons ago.
I read ” . . . And Ladies of the Club” years ago. In fact, it was in my first book group, which is where I first met Bev! As I recall, it was an interesting discussion. The book was so long I think we read it over the summer.
Here’s to lasting as long as that book group did! Yay!
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Congratulations on the anniversary, Penny. What a devoted group of book lovers…I love it! I’ve never been a part of a book discussion group. The one in our neighborhood only meets on weeknights @ 8:00. I’m up at 3:45 a.m. for work, so I’m getting ready for bed when they’re starting! LOL! Beautiful tea candle!
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Thank you, Jill. It really is a great group.
It is hard meeting at night after a long day of work. It is easier for me now, but, oh-how-I-remember earlier years when I worked full time and our daughters were quite young!
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A book club is such a special thing! I don’t belong to one as I’m too busy writing books! But I have been for 30 years with a group of women who celebrate the seasonal festivals together, and that group is very dear to me.
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I think the important thing is women connecting, be they large or small, books, common interests – or seasonally. I always enjoy reading of your festivals and appreciate how you honor the seasons, Juliet. I think they become more precious as time passes. I treasure this gathering we share through the internet. Thank you, thank you.
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I have never been in a book club/group, Penny, and I know I would have enjoyed one all these years! Thirty years is an incredible investment, and I’m really impressed! I just finished “Lincoln in the Bardo” which is really different and I was quite intrigued with it. And I’m re-reading “A Wrinkle in Time” right now. Sophia and Karina have been reading it and when I told them I’d read it almost 50 years ago they were shocked! So was I! LOL!
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It has been a very long while since I’ve read “A Wrinkle in Time”. Now I want to revisit it. 🙂 I think it is good for our grandchildren to see us reading what they are reading at times. Children’s literature can be so rich in meaning and storyline. Don’t tell anyone this; my favorite class in college was children’s literature, which we called “kiddie lit”. 🙂
I picked up “Lincoln in the Bardo” on audio last fall and just couldn’t get into it. I will check it out again. If memory serves me, the storyline is told through several voices and maybe it is one of those books that flows better when actually read.
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