This interview is with Ronda Lewis of "Sisters R Reading", Bermuda. Read on to see more about this group.


Q: Does your group have a name and/or a theme? How long has your group been in existence?

A: Our group is called Sisters R Reading, we have been meeting for 3 years. It all started when we realized that a few of us at work loved to read and exchange books.

Q: How many members do you have? How many men, how many women? What age are most of your members?

A: We have 10 members, all female and we range in age from 25 - 45

Q: How often do you meet? Where do you meet?

A: We meet once a month, usually on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Each of us take a turn hosting except for December, when we normally have our Christmas dinner at a restaurant.

Q: Do you eat at your meetings? What do you eat? Who brings the food?

A: We always eat at the meetings, whatever the host wants to prepare we have. We have had all types of food, ranging from typical Bermuda cuisine to sandwiches to Caribbean cuisine.

Q: Who leads the discussion? Do you use reading group guides?

A: No one in particular leads the discussions. If we come to a stall I do have copies of the reading guides (if it is available) and we would use those questions. We have had quite a few lively discussions.

Q: What kind of books do you read?

A: We read all types of books from fiction to biographies to literature. We have one member of the group that always suggests literature. Some of the books we have read include: Sugar and This Bitter Earthby Bernice L. McFadden, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Posionwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, White Oleander by Janet Fitch, We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. Some of our upcoming reads include: The Emporer of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, House of Sand and Fogby Andre Dubus III.

Q:How do you choose your books? Do you choose one new book at each meeting, or do you choose the books for a number of meetings ahead of time?

A: We make a list at the end of each year based on all suggestions from members and then choose 12 for the next year.

Q: What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the group read?

A: We have quite a few books that we enjoyed and that brought us animated and lively discussions including: Do They Hear You When You Cryby Fauziya Kassindja, Soul Kiss by Shay Youngblood, Married Menby Carl Weber, Casting The First Stoneby Kimberla Lawson Roby, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Men Cry In The Dark by Michael Baisden.

Q: How do you keep things fun?

A: By trying not to have to many rules, we did try to have it really structured in the beginning, but now as long as we know who is hosting and where to go, it is much more fun.

Q: What advice would you give to other reading groups?

A: Keep things light, too many rules spoil the fun and keep membership numbers low, we are having much more fun with a smaller group.

Q: Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other special tales to tell?

A: A funny story that happened to us was when we reading the Great Gatsby. No one really read the book before the meeting except for one or two people, we all thought it was really boring. Well, when we got to the meeting, when the people that read it started talking about it, it sounded like a really great book, so we all left the meeting excited about reading it. At the following months meeting, we all expressed how we actually had enjoyed the book. Lesson, don't give up reading a book that you think is boring, it might end up being better then you think!

Q: Is there anything else unique or noteworthy about your group that you would like to share?

A: We collect dues from everyone every month and use the money to buy birthday gifts for each member. Usually there is money left over for us to pay for our annual Christmas dinner. At the Christmas dinner, we normally would do a fun quiz on all the books that we have read that year. We also exchange Christmas gifts as well. Also, Kendra Matthews and I basically run the club, including sending out all invitations, keeping track of the dues that are collected, and buying whatever gifts that need to be bought.

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