Cantdecide
In this interview Mary McDermid of Excelsior, Minnesota talks about her book club, Cantdecide. She offers valuable advice to other reading groups and explains what some members do to spread the joy of reading to others in the community. Read on to learn more about this close-knit 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 Cantdecide, and we've been in existence for 25 years.
Q: How many members do you have? How many men, how many women? What age are most of your members?
A: 9 women, between the ages of 50 and 65.
Q: How often do you meet? Where do you meet?
A: We meet from September through June, with a bigger book chosen for reading during July and August. We meet at a variety of places --- coffee shops, libraries, homes, art museums, delis, bookstores and cabins.
Q: Do you eat at your meetings? What do you eat? Who brings the food?
A: It depends on where we meet. If we're in a coffee shop or a deli, we'll buy from the vendor. If we go to a library, we'll bring our own beverage. If we're at a member's home, we'll have dessert, cheese crackers, etc. --- something very simple.
Q: Who leads the discussion? Do you use reading group guides?
A: The person picking the book leads the discussion and provides the background, research, etc. We use guides if they are available, or we create our own.
Q: What kind of books do you read?
A: A little bit of everything: fiction, nonfiction, science fiction, poetry, new authors, classics, plays, short stories, Minnesota authors. We work hard to try to find things we would not find if left to our own taste.
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 tend to plan for the year but are very flexible. Change is good. Each club member chooses a book she would like the group to read.
Q: What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the group read?
A: Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Chang, All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg, Dancing After Hours by Andre Dubus, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, Staggerford by Jon Hassler, and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman.
Q: How do you keep things fun?
A: We try new meeting places, bring in research and related "goodies" --- additional works, videos, reviews --- and collect books for children centers and women in prison.
Q: What advice would you give to other reading groups?
A: Keep an open mind and be flexible in your reading. Try something new. Go hear the authors read their work. See the film that was made or take in the play. Prepare the food mentioned in the story. Compare books and writing styles. View the art mentioned in the books you have read. Use maps in your discussions. Have fun!
Q: Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other special tales to tell?
A: A club member relocated 2 hours away, so we rented a van and drove to her new home for brunch and had a great book discussion! Another member volunteers at an organization that collects books for women in prison, and once a year a pancake breakfast is held to raise money. Some of the club members volunteer their time during the breakfast.
Q: Is there anything else unique or noteworthy about your group that you would like to share?
A: We have longevity in our reading and discussing, and we support members through births, graduations, serious illnesses, marriages, empty nesting, etc. In addition, we are always surprised when a book that we have already read and discussed becomes a hot recommendation. No Oprah lists for us.
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