Mary Methvin of New Iberia, LA discusses the inspiration behind starting her book club, Food for Talk. She also reveals their most controversial book selection to date and how they plan to add to the enjoyment of their meetings in the future.

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

A: Our book club is called Food for Talk. We just started meeting in June 2003 and we meet about every 6 weeks.

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

A: We have eight members in our group, all women ranging in age from late 40s to mid-50s.

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

A: We meet about every six weeks in members' homes.

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

A: Yes! We do not really serve a meal, but the food is reflective of the book we have just finished reading. The hostess for that month prepares the food. We also enjoy wine!

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

A: We do use reading guides whenever possible, and usually use a generic guide when a reading guide is not available. The discussion leader is just whoever feels like reading the questions and keeping us on task!!!

Q: What kind of books do you read?

A: So far we have read fiction. We are trying to read a few classics and prize-winning novels --- things we might not have read on our own.

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 choose books from meeting to meeting. Each member brings suggestions and we go from there.

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

A: Our group has varied tastes, so it would be hard to pick favorite selections. Some books that were loved by some members were hated by others. She's Come Undone, our very first selection, was probably our most controversial pick. Many hated it, or at best didn't like it (I loved it!) Possibly our closest to having a favorite was A Confederacy of Dunces.

Q: How do you keep things fun?

A: We enjoy just getting together, but we have talked about meeting in a setting that resembles that of the book and inviting a local author to one of our meetings. One member had a PowerPoint presentation on Vermeer when we read Girl with the Pearl Earring.

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

A: Just have fun! There are so many "rules" about book clubs. Just have fun!

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

A: The way our book club formed. I was watching "Good Morning America" in June 2003 when they had a segment on their book club. It really interested me, so I got on the phone and by lunchtime I had started a book club! It has only gotten better and more fun each meeting. We have had several people want to join!

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