The Read Between the Wines book club from McHenry, IL consists of three young women --- all friends from high school --- who started the group as an excuse to get together for a night out. Their spokesperson, Heather Arnold, describes the fun traditions they've begun in the eight months they've been together, such as keeping a scrapbook, serving themed meals and handing out favors as clues for their next reading selection. She also likens their meetings to "free therapy" and shares what their husbands have decided to do to keep themselves occupied on their book club nights.

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

A: Our Book Club Group is called "Read Between the Wines." We have been meeting for only eight months, but we're having a blast doing it!

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

A: We have only three members, all of whom are 29-year-old women. We were old friends from high school who had met up recently and decided to start a book club where we can have an excuse to drink wine and have a night out.

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

A: We meet once a month in the evening and rotate houses. The person who picks the book hosts that book's meeting at her house.

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

A: Of course!! We have started a fun little "tradition" of serving wine and then having some kind of appetizer, dinner or dessert that ties in with the book we are discussing. For example, for The Thirteenth Tale, we had a tea party since it was set in England. For Little Chapel on the River (a book set in a hometown NY bar), we had beer and pub food (complete with a neon sign in the window). The host provides the food, and it is always fun to see what we are having. We have great and creative minds, so we love to outdo the last!

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

A: No one in particular leads. We all chime in to discuss the book and its themes. Two members were English majors, so it's fun to hear their points of view. Everyone always has a different take or looks for different things in each novel. Usually, the host prints out reading group guides or has done a little research on the book to share.

Q: What kind of books do you read?

A: We have read all kinds of books so far...there is no rhyme or reason. Everyone gets a turn to pick, so it's usually something that someone has heard great things about or has been dying to read. Ironically, we have only read female authors so far.

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 a new book at each meeting. It is actually a neat thing. We discuss the current book, and then at the end of the night, the person who is hosting next shares her book of choice for all the girls to read. Usually, she gives a little funny gift to each person as a clue or hint as to what we are reading. For example, for The Secret Life of Bees, everyone got a packet of honey. For The Birthdays, everyone got a birthday candle.

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

A: Some of the best discussions came from books we didn't really care for. But no matter what, we always have a good discussion. Like every group and like all those "book club books," the discussion always leads to our personal lives and experiences that have happened to us in the last month. It can be considered a free therapy session.

Q: How do you keep things fun?

A: Honestly, it is not hard to keep things fun. We are always up for the book club because every time we leave there we feel so good! Some of the fun things in our group are the themed foods and the excitement of seeing what book is next.

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

A: Have fun, and even if you can't read the entire book, still go and enjoy yourself. The whole discussion isn't always about the book.

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

A: Our husbands tease us that we are in the "gossip club" rather than a book club. They have decided to get together and play video games while we are discussing the book. We'll see about that!

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

A: We take a picture at each book club meeting for a fun little scrapbook that we've put together of all the books we read and our opinions on them, what we did at the meeting, and what we ate.

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