Susan Mullen of Portland, Maine talks about her book group, "Stages and Pages." A unique aspect of this club is that membership is not restricted to a finite number of people. If someone is interested in becoming a member, that person will be included in the discussions. Read on to learn more about this open 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 Stages and Pages, chosen because we are all at various stages in our lives, although all are beyond the baby stage where we now can read pages … corny, I know.

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

A: We are all women, ages 38 to 49. We have a core group of 10 but often we have visitors who come occasionally. Our group is unique in that it is an open group. If someone says they would like to join, we include them! Book discussions should be available to everyone!

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

A: We meet once a month at each other's homes.

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

A: We ALWAYS eat! All our members are fantastic cooks and we all appreciate good food! Most of the time, it is appetizers and wine. Last month we served soup and bread (and wine, of course!)

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

A: One member usually leads the discussion. We use guides occasionally. We never have trouble finding comments. Our members are very talkative. Of course our best discussions generated by a book evolve into discoveries about ourselves, our beliefs and opportunity.

Q: What kind of books do you read?

A: We read mostly fiction but did read John Adams last May. We try to steer clear of Oprah books (too depressing) and usually choose from award-winning books. We read at least one classic a year (How Green Was My Valley, The Age of Innocence and The Razor's Edge).

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 try to choose books a few months ahead of time.

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

A: Our favorite book was The Power of One. The Power of One is a tremendous story, hopeful and triumphant. We also enjoyed The Emperor of Ocean Park, Seabiscuit, Empire Falls, The Corrections, The Virgin Suicides, and Life of Pi.

Q: How do you keep things fun?

A: The first half hour is social time, and at 7:30 the leader rings a bell (also used to curb sidebar conversations!) and the discussion begins. Sometimes the food is connected to the books that we read. We've served Indian food and food from the 50s. One time we read Stolen Lives and invited our local rabbi's wife to talk to our group about life in that country. This month we will be reading Fallen Angel and Of Time and Memory, and are very excited to welcome Don Snyder, the author and TV scriptwriter who is coming to our group meeting! His sister-in-law is a member of our group.

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

A: Let people join. Many people love to read and make connections. We've met lots of new friends. Some come and go. That's OK too.

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

A: Although most of us read the book each month, we have a few members who only occasionally finish the book. That's OK. They are talkers and often SOUND like they've read the entire book. Sometimes folks will have an extremely busy month and are unable to find the time, but still love to get together. That's perfectly acceptable, too. Hey, isn't that what it's all about anyway?

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