ReadingGroupGuides.com interviews special reading groups around the world, spotlighting a different group each month. We hope that you enjoy reading about their experiences and might find some new ideas to try with your group. If you belong to a group that you think should be spotlighted, click here to answer our interview questions.

Our first group is the Bremen Women's Literary Club, a group of English-speaking women who live in Germany. Thanks to group member Nancy Heine for sharing their experiences with us!

Q. How long has your group been in existence?
A. We have existed over 30 years, albeit with different members. We started out as a group of English speaking ladies who wanted to acquaint themselves with German classical authors.

Q. How many members do you have? How many men, how many women?
A. We are at the moment 8 members, all women: two Americans, three English, one South African and two Germans. The German ladies speak better English than I do perhaps.

Q. How often do you meet? Where do you meet?
A. Once a month at someone's home.

Q. Do you eat at your meetings? What do you eat? Who brings the food?
A. The hostesses have a little goody contest --- cheese, antipasto, quiches, salad and snacks, as well as lovely wines. Yes, we do read, too!

Q. Who leads the discussion? Do you use reading group guides?
A. Whoever has chosen the book tries to make a report, read criticisms and occasionally read aloud passages. We never use guides, and now with the Internet we get the criticisms from the New York Times or other newspapers. We have even written to some of the authors we have read and gotten very nice replies. We get the addresses via the publishers or in "Who's Who." We have written to Vikram Seth (author of A Suitable Boy), Carol Shields, and Christabel Bielenberg (author of The Past Is Myself).

Q. What kind of books do you read? How do you choose your books?
A. Just about everything. We try to choose a book prize novel (e.g. Booker Prize or Pulitzer or other national award). We also rely on recommendations from other groups or whatever we have found interesting. Last night we discussed The Color of Water by James McBride. Another member is a "Janeite" (a fan of Jane Austen) and occasionally recommends one of her novels. We have also read portions of James Joyce's Ulysses and the discussion was lead by a member who did her Ph.D. on Joyce. Our list of books is very very long and includes The English Patient, Last Orders, Angela's Ashes, Waterland and Amsterdam.

Q. What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the group read?
A. We bring our varied backgrounds, educations and experiences into the group. Sometimes the discussions are at a high level and sometimes we pan the book. It depends a lot on whether we enjoyed the book or found it hard going. We enjoy being with each other and of course all the discussion is not only about books. We have known each other for many years and share our happiness and grief.

Q. How do you keep things fun?
A. Sometimes we go to a play or film in English. At Christmas we try to find a new Christmas poem or story, write one, or read from some old favorites.

Q. Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other special tales to tell?
A. We couldn't think of any. Of course, every one of us is guilty of not finishing the book and having nothing to say about it!

Q. Is there anything else unique or noteworthy about your group that you would like to share?
A. I think we are pretty unique. We English speaking ladies are all married to Germans and have lived here many years.

Q. What advice would you give to other reading groups?
A. Try to maintain a cohesive membership, have certain goals for your group, and try new trends and authors. Why be afraid of James Joyce?