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.

This group of diverse women have found a common bond in books. Thanks to Karen Bernier of Palm Beach County for talking about her group with us. 

Q. Does your group have a name and/or a theme?
A. I have suggested Readers of Western Palm Beach County, but that didn't take. We just call it Our Book Club. Our paths cross constantly through church, work, and other social events, so we always talk about Our Book Club.

Q. How long has your group been in existence?
A. At least 6 years based on the number of books read.

Q. How many members do you have?  How many men, how many women?  What age are most of your members?
A. We began with five and currently have eleven members. Men have never been invited. Our ages range from mid-forties to mid-fifties, with one 28-year-old daughter of a member. One is widowed, the others are married with children ranging from 19 months to 31 years. For some reason, six of our members work in healthcare --- 4 nurses, 1 physical therapist, 1 nurse practitioner. The others are stay-at-home moms, a teacher, and an accountant.

Q. How often and where do you meet?
A. Every five weeks on a Monday evening in a members home. Our original discussion was four weeks by those with grown children and 6 weeks by those with small children so we compromised. At one point we tried to accommodate everyone's schedule, but then we decided every fifth Monday unless it is a holiday.

Q. Do you eat at your meetings?
A. Yes, but food is downplayed since everyone is watching her weight and usually has just finished dinner.

Q. Who leads the discussion?  Do you use reading group guides?
A. The book is announced at the prior meeting by the member who will host the next meeting. The hostess provides the house, snacks, and leads the discussion. No book guides have been used. Discussion questions can be anything from "What have been your experiences or feelings about the homeless?" after reading Grand Central Winter by Lee Stringer, to "Have you ever thought of walking away from your marriage?" after reading Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler, to "Do you believe this was fact or fiction?" after reading Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan.

Q. What kind of books do you read?
A. Anything goes, as long as it is available in paperback and is still in print.

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. Books are chosen by the presenting member a meeting before...we like the suspense!

Q. What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the group read?
A. Recently, a Harry Potter book sparked a discussion about modern-day witches, wicca, and religion. Across Time and Death by Jenny Cockell, which deals with reincarnation, was very interesting, as we had invited a Catholic priest and Episcopal priest to read the book and come join our discussion. Our youngest member attended her first meeting as a guest to read and join in the discussion about Midwives by Chris Bohjalian, as she had just moved back to Florida from Vermont and had a home birth by a midwife. (She recently had her second "home delivery".) One member still will not eat hamburgers after our discussion of Toxin by Robin Cook.

Q. How do you keep things fun?
A. The diversity of our group keeps things fun. For some reason we have never met anyplace else or had a dinner. We just enjoy being together and discussing books.

Q. What advice would you give to other groups?
A. Make sure that each member has an address roster of the others if they want to car pool, e-mail or otherwise get together. Some members share the books, ordering them or getting them at the library. Also, have one member keep a list of the books that you have read and periodically give out the updated version. It is like a walk down memory lane.

Q. Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other special tales to tell?
A. One member wanted us to choose books that had been made into movies so she could see the movie instead of reading the book! She weeded herself out.

And --- this is comic --- another member (me) once showed up for a meeting, was let in by the hostess's husband and was chatting with him and asking where his wife was. He answered, "She has book club tonight." It turns out I was at the wrong house! We still laugh at that.