Book groups share common bond

Wartime presidents, Dust Bowl survivors, lovelorn young ladies, and American Indian athletes -- what do they all have in common? They're all on top of this year's winter reading lists for several local book clubs.

Most area libraries host winter reading programs for children and adults, and offer book suggestions for those who want to read on their own. But when you really enjoy a good book, you want to share it with others.

Algonquin loves readers

It's not hard to find a book club for every taste at the Algonquin Area Public Library. Four adult book groups meet monthly at the main library, and children's book clubs (for grades 4-8) are offered at both the Harnish Road facility and the Eastgate Branch. Each group's selections are chosen to reflect the tastes of its members, said library director Randy Vlcek.

This month, the Book Clubbers are reading "Happiness Sold Separately" by Lolly Winston; the Spine Crackers have chosen a classic, "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier; and the Nite Readers' choice, "The Camel Bookmobile" by Masha Hamilton, is a favorite with librarians, too.

"It's a story about a real-life event -- an African bookmobile that traveled around on the back of a camel!" said Vicki Tobias of adult services.

Seven clubs in Elgin

Seven book clubs meet regularly at Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library, including a new Spanish language group that reads Hispanic authors. The informal group meets bi-monthly and is led by a Spanish-speaking library staffer.

Another Borden Library group targets young adults. The age-defined "20s & 30s" book club (7 p.m., fourth Monday) is one of two that are co-hosted by the Elgin Area Branch of the American Association of University Women. The "Great Books" group (7 p.m., second Monday) also attracts readers with common interests.

If you don't have time to visit the Gail Borden Library, their new online "Need A Good Read" service will set you up with a book that's right for you, says Denise Raleigh.

"It's just like online dating," she explains. "You fill out a questionnaire, and one of our librarians uses it to make up your customized reading list."

Readers can pick up a questionnaire or enter their choices online at www.elgin.lib.il.us.

In December, the library also started an online book club that is attracting new readers, Raleigh said.

"I choose the titles, mostly from the library's adult collection, but some like 'The Book Of Lost Things' are appropriate for teens, too," she says.

"It's very versatile. People can log on and read the entries, or have all their posts sent by e-mail. They can log in from their computers anywhere, at any time, 24/7."

The library also offers a homebound service for those who are physically unable to visit the library. A library volunteer visits the homebound patron to learn their likes and dislikes, then delivers a bag with books, tapes, CDs or videos that they might enjoy. When they're ready to return the books, the volunteer picks up the bag and brings them some more.

Huntley book clubs

Last winter, Jud Strickland was wondering how to keep his Monday Book Club together, after the group lost its meeting room at the Huntley Library. The group searched for months to find a new home, and now they meet at the Citizens Bank on the last Monday of each month.

"We moved around a bit, but we're still together," Strickland said. "This month, we're reading 'No Ordinary Time' by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a (Pulitzer-winning) book about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II."

Next month's pick is "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.

"He's a white guy from southern Africa, and he writes about this gal who starts a detective agency," Strickland said. "Most (books) that you read about Africa are all about death and destruction, everything bad. This book is more positive, it's about good people who do good things. It's light and entertaining."

The club's March selection is "Bridge of Sighs" a new novel set in upstate New York, by Richard Russo, author of the Pulitzer-winning "Empire Falls."

Carol Donahue and her friends in the Friday Morning Book Club still meet at the Huntley Library on the last Friday of each month. Meetings are small and "very informal," she says.

"People come and they go. If they want to drop in, they do."

Last month, the club shared a live teleconference with Susan Vreeland, the San Diego-based author of "Luncheon of the Boating Party."

"It's not often you get to talk with the author while you're discussing her book," Donahue said. "So that was pretty neat."

Their next selection is "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls, followed by "Water For Elephants," a bestseller by Sara Gruen.

This year, the Huntley library is hosting a Children's Book Club for grades 4-8, and another group for teens in grades 7-12. Younger readers review nominated books from the Rebecca Caudill Awards program, said coordinator Anne Kunzen.

"Each month, they read two or three, then vote on their favorites," Kunzen said.

The older group meets at the old village hall to share their favorite reads.

"We get a lot of variety," says Karin Thogersen, the library's youth services director. "One boy really likes fantasy, wizards and magic, so he always brings that kind of thing."

Sun City readers

Sue Anderson belongs to two Sun City book clubs that meet each month at the Meadowview Lodge. The Sun City Fiction Discussion Group just completed "Gentlemen and Player" by Joann Harris, and now they've started on "Forgetfulness" by Ward Just. For its Tuesday meeting, the Nonfiction Discussion Group is reading "The Real All-Americans" by Sally Jenkins, Anderson said.

"It's a really fascinating book about the first American Indian college, that faced such discrimination. They had one of the best football teams of its time," she explained. "'Pop' Warner was their coach and Jim Thorpe, the Olympic champion, came from the school."

For February, the club has chosen "The Worst Hard Time," a story of Dust Bowl survival by Timothy Egan, followed by "Team of Rivals," a look at Lincoln's cabinet by Doris Goodwin Kearns.

Dundee discussions

Some of the most avid readers at the Dundee Township Public Library rarely set foot inside the building. The Village Green Book Discussion Group meets next door at the senior living facility of the same name, where residents get together each month with a library staffer to discuss their latest read, and to choose a new title. This month's selection is "Bee Season" by Myla Goldberg, a recent bestseller that has been popular with book clubs of all ages.

The library also hosts an adult discussion group, the Dundee Library Book Club, in two sessions on the fourth Wednesday of each month. People can attend whichever session fits their schedule, and the group reads fiction and nonfiction. Their January selection is a classic adventure, "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.

Cary book groups

The Cary Area Public Library's adult book discussion group meets twice each month, says coordinator Carol Morgan.

"Some meet on the last Wednesday morning, others come on the last Thursday evening," she explained. "They all read the same book, and attend the session that best fits their schedule."

Members can check out their books from the library and choose their next selection at each monthly meeting. Most come from bestseller lists in the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times, Morgan said.

"It's basically literary fiction, but every year we thrown in one mystery and one nonfiction book, just to mix it up."

New this year is the Cary library's Father-Son Book Club, open to boys in grades 4-6 with an adult co-reader. Boys and their fathers, grandfathers, or other adult male, can read and enjoy a book together, then come and share it with others, Morgan said. The group meets next at 7 p.m. March 13.