By Amanda Roberts
NOPL Creative Director
Book clubs (aka book discussion groups) can be a great way to meet new people in your community. These days, the Northern Onondaga Public Library (NOPL) book clubs are virtual, making it easy to meet local readers right where you are. More often than not, the book selections are titles you may not have chosen for yourself, which can help expand your reading interests. Plus, discussions about themes and symbolism can diversify and inspire you as the walls in your home turn ever so gray during these winter months. If you feel closed-in at home and are looking for a literary conversation to wake up your mind, NOPL has various book discussion groups.
Here are the different groups, what they are currently reading, and the details of their next meeting.
Between the Covers Romance Book Club
Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, Zoom
This romance book club meets every third Thursday of the month. Have a ball with NOPL’s Raging Romantics Podcast aficionados as they lead this group through “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James.
No Book Required Discussion Group
Next meeting: 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22 (register for Zoom link)
This group meets on the last Monday of each month. This group builds community by talking about what is getting you through the quarantine. Join us and chat about whatever you are watching, listening to, reading, creating, thinking, or eating. No book required!
Brewerton Book Discussion Group
Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, Zoom
This group meets on the last Tuesday of the month and considers popular fiction and nonfiction books, as well as the occasional classic. At their upcoming meeting, the group will discuss “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller.
Nonfiction Book Discussion
Next meeting: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, Zoom
Some months there is a chosen theme, while other times there is a specific selection. This February, they’re reading books about conspiracy theories. Anyone interested is free to select their own works, and there are book selections available for pickup at the North Syracuse Library.
BYOB Book Club (‘Bring Your Own Book’ Book Club)
Next meeting: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 (register for Zoom link)
This group meets the last Thursday of every month. Bring your own book and tell us about it.
If you need to borrow a laptop with a mobile hot spot to connect, contact the library for assistance; Brewerton Library at 315-676-7484, Cicero Library at 315-699-2032, or North Syracuse Library at 315-458-6184; if you are connected, find all of our book clubs with our events calendar at NOPL.org/events. There you can register and receive the Zoom meeting link. If you are on Meetup, the library just started a page at meetup.com/northernonondagapubliclibrary/. Find us and join the conversation!
