Brooklyn Book Club: a safe space to discuss books

BROOKLYN -- The Brooklyn Book Club is the place to be if you love books and reading.

The informal club is held the first Thursday of each month from 5 – 6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Library and is under the direction of Michelle Keiser Graham.

Graham started the club four years ago, holding meetings at the Center Ground Coffee Shop in Brooklyn. When the coffee shop changed its hours, Graham moved the club to the Brooklyn Library.

“The book club is free,” said Graham. “There is no cover charge or money needed and all are welcome.”

Brooklyn Librarian Josh Gerard helps club members get the monthly books for free through the intra-library loan system. All club members and guests need is a valid library card.

“This way club members don’t have to find the books or buy them,” said Graham.

“Members give their recommendations for the books they would like to read the following year, and then we do a drawing to pick the books for the next year,” said Graham.

“We always pick a few extra books in the event the books are not available via intra-library loan, and then Josh has an alternate book to choose from.”

At the club gathering, members go around the table discussing what they liked and didn’t like and share their feelings about the book or books read the previous month.

The books discussed during the November meeting included “The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland,” by Jim DeFede, and “Separation Anxiety,” by Laura Zigman.

On the list for 2024 are “Echo Mountain,” by Lauren Wolk; “The Hidden,” by Melanie Golding; “Dark Matter,” by Blake Crouch; “The Woman in the Library,” by Sulari Gentill; “The River We Remember,” by William Kent Krueger; “Rock Paper Scissors,” by Alice Feeney; “Happy Place,” by Emily Henry” and the “Book Club Hotel,” by Sarah Morgan.

Members are currently reading “The Saints of Swallow Hill,” by Donna Everhart.

“Every month, we discuss the ... book, and at the end, we spend 20 or so minutes doing a round-table,” said Graham. “That is when each member discusses any books they have read that month and if they do or do not recommend them.”

Graham said some books have discussion questions in the back for the group to talk through. If not, Graham said she finds questions specific to the book from her good friend, Google.

“Each book club member is given a journal to take notes, write thoughts own…or whatever they want,” said Graham.

“I purchased stickers to decorate the journals and inspire my readers to make the journal and their book club what they want it to be. This is their book club, not mine,” said Graham.

“I just show up to discuss my love of books and libraries with them. I assure a safe and inclusive environment. They make the club. Without them, there would not be a club,” Graham said.

There are currently about a dozen ladies who participate in the monthly club. Men are welcome, but according to Graham, they don’t come.

On occasion, the book club has guest authors who come to speak and share about their book or books.

Authors who have visited include Debbie Tindle Parker and Crystal Ferry (Stella Bixby), both of Montezuma, and Karen Carr, of Mason City, who has ties to Grinnell.

And one month, Genevieve Graham (an author from Nova Scotia) gave a presentation via zoom.

“We were able to purchase her books and she autographed them specifically for our book club,” said Graham.

At the end of the meeting, a club member reaches into the goodie bag and draws a name. That person will receive a gift from the goodie bag.

“Gifts range from book lights to books, candles, book marks, T-shirts.... They are usually book related,” said Graham.

A year ago, Graham started a book club in Grinnell at the Drake Library. “I feel like reading and libraries are so important,” said Graham.

The Grinnell Book Club meets the second Tuesday of every month from 5-6 p.m.

“Being a part of the book club is an event that I look forward to each month,” said Barbara Dodge of Grinnell.

“I get to read a nice variety of books,” said Lauren McCammant. “Typically ones I wouldn’t select on my own. It’s nice to get together with other readers. It’s a close knit group.”

Sharon Ford of Brooklyn said she just joined the book club in March.

“I have previously not been a big reader, but I am enjoying the discussions and am reading more and more,” she said.

“It’s a joy to be able to serve the community through the book club,” said Gerard. “They check out a lot of books.”

“Book club is very informal and everyone is welcome,” said Graham.

“Some people don’t read the book and just come to listen and be a part of the group, which is fine. You don’t have to read the book to come to book club. We just want people to feel welcome and have a group of people to call their own,” said Graham.

“This is a safe space to discuss books and love of reading.”