qathet book club celebrates 25 years of reading together

Poet and avid-bird watcher Hannah Main-Van Der Kamp now lives in the neighbourhood of Westview, but spent years living south of town near Brew Bay in qathet Regional District. Main-Van Der Kamp is a member of the Brew Bay book club, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary.

"Twenty-five years ago, some neighbours at Brew Bay got together for conversations about books they were reading or wanted to read, and the group continues to meet," said Main-Van Der Kamp. "Since then, some have moved into town. Some members are new, some have gone onto other pursuits. A few are members of the original group." 

The 10-member, all women book club meets once a month from September to June. Over the 25 years, the group has read approximately 250 books, averaging 10 books a year.

"Once every summer we meet to choose the titles for the next year," said Main-Van Der Kamp. "Each member presents and introduces two titles and by consensus one of them is chosen with attention to variety, though historical fiction is a favourite."

Main-Van Der Kamp said over the years the group has chosen a wide variety of publications, such as fiction, local history, psychology, poetry and environmental/ecological.  

The group of voracious readers will read books of well over 600 pages with enthusiasm, said Main-Van Der Kamp.

"Not everyone loves all of the books but there is always good discussion," she added. "Mark Merlino at the Powell River Public Library has been a great support."

Main-Van Der Kamp has observed that when women read together, they grow together in trusting, bonding friendship. 

"Two hundred and fifty books is a lot of books," said Main-Van Der Kamp. "All of these women say it is interesting and enjoyable and they have learned to trust each other’s recommendations."

She said the book club encourages opening the mind to reading books someone may not have chosen for themselves.

"Ten members seems to be the best size for group discussion,"  said Main-Van Der Kamp. "Sometimes the meetings are in members’ homes and sometimes in a café. They laugh a lot and also go very quiet as someone reads aloud." 

The Peak asked club members which books they enjoyed the most and the answers might not be surprising to serious readers:

Braiding Sweetgrass, by author Robin Kimmerer; The Myth of Normal, by Gabor Maté; and Birds Without Wings, by Louis de Bernieres.

"One of the things that kept the conversations fresh was adding new members as spaces opened up," said Main-Van Der Kamp. "We enjoy different points of view."

She had some advice on ways to form a book club: "Talk to the friends and neighbours who love to read."

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