Garden City Book Clubs

Looks like a typical get together, drinks are served and greetings are effusive. Attendees gather in a circle. A book that's been enjoyed, worn like wrinkles on a weathered face, is strewn across a coffee table. This is a book club meeting.

They're happening all across America and Garden City is no exception.

According to R.R. Bowker's Publishing Statistics, in 2008 there were over 560,000 books published, 50,000 of which were adult fiction.

Oprah, who's done more for fiction ironically from her pedestal on TV, did not invent these literary communities. Rachel Jacobsohn, author of A Brief History of Book Clubs, notes that book clubs harken back to the 1720s and female clubs became offshoots of sewing and church groups.

Garden City's Jewel Book Club members have one thing in common - they're all moms. The club started 13 years ago. Founding member Vynne LoTurco says her goal was to read books  because she was only reading newspapers and magazines.  

"This was a perfect way to force me to read," says LoTurco. The group has read mostly popular fiction with a few classics and non-fiction. They describe themselves as "relaxed." No one is thrown out if they haven't done their reading. 

Members have come and gone but more than half are charter members. Meetings are held monthly on Friday mornings and hostess duties are shared. Selections are made by brainstorming.

Diane Famiglietti sums up her experience: "I've enjoyed the club for more reasons than I can express. Sometimes a book hits a nerve and we say a lot, other times we listen. We share, grow and learn."

"I would give up a lot to come here," adds Barbara Kutner. "I look forward to hearing what everyone else thinks."

Everyone concurs that many of the books they've read they wouldn't have chosen. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov was returned to the store by one member due to its subject matter and members weren't thrilled with Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych.  

Dysfunction had been a common theme among selections and members joked that Jeanette Walls, author of  The Glass Castle, and J.R. Moehringer of The Tender Bar may make a nice couple. The Tender Bar prompted an excursion to the Manhasset bar where some of the story took place. Jewel favorites include The Poisonwood Bible, The Help, The Kite Runner, The Pillars of the Earth and The Red Tent among others.

Another Garden City book club never chose a name. Their members meet in the evening but share striking similarities to Jewel. Some members are stay-at-home moms while others hold down jobs such as teacher or attorney.

Selections have run the gamut from Oprah picks to classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird. Jodi Picoult is a favorite. Eleven of their original members are still with the club after 13 years.  

Member Ellen Danks, who enjoys cake making, even immortalized James Frey's A Million Little Pieces by creating a cake that mirrored the book's cover. Members were planning on sending a photo of the cake to the Oprah Show since Oprah was such a big fan of the book.

These plans, however, were dashed because by the time the film was developed news broke that some of Frey's memoir was fabricated. Oprah helped put the book on the best seller list when she included it as one of her Book Club picks. She felt duped by the author and brandished him on her show.  

How much of the banter is really about the book? Member Christina Milone says, "We try to focus on the book, the nice thing is that we are comfortable with each other." Carol Knoch agrees. "We find our way back and besides most tangents are interesting!" she said.

Members lament that it is difficult to get together. Children's schedules are at the forefront of most of their lives. In an age of ever increasing technology, it's a relief to know that the printed word has persevered and such a solitary pastime has become more social. 

Mark Twain couldn't have said it better: "Good friends, good books...this is the ideal of life."