Rhoda Haeberle, a member of the “Wednesday Morning Butler Book Club” in Butler, NJ, explains how valuing everyone’s opinion while not being too serious helps invigorate their discussions. She also talks about the yearly bake and book sale they organize with a group from their host library, as well as the luncheon they have twice a year “to relax, talk and have fun.” A unique aspect of this group is that one member is a published author, and her work has been discussed at their meetings.

Q: Does your group have a name and/or a theme? How long has your group been in existence?

A: We are the “Wednesday Morning Butler Book Club.”

Q: How many members do you have? How many men, how many women? What age are most of your members?

A: We have approximately 20 members --- no men, all women. The average age is around 50.

Q: How often do you meet? Where do you meet?

A: We meet once a month (the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am) at the Butler, New Jersey Library.

Q: Do you eat at your meetings? What do you eat? Who brings the food?

A: Yes, we definitely eat. It’s mostly breakfast food, including bagels, muffins and sometimes cake and cookies. Members volunteer each month.

Q: Who leads the discussion? Do you use reading group guides?

A: Whoever suggests a book (and it is chosen), then that person moderates. But some don't like to, so I usually moderate. Yes, sometimes we do use reading guides to help us out.

Q: What kind of books do you read?

A: All kinds, including novels, biographies, classics, history, women’s interest and mysteries.

Q: How do you choose your books? Do you choose one new book at each meeting, or do you choose the books for a number of meetings ahead of time?

A: We ask members for suggestions and then they vote on it. We try to pick two months in advance. Also, a short letter is sent to all members each month reviewing the books that are chosen and any other activities we discussed.

Q: What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the group read?

A: Some of our favorites are The Glass Castle, Stones from the River, The Color of Water, The Secret Life of Bees, The Kite Runner, The Great Gatsby, River of Doubt, Triangle, The House of Sand and Fog, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter and My Sister's Keeper.

Q: How do you keep things fun?

A: I think we keep things fun by not getting "too" serious. We value everyone's opinion, and many of us have brought a lot of our experiences to the club, which helps for a livelier discussion.

Q: What advice would you give to other reading groups?

A: Value all opinions and take suggestions from everyone as to the type of book the club should read.

Q: Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other special tales to tell?

A: No horror stories, but lots of amusing anecdotes (though I can't remember them).

Q: Is there anything else unique or noteworthy about your group that you would like to share?

A: Our club, with the Friends of the Library, also runs the annual book and bake sale at the library to raise money for the library. Our book club has a luncheon twice a year just to relax, talk and have fun. Many of us have become good friends through the Book Club. Also, one of our members is a published author who wrote one book and is now writing another. We have discussed her book at our meetings. Another member, a teacher, had a student in English class who wrote many books, and we discussed one of his books at a meeting.

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