The Deptford library’s Wednesday adult book club – whose title choices are voted on by members – will hold its next meeting on June 18 at 6:30 p.m.
“Our meetings usually last about an hour, and they are open to anyone over 18,” said reference librarian Michelle Burns. “It is a very low-key type of environment. We just talk about what we liked or didn’t like about the book and the characters.”
While the book for June has yet to be decided, May’s choice was “The Island of Missing Trees,” by Elif Shafak. The story takes place on the island of Cyprus in the 1970s, where two teenagers – one Greek and one Turkish – fall in love as both their respective sides come into conflict with one another, all while a single fig tree bears witness to all the conflict taking place.
The story uses real-world history – in this case a 1974 Turkish invasion of the island that was the result of a coup by Greek nationalists – to tell a tale of love, the history of Cyprus and the natural world.
The book club will discuss views on the book.
“Sometimes we universally love a book, like when we read ‘West with Giraffes,'” said Burns. “We couldn’t say enough good things about that book. And then there are sometimes titles that don’t go over so well; I won’t name them. The best conversations, however, are when different people have different reactions to the books.”
Despite the differences of opinions, the atmosphere of the club is described as “friendly and congenial” by Burns. The next month’s book choice is always voted on at the end of the previous session. Call the library at (856) 848-9149 for the current month’s title.
“The book for the following month is selected at each meeting, so people who haven’t read the book are encouraged to come so they can be part of the selection conversation,” Burns explained. “The whole point of a book club is to pick up a title you wouldn’t otherwise read and get different perspectives on the story and characters from other people.”
