WHAT'S ALL THIS NOISE ABOUT BOOK GROUPS?
By Kathy Goldin
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     It's two o'clock in the morning, you've just finished the last page of 
Lonesome Dove and you are wishing two things:  one, that there were more 
pages in the book, and two, that you could talk to somebody about it! Never 
mind that you almost quit the book in disgust three times until you got to 
page 65; reading this book was a gripping experience and youUd like to 
discuss it. Guess what? There are hundreds of people out there who feel the 
same way. There are fellow humans who feel so strongly about books, they've 
formed clubs, groups, and circles for reading and talking about fiction, 
non-fiction, poetry, classics, mysteries, environmental and nature studies, 
science fiction (I'm sure I left something out) and whatever. As a long-term 
book group member in various cities, I never thought much about other book 
groups; friends who knew about my monthly participation in a book group 
thought it was quaint, if a bit strange. But that was years ago, and lately, 
I've stumbled upon book groups in likely and unlikely places.  How do you
start a book group? Try the library; recently I've come across two good
books. The Reading Group Handbook, by Rachel W. Jacobson; Hyperion, 349
pages, 1994 (how to start and organize a group, written by a professional
reading group leader, covering the art of discussion, the question of rules,
sample lists, and last but not least, food). The Book  Group Book, by Ellen
Slezak, Chicago Review Press, 245 pages, 1993 (a  collection of essays
describing various groups around the country including those with set goals
such as poetry, non-fiction, women authors, contemporary fiction or classics; 
groups made up of all women, married couples, lesbians, children, etc., 
and many book lists).
     Point Richmond has two (that I know about) working book groups; mine was
started five years ago by Rita Weiss (who since has moved to Las Vegas) as a 
feminist group, but we have strayed from the original topic to reading 
contemporary and 19th century fiction. We have about twelve members, we meet 
in homes on a monthly schedule, and  keep the discussion and book choices 
informal, deciding by consensus. 
     Did I mention the membership was all women? You guessed! That seems to 
be a common occurrence among book groupsQmost members are women. According to
Rodd Zolkos, a reading group member from Chicago, "Book Group just isnUt a 
tongue men can speak." 
     Well, Bill Johnston is the exception to the above rule. Three years ago 
he started the Brickyard Book Group with the Great Books Foundation and genre
literature as the focus. This group is made up of seven to eight men and 
women who meet monthly in members' homes. Bill facilitates the group by 
posting notices concerning the group in the Cove Call and the four buildings'
bulletin boards. NOTE:  this is a very important part of any groupUs success.
While commitment and interest are vital, it's easy to forget about 
communicating the what, when and where of each meeting. He says the people in
the group run it themselves, and that the materials available through the 
Great Books Foundation offer guidelines with the information and questions to
help wandering discussions get back on track. New members are welcome. Bill 
also belongs to another group in Sausalito, and is starting a new group at 
Borders Books in San Rafael (415-454-1400 for more information). So there, 
Rodd Zolkos!
     In Berkeley, the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Shattuck Avenue has several
active book groups that meet in the store on a regular basis. Tom Connor 
says the Mystery Club is going strong, and he can tell you more about the 
other groups, too call 510-644-086. He says each group sets up its own 
rules; better still, members enjoy a 20 per cent savings on books. Our own 
Pt. Richmond library offers story time for children at 10:30 on Thursdays, 
and is a good source for book group selections, but it does not have any 
book groups. So there you are; lots of possibilities for potential book 
group members exist in the Bay Area -  Explore and enjoy.