What we are reading / book clubs in Georgia

About this club: Coming up on its 10th anniversary, this all-women club got started when neighborhood friends got to talking about books. The club now has about 25 members who take turns hosting, preparing refreshments and leading the discussion. "Members recommend books they have read, then we have a brief discussion considering the subject and working to have a variety of subjects, themes, geographic settings and time periods," Bryans says. They favor books that have received some literary recognition. Favorites include  "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver, "King Leopold's Ghost" by Adam Hochschild and "A Gesture Life" by Chang-Rae Lee. The club hasn't had any real flops, because the member who suggests a book has already read it. They have read some books that were more appreciated than enjoyed. For example, "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn was "a very bizarre and quirky book," Bryans says. "However, most readers came to the meeting, and we had a spirited discussion." When the club read "The Unvanquished" by William Faulkner, Sally Wolff-King, an assistant vice president and adjunct English professor at Emory University, discussed her upcoming book about Faulkner's connection to Holly Springs, Miss.

Recently read: "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, followed by "Mister Pip" by Lloyd Jones.

What they're about: Dickens' sprawling classic is about an orphan named Pip and a mysterious benefactor. "Mister Pip" is about a teacher who reads "Great Expectations" to students on an island involved in a civil war.

What members thought: "The characters in both books provided [for] a lively discussion of character study and themes," Bryans says. "Members agreed the combination of books provided a deeper level of interest and appreciation. In 'Mister Pip,' the main character offered hope to children caught in a war-torn community where school had been canceled. His vehicle was his version of 'Great Expectations.' "

Next assignment: "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner

Patti Ghezzi, for the AJC

Tell us what your club is reading.

Contact Patti Ghezzi at ajcbookclubs@yahoo.com