Ladies of a Certain Age ~ for those invisible powerful, dynamic, vital women

I praised the advantages of reading and book clubs in the August 2026 newsletter. This is what I wrote:

There’s nothing like a good book to read on a hot day. (No, I am not going to recommend James Mitchener’s 1974, 909-page classic about Colorado, Centennial. I cried and cried after reading that book shortly after it was published.) Reading is a great way to escape the world when it is emotionally and physically sizzling. A book can transport you to another world. I like book clubs for two reasons: I’m introduced to books I have never read, and I get to discuss them with a group of friends. In this month’s blog post, I write about the various book clubs I have been part of. There’s a link at the bottom of this e-newsletter.

My first book club was with my three closest friends in fifth and sixth grade, during 1957-1958.

We raced to read all the Nancy Drew Mysteries

I don’t remember how we kept track. The internet did not exist then.

Over 40 years later, I started a book club with fellow staff and volunteers of the American Cancer Society. I don’t remember any of the books we read, but I do remember enjoying the gossip, mostly from volunteers. Some of them were married to doctors.

In the early 1990s, several of us public relations and marketing professionals began a book club. We met at night since we all worked. One member belonged to a country club, and she hosted us there at Christmastime! As we aged, we changed the meeting time to Sunday brunch. The hostess would serve a meal and drinks appropriate for the book we were reading.

Every year, we suggest books for the upcoming year and hold a vote. All the books were real books—either hardcover or paperback. It was a lot of work: researching books, cleaning the house, preparing a meal, and making drinks.

After moving to Grand Junction in 2016, I joined a book club at the Mesa County Library that met mid-morning. The group included both women and men. A librarian organized the club, held elections to select suggested books for a set period, acquired additional copies for the library, and led the meetings. It was a great way for me to meet people in the community and hear both female and male perspectives on a book. At that time, no food or drinks were allowed. I was part of this group until COVID restrictions on meetings. After COVID, the group continued, and beverages were permitted. I resumed attending for a short time.

This year, a friend and I started a book club that meets from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at a local church that provides us with space. We invited friends to join us. Beverages are allowed, but you must clean up after yourself. We pass a basket for a suggested donation to the church for letting us use the space. We vote on the books we will read. The member whose book we are reading leads the meeting. People read books in whatever format they choose. Sometimes it is hard to get the book. Then, members share or read a book in a format other than their preferred one. I like this meeting because I get to meet new people, be with friends, read books I wouldn’t have read, enjoy my cup of coffee, and not have to clean the house or worry about people coming to my home.