by Barbara Buckley
Fall and reading fit together naturally. Sitting with a book in a warm and comfy spot in my house, perhaps with a blanket and a cup of tea, is a reliable pleasure in my life. If the weather is crisp and cool outside, or maybe even windy and rainy, this only accentuates the coziness. Letting myself sink intellectually and emotionally into a well-crafted piece of written work completes the moment. As the esteemed science fiction and fantasy author Ursula Le Guin wrote, “The unread story is not a story, it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.” That’s our role as readers, to bring the written word to life. This can begin at the library. I’ve looked around the library many times, and marveled at how sedate and orderly the books look on the shelves, lined up systematically, placed just so. The exterior belies the drama, the sheer expansiveness of the stories, ideas, and facts within the covers. When we select a book, we are taking the first step in bringing an author’s work to life.
I’ve found that one enjoyable way to extend the life of a story is to discuss a book with others in a book club. It turns the solitary dialogue between the reader and the author into a social discourse. Discussion brings more perspectives and meaning, extending the life of the story, and connecting people to each other. The personalities, experiences and knowledge of the participants expand one’s relationship to the story in ways far beyond the written words of the author. Friendships are formed at book clubs as members share their viewpoints and love of literature.
If you think you would like to try a book club, or add a second book club to your life, check out the Adams County Library System’s book club offerings. With around a dozen different book clubs meeting monthly across the county, including virtually, there are book clubs to suit a variety of interests and tastes.
The Gettysburg Library hosts a Historical Fiction Book Club, a Science Fiction Book Club, a Mystery Book Club, and a Nonfiction Book Club. They also organize a “Books and Brews” monthly club where readers share what they are reading with others at local establishments. The Littlestown Library facilitates two virtual book clubs: Cozy Reads and the True Crime Book Club. The Carroll Valley, Harbaugh-Thomas, Littlestown, New Oxford, and East Berlin libraries feature monthly book clubs covering a variety of genres throughout the year. For details as to locations and time,s please check online at adamslibrary.org/events, pick up a What’s Happening quarterly program guide, or talk to a library staff member. Books are available for check-out for all book clubs. Happy reading this fall!
Barbara Buckley is Western Regional Manager at the Adams County Library System.
The Adams County Library System is participating in the 15th annual Adams County Community Foundation Giving Spree on November 6th and is number 15 in the donor guide. For more information on how you can make an impact in Adams County, visit ACCFGivingSpree.org.