On Monday, October 26, the four GH-CP Book Clubs held their annual joint meeting.  It was a time for fellowship, social gathering, and discussion around the book selected by the host club, Creekside Readers.  This year’s selection was The Book Club for Troublesome Women, by Marie Bostwick.  She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty works of historical and contemporary women’s fiction.  Another big change this year was to make this event an evening potluck.  With every attendee bringing a dish to share, there was plenty of food for all and the kitchen crew involved several folks representing different clubs.

According to Bostwick, “the inspiration for the novel came from a conversation Bostwick had with her mother, who told her that reading Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique had changed her life.”  Bostwick began exploring the impact the groundbreaking book had on women of that generation. The time setting is 1963, a pivotal time when significant changes in women’s rights, civil rights, and society itself were about to emerge. The evening’s discussion covered the historical setting of the 1960’s, the role of pioneers, like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan, and the changes in society and values that were underway, as well as discussion of the book itself.  We appreciate the leadership of Dee McNally and Jeanne Axtell during the open discussion.

Over 35 book club members in the community came together for this event.  The culinary hit of the evening was the cocktail bar.  The setting for the book was the 1960’s and the intrepid crew of bartenders had researched cocktails of the time and prepared them for the event.  Many thanks to Fran Beach, Barbie White, Karen Ramming, and Courtney Geer for creating the delightful concoctions.   And a special note of thanks to Dawn Wharton who served as the event photographer.

If you have any interest in joining any of the book clubs, please contact one of the individuals below.  Sometimes, there is a waiting list for a particular club, but you can express interest in joining.  You’ll find people with similar interests in books, a common connection in the GH-CP community, and fellowship for this journey called life.

GH-CP Book Clubs and contacts:

Creekside Readers – Linda Whittaker (703-728-8383)

Rivah Readers – Janet Payne (703-517-4554) and Courtney Geer (804-314-8622)

Read Head Readers – Kerri Caron (757-334-0264)

Lazy River Readers – Katherine (Kat) White (804-363-0095)

posted 10.28.26