Bonding with books

Seniors club brings avid readers together at the library

It’s no mystery as to why Connie McInnis loves the seniors book club at the Glace Bay Library.

“I love mysteries and it forced me to open up to other things,” she said. “You read things you wouldn’t normally read. It broadened my horizons.”

However she said it’s also about the great group of people involved who have become friends.

“We’ve gotten close as we all socialize together outside the club.”

The seniors book club was formed about five years ago at the Glace Bay Library with the help of a New Horizons grant.

Club members meet once a month.

Librarian Charlene Budden said there is a catalogue of books specifically for the book club as there are 10 copies of each. Each month one of the sets of books is sent to the club and the members read the book during the month and discuss it at their next meeting.

Budden said the members will often come together and go to other functions outside the club.

“They really bonded. They go to dinner together, have parties, go for coffee and even will carpool.”

Budden said they recently celebrated the 96th birthday of member Mary McIntyre.

It’s McIntyre’s second year with the club and she says she really enjoys it as well.

“I think everyone in it likes it,” she said. “You read books you wouldn’t normally read.”

She said many of the books associated with the book club have been stories from Nova Scotia or by writers from the province.

“I just love to read,” she said. “I love a mystery story and a travel story.”

However she admitted sometimes the club will get a book that doesn’t maintain her interest as with “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”

“I skipped through it,” she said. “I don’t like time travel stories very much but I’ve always loved stories about travelling.”

Don Langill joined the club two years ago and really enjoys it. He is also involved with the local walking club and some members are involved in the book club which is how he got involved.

He laughed when asked what it was like to be the only man in the club.

“If they give me too much grief I can stay away a week,” he said, adding he was only joking, the entire group is close and often socialize together outside the club.

“They are all so well read and intelligent, it’s a great group,” he said.