Book club returns readers to their youth
It may be impossible for adults to regain their youth in the physical sense, but they can return to their younger days through their reading material.
That’s just what members of the Time Turners Book Club are doing.
Members of the group facilitated by the Lethbridge Public Library get to feel young again by delving into books written for a young-adult audience.
The club has been running since 2017, when it was launched by the library’s teen brarian, Paige McGeorge. Emily Kundrik, the library’s customer assistant, took over co-ordinating the club about a year after it started.
“It largely came about because we were seeing so many adults reading young adult books and requesting those titles, and we wanted to give them a space where they could discuss the books they loved,” Kundrik says.
While participation numbers have fluctuated, the club has a core group of six to eight participants, Kundrik notes. “Among these participants we’ve had members of all ages, which really shows the appeal of youngadult literature.”
What exactly is the appeal of young-adult books for adults?
“Young-adult books are full of emotion, much like the teenage years are,” says Kundrik. “Everything is so new at that age: every relationship, every adventure and every life event. I think that many adults are attracted to these books because of the emotions and the feelings in them. Also, especially in recent years, young-adult literature has diversified quite a bit, so there is such a variety of books now for this age range that highlight FNMI authors, LGBTQ authors, authors of colour, etc.”
Asked what can the club members draw from reading books aimed at young adults, Kundrik replies: “Teenagers are pretty amazing, in the way that they believe anything is possible and in the way they look at the world and see a new future for it, because they are the future. I think those ideas are deeply rooted in young-adult literature, and that is compelling to adults. As well I think that overall, young-adult books are very hopeful, and even as adults we can benefit from that hope.”
The COVID-19 pandemic put club gatherings on hold in March, but starting in January, meetings will resume online via Zoom.
“It will be new ground for us,” says Kundrik. “We are looking forward to being able to meet in person again after the pandemic, and when it is safe to do so.”
The book selection for January is “One of Us is Lying” by Karen McManus while the February book is “Pumpkinheads” by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks.
Some book titles are chosen by theme, Kundrik explains.
“For example, we usually try to do a romance for February and a spooky book for October. We also take requests from members if there is a book that one of them has really loved. For most of the other selections, we try to choose books that we think the members will enjoy and that will generate some good conversation. Some of these are recently published, while some are older.”
The club is open to new members, and they can find out more by calling the Crossings Branch at 403-320-4037 or checking the library’s website