Clubs of Conant: Book Club
Being home to 80+ clubs ranging from cultural awareness to academic competition, Conant really does have something for everyone. In this series, the Crier will help spread the word about lesser-known clubs in the hopes of helping students find where they belong.
It is common for people to falsely envision Book Club as a literary gathering solely for prestigious students and avid readers. In reality, members of Conant’s Book Club recognize that the club is just the opposite; in the words of Ms. Desi Rae Stricker, Library Teaching Assistant and Book Club’s sponsor, “It’s an opportunity to celebrate a community of readers… it’s being able to read and talk about books with a community of people, and being supported in your reading journey.”
Meeting once a month (usually a Monday) in the media center until 4:30, a small but growing group of students meets to discuss a selected monthly book as well as personal reads. The monthly book is chosen through recommendations and then handed out to members to read. There is often a series of inspirational discussion questions that help spark new conversations and even handmade goodie bags (bookmarks, stickers, pens, etc) that enhance the specialty of the club.
Book Club was created in order to celebrate reading. According to Stricker, “Being able to read and talk about books with a community of people, being supported in your reading journey, no matter where you are coming from—that’s the point of Book Club.” No matter who you are or how many books you read, you are welcomed to join in and foster the spirit of reading.
Emily Bienko, ‘26, is a new member to Book Club, but already feels the all-encompassing energy during meetings. “It’s a judgment-free space where people can talk about even the most uncommon books. To me, Book Club is like family,” Bienko said.
Other members of Book Club feel the same about the inspiring community.
Swara Gaikar, ‘25, a regular member for three years, said, “We aim to make everyone feel comfortable with sharing their thoughts and opinions. We have created a very tight-knit community of readers.”
Book Club doesn’t stop with monthly meetings; events such as books-giving and movie nights are also sponsored by the group and bring even more readers together. While events and meetings have already occurred throughout this year, there are still plenty of opportunities to get yourself involved, and still time to sign up!
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