BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
Mahomet, Ill. – The Mahomet Public Library is expanding its programming to include more options for adults.
Alongside Adult Craft Connection events, a Business and Professional Book Club will meet every other month beginning on Sept. 26, 2019 and a Tuesday Night Book Club for adults will meet monthly beginning Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
An avid reader, Rebekah Rhode, now a library trustee, was excited to meet new people through something she loved to do by joining a book club at the public library when she moved to Mahomet.
Being part of a book club is something that Rhode considered to be her “saving grace.” She was able to get connected with a private book club.
“I was really fortunate because then I started to meet people in the community, and got invited to other people’s books.”
But the library continued to get requests, hoping that a public book club would be established in Mahomet.
“With our new director (John Howard) and kind of the new path that we’re taking, we really wanted to offer that to people,” Rhode said. “So we are very, very excited to have this going this fall and we’re really grateful to people who are trying to get the word out.”
The organizing group picked three popular books for their first three discussions in September, October and November. On Sept. 10, it will look at the memoir “Educated” by Tara Westover. This unforgettable story follows Westover as she navigates the vast world of education after never having attended school as a child, but eventually goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.
The group has scheduled another piece by first-time author Gail Honeyman for October as it will discuss “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.” This story of friendship follows three outcasts who save each other from the isolation they have been living in.
“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens is scheduled to be looked at in November. The book follows Kya Clark, the “Marsh Girl” suspected of murder. As she reveals her sensitive wise self, the unthinkable happens.
Rhode said after November, the group will take December to look at the months ahead.
“We very much envision as the book club gets going, we’re really hoping that people will start to take ownership,” she said. “We don’t want it to be our book club. We want it to be their book club.”
For continuity, Rhode will “lead” discussions in the beginning, but she said the format will be informal and open as people reflect on the story told.
Rhode said it’s just about sharing a joy of literature while they create a community within the library.
“It’s kind of, you know, our new focus where we’re headed is creating, you know, just creating a community where people are fell really welcome and wanted and included,” she said.
Rhode believes that it’s through friendship that readers will find great book selections.
