it just isn’t possible to get to the book, and we’ve tried to find a way to deal with that as well. We created a “drop-in” option for our book club so that those of us who really want to be included but can’t fully commit to reading each month have the opportunity to read when they can and come to the meetings. These members never host a meeting, and when they do come to one, they bring a bottle of wine to the hostess as a contribution to the night. So far, it has worked well and has allowed some people the option to stay in the group when they might otherwise have given up.

Debbie Johansson is a drop-in member now, and it has worked well for her. “The only books I read before this book club were John Grisham books, so I really looked forward to being challenged by something new. Sometimes I can do it and it works. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen,” she says. Other members of our group include Kim Watson and Ellen Moriarty.