Book Clubs

 

Like reading books and talking about life and happiness? Then these could be the groups for you. We come together for one common interest—books. Yet, in exploring the stories or history together, we will discover we have so much more in common as well. We try to find new areas to branch into each month. We may invite OLLI authors with manuscripts ready for publication. We don’t break the stories down clinically, piece by piece. Instead, we prefer to discuss the story in general terms and how it relates to us. There are four separate clubs to choose from—see below.

Click here for information about connecting to OLLI zoom classes. (OLLI members only)

 

“Genreflections” Book Club

Alternate Fridays • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. • Zoom

February (13 no class), 27 • March 13, 27 • April 17 • May 1, 15

This course is for those who enjoy reading and discussing fiction. We will explore a variety of novels representing various genres, such as travel fiction, historical fiction, coming-of-age fiction and domestic fiction. Our genre selection for the first class of our 2026 spring semester is Gaslamp novels. Our selected novel is “The Hexologists” by Josiah Bancroft: “Where magical mysteries abound and only one team can solve them: The Hexologists.”

Instructor: Andrea Tarr     Tech Coordinator: Rosalind Charles

 

Graphic Novels: the Art of Storytelling

Alternate Thursdays • 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. • Zoom

February 5, 19 • March 5, 19 • April (2 no class), 9, 23 • May 7

A graphic novel is a storytelling genre that brings the text to life through stunning artwork that supports but does not replace the written story. Our  course offers books that are challenging and engaging, such as “John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude,”which takes the reader on a narrated visual journey through the long-lost American wilderness; “A Fire Story,” that begins with a picture of a lone house colored bright red and orange, depicting what the artist saw before he and his family left it to burn in the 2017 fire and “Brittle Bones,” in which a woman suffering chronic pain copes by drawing the beauty around her. Please join our lively group and share our journeys through graphic novels!

Instructor: Dr. Barbara Glaeser    
Coordinator/Tech Coordinator: Jill Patterson

 

Kitty’s Book Club

Alternate Mondays • 12:15 p.m.-2 p.m. • Zoom

February 9, 23 • March 9, 23 • April 13, 27 • May 11

Our book club loves exploring different themes in discussing fiction books. Prior to the first class of the semester, our members generate the list of books to read. The first book of the 2026 spring semester will be “Go Ask Frannie” by Elisabeth Hyde. Please read the book and join our discussion.

Coordinators: Lisa Sewell and Juanita Driskell

Mystery Book Club

Alternate Mondays • 12:15 p.m.-2 p.m. • Zoom

February 2, 16 • March 2, 16, (30 no class) • April 6, 20 • May 4

Mystery Books is a category well established by the reading public. Authors such as Agatha Christie and characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple are well known. Mystery books are so popular that they have separate awards for excellence, humor, etc. The “Mystery Book Club” meets and discusses a book selected by club members. Please read “The White Lioness” by Henning Mankell before our first class and “The In Crowd” by Charlotte Vassell before the second class. Subsequent selections will be determined by the club during the first class.

Coordinators: Patrick Boyle and Sandy Potter