About us
We primarily meet via Zoom, and read books, stories, and plays aloud together.
Note: If you receive an email purporting to be from this group offering to feature your book, it is a scam. Please see https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/1nki6s5/book_club_review_scam/
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For those in the local Morristown NJ area who are interested in in-person book discussions, they are now listed on Bookclubs.com, as the "Florham Park Readers Group". You can join us at this link: https://bookclubs.com/clubs/6022268/join/fb34f2/
History of this group:
Founded in 2011 by the manager of Zebu Forno (now closed but it was a great place on South Street); we have since had a stint at Atlanta Bread in Madison – now also closed – and after that Panera Bread in Morristown (until it also closed) , then the one in Florham Park. Now, we have switched to the Florham Park Diner, across the street. See above to join us.
We started as a typical book club – reading mostly "literary" best-sellers with some non-fiction sprinkled in, all suggested by members. Then we had a phase where we each picked books that had special meaning for us, and discussed them with the group. Also we did a string of great YA fiction... We then tried a "featured writer" approach, first Haruki Murakami (our members are called "Laikas" in remembrance of "Sputnik Sweetheart"), then Pat Conroy, and finally Virginia Woolf. Now we are picking books from the NYT list of the best books of this century, and all have been winners!
The Summit Sunday Book Club
We started up in 9 years ago in the winter of 2014. For the first couple of years, we met at the lovely Summit home of our founder, Amy P., always on Sunday afternoons.
Amy envisioned a sort of salon where we’d gather to discuss literary books over tea and cookies. She did a great job of selecting a diverse mix of books as well as moderating our discussions.
After Amy left in 2016 it took a few of us to fill her shoes. Suzanne organized and led us in choosing books while others pitched in to host us and/or provide the treats we had come to enjoy. We met less and less often, finding home hosting a challenge to schedule. But we soldiered on until COVID nearly shut us down.
That’s how we ended up online. At first we just exchanged recommendations for books, movies, TV, and local outdoor escapes to help us get through the lockdown. Last year we returned to our tradition of choosing/discussing individual books with more of us getting involved. Through our reading we traveled all over the place and back and forward in time.
We still meet virtually. We continue to look to the experts in the book biz for recommendations. They include reviewers, critics, and literary organizations from all sorts of media. All their output makes it much easier to find books that are likely to be interesting, informative and “discussion-worthy”.
Over the years we’ve learned that everyone’s book preferences are very different. It’s folly to promise you’ll love every book we choose. Instead, by choosing a wide variety of great books, we hope sooner or later to come up with some that intrigue you and a few that really inspire you. To learn more about us please join us at our next meeting.
The Everywhere Else Book Club
During the pandemic, we started to do Shakespeare readings over Zoom, and acquired members who are from elsewhere and who can't attend in-person gatherings. We are expanding the Zoom meetings to do more Shakespeare, and other authors. These are mostly "read-together" meetups; come-as-you-are; no pre-reading needed.
The Shakespeare readings are named in honor of our long-time participant, Milt Commons.
Upcoming events
40
Read-Aloud: "Saint Joan", by George Bernard Shaw
·OnlineOnline(In our read-alouds, the text is screen-shared. No experience in reading aloud or advance preparation necessary.
(Wiki:) Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw about the 15th-century French military figure Joan of Arc. It is divided into six scenes and a final epilogue.
It was first produced in New York in December 1923 and opened in London three months later.Written after Joan's canonisation by the Roman Catholic Church, the play depicts her progress from peasant girl to military leader, her subsequent trial for heresy and her execution.
The play reflects Shaw's belief that the people involved in Joan's trial acted according to what they thought was right.
Image is a detail from Jules Bastien-Lepage's painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Latecomers (unless we know you) will generally NOT BE ADMITTED once the reading starts.
If this is your first time with us, consider joining five minutes early, so we can work out any technical issues you may be having.
5 attendees
Milt Commons Shakespeare: "Richard II"
·OnlineOnlineIf you just want to read the play, then join from 8-9. From 7:30 to 8 we read analysis of the play; from 9-9:30 we watch the RSC or other production of what we just read.
Join us in reading Shakespeare plays out loud; no prior experience needed. We assign roles by scenes, and discuss the scenes after.
You only need a copy of the play to participate; we use the Folger's online version: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-worksWe will commence or resume our reading of our current play from where we left off the previous week.
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A quick overview of Shakespeare: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Plays-of-Williams-Shakespeare--A-Complete-Guide-20240317
The Shakespeare readings are named in honor of our long-time participant, Milt Commons.
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Click on the link at right to join the Zoom meeting. You may need to install/update the Zoom software on your device. We usually open the room a little early in case you want to test your settings.Late-comers, unless we know you, will generally not be admitted, as it disrupts the reading. However, it's fine for attendees to drop off at any time they want.
4 attendees
Past events
876
Group links
Members
1,358
