The Vista Book Group met in March to discuss Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain.  There were five self-described introverts and three ambiverts in attendance.  Many of us have heard the terms introvert and extrovert, but few of us have probably heard the term ambivert. According to Ms. Cain and the psychologists whose studies she references in her book, there really is no such thing as pure introvert or extrovert.   However, most of us usually tend to lean prominently toward one end of the introvert-extrovert spectrum.  If a person falls pretty much in the center of the spectrum, they are known as an ambivert.

 Vista Book Group’s February read was the Life of Pi by Yann Martel which won the 2002 Man Booker Prize.  The book has three parts, the first of which details Pi Patel’s life in Pondicherry, India and touches on his later life in Toronto, Canada, the second part details his 227 days as a castaway on the Pacific Ocean after the sinking of the Tsimtsum, and the third and shortest part takes place in Mexico where Pi washes ashore and tells his “unbelievable” story to two members of the Japanese Ministry of Transportation Maritime Department. 

 The Vista Book Group’s January discussion was on Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84. 1Q84, originally published in Japan as three separate books, was translated to English and released internationally as one lengthy book (925 pages).  But don’t let the size of the book scare you off, because if you do you will miss a compelling, interesting and, one might even say, weird story.  Of the ten members that made it to the meeting, five of us finished the book and four of us were still working our way through, but were determined to finish.  Almost all of us felt that the book was well worth the effort and time invested, although some felt that the book could have been shorter and still been a good read. 

The Main Library's Urban Readers Book Group is meeting on Tuesday, February
5th, from 6pm to 7pm to talk about The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you've seen the movie, then you know The Help is a remarkable story about life in Mississippi during the civil rights era. Join us for an enjoyable discussion and light refreshments! Contact Crystal at 929-3400 for more information on the Urban Readers Book Group.

Richland Library Ballentine is excited to announce a new Tween Bookclub for ages 9-12.  Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, February 12 at 4:30 pm. Come pick up our first selection, The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr at the Ballentine Library anytime!

Vista Book Group returns in January, 2013 to discuss a new series of interesting and edgy reads. Join us at 6 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of every month in Film and Sound at the Main Library.

During the month of February 2013, our whole community will be reading and talking about the same book through our One Book, One Columbia project. Would you like to get a sneak peek at the title of the book and be one of the first to check it out? Then please join us for our One Book Sneak Peak Reception on Tuesday, December 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and you'll have the opportunity to mix and mingle with other readers and literacy advocates from Richland County.  We will also have book club sets ready to check out. For those who are checking off their holiday gift lists, the book will be sold as well. All attendees will receive the coveted One Book lapel button and become our official Reading Advocates! 

As baseball is often used as a metaphor for life, this book explores the nature of success, failure, love, lust and jealousy through the ramifications of a missed throw. Harbach uses four changing voices and a light touch that kept us all turning pages.

Are you looking for new books to read and discuss?  If so, one of the library's newest book clubs just might be for you.  The group meets Tuesdays at 6pm, every other month, at the Main Library.  So, what's so different about this group?  The selections focus on African American literature including fiction and non-fiction.