A small group met in the Bunch of Grapes Room in Baker University Center last Sunday night to discuss what many college students might consider a long-lost pastime -reading for pleasure.
Inspired by a customer of the Front Room, also located in Baker Center, who suggested the idea, Ohio University senior and Front Room employee Talya Strader and sophomore Leah Overholt started the book club hoping to rekindle a love for reading among the student population. Currently the club has about 10 members, Strader said.
Part of the purpose of this book club is to remember how much fun reading is
Strader said, adding, Required reading sucks.
Freshmen students read an average of 1.6 books for pleasure a year, according to a 2003 survey by OU's Office of Institutional Research. Many students interviewed said they just don't have the time because of the reading required by courses.
Chris Cantoni, a member of the book club, said he enjoys being able to read a book without the pressure of being tested on it in the future. Plus, he said, When you read a good book you want to share it with other people.
Amid cups of coffee, the club discussed their most recent selection, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers.
Since the book club was started at the beginning of this year, they have also read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. The next selection is The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby.
The books are purchased with money from the Ohio University Pepsi donation, said Strader. Members of the book club get the books for free, but they must be returned upon completion.
We are trying to pick good books with good stories and ones that everyone can relate to
Strader said.
Member Erin Brennan said the selections Strader and Overholt have made are so good they have caused her to shirk her studies.
I feel guilty
Brennan said, I should be reading more of my school work.
She said she enjoys being able to discuss the books with other members as well.
Many times if you read a book on your own
it's on your mind but you usually can't talk about it with other people
she said.
She later added that being able to discuss the books with others allows her to pick up on things she might have missed or to see certain aspects of the book in a different light.
Both Strader and Overholt said they would like to see an increase in the club's membership.
Those interested in the club can inquire at the counter in the Front Room for further information.
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Paul Kita
