The Book Lovers club at Durham College meets at the end of every month at the campus library.
The first meeting, held Sept. 25, included a giveaway featuring bookmarks and gift cards, adding a fun touch to the meeting.
The book club was first formed in 2023 by Megan Stokes, an avid reader and a student in the in the Entrepreneurship and Small Business program at Durham College.
Last year, the club explored various genres, from thrillers like The Housemaid by Freida McFadden to historical fiction like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, among many others.
The club is currently running two book clubs simultaneously, both meet once a month to discuss the book of choice. This dual structure allows for greater flexibility and encourages participation among students with different schedules.
The club has made a few changes this year, including focusing on one specific genre: Romance. This is due to its popular demand.
“We changed that rule because we realized we didn’t read as many romance books as we would have liked,” said Stokes, reflecting on the club’s decision to align more closely with the preferences of its members.
The Book Lovers Club creates an opportunity for people to chat and share their opinion, which is Stokes’ favourite part.
Member Sonia Sikender also discussed her experiences with the club in an interview with The Chronicle.
“Having book clubs on campus is good because it helps connect with new people and you get to talk about your favourite books,” she said. Sikender emphasized that the club is not just about reading but also about building a sense of community among students.
The club includes fun get-togethers where all members can be creative and meet up in other ways. “We also have a bookmark making workshop,” Sikender says. highlighting one of the fun, hands-on events that bring members together outside of their regular meetings.
As the club moves forward with its romance-centred reading list, they hope to bring in even more members.
The club allows members to actively participate in choosing the books they read. At the end of each month, members vote on the next book selection through seeing what books are most popular on Goodreads. The chosen title is announced a week before the next meeting, giving members time to get a copy and start reading.
“We want everyone to feel involved in picking the books,” said Stokes.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just looking to connect with fellow students, the Book Lovers Club is open to all.
New members are always welcome, and joining is easy – simply visit the DCSA website or follow the club on Instagram at @dcbookloversclub for more information.