Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1504946
28 WAC Magazine | wac.net club life affinity group e WAC Book Club is quickly becom- ing one of the most popular affinity groups at the Club. eir meetings start rather simply. Members grab a coffee from "1930" or a glass of wine from Hagerty's before making their way to Torchy's. ey sign in, make a name tag, and catch up or introduce themselves as everyone settles in. en the real action begins! At a recent meeting, over a dozen members of the club discussed "e Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. e suggestion came from member Cindy Anderson, and the novel follows Anda- lusian shepherd Santiago on a journey of self-discovery. Cindy opened the discussion with some initial questions, and others quick- ly added additional thoughts or read favorite excerpts aloud, sharing personal interpretations and critiques. Member Amy Pieper said she enjoyed Coelho's recurring theme of finding your "per- sonal legend" and felt it could resonate with people at any point in their lives. Member Joseph Maverick also read "Veronika Decides to Die" by Coelho and recommended it to those who want- ed to read more by the author. Although not everyone loved the book, the various viewpoints shared led to a robust discussion. "at's what's great about this group," member Lynn Dissinger says. "It challenges us to read things we typically wouldn't." e WAC Book Club meets at 5 pm on the fourth Monday of each month and has been going strong since its first official meeting this past January. At its recent meeting, club members pitched books for future reading (see sidebar). Lynn and fellow member Cheryl Steele have spent two decades in various book clubs and stepped up to lead the group. e idea developed in a meet- ing of the Club Programs Engagement Committee. Aer each book club meeting, some members head to Hagerty's for dinner together and to keep the conversation going. "ese affinity groups help form bonds with other members," Lynn says. "Enjoying the books would be great, but for me it's about the fellowship." u Member Lynn Dissinger leads the discussion about the WAC Book Club's upcoming reads. E M I L I O H U E R TA S A real page-turner Reading list Whether you consider yourself a bookworm or are just looking to read more, the WAC Book Club has a spot for you. Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap. The group meets at 5 pm on the fourth Monday of every month. AUGUST "Running with Sherman" by Christopher McDougall SEPTEMBER "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus OCTOBER "The Big Burn" by Timothy Egan DECEMBER "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides WAC Book Club connects members one title at a time Join the group chat on the WAC app by tapping Menu > Stay Connected > The WAC Chat > Join an official chat. By Maya Anderson