Bound By More Than Books: A Story of Community and Connection

By Ellen Greenwood

The Westside Book Club is a wonderful example of our church's ability to reach well beyond Sunday morning services. As a charter member, I have participated in the book club for many years, seeing our group wax and wane, change where we meet, change how we meet. But through all the changes, our sense of community, our love of books, and our thoughtful exchange of ideas remains strong.

We started meeting at the church back in Westside's storefront days on Kingston Pike. Then for several years we met in members' homes but eventually moved back to the church. When COVID turned our world upside down, we started meeting on Zoom, which we continue to do. Zoom meetings allow people to participate in our discussions who almost never come to church in person—either for health or personal reasons or because of distance. At present we have one active member in Michigan and another in California!

Recently I asked the group for comments on their book club experiences. Here are a few of their replies:

Book-scarf club. Scarf-book club?

"I love Westside's Book Club because we share ideas, comments, and encouragement," wrote Linda Hayes.

Darla S. appreciates that we read fiction and non-fiction, throwing in a few classics from time to time. She adds that "everyone contributes meaning to the group that cannot be expressed in words."

Sue O.H. praised both the community we have created and our varied reading choices. She wrote:

I am a member of the Westside Book Club and I live some 12 hours away! I joined when we lived in Crossville, Tn and we were members of Westside UU. Because the meetings are on Zoom, I was able to stay in the club after we moved to Michigan. What I love about the club:

1. I can stay in even when I moved away

2. I can stay in touch with friends I made at Westside

3. We read a variety of books, since we rotate between fiction, non fiction and classics.

4. I have read books I never would have picked up if not for the Book club.

And Sherri B., another long-distance member, said, "The first book club I attended with the Westside UU was in February 2020, and we read and discussed The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. I remember it vividly; it was my first in-person book club with UU, and the story was so interesting to discuss with a group of other people who had their thoughts about the book. We all know what happened next once COVID shut down all in-person activities. However, UU and the introduction of Zoom to the rescue, and we continued with our monthly selections and adventures into the windows of imagination, science, and historical fiction. I became a regular participant in the monthly conversations, even if I didn't necessarily enjoy the book. I always got something positive and informative from the contributions and insights of others, and it made all the time invested in reading the book worthwhile."

Sherri goes on to say that "part of a book club is not to pick and choose what you THINK you might like or not like, but to accept the selection and read with an open mind. Many times, I was surprised by how interesting the book was and the interesting conversation that resulted. We all have an opportunity to suggest books to read; it's a collaborative effort. I still attend the book club via Zoom even though I moved back to California in January 2025. I still enjoy sharing my thoughts with my friends in the book club, which has become something I look forward to every month. I look forward to continuing my relationship with this wonderful group and will always continue my relationship with good books."

Everyone seems to appreciate the variety of our reading choices. As Sherri points out, sometimes our selection stretches us to read a book we would not have ordinarily chosen. I remember many years ago when the group chose to read Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World. I thought, "Why in the world would I want to read a book about cod?" But it proved to be one of the most fascinating books I have ever read! I definitely recommend it.

Several of us recall the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt as a favorite, along with the wonderful novels of Fredrik Backman. Many of us agree with Sue O.H. when she says that The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben gave her a new respect for trees that affects her every time she walks in the woods. Other non-fiction favorites are How to Be Brave by Marianne Edgar Budde and Bittersweet by Susan Cain.

Darla S. reminded me that occasionally we have read books by local authors and had them visit. Many of us love the historical fiction of Knoxville writer Pamela Schoenewalt who came to our meeting to discuss When We Were Strangers, her novel about Italian immigrants to the U.S.

There are so many excellent books and authors that I could mention, but I think all of us agree that most importantly at book club we share ideas, comments, and encouragement. As Darla put it, "Everyone contributes meaning to the group that cannot be expressed in words."

The Westside Book Club meets the fourth Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. via Zoom. You can find the link in the weekly newsletter email and in the Members' Area of the church website. Currently we are reading Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala. For October, we are reading The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green. Please join us! Visit our Book Club page here.