Discussion Groups

Norman Williams Public Library hosts a variety of lively, ongoing book discussion groups. All are open and welcome new participants.

Intrigued by the topic, the titles, or books in general? If the subject piques your curiosity and it fits your schedule, please join us for one session – or several! You are welcome as often (or as randomly) as you like. Most offer a hybrid format allowing you to attend in person or via Zoom.

Details about the meetings and any changes to the regularly scheduled date or time will be posted on the Events Calendar Pages. Please email to register or for link to join remotely.

If you are a patron interested in borrowing the books selected for discussion, please let us know as soon as possible. We are happy to request copies via interlibrary loan if our copies are already checked out. The Yankee Bookshop offers participants our reading groups a discount on the chosen book! Just let them know which group you are in.

What’s On Your Nightstand?

Meets monthly – in person and/or via Zoom – on the 2nd Tuesday from 10:30 am to noon. (Dates and details.)

This is NOT your usual Book Club! There is no assigned reading…. We chat about books you’re currently reading, books you’ve loved, and the books you’ve always wanted to read.

Along with great book recommendations, our discussions have ranged from the design and appeal of book jackets, the e-book revolution, which books we reread and why, modern writers, the craft of writing, and the elements of great writing.

Librarian Kathy Beaird has led this monthly gathering for over a decade. Each month we come away energized and eager for more. Drop-ins welcome! To join the group, email .

Exploring Irish Literature

Meets monthly* on the fourth Tuesday from 10:30 – noon. (Dates and details.)

Explore Irish Literature with a new book discussion group facilitated by Karen Copenhaver and Colleen Warren at NWPL! We’ll gather on the fourth Tuesday each month, beginning on May 26. All are welcome!

Irish literature is a rich field for discussion. From ancient mythology to modern society, Irish writers tackle urban and rural issues, political and religious divides, and the challenges and joys of life with honesty and humor.

For our first meeting, we’ll talk about Séamas O’Reilly’s memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? and make a plan for future discussions. Please come with suggestions – fiction and non-fiction, contemporary and historical.

* See Events Calendar for any schedule adjustments.

Read, Cook, Eat! A Cookbook Club

Meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesday at 6 pm. (Dates and details.)

Do you like to read about cooking, experiment with recipes, share stories about food with others, and eat good food? If so, we invite you to join us “Read, Cook, Eat!” We choose a cookbook or a region or a tradition from which to explore flavors and recipes.

We meet – and eat! – monthly on the 3rd Tuesday at 6 pm.

Details about the format of these gatherings may be found on the event calendar pages.

In May we’ll eat AL FRESCO: West Coast Picnic foods – and dine outside if the weather cooperates.

Read Between the Lines

Meets monthly – in person and/or via Zoom – on the 4th Wednesday at 4 pm. (Dates and details.)

Want to talk about (mostly) fiction? NWPL invites you to Read Between the Lines!

This group is facilitated by Donna Steed, a retired Special Educator teacher/administrator who loves all books and has been involved with many different book clubs from Texas to London! She is a long time volunteer at NWPL and active in the community.

Upcoming… 

In May we’ll talk about The Measure by Nikki Erlick.

For those of you who like to read ahead:

• June: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• July: Main Street by Sinclair Lewis

Literary Pairs

Meets quarterly – in person and/or via Zoom – on the 1st Wednesday at 1 pm; February, May, August, and November. (Dates and details.)

Intrigued by how books relate to each other?

Librarians Kathy Beaird and Lori Mitchell have teamed up to host “Literary Pairs,” a discussion of books that complement each other. Because there are two books to read for each meeting, this group meets every three months. Dessert will be provided!

Everyone is welcome! Please email if you wish to join remotely.

The theme and titles for our May meeting is “For a time / I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” – from “The Peace of Wild Things,” a poem by Wendell Berry. We’ll read and discuss Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton and This Is Happiness by Niall Williams.

“One-off” Book Discussions

Have you ever gotten to the end of a book and wanted–perhaps needed–to talk about it with someone else who has read it? Norman Williams Public Library hosts occasional “one-off” discussions as books that fit this category come to our attention.

Though all of the book groups at NWPL welcome readers to attend one or many meetings, these “one-off” gatherings will be book-initiated. Fiction, biography, history, or current events, we are open to all genres and topics. Please let us know if you have a suggestion!

The Vermont Humanities’ current Vermont Reads selection is The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. We have chosen this novel for our next “One-off” discussion to be facilitated by Alan Berolzheimer. We will meet at 6 pm on Tuesday, May 5. (details)