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 .

Time to Talk Books

Meets Monthly* – in person and/or via Zoom – on the first Tuesday, 5:30 pm. (Dates and details.)

NWPL’s “What’s On Your Nightstand” Book Discussion Group on Tuesday mornings is so popular, we formed a second group with no assigned reading that meets in the early evening.

We invite you to join us to learn what others are excited about reading, recommend authors and titles, talk about audio narrators, explore book jacket designs, and discuss other reading-related topics.

“Think not of the books you’ve bought as a ‘to be read’ pile. Instead, think of your bookcase as a wine cellar. You collect books to be read at the right time, the right place, and the right mood.” – Luc von Dondersgoed

* See Events Calendar for any schedule adjustments.
NO Meeting in December 2025.

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 December, we’ll celebrate the holidays with a British Tea – sweet and savory treats.

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… 

There is no meeting in December.

On January 21 (a week early due to travel plans), we will be discussing James by Percival Everett.

Looking ahead, we have a tentative schedule for those who wish to get a jump start on the list:

February 25 – Martyr by Kaveh Akbar
March 25 – Replay by Ken Grimwood and Twice by Mitch Albom
April 22 – Becoming Madame Secretary by Stephanie Dray
May 27 – The Measure by Nikki Erlick

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 February meeting is “The Devil pulls the strings which make us dance” – a quote from Baudelaire. We’ll read and discuss Lolly Willowes, Or, The Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner and Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov.

“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!