OWN developed, and continues to provide leadership in, several Toronto area book discussion groups. Two are held at branches of the Toronto Public Library, and one at the OWN office; groups meet once a month. Each group decides on format, book selection and time of meeting. Some groups have concentrated on feminist literature (broadly interpreted); others have read fiction and non-fiction alternately. An effort is always made to ensure that there are sufficient copies of a chosen book available in the library system. Since the groups meet in public libraries, which provide free space and publicity, they are open to any interested woman.
The criteria for selecting books vary somewhat from group to group, but include:
- * books must be relevant to women’s lives* books may be current best-sellers or less well-known works of the past or the present* choices are made based on the interest of the topic and the accessibility of the book so that all members will have the opportunity to read the book before the meeting at which it is discussed
* books vary, generally alternating fiction and non-fiction.
* authors chosen are mainly, but not always, women, with men’s viewpoints on women’s lives sometimes interesting and thought-provoking
Our groups at libraries across the city always welcome new members, and are an interesting way to interact with others in a stimulating environment.
Northern District
Contact: Adrienne Taylor, 416-481-2356, adriennes at ca.inter.net
Meets third Wednesday of the month, 2-4 pm (except Dec., 2nd Wed.)
At Northern District Library, 40 Orchard View (near Eglinton and Yonge), Room 224A
Schedule for 2013:
| Jan. 16 | Cake or Death: The excruciating choices of everyday life, by Heather Mallick |
| Feb. 20 | The Ghost Brush, by Katherine Govier |
| Mar. 20 | The Last Act: Pierre Trudeau, the gang of eight, and the fight for Canada, by Ron Graham |
| Apr. 17 | The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood |
| May 15 | The Story of Stuff: How our obsession with stuff is trashing the planet, our communities, and our health–and a vision for change, by Annie Leonard |
| June 19 | Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
| Jul. 17 | Prague Winter: A personal story of remembrance and war, 1937-1948, by Madeleine Albright |
| Aug. 21 | Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout |
| Sep. 18 | Blue Nights, by Joan Didion |
| Oct. 16 | Room, by Emma Donoghue |
| Nov. 20 | Writing the Revolution, by Michele Landsberg |
| Dec. 11 | Late Nights on Air, by Elizabeth Hay |
North York Central
Contact: Diane Meaghan, 416-509-5508, diane.meaghan at utoronto.ca
Meets first Wednesday of the month, 1:30-3:30 pm
At North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St., Room 2
Schedule for 2013 (fiction unless otherwise noted):
| Jan. 2 | Still Alice, by Lisa Genova, 2008 | Feb. 6 | Manifesta, by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, 2010 (nonfiction) | Mar. 6 | Secret Daughter, by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, 2010 |
| Apr. 3 | The Paper Garden: Mrs. Delany begins her life’s work at 72, by Molly Peacock, 2010 (biography) |
| May 1 | Eleanor Rigby, by Douglas Coupland, 2004 |
| June 5 | The Spinster and the Prophet: Florence Deeks, H.G. Wells, and the mystery of the purloined past, by A. B. McKillop, 2000 (nonfiction) |
| Jul. 3 | Obasan, by Joy Kogawa, 1981 |
| Aug. 7 | The Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler, 2001 (nonfiction) |
| Sep. 4 | The Postmistress, by Sarah Blake, 2010 |
| Oct. 2 | Mighty Be Our Powers: How sisterhood, prayer, and sex changed a nation at war, by Leymah Gbowee, 2011 (nonfiction) |
| Nov. 6 | Year of Wonders: A novel of the plague, by Geraldine Brooks, 2001 |
| Dec. 4 | I Feel Great About My Hands: and other unexpected joys of aging, by Shari Graydon, 2011 (nonfiction) |
OWN Co-op
Contact: Olga Aplin, 416-868-0295.
Meets second Tuesday of the month, 2-4 pm
At OWN Co-op Building, 115 The Esplanade
Potential new members should contact Olga for information and registration.
