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@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
Current schedule (nonfiction unless otherwise noted):
| Jan. 18 | The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor: The first woman settler of the Miramichi, by Sally Armstrong |
| Feb. 15 | The Sweetest Dream, by Doris Lessing (fiction) |
| Mar. 21 | Global Woman: Nannies, maids, and sex workers in the new economy, ed. Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild |
| Apr. 18 | Sanctuary Line, by Jane Urquhart (fiction) |
| May 16 | Dead Aid: Why aid is not working and how there is a better way for Africa, by Dambisa Moyo |
| June 20 | Bride of New France, by Suzanne Desrochers (fiction) |
| July 18 | Tommy Douglas, biography by Vincent Lam |
| Aug. 15 | Left Neglected, by Lisa Genova (fiction) |
| Sep. 19 | The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A natural history of four meals, by Michael Pollan |
| Oct. 17 | Mistress of Nothing, by Kate Pullinger (fiction) |
| Nov. 21 | Paula, a memoir by Isabel Allende |
| Dec. 12 | A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman: Complete short stories, by Margaret Drabble |
North York Central
Contact: Eleanor Batchelder, 647-235-0843, eob@post.harvard.edu
Meets first Wednesday of the month, 1:30-3:30 pm
At North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St., Room 2
Current schedule (fiction unless otherwise noted):
| Feb. 1 | Flint and Feather: The life and times of E. Pauline Johnson, Tekahionwake, by Charlotte Gray (biography) |
| Mar. 7 | The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, 2002 |
| Apr. 4 | The Sexual Paradox: Extreme men, gifted women and the real gender gap, by Susan Pinker, 2008 (nonfiction) |
| May 2 | Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen, 2010 |
| June 6 | Nomad, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 2010 (nonfiction) |
| July 4 | Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier, 2010 (historical fiction) |
| Aug. 1 | Sylvia Plath (poetry) - click here for information |
| Sep. 5 | The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, 2008 |
| Oct. 3 | Ten Thousand Roses: The making of a feminist revolution, by Judy Rebick, 2005 (nonfiction) |
| Nov. 7 | The Birth House, by Ami McKay, 2006 |
OWN Co-op
Contact: OWN office. This group is temporarily in suspension, looking for a coordinator.
Meets second Tuesday of the month, 2-4 pm
At OWN Co-op Building, 115 The Esplanade
