Turning Pages Together

by Elizabeth Rush Brooks 

The rise of book clubs in Simcoe, Grey and Bruce. 

When Georgian Peaks member Kathryn Champion saw the book club item in the silent auction catalogue for the Peaks Foundation fundraiser, she was intrigued. The host was offering an afternoon of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sweet treats, and a fireside chat about a book agreed upon by the purchaser. Kathryn mentioned the book club opportunity to her ski buddies, who like to talk books while they ride the chairlifts. Over a morning coffee break, they decided to bid on the opportunity. Joanne Fallowfield, Laura Boland, and their friends had the same idea, and after a heated bidding war, the auction item was eventually sold to both groups, doubling the profit for the Peaks Foundation and providing a book club experience for women who usually spend their time together outdoors on the slopes. 

Little did the women know that they were participating in a culture that pervades Escarpment winters even more than skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling. A microcosm of the literary culture that has been building and evolving throughout the region—and encompassing all four seasons—is evident at local Probus Clubs across Simcoe, Grey and Bruce. Owen Sound Probus has five book clubs. Grey Highlands has two book clubs: Book Club One is full, so a second club, intriguingly named Bookworms Reborn, has been started. The members of Probus on the Bay belong to 14 different book clubs. Quietly, alongside and among the sports enthusiasts and tourists who reside in and flock to this rugged landscape adjacent to the majestic and moody Georgian Bay, are legions of readers excited to share and discuss their literary discoveries.

Heather Coate Tawastjerna had never been involved in a book club, but when she moved to Collingwoodlands, she thought it would be a great way to make friends in her new community. Along with her friend Patti Gilbert, they spread the word around the neighbourhood. One friend told another, who told another, until they had a group of 25 women eager to meet and discuss books. Heather operates as the administrator. They get an average of about 10 women to the monthly meetings. Willing hosts are assigned a month, and it is up to the host to pick the date and the book to be discussed. 

They usually meet after dinner and enjoy nibbles during lively discussions about the book and topics it inspires. A recent host, who had chosen The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyle, served an evening of Irish delicacies to partner with the novel. Their club is quite active; they have hosted two authors, including Genevieve Graham (The Forgotten Home Child), and attended the book launch of Gwen Harvey (The Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace), who later visited their club. They’ve also had a movie night for Where the Crawdads Sing and hold a secret Santa book exchange for Christmas. Heather says one of her favourite things about the club is its sense of community—each time a new member joins, they often already know someone else in the group. 

Avid reader Rachel Gosselin belongs to a different kind of book club. She joined The Gloss Book Club, formerly known as The Girly Book Club, in 2019 because some friends from work were members. The Gloss is an international book club that operates virtually. Founder Erin Woodward began the then Girly Book Club in 2008 in London, England, when she was living abroad and knew few people. It now has over 150,000 members in more than 15 countries. 

Rachel belongs to the Collingwood chapter, which meets on the last Wednesday of each month at a cozy neighbourhood restaurant. Across the entire online club, members read the same book each month and gather in person in their respective cities or virtually, to discuss it. Rachel appreciated the opportunity to continue book club online during COVID. She loves that The Gloss exposes her to many genres she might not pick up on her own. While they mostly read female authors, the genres vary, including works by young authors, memoirs, romcoms, thrillers, and stories by authors of colour, Indigenous writers, and queer voices.

In Thornbury, Ann Gorton belongs to a small group of six women that grew out of a friendship with a co-volunteer at Beaver Valley Outreach. Over ten years, the group has read 66 books. They meet over early dinners or afternoon tea since none of them like to drive at night. When they read Girl with a Pearl Earring, the host made a traditional Dutch dinner, and they all wore pearl earrings. Ann’s group has also hosted local author Dorris Heffron to discuss her latest novel, Bear with Me.

At Apple Jack in The Woods, Diane Marshall joined a fledgling book club with her neighbours when she moved from Mississauga eight years ago. They are all transplants from “down south” and held their first meeting at the Corner Café. They take turns choosing books while another member hosts. Inspired by this, Diane also started a podcast club, currently working through Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s “Wiser Than Me”. 

Katie Zdybel, a writer and employee at Jessica’s Book Nook in Thornbury, believes book clubs are on the rise, thanks to celebrity-led initiatives and platforms like BookTok, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and TikTok have all made reading trendy and fun, encouraging readers of all ages to pick up books.

Jessica’s hosts its own book club, offering treats and coffee from a local coffee shop, and there is always a lot of interest. The club is open to the first 12 people to sign up each month, with employees taking turns hosting. Attendees range in age from their twenties to their eighties, promoting an inviting space for deep, thoughtful, and diverse conversations. A recent title enjoyed by the club was The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, chosen from The New York Times list of 100 Best Books of the Century So Far.

Beyond their own club, Jessica’s Book Nook actively supports other book clubs that register with the store. They work to ensure the necessary number of copies are available and may even sell books at a discount. Katie notes that the sense of community surrounding these clubs has been growing steadily, aligning perfectly with the store’s welcoming ethos.

Local libraries, too, are integral to book club culture. Georgian Bay Reads has celebrated Canadian literature for 15 years, bringing together five libraries—Clearview, Collingwood, Meaford, Springwater, and Wasaga Beach. The annual event features spirited debates as each library’s defender promotes their chosen book. The competition, hosted at the Wasaga Beach Library this past October, featured spirited debates as defenders made their cases. The event is free but requires tickets to help gauge attendance, and the library that wins the competition gets to host the following year. According to Ashley Trusler, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Meaford Library, the event not only celebrates Canadian literature but also “builds bridges and creates connections throughout the area.” She adds that Georgian Bay Reads results in “an uptick in the number of people taking out the books that were presented.”

In addition to its involvement in Georgian Bay Reads, the Meaford Library hosts five book clubs: Meaford Reads, Brown Bag Book Club, The Travelling Book Club (meeting at different restaurants), Rainbow Reads (creating a safe reading space for the LGBTQ+ community), and Between the Pages (for readers aged 9–12).

Meanwhile, the Collingwood Library has established itself as a hub for book clubs. Ten years ago, Lori Crossan started the first library-run book club, which remains a vibrant and literary-minded group. Lori prepares discussion questions and assigns tasks related to the books, encouraging reflection and lively conversation. Many participants keep journals and notebooks while reading, dedicating time and thought to their discussions.

The Collingwood Library supports local book clubs by offering kits for 87 titles, most of which are contemporary. Each kit includes eight copies of the book, along with discussion questions and hosting ideas, helping to sustain 40 book clubs in the community. Many clubs contribute by donating funds to offset costs or by purchasing commemorative bookplates to honour past members. As Lori notes, “It’s what goes on behind the scenes that makes these clubs so special.”

Interested in joining a book community or starting one of your own? Reach out to your local library or check in with a bookstore like Jessica’s Book Nook in Thornbury and learn about opportunities near you. If you prefer to connect on-line, visit TheGlossBookClub.com and read about the virtual book club world waiting to greet you there. 

Through the diverse voices and vibrant gatherings that define the book club culture of Simcoe, Grey and Bruce, one thing is clear: these clubs are about more than just reading. They weave together communities, bridge generations, and create spaces where stories spark meaningful conversations. In a region known for our outdoor allure, book clubs provide a warm, enduring counterpoint—proof that the love of literature and connection knows no season. E