Program Spotlight: The Book Club
Virtual book clubs surged in popularity during the pandemic, and while some have returned to in-person gatherings, many, including Senior Planet’s book club, continue to flourish online. This unique platform connects individuals from across the country, allowing them to engage in monthly discussions about a new book selected by the participants themselves. The best part? There are multiple ways to get involved!
Every other month, the Senior Planet team curates a list of books for members to vote on, with the top two choices becoming the featured reads for the upcoming months.
“Most of our books come from suggestions made by our book club members,” shares Nicole Alcime, Senior Manager of Virtual Programs. “Every other month, we select four titles for a poll and ask participants to vote. We prioritize books that are at least a year old, have received positive reviews, and showcase diverse voices.”
For each selected book, we publish an article detailing various ways to acquire a copy, recommended sections to read each week, and the schedule for discussions. At the end of each month, we host a live discussion via Zoom, where participants can also suggest future reads. Additionally, we encourage everyone to share their thoughts in the comments section of the article and on the Senior Planet Community.
“I love that participants have several ways to get involved,” Nicole continues. “It’s wonderful to hear that we’ve chosen books that members might not typically read on their own, and that these selections often broaden their perspectives and enhance their appreciation for different genres.”
To stay updated with the book club, consider subscribing to The Orbit newsletter. You can also explore a history of the books we’ve read here.
Now Reading
This month, we are diving into Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words by Annika Sharma, which has been described as “a sweet story of finding love where you least expected to” by fellow author Sonali Dev. Be sure to grab a copy and join us for the discussion on Zoom on Thursday, November 20 at 4:30 PM EDT.
Want to Join?
New to the book club? Joining is simple! Just follow these steps:
- Obtain a copy of the current book.
- Read the book club article (updated every Tuesday) to find out the assigned chapters for each week.
- After reading a section, share your thoughts in the comments section of the book club article.
- Finally, at the end of the month, join us on Zoom for our group discussion with fellow readers. (The next Zoom session will take place on Thursday, November 20 at 4:30 PM ET. Click here for more details)
Your Turn
What are the best books you’ve read lately?
Deirdre Lee serves as Director of Virtual Program Experiences for Senior Planet from AARP (formerly managing the organization’s licensing program). Based in Denver, she oversees Senior Planet’s online programs as well as the free hotline for tech or Senior Planet questions (available at 888-713-3495).
Virtual book clubs surged in popularity during the pandemic, and while some have returned to in-person gatherings, many, including Senior Planet’s book club, continue to flourish online. This unique platform connects individuals from across the country, allowing them to engage in monthly discussions about a new book selected by the participants themselves. The best part? There are multiple ways to get involved!
Every other month, the Senior Planet team curates a list of books for members to vote on, with the top two choices becoming the featured reads for the upcoming months.
“Most of our books come from suggestions made by our book club members,” shares Nicole Alcime, Senior Manager of Virtual Programs. “Every other month, we select four titles for a poll and ask participants to vote. We prioritize books that are at least a year old, have received positive reviews, and showcase diverse voices.”
For each selected book, we publish an article detailing various ways to acquire a copy, recommended sections to read each week, and the schedule for discussions. At the end of each month, we host a live discussion via Zoom, where participants can also suggest future reads. Additionally, we encourage everyone to share their thoughts in the comments section of the article and on the Senior Planet Community.
“I love that participants have several ways to get involved,” Nicole continues. “It’s wonderful to hear that we’ve chosen books that members might not typically read on their own, and that these selections often broaden their perspectives and enhance their appreciation for different genres.”
To stay updated with the book club, consider subscribing to The Orbit newsletter. You can also explore a history of the books we’ve read here.
Now Reading
This month, we are diving into Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words by Annika Sharma, which has been described as “a sweet story of finding love where you least expected to” by fellow author Sonali Dev. Be sure to grab a copy and join us for the discussion on Zoom on Thursday, November 20 at 4:30 PM EDT.
Want to Join?
New to the book club? Joining is simple! Just follow these steps:
- Obtain a copy of the current book.
- Read the book club article (updated every Tuesday) to find out the assigned chapters for each week.
- After reading a section, share your thoughts in the comments section of the book club article.
- Finally, at the end of the month, join us on Zoom for our group discussion with fellow readers. (The next Zoom session will take place on Thursday, November 20 at 4:30 PM ET. Click here for more details)
Your Turn
What are the best books you’ve read lately?
Deirdre Lee serves as Director of Virtual Program Experiences for Senior Planet from AARP (formerly managing the organization’s licensing program). Based in Denver, she oversees Senior Planet’s online programs as well as the free hotline for tech or Senior Planet questions (available at 888-713-3495).
