Written by Shlomit Ovadia of JCC Denver
This month, JCC Denver’s Senior Book Club is celebrating its one-year anniversary. And, after attending their August meetup, I am convinced that if there is one thing that gets better with age, it is reading.
Terry Romer, Senior Book Club participant
At 77, Terry Romer, who has been involved with the group since its inception after her late husband’s passing last year, is not your average reader. She clocks in about 100 reads annually and has an ongoing computer document where she lists her own ratings. Terry also worked as a Reading Specialist with grades 1-12 for 40 years.
“At first, I joined Book Club because I wanted to read interesting books. Now, I look forward to the people I’ve met there and hearing what they have to say,” Terry shares.
The Senior Book Club sources their reads from the National Jewish Book Council’s hundreds of recommended Jewish-written or Jewish-related titles, the lineup of which is released in quarterly increments and titles are screened for accuracy.
“I’ve never really been a historical fiction person before, but now I am. One thing I really learned through this book club is, you don’t just enjoy novels, you really learn from them.”
The first hour of the 90-minute monthly meetups is reserved for discussion, where people can share their likes and dislikes. Senior Book Club member Pam Fox facilitates the group by distributing printed out questions to participants and keeping them on track.
“There’s never a lack of opinions,” Terry says. “Believe me, especially because everyone is over 55” with a wink.
What makes Senior Book Club unique is the 30-minute zoom meetings with the book’s authors, where participants can ask questions, reflect on the reads, learn how the writers felt while crafting the books, and even thank them.
“Everyone is so respectful of everyone else’s opinions and comments. People can share freely. It’s a good and secure place to be,” says Terry.
“Stuff comes out in those conversations; people will talk about how the books relate to their lives. One lady from Israel gives a totally different view on what we’re reading that’s so fantastic. Or people who have experience in some of the book’s settings will tell us about the locations,” she chimes.
“Not everyone has the same educational or religious background or is Jewish—I’m not—yet we all have this commonality of books and enjoying them and being excited about the zoom meetings.”
For senior adults who spend a lot of time alone, the Senior Book Club “provides a real chance for socialization” that is centered around intellectually stimulating conversation. Join here.
Some of Terry’s favorite Book Club Reads:
Little Liar by Mitch Albom: I learned so much from that book about Nazis in Greece during the second World War. I didn’t even know they were in Greece; most of us didn’t. Plus, the characters in the book are wonderful—even if you didn’t like them, they were interesting people.
Hotel Cuba- This book is about people who came from Europe and couldn’t get into America, so they ended up in Cuba until entry into the United States was allowed, one by one.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah- a historical fiction following the lives of two sisters in France during the Nazi regime.
Needing something new to read? Snag great deals on a curated selection of Jewish books at the annual Neustadt JAAMM Festival Bookstore, taking place in the JCC Lobby September 11 – 15 between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm