Rambling Readers
-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on February 18, 2021-
A walking book club? Rambling Readers is more like a walking club whose attendees talk about books, what books they’re reading, which ones they liked and why. Hosted by the Jessie Peterman Library, the club meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Ramblers meet in front of the library at 11:00 a.m. for a walk through town and a loop around the Jacksonville Cemetery, said Library Branch Manager Joann Verostko.
“It came about because I was trying to think of something that we could do that was in person but still safe, given the current circumstances,” Verostko said. “Being outside and walking, socially distanced, people wearing masks should be fairly safe.”
“I figured that people were a little tired of staring at screens. Other programs we have are generally virtual. It seemed like a good idea,” she added.
Verostko reported that the club started in November but hadn’t been very popular, largely because of the winter weather. That changed last Tuesday when it was sunny and in the ‘50s, and five ramblers showed up. The weather was great and there was plenty to talk about.
Chris Deeheart, one of the ramblers, said he likes to read history and philosophy books. He recently picked up I Claudius, an autobiographical memoir by Roman emperor Claudius, translated from Latin.
Katherine Chantal, said she likes historical fiction, philosophy and psychology. She is currently reading four or five books, including Cassandra Speaks, Die Wise, Reading Lolita in Tehran and some poetry collections. “I’m always listening in my car,” said Chantal, who uses audio books but more often sits with print books while drinking tea.
Martha Taylor was excited about a book she was reading with her book club, Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff, “Incredible, historical. “You will not know the Cleopatra you think you know,” she said.
Due to the pandemic, the library building is currently closed to the public, but drop-off and pick-up book services and virtual programs are still provided. “It’s been challenging and we miss having people in the library,” Verostko said.
She encourages anyone interested in the Rambling Readers club to drop in the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month and whenever their schedule allows. “It’s a casual program and something we can do right now,” she said.
___________Colleen Redman
