HER CLUBS + books
THE BEST
Book Club EVER BY CAROLYN CORBETT
BY CAROLYN CORBETT The Best Book Club Ever? Really? Yup! In 2017, when two women from the Nisswa area wanted to start a book club, they decided each would invite a friend to Stonehouse for coffee and see what happened. What happened was the Best Book Club Ever, a group of pickleball-playing, community-volunteering, retired women who love to read. The cast of characters include: Ann Beaver, Arla Johnson, Betsy Egan, Catherine McGoldrick, Claire Faust, Donn Beaubien, Joey Halvorson, Maureen Farnsworth and Susan Mezzenga. The Best Book Club Ever (BBCE) is a diverse group of individuals. Book selections feature a rich mix of authors, subject matter and genres. Everyone
34 | Her Voice Summer 2022
is dedicated to reading the books. Members can express conflicting opinions and allow that disagreement to be there. “This book club,” said Betsy, “consists of very intelligent ladies who are extremely well read. We are from all kinds of backgrounds. No one is afraid to give their honest opinion about a book or author and we don’t feel intimidated.” Susan agreed. “We are a full-disclosure group. The women contribute. They’re thoughtful. They come prepared for the discussion.” “I like the people,” Donn said. “I like their personalities, the diversity and the harmony. No one is judged.”
