A place to talk books

Young Chang

Other Newport-Mesa venues that encourage strangers to get together

to read the same book and talk about it afterward:

Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island holds a Balboa Island Book

Club meeting on the first Monday of the month at the home of one of

the owners, which is also on the island. Members pick a book together

after finishing the one that was previously read and talked about.

“And we have wine and hors d’oeuvres,” said Stephanie Thomas,

co-owner of the business. “Anybody’s welcome to come.”

This month’s book is “Good in Bed,” by Jennifer Weiner. Last

month’s was “Empire Falls,” by Richard Russo. Membership varies from

seven to 20 per meeting, and the books read are usually fiction, but

sometimes biographies and self-help works.

The Mesa Verde Library in Costa Mesa has a mother-daughter book

club focusing on children’s books. Moms and daughters read the same

book and then come to the library once a month, usually on a Friday,

to discuss the work.

Lido Book Shoppe, in Newport Beach, is working to put a book group

together.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Fashion Island used to host a

Fiction Book Group and an Oprah Book Club but doesn’t anymore.

Borders Books, Music & Cafe, of which there are two in Costa Mesa

and none in Newport Beach, also doesn’t currently host book clubs.

For information on any of the clubs: Martha’s Bookstore, (949)

673-7185; Lido Book Shoppe, (949) 673-2549; and Mesa Verde Library,

(714) 546-5274.