Reading is powerful. It fosters knowledge and imagination. It enhances vocabulary and connects people on a global level. For students at Ohio University, reading is as easy as ABC: the Alden Book Club.
A love for literature brings together members of the Alden Book Club. ABC reads one book a month. On the last Wednesday of the month, they gather at the Alden Friends of the Libraries room to have lively discussions about themes, plots and characters.
The meetings begin with a Kahoot! game where the winner receives a gift card to a local coffee shop. Then, members participate in a large group discussion before breaking into smaller groups to ensure everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinions.
"We'll break into small groups and talk about what we liked about the book, what we thought about different character themes and all that good stuff," said Kelsey Iseminger, a senior studying applied nutrition and dietetics and the treasurer of ABC.
Iseminger explained that during the first meeting of the year, the book club had a large turnout of nearly 80 attendees who could recommend books for the fall semester.
Bayleigh Lower, a sophomore studying English literature and ABC's president, compiled a lengthy list of possible reads. After the meeting, executive members categorized the potential books into genres. Each month has a specific reading genre.
For October, members will read a thriller or mystery, a fantasy in November and a romance in December. With about 10 options each month, members vote for the book they are most interested in.
"We just want people to be excited about reading," Iseminger said.
As president, Lower works with other executive members like Iseminger to make the Alden Book Club a fun and inviting place for everyone.
Julia Seaman, a senior studying nursing and the secretary of the book club, said ABC allowed her to dedicate time to reading, even with the chaos of college.
"My schedule is so busy, so having a set book to read each month just helps me continue to read," Seaman said.
Similarly, Taylor Wagner, a sophomore studying pre-med biological sciences and the vice president of ABC, said the book club allows her to incorporate reading into her schedule.
"If I'm going to read, I'm going to have to make a staple," Wagner said. "This allows me to prioritize. I can read and do something that I like to do every month."
As executive board members, Iseminger, Lower, Seaman and Wagner all say ABC is relaxed. There is no pressure to come to every meeting or read every book.
"If you're looking for a really chill, just calm book club, but just something that's totally for fun, give it a try," Iseminger said.
Their main goal is to read literature and gather with fellow bookworms in a fun, friendly environment.
"I think our overall goal is to get everybody as involved as we can," Wagner said. "All of us love talking about the books that we read."
From reads like "Daisy Jones and The Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid to "The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires" by Grady Hendrix, the club promises a little something for everyone.
The next ABC meeting is Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Alden 319.
"If you're just looking for an excuse to read a little bit more, this is your sign," Iseminger said.
