Literary Divas offers a book club experience for women who are passionate about reading but are not directly part of Eastern’s student community.

Marita Metzke, director of the Academy of Lifelong Learning at Eastern, is the head of the discussion-based book club and said it was great.

Literary Divas consists of 12 avid-reading women who are not studying at Eastern, she said.

Metzke said Literary Divas is currently full for now, but availability may change if members have to leave in the future.

She said members in the club finish a new book of the group’s choosing every other week, and they meet at the study room upstairs at the County Market on alternating Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m.

“Most members are classified as voracious readers,” she said. “I personally learn something (new) about the book after discussions.”

Metzke said through open group discussions, members can express what they have gathered from the books they read with people who have a similar frame of reference, and their knowledge flourishes from hearing other perspectives.

Hearing the insights other members have to share is one of her favorite aspects about being part of the book club, she said.

“Everybody’s experience is a little different,” she said. “I’m a better reader because of the book club.”

Metzke said members of the club often arrive to meetings with pages of interesting notes for the discussion.

“(Members) highlight quotes and parallels to other books discussed and bring those to classes,” she said.

The first book members will be discussing is called “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah.

“(‘The Great Alone’) is a fascinating tale about people being disenfranchised,” she said. “(It is about) isolated people having to find themselves.”

Metzke said she encourages people who are passionate about reading and people who enjoy analytical discussions to join a book club someday.

“Women who love to read and are willing to explore multiple ideas and opinions fit right in the Literary Divas book club,” she said.

Metzke said Literary Divas is not like any typical book club because it is focused entirely on the group analyses and discussions of the books they read.

“We don’t eat, we don’t drink wine, we don’t really socialize, it really is just discussion based on our love of reading,” she said.

While some people are not used to book clubs like Literary Divas that focus mainly on discussion, Metzke said joining a club like it can be one of the most rewarding experiences.

“My sister said, ‘A book club with no wine? What are you talking about? Does anyone bring food?’ and (I said), ‘No, we just bring our books, our notes, and our questions’ and it’s fabulous,” Metzke said. 

Any woman interested in joining Literary Divas should call the Academy of Lifelong Learning for availability at 581-5114.

Logan Raschke can be reached at 581-2812 or at lrraschke@eiu.edu.