Literature enthusiasts

      Each of us can right now set off on an exciting journey through wonderful cities and countries, dive into the underwater world, find ourselves in tropical forests, be transported to other eras and even parallel worlds. All it takes is picking up a book you like… And what a pleasure it is to discuss what you’ve read with someone equally enthusiastic! At the Central City Library named after N.K. Krupskaya this pleasure is available to everyone.

      From a blog to a club

      For five years now the "Provincial Readers' Club" has been operating here, led by the head of the mass work department sector, Elena Rukodeltseva. Our conversation about this fascinating group was prompted by World Book Lovers' Day, which all literature fans celebrate on August 9.

      According to Elena, their cozy club came into being thanks to the interest of Dzerzhinsk readers. Several years ago an initiative group of women who ran their own "Blog of Provincial Women" on a social network turned to the library director. In that blog they passionately discussed the books they had read, shared impressions and photos of particularly memorable quotes.

      It was interesting, valuable and informative, and over time the literature-loving townswomen realized they wanted to meet in person and, under the guidance of a knowledgeable person, talk about what they had read in more detail, share thoughts and feelings the works evoked. Their idea was welcomed at the House of the Book: the library opened its own readers' club.

      "At first seven people attended — those very active readers who were part of the online community. But gradually word about us spread, new people began to come: some stayed for a while, others became regular members. Sometimes our female group was 'spiced up' by men, which of course made us happy. But it so happened that the men felt a bit out of place among so many ladies, and the women themselves became more restrained. However, that in no way means our club is only for women and men have no place here. On the contrary, we encourage them to be bolder! Now twelve people attend our club, and we will gladly welcome new like-minded people," Elena says.

      Dialogues "open up" the books

      Each meeting of Dzerzhinsk book lovers is engaging and informal, with a cup of tea and leisurely conversations. Which authors and which works to read are chosen according to mood by either the club leader or the members themselves, alternating between classics and contemporary literature, Russian and foreign writers. When it comes to foreign authors, they typically discuss the language and national mentality.

      At the start Elena tells the biography of the chosen author and shares interesting facts about them and their works. Sometimes the conversation is about a well-known writer many first heard about in school. In that case the leader does not go into great detail and speaks about the period in which the discussed book was written.

      "A feature of our club is that we always take one author, at most two, and also one or two works. Notably, classics are more popular. I've heard the opinion many times that people are mainly more interested in discovering and discussing new writers now, but from our meetings the opposite is evident. Classic works still have a special language, many layers of meaning; they can be discussed for a very long time," Elena notes with a smile. "Speaking up or listening to others is each person's choice. Here women open up, happily quote favorite passages, sometimes share life stories similar to characters' experiences. I really like that myself! I love reading works in different genres and am happy to share my impressions."

      It's especially wonderful, our interlocutor adds, when books provoke conflicting emotions in readers. In such cases conversations and intellectual debates lead to an even deeper understanding of the work. Elena emphasizes:

      "If a book moved you and provoked emotions, then it's a good book. There are also passable ones: as they say, neither for the mind nor the heart. And if it happens that some women liked the book and understand the character's behavior while others feel the opposite, then in the contradictions and heated dialogues the work is revealed much better."

      Which books they discussed this time and which they will talk about next, the club members report in the library’s group on the social network. Thanks to this, as Elena pointed out, many of her acquaintances, even without attending their meetings, learn about new works or reread familiar ones.

      Those who want company and are eager to share their thoughts get an opportunity to chat and argue, revisit the characters, savor the plot's details and dive deeper into the story told by the writer.

      The next meeting of the "Provincial Readers" will take place in August; the topic of discussion will be Fredrik Backman's novel A Man Called Ove.

      Ksenia KNYAZEVA. Photos by Yulia Volkova and from the archive of the Central City Library named after N.K. Krupskaya

      Contacts

      For all questions please contact the mass work department of the Central City Library named after N.K. Krupskaya by phone 8 (8313) 25-18-84 or via the official group on the social network VKontakte.

      Opinion

      Elena Baranova, club member:

      "I learned about the readers' club at the House of the Book from a friend who had been attending its meetings from the very beginning. I once went with her for company and have been a regular member ever since.

      It is always very cozy and atmospheric here! Each of our meetings takes place in a small circle, and thanks to such an intimate setting it's easier to open up and share your opinion, which will be listened to attentively and reciprocated. The club provides an opportunity to get to know interesting people of different professions and viewpoints, to find like-minded people. And of course to learn more about writers — both new and well-known. Our wonderful leader Elena Rukodeltseva always prepares for meetings and tells many interesting facts about the authors and their works. For example, once we discussed Narine Abgaryan's book Simon. I happily discovered this writer and then read many of her works!

      The 'Provincial Readers' Club' brings together people interested in literature, broadens horizons and allows you to spend time in an engaging and meaningful way. Everyone who loves reading, be sure to join!"