The South Portland Public Library offers a number of regular book groups, offering options for differing tastes in reading. Please see the events calendar for the latest reading selections as well as any potential changes of meeting dates. For more information, call 767-7660.
- Branch Book Group – 2nd Wed | 1:00pm | IN PERSON at Branch Library 155 Wescott Rd.
- Evening Book Group – 2nd Thurs. | 6:30 pm | ONLINE via ZOOM
- Pod Squad – the last Thurs. | 6:30 pm | ONLINE via ZOOM
- Betsy Ross House Book Group – 1st Thurs. | 1:30 pm | Betsy Ross House
Branch Book Group
Want to gather in-person with some fellow book lovers? Malia (Circulation Librarian) is starting a monthly in-person book group at the South Portland Branch Library. The group will read diverse books followed by friendly discussions. All are welcome to join at any time!
We’ll meet at the Branch location (155 Wescott Rd.) on the second Wednesday of the month at 1:00pm.
Upcoming selections:
- Wednesday, October 9th at 1pm – The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
- Wednesday, November 13th at 1pm – Spirit Run by Noe Alvarez
- Wednesday, December 11th at 1pm –The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
- Wednesday, January 8th, 2025 at 1pm – The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland
- Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 at 1pm – Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
Recent past selections:
- Wednesday, September 11th at 1pm – Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
- Wednesday, August 14th at 1pm – My Ex-Life: A Novel by Stephen McCauley
- Wednesday, July 10th at 1pm – The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- Wednesday, June 12th at 1pm – True Biz by Sara Novic
- Wednesday, May 8th at 1pm – Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Evening Book Group
The SPPL Evening Book Club enjoys sharing an adventurous blend of fiction and non-fiction titles. Recent selections have included Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Educated by Tara Westover, City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb.
The Book Club meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM, online, via Zoom. Our group is always open to new members and is easy to join. Simply contact the library, using the form below, and you’re in! We will keep you updated on future selections and pass along meeting links.
Upcoming Selections:
- October 10, 2024: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
- November 14, 2024: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
Recent past selections:
- September 12, 2024: We will be discussing the movie adaptation of the novel Ordinary People by Judith Guest. Reading the book is not necessary to take part in the conversation, but it would certainly add some interest to our discussion if we are able to talk about what changed in the journey from page to screen.
- August 8, 2024: Read and discuss your favorite poems
- July 11, 2024: Adult Story Time
- June 13, 2024: Virtual poetry reading and Q&A with Mike Bove, author of the poetry collections “Soundtrack to Your Next Panic Attack,” “EYE,” “House Museum,” and “Big Little City”
- May 9, 2024: Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder
- April 11, 2024: The Swimmers by Julia Otsuka
- March 14, 2024: The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
- February 8, 2024: Kindred by Octavia Butler
- January 11, 2024: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
Pod Squad
SPPL’s Pod Squad meets on the last Thursday of the month (with adjustments as needed for the holiday season) at 6:30 PM, online, via Zoom to discuss a selection from the wonderfully diverse world of podcasts. At past meetings, members have shared thoughts on episodes from Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History, Jill Lepore’s The Lost Archive, Jennifer Dasale’s ArtCurious, and Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway’s HomeCooking, among many others. Typical homework assignments clock in at under an hour and are a quick and easy way to explore history, art, science, and contemporary issues.
Links for upcoming selections and our meeting links are shared via email to participants. If this sounds like a group that might be a fit for you, simply contact the library, using the form below, and you’re in! We will keep you updated on future selections and pass along meeting links.
The Betsy Ross House Book Group
The Betsy Ross House Book Group is a perfect fit if you’re a passionate reader who enjoys discussing books that are part of the mainstream cultural current. Recent titles include The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht. Just because the critics like it, doesn’t mean that BRH readers will! Independent of mind, we decide for ourselves if the buzz on a book is merited. Discussions are spirited and full of good humor. Although this group meets in the Betsy Ross House Library, members of the community are welcome and encouraged to join us at any time.
Please use this form to let us know that you would like to participate in our online programs…