Get Into Reading! 3 Book Clubs in Kingsport, Tennessee

If you think a “book club” is something made out of wood pulp that’s handy for beating a caveman to death, you may need to spend a bit more time at your local library. Better yet, join one of the many cool book clubs in the Kingsport area, and you’ll find that books are indeed weapons of mass enlightenment. Folks from all walks of life can easily find a book club that’s just right for them.

Kingsport Public Library Teen Book League

The Kingsport Public Library Teen Book League is not a group of superheroes, though they might as well be. This book club draws its members from 6th grade through 12th grade and is based out of the Kingsport Public Library. During the fall and winter months, they read and discuss books that have been nominated for the Volunteer State Book Award. When spring arrives, they vote for their favorites in various categories to create a list of Tennessee Teen book selections.

The Book League assumes one of the most important roles in today’s society of young readers. They help navigate the crowded world of published books. With so many titles, authors, and subjects to choose from, the process of selecting what to read can be daunting. Groups like the Book League are a tremendous help. The group meets twice a month from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Join them to not only discuss literature but also to make friends and have fun.

Between the Covers Book Club

Geared toward senior members of the community, Between the Covers Book Club meets every first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. The group gets together in the Card Room at the Senior Center located at 1200 E. Center St. Their selections are thoughtful and robust, with subjects ranging from politics to history to philosophy. Their October 2016 selection, for example, was the insightful “Killing Reagan” by Bill O’Reilly. This gripping story of his near-assassination was the fodder for a greatly absorbing conversation between members of the group.

Kingsport Book Club

The Kingsport Book Club has a fascinating history spanning nearly 100 years that’s highly representative of the local reading community. It began as a small handful of friends casually meeting up to discuss books they’d recently read, and within a couple of years evolved into a more formal and organized group of dedicated bibliophiles.

The Kingsport Public Library opened in 1921, with a mere 400 books in its collection, thanks to the efforts of the first members of this book club. Initially, the troublesome issue of funding wasn’t solved with public monies. Instead, they held carnivals, bridge parties, and similar events to create their own financial support. It remained a private enterprise until municipal ownership was introduced in 1929. The Kingsport Book Club remains a cornerstone of the community.

While the flood of social networking and technology has convinced many that book reading is a dying endeavor, groups such as these prove that the Kingsport community still regards books as critical to the intellectual and emotional growth of the individual. Join a book club and see what you’re missing out on.

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