Best Book Clubs In South Florida
Pageturners
www.meetup.com/miamipageturners
Re-inventing the common perception of the book club, Pageturners, a Miami book club for women, makes sure to let you know this isn't your run-of-the-mill club intended for "Oprah or old ladies who knit and stockpile hard candies." The group invites women of all backgrounds, ages 20 and older, with a passion for reading to its monthly discussions. Distance isn't an issue for this meetup; the ladies have a north and south session, allowing you to dip into your gas budget for the next best-seller.
Ex Libris
www.meetup.com/exlibris
Not a group to shy away from the weightiest topics, Ex Libris book club assures you it's "a book club with brains." The group meets in the Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood area on a monthly basis and invites both men and women who are ready to dig in. This year's discussions have included the dystopia landscapes of Phillip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and Richard Wright's "Black Boy," which touches upon the struggle of the African-American man in a racist society.
Miami Secular Humanists Book Club
www.meetup.com
The Miami Secular Humanists Book Club Meetup is a group to discuss the many possibilities out there, and if you're unclear on what secular humanism is, this club puts it quite clearly: "We're all unbelievers, atheists and agnostics to be clear about it, so if you aren't, you might find yourself uncomfortable," the group's page states. However, seeing that the group consists of free thinkers, it "welcomes all thinking humans who can set belief aside to learn scientific facts."
Mocha Readers
www.meetup.com/Mocha-Readers
Discussing topics and books touching upon the African-American experience in the United States, Mocha Readers welcomes all members who share an interested love of reading in a "nice, warm, inviting" environment. Holding meetings in north Miami's Alaska Coffee Roasting Co, the group discusses works of fiction and non-fiction, including the next book on the list, "Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America" by Melissa V. Harris-Perry.
Bookstore in the Grove Book Discussion Club
www.meetup.com/Book-Discussion-Club-at-The-Bookstore-in-the-Grove
Bookstore in the Grove, one of the few independent bookstores left in South Florida, hosts a monthly book club featuring current titles, inviting Coconut Grove residents and beyond to come in, enjoy an informal atmosphere, perhaps grab coffee or a glass of wine and a pastry and discuss a great book in a relaxing atmosphere. August's choice was Stephen Raichlen's "Island Apart."
Related: Best Books About Miami
Alicia Bustamante is a freelance writer covering all things Miami. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.