Reading has so many positives! There are some great reading /book clubs around the St Albans area.
There are so many benefits of reading; not forgetting the pure joy when you find one of those books you just can’t put down! You want to finish it, but then you don’t want to – as you don’t want it to end!
Reading also has lots of other benefits, including reducing stress, helping you get a good nights sleep, building vocabulary, helps with strengthening your brain, helps with reducing depression and preventing cognitive decline… the list is endless – it will also give another focus other than watching the TV!
The good news is, there are a number of book clubs local to the St Albans, Harpenden and Radlett. What an absolute gem of a town we are lucky enough to live in.
They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. They run 2 clubs on the day, one at 2.30pm and one at 6pm. Meeting at the Library above the Welcome Centre at the Cathedral. They discuss the book, what they liked about the book, the characters, what feelings the book evoked etc. and of course whether they would recommend the book.
There is no need to book (excuse the pun!), just turn up, they always welcome new members. The books they will be reading/talking about are detailed on the website. www.stalbanscathedral.org/book-club The current books coming up are The War of the Worlds by H G Wells, A month in the Country by J L Carr and As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee. They are listed on the website up to 3 months in advance.
I’m not imagining many Mills and Boon/Bridget Jones novels will make it onto the reading list, but you never know.
You can feel free to recommend books too, you can email [email protected] with anything you want to read, members make suggestions as to what books to read, it’s great to read and thoroughly enjoy book you would never of have chosen.
Sumpter Yard, St Albans, AL1 1BY
Wow! What a find this place is whilst researching book clubs. It looks absolutely amazing! I’m definitely going to be making a visit to this place.
It’s a book shop, with reading rooms, serving tea and coffee in a beautiful location!
They run book clubs, but they also have events such as lectures, mindful afternoons, quizzes. They also have embroidery workshops too.
The book clubs cost £10 However, they usually sell out. If you are looking to attend them regularly, you can pay an annual fee instead. For your entry fee you get free tea and coffee, if you fancy something stronger you can also bring your own drinks and they will supply a suitable vessel to serve it in! Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
The building itself is beautiful, warmly painted rooms, with exposed beams and leaded light windows. They are primarily a book shop so by shopping there you will also be supporting a local business.
They also run a young readers book club, which is fantastic for encouraging children to read books- maybe somewhere to take the grandchildren to!
For more information:- www.books-on-the-hill.co.uk
1 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1ER
Telephone 01727 807248
Less formal than the other book clubs. The club runs every 4-6 weeks, when the dates fit in with the members.
The book is chosen on a voting system.
If you would like to join, then email [email protected] – she will let you know the next date and location and the book they are reading. You can also make recommendations for books you would like to be considered for future dates.
www.sscaecom.org/clubs/book-club
meet at The Peahen, St Albans, or the location can change to another pub in the area.
There are a number of online books clubs, so if you can’t or prefer not to leave your house, these are brilliant.
www.onlinebookclub.org
You can sign up for announcements on book of the day, its sometimes free, or if not heavily discounted, it’s a free online community of like minded book worms. They have forums, recommendations and get to review new books.
This does however, seem a little counter productive as one of the reasons for joining a book club is to give you downtime from the computer screen! But will help greatly if you are struggling with a book and want to see if it is you or the book that’s the problem!
www.meetup.com Meetup App
Various book clubs on this app, or website, please look at the blog for social groups which gives more information on accessing the various online and physical clubs.
So, stimulate those grey cells, broaden your horizons, be entertained, escape, educate and grow!
If you want to find out about the benefits of home care in St Albans, Harpenden, Radlett and the surrounding villages, please click on the link below or call us on 01727 895941.