WHAT WE'RE READING / BOOK CLUBS IN METRO ATLANTA

About this club: This club has been meeting three years, and members are still deciding on a name. "Several of us play tennis together and talked about doing a book club for several years," Shaw says. "I had a planning meeting at my home with four friends, and we each decided to invite three more friends. We have grown to 14 members." They meet in members' homes and read "anything and everything." The facilitator chooses the book. "We designed our book club to have a facilitator and hostess for the month," she says. "The facilitator picks the book and the hostess provides the home and food." The club schedules books six months in advance so members can order the books and have time to read them. The club takes field trips to plays and movies based on books. "Our club has only lost one member in three years, and we have added three members," says Shaw, who describes her club as a "flexible and creative" group. "We try to keep it at 14 members, because we are a very verbal group."

Recently read: "Sister of My Heart," by Chitra Divakaruni.

What it's about: Two young women, cousins born on the same day in Calcutta, grow up together as inseparable friends, raised by a family of women who try to shelter them. Their fathers have disappeared. "There are several plot twists in the story that add both joy and sadness to the relationships that develop between the girls, among their mothers, and among extended family," Shaw says. "It is also an interesting look at growing up as a female in India."

What members thought: Members had mixed reactions, Shaw says. "The book was well-written and an easy read. . . . It did not garner as much discussion among the members as previous books, although several found the [descriptions of] customs and culture of India interesting and insightful."

Next assignment: "The Shack," by William P. Young.

Tell us what your club is reading. Contact Patti Ghezzi at pattighezzi@hotmail.com