Book Discussion Groups

Curbside Pickup Now Available

In response to COVID-19, the library is closed to the public until further notice. We are now providing curbside pickup service (by appointment) and continue to offer many of our programs and services online. 

Online Discussions

We are offering many of our regularly scheduled book discussions online (via Zoom) while we are closed. If you are interested in participating, please email the discussion contact in advance for more info and to receive a Zoom invite. 

Upcoming Book Discussions

Date & Time Discussion Contact
Tuesday, June 2
@ 10:30 am
via Zoom
Tuesday Morning Book Discussion
Women Rowing North
by Mary Pipher
Catherine Wilson
Email
Thursday, June 4
@ 2 pm
via Zoom
New Yorker Discussion Group
Article to be determined.
Pete Sullivan
Email
Tuesday, June 9
@ 7 pm
via Zoom
 Great Books Foundation Discussion Series
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
by Raymond Carver
 Marshall Webster
Email
Thursday, June 11
@ 7 pm
via Zoom
Thursday Evening Book Discussion
Exhalation: Stories
by Ted Chiang
Marshall Webster
Email
Thursday, June 18
@ 7 pm
via Zoom
 Book Discussion
Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen
 Marshall Webster
Email
Tuesday, June 23
@ 7 pm
via Zoom
 Great Books Foundation Discussion Series
Prometheus Unbound
by Aeschylus
 Marshall Webster
Email
Thursday, June 25
@ 3 pm
via Zoom
 Teen Book Discussion Group
The Maze Runner 
by James Dashner

 Laura Miller
Email

Book Discussion Group Descriptions

Great Books Foundation Discussion Series

A "Great Books" discussion concentrating on literary classics (both traditional and modern) meeting at 7 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Open to all and no registration required.

  • View the complete schedule (with book selections) for 2019-2020.
  • In November and December this group only meets once a month (on the 2nd Tuesday).

Teen Book Club

A discussion group for rising grades 6 through 8 held during the school year. Registration required; limited copies of the book are available at the Youth Services Desk each month. For more information please call 703-248-5034 (TTY 711) or stop by the Youth Services Desk.

The New Yorker Discussion Group

Enjoy reading The New Yorker but wish you had someone to chat about it with? Drop into the monthly New Yorker reading group to share your thoughts on what you’ve read in a variety of articles. The group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 2-3 pm. Pick up the articles at the senior center or at the circulation desk of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. A librarian will coordinate the discussions.

Thursday Evening Book Group

A general book discussion held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. Books are usually selected by the group 3 to 6 months in advance and alternate between fiction and nonfiction. Open to all and no registration required.

Tuesday Morning Book Discussion

A general book discussion held roughly every 6 weeks from September through June, usually on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Focuses on a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles selected in advance (over the summer) by the group. Open to all and no registration required.

General Information

All library book discussion groups meet in the library’s Conference Room (unless otherwise noted) and light refreshments are usually served.

Registration

Advance registration is required for the Middle School Book Club. Please call 703-248-5034 (TTY 711) or stop by the Youth Services Desk for more information.

Available Copies of Books

A limited number of paperback copies of discussion books are available on a "first-come, first-serve" basis at the Circulation Desk or (for teen discussion groups) at the Youth Services Desk. You can also search our online catalog for any of the titles.

Have Your Own Book Club?

Thinking about starting your own book club with friends? Check out the Book Club To Go Kits, which include 10 paperback copies of a book, discussion questions, and more!