Interest groups are the key to our club’s longevity. It’s not just about the exercise and fresh air and it’s not just about the conversation with old friends and new. It’s about the synergy. Supporting, caring, being there — together. On this cold day in January, every topic imaginable was discussed, including ukuleles.
Category Archives: Interest Groups
A vintage photo of the Monday afternoon book club
During this afternoon’s super-interesting meeting, Marion Weir brought a photo from our same book group from May 2007! Two of the members are still in the group, Marion herself and Jean Farquharson.

L to R, back row: Betty Harley, Alannah McQuarrie, Jean Farquharson, Marjorie Campbell. Middle: Thelma Thompson, Elizabeth Cavanaugh, June Bragg, Wynn Harding, Marion Weir, Marg Simpson. Seated: Mabel Wyatt, Alto Hall.
Marsha presented Scarcity Brain, and highly recommends it.
Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation 5/5
Marsha S gives this new approach to the history of Ukraine a resounding 5/5.
Hrytsak takes a holistic approach to history, covering large subjects with a storytelling technique rather than relying on dry chronology. It starts with the day Russia attacked Ukraine in the current war and describes the innovative and communal way individual Ukrainians successfully fought back the surprise attack from a massive force that should have been more organized. Individual Ukrainians took responsibility for the defense of their country and fought back with whatever weapons they had. Their creativity and dedication set them apart from the monolithic army of the Russians, whose every movement came from above, often from Putin himself, meaning individual soldiers and their commanders were frozen, waiting for orders. This vignette sets the tone for the rest of the book: how is it that neighbouring nations can have such starkly different citizens in outlook, response and resourcefulness? Hrytsak’s book answers that question by delving back into the history of Ukraine and it’s record of protest against unjust rule vs Russia and its history of the populace being held down by despots. Anyone wanting to understand the current war should read this book.
Norah O is reading the classics
5/5 for book about Nikola Tesla
Jeanne C gives Away from the Dead a 5/5
Marion’s plea for a better selection of large print books
Like all of us book club members, Marion W is a smart and avid reader but she’s noticed that the selection of library books available in large print may be good for some avid readers, but not so great for discerning readers. She held up this book and said with frustration, “I don’t recommend this one. Too Harlequinesque.” Are large print readers doomed to read mediocre fiction? One hopes not.
The Pull of Stars by Emma Donaghue — 5/5

Symposium Cafe is the perfect place for bookish lunches
Our book group has been meeting over lunch-brunch at Brantford’s Symposium Cafe ever since we ventured out for post-pandemic non-zoom gatherings. Always, the service is stellar and always the food is beautifully presented, tasty and not too expensive. The staff at Symposium never rush us out and they are so very pleasant and friendly. This is Annette. Her smile says it all!
Enjoying the artwork on the plywood patch bridge.
The 9:30am walkers decided to walk over the plywood patch bridge on the Dike Trail to enjoy the artwork. It was a glorious day to do that and it was also great to see the improvements that have been made on the trails.