How many wives can convince their husbands to don a costume, trudge around the living room and surprise a dozen guests?
That’s the kind of energy that the Morristown Book Club brings to its monthly gatherings. These meetings aren’t an excuse to drink coffee and graze on finger foods. Titles are vetted, characters are analyzed, plots dissected and books are rated.
The doses of humor aren’t routine, but they are treasured.
Club member Jill Martin recalled from June 2016 how she suggested the club read Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” then convinced her husband, former SUNY Canton hockey coach Terry Martin – “with trepidation and reluctance’’ – to dress as the monster.
“On the day of book club, Frankenstein sat in the corner, visible, but far enough away as not to be immediately seen.’’
As members drifted in and engaged in chatter, nobody noticed.
“By now, Frankenstein was perspiring under his mask and the dark black sweatshirt and pants but remained motionless. To end his discomfort, he made a guttural sound.’’
Martin, a retired English teacher from Canton schools, said the monster prompted hilarity and inspired a thorough, lively discussion. Add one more win to Terry Martin’s career total of 527.
The Morristown Book Club honored its 25th anniversary on Nov. 6 with a celebratory afternoon tea. This alliance began in 1999 when Ann Doyle, Sandra Kelly, Helen (Sonee) Lynch, Janet Moller, Mary Catherine Spilman and Doris Whitehead formed the club. They were soon joined by Irma Markert, Peggy Sperling and Jill Martin. Later came Mary Colatriano, Carol Drew, Madeleine Dumore, Carole Barkley, Ellie Long, Harriett Beggs, Sally Moore, Kathy Brugel, Dot Swift, Sue Wilson and Pat Tocatlian.
They capped it at 12 members for space reasons, but never limited their creativity or squelched discussions.
“Hostesses often enhanced the book discussion by using small objects, pictures and photos as a centerpiece on the dining room table,’’ said Kelly, retired business teacher from OFA. “At times the nearby walls and windows would have music sheets, photos or other pertinent information.’’
Kelly said for one discussion on a crime thriller “the sidewalk showed the outline of a body with yellow police tape around it, and from the Wizard of Oz story one could imagine Dorothy’s footprints on the Yellow Brick Road on the floor in the house of the hostess.’’
Book discussions inspire members to examine their values and consider each other’s experiences.
“Since I have joined the book club, I have learned a little bit more about myself and what a wonderful group of women I am associated with,’’ Dot Swift said. “The different books that the group has focused on are expanding my mindset to something new. I love hearing about the different experiences that each of us as a group shares from whatever book we have read.’’
Doris Whitehead started an initial list of books that the group had read and it has swelled to 326. The club introduced book ratings in 2011, with 10 as the highest score and 1 as the lowest. The highest score of 9.7 was awarded to The Women.
This group of retirees recently invited former Vietnam War nurse Nellie Coakley of Canton to discuss The Women, Kristin Hannah’s newest novel about Frances “Frankie’’ McGrath, who enlists in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1965, experiences the horrors of war, then struggles with suspected PTSD upon returning to the United States. The book details how McGrath and about 10,000 other nurses were ignored by government agencies as they coped with their shattered lives and were told time after time women didn’t serve in Vietnam.
Coakley endured similar experiences before and after she was deployed from 1968-69 at the Seventh Surgical Hospital midway between Saigon Long Binh and Vũng Tàu on the South China Sea.
“Nellie Coakley was very knowledgeable and talked about some of her experiences, as well as telling us that except for a few minor incidents, she remembered the events as described in the book,’’ Kelly said.
Like many book clubs, each book is a new horizon, a new adventure.
“Having been a math teacher, I had no idea how to go about discussing a novel,’’ Harriet Beggs said. “My fears were soon alleviated. I found a group of ladies that were welcoming and that helped me learn to discuss a novel.’’
Janet Moller appreciates the group experience.
“What strikes me is the camaraderie of the women and their compassion and care when those of us experience trauma or tragedy.’’
“When a book didn’t interest me or seem to have any value, listening to others’ perceptions of the book has changed my opinion.’’
Retired French teacher Mary Catherine Spilman of Morristown hopes to continue for years.
“We have read books of many types and subjects, most of which I would not have found on my own, and our discussions leave me with food for thought.’’
Upon correcting this column, my editor announced to me that she was hosting book club next month. The topic was Horse by Geraldine Brooks.
“So what if I asked you to dress like a horse …?’’
Crickets.
Morristown native Jim Holleran is a retired teacher and sports editor from Rochester. Reach him at jimholleran29@gmail.com or view past columns under “Reflections of River Rat’’ at https://hollerangetsitwrite.com/blog/
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