Book bonding

The day's final sunlight peers into the children's literature room at the Sugar House King's English bookstore as six women huddle around a low table topped with plastic cups of chardonnay.

The informal setting amidst rows of books is fitting for the monthly book group that is set to discuss their latest journey into Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye."

Rosalind Sandack, who runs six similar book groups in the area, kicks off the discussion with probing questions about the author's message and theme. One woman admits to plowing through the book in 24 hours, unable to stop turning pages. Several other women confess they had to put the book aside in some of its bleakest moments.

"All of us have had experiences where our differences stick out and they make us want to disappear," Sandack notes to the group. "If we're thoughtful about our reading, it resonates with us personally. That's one way Morrison hooks us."

That intimate connection with the book and the lively discussion of its modern-day application is why Sandack began her first book club 17 years ago. Now, she said, the book club phenomenon is catching on quickly throughout Sugar House and Utah.

"I'm a book worm, and I always wanted a book club, even in the '80s when book clubs weren't big," she said.

Book clubs have been spreading in the Salt Lake area, Sandack noted, particularly after national celebrities such as Oprah popularized the discussion groups. Now, local stores and neighborhood groups are following suit across the valley.

The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, runs several book clubs out of its locally owned shop, and nearby Barnes & Noble offers a variety of groups.

Even Salt Lake City has jumped on the book club trend, starting a citywide program that sponsors a new book every six months. The current book choices are "Plainsong" by Kent Haruf for adults, "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle for children and young adults and "City of Ember" by Jeanne Dupray for young adults.

"The conversations can go in a thousand different directions," said Deeda Seed, communications manager for Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson. "It's a good way to get to know other people. You're talking about a book, but through the discussion people start to share their opinions and some of their stories."

The city's book club hopes to jump-start localized groups, Seed added, as residents connect with over one book or one topic. Online forums via the city library's Web site, www.slcreads.com, are the first step in the push for more literary discussions.