Find Your Paradise in Las Terrenas Where Canadians Feel at Home Pre-sales ocean view villas starting from $156,000 USD + Lot Low cost of living Secure community with fellow Canadians No property tax, rental income tax, or capital gains tax for 15 years WELCOME TO SIENNA – Authentic Living, Under the Sun siennaterrenas.com | alexis@siennaterrenas.com | +1 (809) 763-7765 OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC brew sampling are provided. One Toronto bar owner reports that the two nights each week on which her establishment hosts book clubs are by far the busiest. Bibliophiles who are likewise sports enthusiasts are arranging meetings at golf clubs, where they are pairing their visit with a golf lesson or a round of play. Some are meeting in ski chalets, where the gathering might include a run on the slopes or an equipment exchange. There are even silent book clubs, where there is no assigned reading and members simply gather in bars, cafes and bookstores to read together in quiet camaraderie. (In fact, there are “silent” book clubs across Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia). Movie buffs are pairing their club gatherings with trips to various cinemas. Some clubs are heading out to sea on special cruise getaways, where book discussions become part of the on-board itinerary. There are “brown bag” book clubs, where meetings take place over the lunch hour in office buildings, parks or wherever there is convenient space. Some “new trend” clubs are pairing their gatherings with dating groups to read and discuss books, as well as to potentially make meaningful connections. While female book circles continue to outnumber male clubs, they nevertheless exist – groups that are dedicated to reading books written by men, for men and about men. The “tweaking” of traditional living room meetings did not end with special-interest pairing. Today, bibliophiles need to go no further than their computer, where there are oodles of online book clubs that meet virtually. This, of course, opens the floodgates to readers joining clubs from around the globe – or joining those hosted by such famous celebrities as Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon. Reader’s Digest also has an online book club, yet considering the scope of the World Wide Web, the reality is that when it comes to online choices, the sky has become the limit. Those whose reading preference leans to genres such as the classics, romance, mystery and a host of other categories can join an online club devoted entirely to their particular taste. Overall, today’s book club landscape represents an embarrassment of riches in terms of choice. This is, of course, largely due to the “new trends” movement, whose “tweaking” continues to grow the numbers of book clubs everywhere. While the joy of reading is the commonality between both living room traditionalists and “new trend” clubs, they also share something else. According to the medical community, it matters not which variety of book club is favoured – active or otherwise – since it’s believed that reading itself provides positive health benefits. Medical studies have shown that it reduces stress, slows mental decline, aids sleep, lengthens lifespan, boosts brain power and alleviates depression. Moreover, psychologists say that reading provides the perfect mental workout by stimulating various regions of the brain responsible for language, memory and comprehension. As the 17th-century English writer Joseph Addison once wrote, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Those inspired to join a book club for the health benefits it offers – or simply for the pure pleasure of group reading – will find endless online information about how to get started. Libraries are also an excellent source of information. CSANews | SPRING 2025 | 37 Lifestyle
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