Pamela White and Jen Sjöström formed an English-language reading circle several years ago and haven’t looked back since.

Book clubs have become increasingly popular in recent years, with both young and old getting together to discuss books and life. Book clubs are not only about reading, but also making and meeting friends and having fun.

While it is easy to find Finnish-speaking book clubs in Helsinki, English provides more of a challenge. One option is of course to set up your own book club.

This is what Pamela White and Jen Sjöström did after moving from Australia to Finland. “I was pining for a chance to speak English, for someone to understand my jokes and puns,” says White. They set up a book club together with a couple of friends in 2002. The club currently has approximately ten members who meet every month at a member’s home. The host usually picks the book, and everyone brings food to share.

This week the group met in Herttoniemi to discuss What I Was, a novel by award-winning author Meg Rosoff. The host of the evening, Arja Rintamäki, says she found the book at an airport when looking for a quick read for a flight. “I didn’t realise the book was classified as juvenile fiction,” she says. “But juvenile or not, I think it’s a true gem.”

No rules

More often than not, the discussion strays from the book toward anything and everything under the sun. Not surprisingly, cultural differences and language are recurring themes at the meetings, and the lively discussion is punctuated by loud bursts of laughter.

The book clubbers do not take themselves too seriously. “This is a drinking club with a book problem,” says April Schick with a twinkle in her eye. “I think book clubs should be joyful occasions, not stressful,” continues Mari Vuorenjuuri.

“We do not have any rules,” explains Schick. The only requirement that everybody seems to agree on is an open mind. According to White, the partners of members have occasionally participated in meetings, but only rarely. The members admit, however, that it would be interesting now and then to get a male perspective on the books. “Although I think it would be very difficult for one man to enter this group,” says Anu Saarela.

When asked about some memorable book discussions, the women mention Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. The book, which is about a school shooting, was discussed by coincidence on the night after the Jokela incident. The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall also drew lively discussion.

But what makes the book club work so well? “I think it’s the sparkling wine,” says White, and the whole group bursts out laughing.

Suvi asikainen - HT
Lehtikuva - markku ulander