PENDLETON, HERMISTON — Libraries around Umatilla County offer book clubs every month, and The Next Chapter Bookstore also has several regular groups.

Bookminders Adult Book Club

The Bookminders Book Club has been going strong for over seven years now, besides a lull during COVID. The group is run by Mark Rose, executive director at the Hermiston Public Library. They read a variety of genres, but most often literary fiction or new fiction.

“I really like to find books set in other countries, written by somebody from that other country,” Rose said. “To me, those are interesting because the feel is very different.”

Members engage in open discussion and then rate each book from one to 10.

“My favorite comment that’s come out is, ‘well that book’s a Twinkie,’” said Rose. “Twinkie” is the term for a novel that has “basically good writing, but there’s not a lot of depth to the story…it’s not an intellectual feast.”

Each Bookminders Book Club book is purchased in bulk by the Hermiston Public Library and then made available to the public to be checked out as a kit. That means that if community members have their own private book club among friends, the kit can be loaned out in full, with eight books to share around.

If you’re interested in joining the club, you can find more information on the website, or ask at the library desk for a copy of the next book.

Bookminders meets on the second Tuesday of the month, 1:30 p.m. Hermiston City Hall, 180 NE Second St. The pick for March 11 is “Father and Son” by Jonathan Raban.

Pendleton Public Library

The Pendleton Public Library offers two book clubs for adults and several clubs for children of various ages. Registration is not required for the adult groups, but the youth clubs do require kids to register — and those who register early usually receive a free copy of the book to keep. 

Reese Witherspoon Book Club

The Reese Witherspoon Book Club gets its name, and its books, from “Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club,” a website where actress and celebrity Reese Witherspoon shares a monthly book pick that she loves.

Witherspoon’s choices always center around a female main character or are written by a female author. These female protagonists aren’t always likable or heroic, though, said Jennifer Costley, Pendleton library director, who runs the group.

The group reads one book per month and meets for an hour-long discussion. This club is for adults and welcomes new members. All that is asked is that attendees have read enough of the book to have an opinion on it.

The book club meets monthly at the library, 502 SW Dorion Ave. For information, check the Facebook page or call 541-966-0380.

Indigenous Author Book Club

This group focuses on indigenous authors, from different tribal nations in North America. 

The group is open to anyone, and the conversation will be facilitated with a mix of questions and open-ended discussions. There will be opportunities for the group members to “speak their mind on what they related to personally, or what they liked or didn’t like about the author’s writing style,” said James Simpson, assistant library director at the Pendleton Public Library.

For updates, visit pendletonor.gov/library or the library’s Facebook page.

Book2Movie Club

This club, for teens ages 13 and older, features books that have been made into movies. Teens can read the book, watch the movie, or both before the meeting.

I Survived Book Club

This group, for children in second or third grade, meets in January, March and May. It features books from the “I Survived” series, which depict historical disasters by focusing on a survivor’s experience.

Goosebumps Book Club

This club is also for second and third graders who read books from the Goosebumps series. It meets in February and April.

The Official Minecraft Book Club

This group, for readers in grades four through six, features books about fictional characters in the Minecraft universe. It meets in February and April.

The Playmakers Book Club

This club, also for grades four through six, includes books that focus on sports themes, such as team building and cooperation. It meets again in March.

Other libraries

Libraries in the Umatilla County Special Library District offer public book clubs and groups. Check below to find one near you.

• Adams: The Adams Public Library book club meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the library, 190 N. Main St. Genres vary and are generally chosen by the people in the group. Sign up ahead of time at the library and pick up the month’s selection.
• Athena: The adult book club meets on the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. Information: 541-566-2470 or stop by the library, 418 E. Main St.
• Echo Book Club: Second Wednesday at the VFW hall, 210 W. Bridge St., 2 p.m. Information: 541-376-6038 or stop by the library, 20 S. Bonanza St.
• Helix: Meets every other month, generally the first Thursday at 3 p.m. at the library. The next is March 6 on “The Stranger in the Lifeboat” by Mitch Albom. For information, call 541-457-6130 or send a message through the Facebook page.
• Milton-Freewater Book Club: Meets on the first Monday at 4:30 p.m. To sign up, call the library at 541-938-8247 or stop by the library, 8 SW Eighth Ave.
• Umatilla Book Bunch: Held at 6:30 p.m. at the Umatilla Public Library, 700 Sixth St., on varying dates, and the first 15 people to sign up each month receive a free copy of the featured book. Upcoming date is March 28 (“Scythe” by Neal Shusterman).
• Weston Novel Readers:  Meets the third Thursday of the month at 2:30 p.m. at the Weston Public Library, 108 E. Main St. Book selections vary each month. The March pick is “The Summer Book” by Tove Jansson. Copies are available at the library, and afterward the books will be part of a kit that can be checked out through the Sage Library System.

Next Chapter Bookstore

The Next Chapter Bookstore, 1000 S. Highway 395 Suite C, offers several book clubs. For information, check the website and social media pages, visit the store or call 541-667-7080.

We’re looking at public book clubs around the region that are hosted by libraries, book stores and more. In this series, we’ll focus on one county at a time. If you want to let us know about one, send an email to editor@goeasternoregon.com.