Book Discussion Groups

  1. Library Renovation & Expansion Update

    The library renovation and expansion project is coming to an end and the outside of the building is looking great! There’s still some work that needs to be done on the inside including moving our entire collection into its new home and setting up public and staff spaces. Our temporary building will close for curbside service for a few weeks sometime in July (exact date TBD) before reopening in our new building in early/mid- August. Learn more...

    COVID-19 Library Update 

    • Due to COVID-19, the temporary library trailers at 601 S. Oak St. are closed to the public until further notice.
    • Contactless curbside pickup service is available to borrow items and the book drop is open for returns at 601 S. Oak St. 
    • Check our Library Services During COVID-19 page or subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter for updates about available programs and services!  

Our Discussions Are Online!

We are offering most of our regularly scheduled book discussions online (via Zoom) while our building is closed to the public due to COVID-19. If you are interested in participating, please email the discussion contact (listed below) in advance for more info and to receive a Zoom invite. 

Upcoming Book Discussions

Date & Time Discussion Contact
Thu
Jul 1
@ 2 pm
 The New Yorker Discussion Group (via Zoom)
By David Albertson & Jason Blakely
 Pete Sullivan
Email
Thu
Jul 8
@ 7 pm
 Thursday Evening Book Group (via Zoom) 
Blindness
by Jose Saramago
 Marshall Webster
Email
Tue 
Jul 13
@ 7 pm
 Great Books Discussion Series (via Zoom)
Born a Crime
by Trevor Noah
 Marshall Webster
Email
Tue
Jul 27
@ 7 pm
 Great Books Discussion Series (via Zoom)
The Pardoners Tale, Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
 Marshall Webster
Email

Book Discussion Group Descriptions

Great Books Foundation Discussion Series

A "Great Books" discussion concentrating on literary classics (both traditional and modern) meeting at 7 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Open to all and no registration required.

  • View the complete schedule (with book selections) for 2020-2021.
  • In November and December this group only meets once a month (on the 2nd Tuesday).

Mystery Book Discussion Group

Come in, get cozy and enjoy a group discussion of some of the classic and lesser known authors of mystery and suspense from the Golden Age of Mysteries.  Meetings will be held every other month.

Teen Book Club

A discussion group for rising grades 6 through 8 held during the school year. Registration required; limited copies of the book are available at the Youth Services Desk each month. For more information please call 703-248-5034 (TTY 711) or stop by the Youth Services Desk.

The New Yorker Discussion Group

Enjoy reading The New Yorker but wish you had someone to chat about it with? Drop into the monthly New Yorker reading group to share your thoughts on what you’ve read in a variety of articles. The group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 2-3 pm. Pick up the articles at the senior center or at the circulation desk of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. A librarian will coordinate the discussions.

Thursday Evening Book Group

A general book discussion held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. Books are usually selected by the group 3 to 6 months in advance and alternate between fiction and nonfiction. Open to all and no registration required.

Tuesday Morning Book Club

A general book discussion held roughly every 6 weeks from September through June, usually on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Focuses on a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles selected in advance (over the summer) by the group. Open to all and no registration required.

General Information

All library book discussion groups meet in the library’s Conference Room (unless otherwise noted) and light refreshments are usually served.

Registration

Advance registration is required for the Middle School Book Club. Please call 703-248-5034 (TTY 711) or stop by the Youth Services Desk for more information.

Available Copies of Books

A limited number of paperback copies of discussion books are available on a "first-come, first-serve" basis at the Circulation Desk or (for teen discussion groups) at the Youth Services Desk. You can also search our online catalog for any of the titles. And ebook and eaudiobook copies are frequently available in Overdrive. 

Have Your Own Book Club?

Thinking about starting your own book club with friends? Check out the Book Club To Go Kits, which include 10 paperback copies of a book, discussion questions, and more!