AUBURN - There are few things to compare with curling up with a good book, save perhaps the opportunity to share the book and its impressions with others.

When Lisa Carr started working as a librarian at Seymour Library four years ago, this was an opportunity that she thought more people needed to be exposed to.

“No one was really talking about books,” Carr said. “So I thought this was something we should try to start, to get people together to talk about books. So it just sort of fell in with the job for me.”

Since starting the book club, Carr has found many people in the community share her feelings about a good book talk.

“We have two groups now that meet once a month,” Carr said. “We have a morning group and an evening group and we have a lot of regular members that are always here. This spring, we celebrated our third anniversary so we are in our fourth year now. It has really been great to see how people have taken to this idea.”

A dozen members gathered in the library's reference room Monday evening to discuss “Snowflower and the Secret Fan” by author Lisa See.

The novel tells the story of two women in 19th century China when women who lived in a time of great social inequality. It was a time when feet binding was common practice in China.

While the story discusses the social setting of the time and place of women in that society, it also looks at the friendship the two main characters created in a time of great hardship and how it survives even the most difficult of circumstances.

This book sparked lively conversation among those in attendance.

“As a group we have all gotten to be really comfortable with each other,” Carr said. “It is a really lively group and everyone is always excited to talk and share their ideas on the books we've read.”

Given the novel's historical setting, this brought to light ideas about women's place in society then as opposed to now.

It also brought up the idea of lasting friendship and the meaning of having a true friend for life.

Generally, Carr prepares for these discussions in advance with notes on the author and some conversation starter questions, but rarely does she need to use these.

“Some times I use them to get a conversation started,” Carr said. “If everyone says they like the book that isn't much of a conversation, but usually it is a pretty lively group and everyone has something to say.”

Carr said that she has been trying to plan the reading list for the next six months.

She has been dedicating time to her blog about the book club on the Seymour Library Web site and hopes to see more people take an active interest in talking about books.

“Everyone is welcome,” Carr said. “As long as they have read the books they are welcome to join for a discussion. New people are always welcome here.”

For more information Book club schedules and reading lists:

www.seymourlibrary.org and click on the Book Club News link.