A love for literature brought together the members of the Between the Lines book club, but the community they formed over worn pages and shared experiences has bound the group for years.
Since its start in 2004 by a group of York County mothers, the club has shared the joy and frustration of raising children, the challenge of aging parents and the anguish of death in the family.
Members have moved in and out — though a few of the original bunch remain — but the threads of mutual understanding have held the group together as they discuss books and life.
“In a way, the books have helped us get to know each other better,” said Liz Rowe, one of the club’s founders.
As Between the Lines is approaching its 80th book, members made a $100 donation to York County’s Tabb Library to mark its 10th anniversary.
Each member picks a book for the group to read for gatherings about every six weeks. There are no guidelines for selections, which Rowe said makes for a wide variety based on a range of individual tastes.
It also leads to heckling when a member makes a poor choice, and the group is not afraid to give each other a hard time.
No matter the verdict on quality, Rowe said the group’s dedication to keeping up with the reading amid busy lives is a testament to the strength of the club. Retired from a long Navy career to work with her husband at York Lighting, she is like many of the members who work outside of the home.
For her, reading is not only a priority – it is a way of life.
“I read while I eat. I read while I work out,” she said.
Being part of a collective reading circle allows her to hear different viewpoints, sometimes from members of the club who have a personal, firsthand connection to an account that turns Rowe’s initial perception on its head.
“Education, I believe, is a community thing. … You listen to someone else and go, ‘Gosh I never thought of it that way,’” she said.
The Tabb Library — a communal space for books and learning — was a logical choice for the club’s anniversary donation. Most of the members live nearby, and Between the Lines frequently turns to the library for copies of reading selections either in print or as e-books.
A passionate advocate for libraries, Rowe hopes the actions of Between the Lines might inspire others.
“If us doing this little thing that we did could just inspire one other book club … that’s what I would get great satisfaction from,” she said.
