What Are You Reading Lately? Not a Book Club, and That’s the Point

By Jerry Malitz, NNV member

In August 2024, Northwest Neighbors Village (NNV) members Cathy Waldman and her husband, Paul Levi, came up with an idea for a new NNV activity: a book group with a twist. Rather than having everyone read the same book, why not have everyone talk about whatever they were reading or had read and enjoyed? They called it “What Are You Reading Lately? (Not a Book Club!)”

The format is deliberately simple. Participants can talk about a book they are currently reading, one they have just finished, or even something they read years ago and still remember fondly. And there’s no requirement to present a book at all. Some people simply come to listen, discover new titles and authors, and join the conversation. Now, two years later, the verdict is in: it works.

Since that first meeting in September 2024, the group has met 14 times, with the most recent gathering taking place in May 2026 before the group took its customary summer break. Over those 14 meetings, participants have introduced an impressive 127 different books.

And the variety is just as impressive as the number. Novels, short stories, nonfiction, biographies, travel writing—you name the genre, and chances are it has made an appearance. The group has also demonstrated that some authors inspire particular devotion. Richard Powers, for example, has had three different books discussed: Orfeo, The Overstory and Playground. The same is true of Doris Kearns Goodwin, whose An Unfinished Love Story, Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream and No Ordinary Time have all been presented.

Other authors have had the distinction of having the same novel recommended independently by more than one participant. Those include Geraldine Brooks (Horse), Hernan Diaz (Trust), Percival Everett (James), Kristin Hannah (The Women), Louis L’Amour (Last of the Breed), Ariel Lawhon (The Frozen River), James McBride (The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store) and Madeline Miller (Circe).

The literary range is wide. The 127 books include works by Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, National Book Award and Nobel Prize winners, and the books span roughly the past 80 years, although most were published within the last 10 to 15 years.

So, what makes it work? The group meets approximately every six weeks, usually on a Monday from 11am to noon, or later, depending on the number of participants. Meetings take place either in the second-floor meeting room at the Chevy Chase DC Public Library or at the NNV offices at 1 Chevy Chase Circle (enter via the parking lot on Oliver Street). Attendance typically ranges from eight to 14 people.

As Cathy previously told Chevy Chase News & Notes, “Each reader brings a unique perspective to the book at hand, and familiarity often encourages lively discussions and interchanges. No one gives away spoilers, but just the right amount of information can entice a fellow member to find their next book to read.”

There are regulars who return meeting after meeting, but newcomers are also a regular part of the group. And, importantly, there is absolutely no requirement to present a book. Those who come simply to listen often end up contributing to the conversation, while discovering several possibilities for their next read.

I have attended several of the meetings myself, and the appeal is pretty apparent. It isn’t a traditional book club where you have to finish a particular book by a particular date and then arrive prepared to discuss it. Instead, it’s more like an hour-long literary conversation among people who enjoy books and enjoy hearing what other people are reading.

The next meeting will be Monday, September 14, at 11am at NNV, with parking available. And this time, the group is opening the meeting to everyone, you do not have to be an NNV member or supporter to attend. You might discover a new author, find your next great book, or simply enjoy an hour of conversation with fellow readers. You don’t even have to bring a book.

As Ed Crowe, a recent first-time attendee, put it: “Not a Book Club at NNV is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about their interests through the books they are reading. That’s why I joined and why I recommend it to others.” And if you enjoy the experience, you can always consider joining Northwest Neighbors Village.

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This article was shared with permission from Jerry Malitz.
It was featured earlier this week in September’s Chevy Chase News & Notes.