Book Clubs

First Thursday of February, June & October at 6:30 p.m. in the Collins Room and via Zoom

Join Readers’ Advisory Librarian Cindy Haiken to discuss classic works of literature. Registration is not required. Contact Cindy at chaiken@wallingfordlibrary.org for more details.

February 5
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

June 4

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

October 1

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Order, order! Hibernation Book Club is now in session, the Honorable Judge Bearister Fitzwilliam presiding...

If you have always wanted to read big classic works of literature but have been daunted by their length and supposed complexity, we have a book club just for you! In the Hibernation Book Club, we will read one long classic novel every winter, dividing it up into shorter sections and meeting six times over the course of three months to work our way through it. Our title for the winter of 2025 is Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Published serially in 1852–53 and in book form in 1853 and considered to be one of Dickens’ best novels, Bleak House is the story of the Jarndyce family, who wait (and wait and wait) to inherit money from a disputed fortune in the settlement of the extremely long-running lawsuit known as Jarndyce and Jarndyce. Filled with a large cast of memorable characters and told partly by the novel’s heroine Esther Summerson and partly by an omniscient narrator, Bleak House helped spark a movement that led to the enactment of legal reform in Britain in the 1870s. In this six-part program, we will read Bleak House in installments of approximately 160 pages each and meet every other week to discuss it.

Tuesday, January 13^th and 27th, February 10^th and 24^th, March 10^th and 24^th

5:30-7pm | Collins Room and Zoom

Discussion moderated by Readers Advisory Librarian Cindy Haiken

To participate and for details about meeting virtually or in person, contact Cindy at chaiken@wallingfordlibrary.org

First Wednesday of the month (September-December, February-June) at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom

Join author Carol Shmurak to discuss mystery books with a new theme each season. To participate, contact Carole at cshmurak@gmail.com and put “Wallingford Mystery Book Club” in the subject line.

Fall 2025: Capital Crimes

Crimes that are punishable by death are known as capital crimes, capital offences, or capital felonies, and vary depending on the jurisdiction, but commonly include serious crimes against the person, along with crimes against the state such as treason, espionage, and piracy.  In this series, though we may be reading about murders, the “capitals” here are state capitals – remember that list you memorized back in elementary school?

Nov 5
The Perfect Suspect by Margaret Coel 

Dec 3
Tularosa by Michael McGarrity 

Third Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Collins Room and via Zoom

Join Readers’ Advisory Librarian Cindy Haiken to discuss popular literature. Registration is not required. Contact Cindy at chaiken@wallingfordlibrary.org for more details.

November 20
Absolution by Alice McDermott

December 18
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

Thursdays every other month at 6:30 p.m. in the Collins Room and via Zoom

Join Educator Susan Gomes to discuss popular and timely nonfiction books. Registration is not required. Contact Readers’ Advisory Librarian Cindy Haiken at chaiken@wallingfordlibrary.org for more details.

December 4
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten

January 22

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

March 26

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith