Booksology LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – The Review Club, a Lake Charles-based book review club, has been meeting for 133 years, making it one of the area’s longest-running organizations.
Founded in 1893, the club held its first meeting during a time when women had limited educational opportunities.
“I think about the women back in the 1800s. For whatever reasons, you know, women didn’t get to do whatever they wanted to do back in the late 1800s like we do today,” said Kim Ardoin, a member for four years.
“They may not have had the opportunity to go to college or have had the opportunity to take a class if they wanted to, for whatever reason,” Ardoin said.
Members treat the club like a college course. They read books under a specific topic, write papers and give reports to the group.
“Well I had just retired, and I knew there were several things I wanted to do. You know, support my family, be involved in my church, but I did not want my brain to die,” said Jo Parker, a member for 23 years.
The meetings serve as more than educational gatherings, providing social connection for members.
“Even if we don’t see each other between times, when we come here everybody’s visiting and everybody’s catching up and everybody’s talking and, you know, it’s just…it’s community, I mean it’s good. I enjoy that,” said Ella Langley, a member for 29 years.
The club differs from typical book clubs by having members read different books rather than the same title.
“What I like about the club was that we didn’t all read the same book. You know, we had a theme for the year rather than the same book every month. I like that,” Langley said.
“We are here for mutual improvement, self-improvement, and we have stayed with that,” Parker said. “And then I think that there are always within a community, and a larger community, a group of women who are always interested in, as I said, keeping the brain alive.”
Members say the diversity of backgrounds enriches discussions.
“With such a variety of wonderful women with so many different backgrounds. Different educational backgrounds, different societal backgrounds, different cultural backgrounds, everybody contributes parts of their lives that may have something to do with the book that was just reported on,” Ardoin said.
The Review Club meets at 3 p.m. every first and third Monday of the month at First United Methodist Church on Kirkman Street, maintaining the same schedule since its first meeting.
The club remains open to new members who are curious to learn more.
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