The Go On Girl! Book Club (GOG) is all about the sistahs, a good read, a relaxing getaway, and girl talk. No guys allowed.
Celebrating diverse, black literary works, Go On Girl! Book Club supports and honors the legacy of black authors. GOG is one of the largest book clubs of its kind in America.
The GOG Book Club had its humble beginning in 1991 in New York. Co-workers, Monique Greenwood, Lynda Johnson, and Tracy Michell-Brown started an office chat. The chatter was all about Stephen Corbin’s novel, No Easy Place to Be. Then the three friends found a better place for their book discussions. They met at Tracy’s house in Brooklyn. And the first Go On Girl! Book Club was up and running!
Today, there are 30 GOG chapters in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The founding members never contemplated such widespread interest and growth.
But it’s hard to keep a good thing to yourself. Members’ relatives and friends started new chapters. And members relocating to other cities did the same.
In 2008, Irene Little led the effort to charter the first Alabama GOG Book Club in Birmingham. She was a Maryland club member, who relocated to Alabama. Irene left the Washington D.C. area, but didn’t want to part with the book club.
GOG boasts of two other Alabama chapters—a second club in Birmingham and one in Tuscaloosa. And Irene recruited several members to those clubs.
“For me, there is nothing more pleasant than spending the day with a good book—except for spending a few hours discussing a good book with other readers,” says Irene.
Like Irene, I also love reading, good fellowship, and fun. But I have a fourth reason for joining GOG—I love to write. And the book club is a practical way for me to learn from good writers.
Good writers, discussions, and sisterhood are great reasons to join GOG. Each month a member hosts a monthly meeting, leads the book discussion, and provides a meal. The members discuss the writing style, character development, plot, and other writing elements. Authors and publishing houses expect and welcome the valuable feedback.
May 2018 was my assigned month. I hosted the meeting at Merk’s Tavern and led the discussion on Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward. We had a great time discussing the relevance of the book’s title and the dysfunctional family.
Every year in June, the Go On Girl! Book Club hosts an awards weekend. A family reunion of all 30 chapters. It’s a weekend to recognize several authors and their artistic achievements. It’s a weekend of fun!
The 2018 26th Annual Award Weekend was in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2019 event will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The GOG Book Clubs got it going on! Stilettos or sneakers, blue jeans or a blue dress, it’s just us girls. New members are welcome. Come read and have fun with the Go On Girl! Book Club.
For more information, contact me at bettyhsmith@bellsouth.net or go to http://www.goongirl.org