If you've never been involved with a book group before, the basic idea is simple: you meet once a month with other literary-minded people and discuss a book you've all read. These discussions are usually punctuated by wine, tasty food and the occasional tangential discussion.

At last count, a bazillion book groups existed in the Bay Area. Get off your duff and join one ... or start one of your own!

While the following list is up to date, it's always a good idea to contact the group leaders ahead of time and make sure the group will be meeting as planned.

General Bay Area

Bay Area Young Women Readers
This is a group of women twenty-somethings who gather monthly at each others' homes at various location around the Bay Area to discuss the current selection, which includes classics, modern fiction, woman-oriented and multi-cultural works and generally all other kinds of fiction. Each meeting is a potluck (very vegetarian friendly). Discussion is based upon personal impressions of the selection, discussion questions, if available, and some casual, off-topic rambling. To be a part of this group, please be able to commit to one Friday evening a month. For more information, contact BayAreaReaders-owner@yahoogroups.com or subscribe to BayAreaReaders-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Books & Eats
This book group meets at different member's homes for a potluck feast, enjoys gatherings that are sociable in nature and democratic in process, promotes engaging conversation and indulges in tasty food! Meetings are the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm. For more information, email jt@pentimento-productions.org.

Great Books Discussion Groups
Great books are rich in perspectives and complex in meaning; they require a meeting of minds to be understood fully. In discussion, several readers pursuing different threads of a work can help each other discover the intricate texture of the whole. Together, they can construct their own more complete visions of what the author is saying. As participants explore the point of view and ideas expressed in a selection, they begin to integrate an author's thoughts with their own. They may find themselves thinking critically and seriously for the first time about God and Man, Life and Death, Love, Hate, War, Courage, Wealth or Wisdom. Several reading series are available; for more information visit the SF Bay Area Great Books Council's website at http://www.greatbooks-sf.com/.

Readers Respond
This group meets monthly at the participants' homes in revolving order to discuss contemporary fiction and literature. The host moderates the meeting, gives a biographical sketch of the author, and prepares a delicious spread of snacks; the other participants bring wine and wisdom. Instead of applying literary criticism, cynical analysis or other modes of desiccative thought, the group focuses on discussing how the book has affected them personally, sharing the responses it elicited and the particular resonations experienced. While discussions can be tangential, they are always lively! Made up of diverse members who can commit to attending and participating at meetings the second Thursday of the month. For more information, email Patty Moran at mailto:pjmoran@itsa.ucsf.edu.

World Affairs Book Club
This group is for readers interested in language and construction. The moderator writes, teaches literature and has led reading groups for about ten years. His interest is in contemporary fiction, language and the sociology of literature. Meetings would take place once a month. Please describe yourself briefly including occupation, reading interests and anything else you regard as significant or relevant, and email UberLink@aol.com for more information.

Adult Reading Groups
These SF Public Library-sponsored reading groups discuss a variety of different books. If your local branch doesn't currently support a group, talk to your branch librarian about starting one.
Marina Branch, 1890 Chestnut St. near Webster, SF, 415.292.2150
Bernal Heights Branch, 500 Cortland Ave. near Moultrie, SF, 415.695.5160

Blackeye Bookclub
A monthly lunchtime book group hosted by the Alexander Book Co., a sweet downtown independent bookstore that's within easy walking distance of most Financial District and SoMa workplaces. The group meets at 12:30 pm -- you can bring your lunch! Contact the store for monthly selections and meeting dates.

Brown Bag Mystery Book Club
The Mechanics' Institute Library is launching a noontime book club for mystery lovers. The first meeting of the Brown Bag Mystery Book Club will be held on February 10, 2003 from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm in the Members' Lounge on the fourth floor, 57 Post Street at Montgomery. Please bring your lunch, along with your ideas and opinions and help plan the future of your book club.

Children's Lit Book Group
We meet once a month in a cafe to talk about children's and young adult novels. In the past we've discussed books by authors such as L.M. Montgomery, Robin McKinley, Susan Cooper, Avi, Gary Paulson and more. For more information, email mirandadoyle@yahoo.com.

Classic SF and Fantasy Group
Open to all comers, this group meets at Borderlands on the third Sunday of every month at six in the evening. The focus of this group is novels commonly recognized as classics in the field. This group will be facilitated by Alan Beatts, Jacob Wiseman and Espana Sheriff. Refreshments provided. For more information, email abeatts@borderlands-books.com.

Commonwealth Club Book Discussion Group
The thriving civic organization also hosts a book group! First Monday of the month at 5:30 pm, Commonwealth Club Office, 595 Market St., 2nd floor. Free for members & non-members. For reservations call 415.597.6705 or 800.847.7730.

Filipino Bilingual Bi-Monthly Book Club
The San Francisco Main Library hosts this twice-a-month reading group, which features writers reading their own work, as well as Filipino readings in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Main Library, Third Floor Conference Center. For more information, call 415.557.4400.

F.R.E.D. Book Discussion
An existing 10-year-old book discussion club, this group mostly meets in San Francisco one Sunday evening a month, reading contemporary fiction and non fiction and some classics. A pleasant way to spend an evening discussing selected book over hors d'ouevres, wine and dessert, this friendly, unpretentious group of people meets in a comfortable surrounding and range in age from their 30s to 50s. Although all quite diverse, their common ground is their love of books. Past authors discussed include (but are not limited to) Rushdie, Pynchon, Irving, Proust, Allende, Rodriguez, Bowles, Updike, Austin, Wharton, Hooks, Boyle (T. Corraghesan) and many, many more. For more info, please email carlnann@pacbell.net

Gay Men's Sci-Fi Book Group
This fun book club is for gay men who enjoy reading science fiction. This very diverse group of gay men meets once a month on the second Sunday at Borderlands Books on Valencia, where we also get a discount on book club selections. We also meet up to go to movies, have parties and generally have fun or just chat it up on the groups web page. Members of the book club decide upon our reading list, every four months, providing a variety of authors, style, genres and themes. For more information please contact Christopher at cobalt555@earthlink.net.

Mechanics' Institute Book Club
This Thursday-evening book club is facilitated by Dr. John Reid and discusses different contemporary titles. Fees: single session, members $10; public $15 ... series, member $40; public $75. To register: call 415.393.0114. Mechanic's Institute, Room 405.

Mission Bay Community Church Book Club
This fun and informal group gathers about once a month over coffee to discuss and reflect upon a current book or reading. While the group is formed from a progressive Christian community, they hope to read a diverse group of books that will help them to grow as people, strengthen their relationships with others and change the world for the better. For more information, please check out the group's website at http://www.missionbaycc.org/ or email info@missionbaycc.org.

Modern Times Reading Group
Join the Modern Times Bookstore's community-led monthly reading group and educate yourself on issues surrounding the current War on Terrorism, US foreign policy in Afghanistan and the Middle East, the politics and histories of these regions, the roots of fundamentalism and other related topics. To join in, simply visit the website, read the book, and show up with a few prepared questions to facilitate discussion. Email amanda@moderntimesbookstore.com for more information.

New Friends Book Club
The members of this book club have two goals: to meet new people and to explore a love of books. The moderator is looking for women available to meet once every four to six weeks to discuss novels, the classics, controversial works, etc. on an intellectual level -- over a glass of wine. Looking for diverse, mature, professionally focused women to join. Open to all backgrounds. If you are interested, call Patti at 415.777.1620 for details.

Rincón Literario
This Spanish language book group is led by Chelis López, co-host of a spanish program on KPOO radio. At San Francisco Public Library the Main branch, it is going to be the third wednesday of each month on the 3rd floor at 6:00 pm. For more info, email chelisl@yahoo.com.mx.

Russian Book Club
New members are welcome at any time; discussions are in Russian. The group meets from 2 pm to 4 pm on the last Saturday of the month at the Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room. For more information, call 415.557.4400.

San Francisco Gay Book Club
This book club the reads works by gay authors or other gay-themed literates. The initial list of books was taken from the Lambda Awards Finalist list for 2000 and 2001. The club is actively seeking members -- the current group is a diverse mix of people, women and men included. The group meets bi-monthly to discuss the book, vote on the next book, and select the next café. Club meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at various cafés around the city. For more information, visit the website.

The San Francisco Spanish Book Group
Meets at La Casa del Libro, 973 Valencia Street, SF to discuss Spanish-language books. Books are available for purchase at La Casa del Libro. For more info call 415.285.1145.

Saturday Morning Book Group
Join the folks at A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books for coffee, cookies and conversation. Discussions, which are led by different store staff members, are free, and newcomers are welcome to drop in on any meeting. For more information, including current books and meeting times, visit the store's website at http://www.bookstore.com/bookgroup.html. At A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books.

Solar Light Bookstore Women's Discussion Group
Solar Light Bookstore hosts an informal women's reading group every first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm. At Solar Light Books, 2068 Union Street, San Francisco. Call 415.567.6082 for current title -- and bring cat toys for the store's three cats to play with!

Women of Color Literary Group
This monthly discussion group for women of color usually meets every third Monday at Muddy's Cafe on 24th & Valenica. Their literary focus is on women-of-color authors, and they are looking for new members who can help choose books, read the selections and attend the meetings. For more information, please contact Felicia at gmandurr@ix.netcom.com or join their online group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WOClitclub/.

Women's Reading Group
This monthly book group meets at A Different Light Bookstore to discuss contemporary books with a female slant. For more information, call the store at 415.431.0891.

Yoga Reading Group
Deepen your understanding of yoga beyond the asanas by reading key texts in the history and theory of yoga. Books include classics as well as important modern works. The atmosphere is relaxed and everyone is welcome. The group meets from 2 pm to 4 pm on the first Sunday of every month at Samtosa Yoga in Potrero Hill. Email reading@samtosayoga.com or visit www.samtosayoga.com/reading.php.

East Bay

Berkeley Bioregional Bookclub
Ever wanted to get to know more about the San Pablo Dam Watershed? A new Berkeley bookclub, will be meeting toward the end of September (meeting time and place TBD), beginning with Malcolm Margolin's The Ohlone Way. Come join us as we meet to discuss the book and then gain further ideas about the bookclub's future; the possibilities are endless: field trips and maybe even creative writing endeavors. Contact us by email at ar19@hotmail.com if you are interested. The group invites possible members regardless of their knowlege of the area, we just want people who are excited about getting to know their bioregion!