Natalie van Dongen is starting up a new book club in Berwick.
By Bridget Brady
NATALIE van Dongen’s love for literature has inspired her to establish a new book club in Berwick.
The Casey Book Club will hold its first session next Thursday, with the group meeting monthly in the evenings at restaurants and homes around Berwick.
“There are so many restaurants around Berwick so it’s a good chance to combine books, food and wine,” Ms van Dongen said.
Ms van Dongen is an English teacher at Cranbourne Secondary College and believes that the sharing of reading is invaluable.
“I think reading is very important, especially in this day and age when the written word is getting left behind. We really need to slow down, relax and enjoy a book.”
She said that a book club is also an excellent way to meet new people.
“I’m getting to that stage where a lot of my friends are younger or much older than me and so it’s nice to get some new friendship circles.”
Although a book club already exists in Berwick, Ms van Dongen will conduct the club’s meetings in the evenings to allow those who work or are busy during the day to attend.
While the night meetings may suit working professionals, Ms van Dongen said anyone is welcome to join.
Ms van Dongen said the group will explore a variety of books, ranging from the classics to the current best-sellers.
She said she was thinking about looking at the Australian novel The Secret River by Kate Grenville as the club’s first book.
The book club is an open and friendly club so Ms van Dongen said people should not be concerned about coming to the meetings by themselves.
The group’s first meeting will be held on Thursday 21 February at 7.30pm at the Sage at Parkhill restaurant in Parkhill Drive, Berwick.
Anyone interested in joining the book club are welcome to contact Ms van Dongen at natster@hotmail.com.
