Reading for support: a sister circle turns to book discussions as both an anchor and to uplift one another

In 1995, Vanessa Lance started a support group, the Women of Substance, in Brooklyn, New York, for those struggling with career and financial issues. Within two years, the group had evolved into a book club.

Preparing for the meetings meant Internet researches and visits to the library. At the meetings, Lance distributed a detailed outline of the discussion topics and provided copies of exercises gathered from magazines, newspapers and books relevant to each monthly topic. "The meetings became a one-on-one counseling session, and I was providing support to all of the members," she says.

Because she also wanted to receive support, Lance made the difficult decision to change how the group operated. "I felt I let the group down when I decided to change the format to a reading group," Lance says. But she discovered that the club not only allowed the group to meditate on a book's theme but also offer support to one another in a pressure-free environment. Under the new format, for instance, the group analyzed their attitudes toward money management while discussing The Black Woman's Guide to Financial Independence by Cheryl D. Broussard. (Penguin USA, February 1996, $15.95, ISBN 0-140-25283-5).

"Characters in a book or guidance from a self-improvement book provide tools to manage daily life situations," she says. "During our book discussions, we found that sharing experiences and exchanging ideas reinforced that we were not alone."

In addition to monthly book discussions, the members participated in the American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Walk this past October. In December, they donated toys to the Colonial-South Brooklyn House that serves eight day-care centers with 800 children. They also donate books to a library each June.

"A support group is an informal setting and it provides an atmosphere of discussion with one's peer's," continues Lance. "Discussing books gave the group a larger pool of topics to analyze. Although not professional, a reading group is a place that offers support."

For more information about the Women of Substance, contact them by e-mail at womenofsubstance@msn.com.

How They Choose Books:

The 11 members select titles based on information from BIBR and Black Expressions Book Club.

How Often They Meet:

Monthly

Last Book Read: Sistahs N' SistahHood by Toni Y. Odom Restore Communications August 1999 ISBN 0-967-34960-5

Group's Reaction:

Mixed

Next Book: Promises to Keep by Gloria Mallette Villard Books, May 2002 ISBN 0-375-75744-9

--Pat Houser is an associate editor at BIBR. If you'd like to have your book club or reading group mentioned, e-mail her at pathouser@aol.com.

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