If you call yourself a reader, chances are you are:

a) already in a book club or

b) would love to be in a book club.

Clusters of book lovers gather everywhere these days — in a library corner, at their neighborhood Starbucks, at a favorite bookstore. They meet online and on Twitter.

Some focus on mystery, some on romance. Some on science fiction, some on nonfiction.

Some are religious, some are esoteric. Some meet for fun and socializing. Some have a tradition of cooking a dinner to match either the author’s country of origin or a meal described in the assigned book.

Book clubs are about the books, but they also are about bonding through a love of books.

“Reading a book is usually a solitary activity. But when you gather a group of people who have read the same book and join with them in a discussion of it, that book comes alive in a different way,” says Sharon Kelly Roth, director of public relations at Books & Co.” A new perspective is often derived by sharing ideas with other readers and that enhances the book experience.”

Every Sunday in Life & Arts, we bring you a page of news and information about books, including local author Sharon Short’s Literary Life column spotlighting the important role books, writing and literature play in this community, book reviews by our columnist and WYSO Public Radio’s Vick Mickunas and the weekly New York Times bestseller lists.

Today, we begin a new effort to spotlight book clubs throughout the region. You’ll be amazed at how vast and different the groups are and we’re hoping that their stories and favorite books will inspire you to form your own book club or seek out a book or group that sounds intriguing.

It makes sense to begin with the classics.

WHO: The Classic Books Group

WHERE/WHEN THEY MEET: From 7-9 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at Books & Co. at The Greene.

WHAT THEY ARE READING: Member Eugene August, a retired University of Dayton English professor, says the group reads mostly novels and plays but also has included historical, philosophical and religious works. He defines a classic as either:

• A book that’s at least 100 years old and recognized for its literary excellence. Examples: Virgil’s “Aeneid,” William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

• A potential classic that’s less than 100 years old but shows signs of becoming a true classic. Examples: Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway,” Evelyn Waugh’s “Brideshead Revisited.”

GROUP HISTORY: This group dates back to 2004 when it began meeting at Books & Co. at Town & Country Shopping Center in Kettering. There are five regular members and a few more “irregulars” who come when they can or when they are interested in a specific work that is being discussed.

FORMAT: An informal group discussion with no group leader. Most members say they do some research on the book or the author before each gathering. Books are selected twice each year with each person being asked to bring a suggested list of three to five book titles. Six books for the next six months are then selected.

WHAT MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY:

“I always wanted to read the classics like Thomas Mann and Proust. But I felt like I needed a support group to read those books. We read Don Quixote and there are still tremors!” — Bonnie Doczy, Springboro.

“Part of the idea of a book group is that there may be books you wouldn’t read on your own.” — Joe Hemsky, Fairborn

BOOKS THEY LOVED AND RECOMMEND:

• “All the King’s Men” by Robert Penn Warren. Members say it contains universal themes, is modeled after real-life politician Huey Long, and could happen today.

• Plato’s “Republic.” Members say it’s a simple, pure form of trying to figure out how people should live.

• “The Caine Mutiny” by Herman Wouk. Members say it asks the question: when do you take over from someone in charge who is jeopardizing the lives of the entire group?

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The group meets at 7 p.m. July 30 (Henry James, “The Portrait of a Lady”) and Aug. 27 (Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee “Inherit the Wind”).

ADVICE FOR STARTING YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB: “If you’re starting a new book club, start with shorter works; it’s easier to build rapport.” — Steve Turek, Oakwood

OPEN TO NEW MEMBERS? New members and drop-ins are both welcome. For information, contact Eugene August at (937) 299-5917 or auguster@udayton.edu