For 17 years, the municipal media library has offered its readers the opportunity to come together around their literary tastes. There are 17 of them who meet once a month. Everyone presents a book that they liked, or not. Among them, Patrick, from Séligne.
How do the meetings take place?
Patrick (from Séligne): “Everyone comes freely and we talk about the books we have read. Everyone gives a short summary and critique. There is no imposed book. Sometimes we discuss a book that several of us have read. Sometimes the presentation, although negative, can still make you want to read the book in question. We discover authors we don't know, it's a way of making discoveries. »
Are you all big readers?
“Some, yes. They must then select the book they want to talk about. I present the books that I have read, without making a selection. You can sometimes read a small extract. The point is to exchange, it's always a pleasure, even if we don't all agree. We have different points of view and interests. There are lovers of detective literature, others of historical novels. The spectrum is broad. »
How did you discover this group?
“I’m not originally from Mellois. I am a Parisian and, with my wife, we have traveled a lot. We were both regulars at media libraries. We arrived in Mellois during Covid and the welcome was very good. We also participate in a readers' group in Brioux-sur-Boutonne where we exchange books during a monthly meeting which takes place in a café. I also participate in Maria Quintreau's writing workshop in Celles-sur-Belle. At the moment, we are working on haikus for the next tourist office magazine. These meetings are opportunities to create connections. »
The group also participates in the Cognac readers' prize?
“In the spring we had four books selected by the festival. A meeting allows us to discuss and give our opinion. Everyone ranks them in order of preference. Sylvie Gadat, head of the media library, counts the points. Out comes the favorite book. It's not always your favorite book that wins the prize, but that doesn't matter. This year, the four novels are quite close. »
Cognac Festival Readers’ Prize
The readers' group had the opportunity to meet the Irish author, Ruth Gilligan, who was then in the running for the readers' prize. “The prize has existed since 2004 and is aimed at library audiences, with a different country each year,” explains Catherine Cotard of the departmental media library. We decided to choose Melle for the meeting, a way to mark this twentieth anniversary. The partnership between the Department and the festival has existed since 2017. Melle's group is one of the oldest. There were initially only four groups in the entire department, this year there were 43, with 406 readers. » Mellois readers hit the mark this year, their favorite book, that of Ruth Gilligan, having been crowned with the prize.
