IBC爾灣讀書會簡介

IBC 爾灣讀書會1997年成立至今已滿第27年，目前會員人數131位。會員年費$60包括爾灣讀書會及南海岸中華文化中心雙重會員資格。

爾灣讀書會的活動非常多元化，包括每年選讀12本左右中外名著進行導讀分享討論以及邀請世界知名客座講員分享精彩獨特的主題！

歡迎有興趣加入本會的朋友與我們聯絡。

Since 1997

Xunzi said, “Choose good friends and befriend them.” Throughout the history of Chinese literacy, literary men have formed societies to meet others and help one another grow in character. Examples include “The Seven Sons of Jian’an” and “The Eight Friends of Jingling”. “The Seven Wise Men of the Bamboo Forest” was the most famous literary society of all. Participants were scholars with no intention in any political career. Most of them were talented in music, chess, poetry, calligraphy, and painting. They were also tea lovers and connoisseurs of wine.

Today many join book clubs for different reasons: to pursue personal growth through an expansion of knowledge, to make new friends for a more fulfilling life, or to simply express a passion for books. Yes, books bring us together. Book clubs have become the spiritual guide for book lovers. It is estimated that there are at least 1,500 book clubs in Taiwan alone. Here in the Irvine area of Southern California, there are more than twenty Chinese reading clubs. Among them, the Irvine Book Club has the longest history and the most members.

In 1997, the Irvine Book Club, led by Xu Juanjuan, began as an activity of a local church. About ten members took turns hosting in their living rooms, reading and discussing the selected literature. Three years later, the club had to be dissolved because Xu no longer had time to volunteer. Three of the members - Shen Xiumei, Cao Wanlian, and Ma Jianghui - worked to transform the book club into an independent entity not affiliated with any church.

At that time, Treasurer Cao used her charm to recruit many new members. In three years, club membership doubled to more than 20, outgrowing members' living room. In 2004, Chairperson Shen asked Teacher He Shuzhi for use of her art studio. By 2008, the club had more than 50 members and, once again, needed a bigger meeting room. On the recommendation of Chairperson Yu Chunchun, the book club started using a classroom in the Irvine Chinese School. In the last decade, the Irvine Book Club has flourished on the site of the Irvine Chinese School and now numbers more than one hundred members.

Under the tireless leadership of a succession of Chairpersons (see note 1) and the support of its members, the Irvine Book Club has attracted an elite group from all walks of life, who bring energy and diversity to the bimonthly gatherings. The list of book titles has expanded beyond literature to include medicine, finance, physical wellness, and spiritual growth. Many discussion leaders have also employed PowerPoint slides to enhance their presentations. The images and the presenters’ lively talks often resonate with the audience.

In addition to discussing books, the Irvine Book Club organizes extracurricular activities, such as outings, luncheons, museum and art gallery tours, and other cultural events. The club also invites theatre, cultural experts, and academic scholars as guest speakers. These activities not only broaden the interests of the members, but also forge new friendships. Out of these shared connections, various interest groups have sprung up: Brain Candy, Poetry, Drama and Cooking. These groups provide members with opportunities to learn from each other and study topics other than literature.

In 2018, under the leadership of Rose Cheung, the Irvine Book Club worked closely with the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center to

provide service to the Chinese community. This is another milestone for the Club.

Since March of 2020, the COVID-19 crisis has confined us to our homes. Yet, the lockdowns did not stop the regular meetings, instead of in-person gatherings, IBC has relocated to virtual meeting rooms - the suddenly ubiquitous video-conferencing platform Zoom. Throughout the quarantine, the members also exchanged information on various online cultural events. During the summer recess, some members engaged in writing in different genres: short fiction, poems, travel memories which have enriched the lives of all the members in this isolation time. The Irvine Book club thrived even more during the pandemic lockdown.