For more than a decade, the Monday Afternoon Book Discussion at the North Bellmore Public Library has been a hub of lively conversation, laughter and connection for readers of all backgrounds.
Led by longtime Bellmore resident Stephanie Cohen, the book club draws members from across the area — including Gold Kanner, a 94-year-old Wantagh resident who has been attending for the past four years.
“Book club is wonderful for me because there’s other people to talk to and to listen to me,” Kanner said. “It’s a very informal group. We enjoy each other’s company, and we really get into the meanings of the books.”
A lifelong reader who received her first library card at age 8 in Brooklyn, Kanner has added her own brand of joy to the meetings. Her “silly verse” reflections, often written in rhyme, spark laughter and fresh discussion among the members.
Before her retirement, Kanner worked for decades as an office manager at a Freeport daycare center, and later as a senior page at the East Meadow Public Library. Now, the book club offers her exactly what she needs: intellectual stimulation, social engagement and a sense of belonging.
“It’s important for people my age who live alone to have someone to say hello to, to discuss a TV show, or just share a thought,” she said.
Cohen, a former teacher and longtime member of the Friends of the Library, which assists in fundraising events, has led the book club for more than a decade. She carefully selects books from a wide range of sources — including The New York Times reviews — and emphasizes participation over perfection.
“This is not a technical kind of book discussion,” she said. “We discuss what we liked, what we didn’t like, what we learned, what we understood, and then we apply it to our own lives. The discussions are carried by the members, and that’s what makes it so special.”
One of those members is North Bellmore resident Kathy Zullo, who has lived in the community for nearly 50 years and has been part of various book groups at the library for more than a decade.
“I think what makes this group so unique is that we come together from different backgrounds, different religions, different perspectives — but the common thread is the love of reading,” Zullo said. “The group makes me read books I might not normally pull off the shelf, and I think that’s a growth experience.”
For Zullo, the monthly meetings that meet on the third Monday, aren’t just about literature.
“You get to know everybody’s name,” she said. “You ask how they are, and you hear about the life things happening to people. It becomes a whole different layer of friendships connected through the library.”
Zullo’s connection to Kanner goes back decades, with the two working together at a daycare center, but they only reconnected recently when Kanner reached out to her.
“We went out to lunch, and we brought poems we used to write to each other as part of a Christmas secret-elf exchange,” Zullo said. “She has such a dry sense of humor. She can come out with one-liners that amaze me.”
When Kanner expressed a desire to stay active and engaged after her husband, Morty, died, Zullo encouraged her to join the book club — and watched her thrive.
“She was a little quiet at first, but she brings another wonderful element to the group,” Zullo said. “She’s a great reader, and her writing — those rhyming verses — adds so much. Everyone loves it.”
Zullo said she has drawn inspiration from Kanner’s energy and commitment to staying sharp.
“You always wonder — are elderly people well because they do all these things, or do they do all these things to stay well?” Zullo said. “Gold drives herself places. She stays social. She reads constantly. She’s carved out a life that keeps her vibrant.”
Cohen wholeheartedly agreed with that assessment of Kanner.
“It is wonderful to have someone like Gold,” Cohen said. “Her writing came as a big surprise. She contributes so much, and she keeps her brain active and engaged. I hope I’m half as sharp at her age.”
The book club, Zullo added, is one of the community’s most meaningful offerings — a space that has grown alongside the library’s expanding role under its current director.
“I wish more people would come,” she said. “But even with 10 or 12, the group is warm, welcoming, and so enriching. The library has become a real community center, and the book group is a wonderful part of that.”
For more information on the Monday Afternoon Book Discussion, visit NorthBellmoreLibrary.org.
