How Book Clubs promote the reading culture

The recently concluded programme by the US Embassy Rwanda in conjunction with the Ministry of Education ‘Everybody Reads Rwanda,’ got as many people as possible reading and discussing the same book as a community. I find it inspiring to walk around town or sit in a salon or public place and see someone reading. The programme which started on May 14 involved reading, ‘A Lesson Before Dying’ a book by African-American author Ernest Gaines. People met at homes, cafes and schools to discuss the themes in the book and its relevance to society. In an interview with The New Times, Susan Falatko, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy Rwanda, said that book clubs make reading enjoyable. “With book clubs in existence, the culture of reading is promoted in the community. People look at reading as a solitary idea yet it really is not. If everyone reads the same book and gets interested in the same book, we can discuss its content, it becomes a community activity. “Reading is so fundamental and so important to education and to everything that comes with that,” Falatko expresses.The themes of ‘A Lesson Before Dying’ are universal, timeless and inspiring. It is a compelling novel that invites discussion and sparks debate on topics like; justice, dignity and responsibility—themes we can all relate to.Therefore, the idea of book clubs as a way of improving Rwanda’s reading culture should be promoted.