SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)

A Benefit of SOAR LLI Membership

Shared Interest Groups or SIGs are a way for SOAR members to take a deep dive into areas of  common interest. SOAR’s SIGs are intimate, hosted by a SOAR volunteer (or team of volunteers) and typically meet once a month (presently only on Zoom) to discuss a book, film, or issue. SOAR SIGs are a free benefit of SOAR membership and are a wonderful way to connect with other SOAR members from Wayne County to Traverse City to Florida and beyond!

Do you love to read? SOAR has a book club for you!

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
—Mason Cooley (1927-2002)

Like millions of adults aged 55 and better, SOAR members love to read (or listen to) and discuss books. SOAR has several Shared Interest Groups focused on different genres of books: from fiction to non-fiction, classic literature to current best-sellers, and even detective novels. SOAR Book Groups are led by one or more of SOAR’s devoted volunteer facilitators and are designed to encourage a deeper understanding of the books, and foster healthy discussion, while promoting friendship and fun.


The Book Club

SOAR’s first Shared Interest Group, the SOAR Book Club remains one of the most popular. The award-winning fiction and non-fiction books chosen are selected by the members of the SOAR Book Club who take turns moderating discussions. The SOAR book club meets on the third Friday of each month at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom. To join this wonderful group, please contact co-leader Bonnie Cousens.

The Book Club Books for 2025

  • January 17:  The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
  • February 21: TBD
  • March 21: TBD
  • April 18:  TBD
  • May 16: TBD  
  • June 20: TBD
  • July 18: TBD
  • August 15:  TBD
  • September 19: TBD
  • October 17: TBD
  • November 21: TBD
  • December 19: No Meeting

The History Book Club

The SOAR History Book Group launched in 2020 and focuses on literary, nonfiction books which highlight a particular historic event or era. Members help nominate award-winning or highly notable books, and are read in advance to discuss.  This book group meets once a month on the second Friday on Zoom at 1:30 p.m. For more information, please email Diane Henderson at dianedhenderson@gmail.com.

The History Book Club Books for 2025

  • January 10: No Meeting
  • February 14: No Meeting
  • March 14: No Meeting
  • April 11:  No Meeting
  • May 9: TBD
  • June 13: TBD
  • July 11: TBD
  • August 8: TBD
  • September 12: TBD
  • October 10: TBD
  • November 14: TBD
  • December 12: TBD

The SOAR Literary Society

The SOAR Literary Society is for literature lovers who wish to discuss authors and their works, and delve deeply into their themes, styles, messages, and lives. Books are read in advance and the group is open to 25 people per discussion.

The SOAR Literary Society is the brainchild of SOAR faculty member Sharon O’Brien and was introduced during her fall 2020 class, “Fitzgerald and Hemingway Revisited.”  Meetings last about 90 minutes on the third Wednesday of every month beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom. When classes are in session, the the SOAR  Literary Society meets at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.  For more information, please email Sharon O’Brien at aa9938@wayne.edu. Members will receive an email each month confirming meeting dates and book selections.

The SOAR Literary Society Books for 2025

  • January 15:  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
  • February 19:  To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
  • March 19:  Table for Two (a discussion of several stories) by Amor Towles
  • April 16: TBD (3:30 p.m. start time)
  • May 21: TBD 
  • June 18: TBD 
  • July 16: TBD 
  • August 20: TBD 
  • September 17: TBD 
  • October 15: TBD (3:30 p.m. start time)
  • November 19: TBD (3:30 p.m. start time)  
  • December 17: TBD 

The Detective Novel Club

Chief Inspector Sharon O’Brien launched this book club in June 2022 and will pry the genre of detective novels. If you love a good mystery, this is the book club for you! Please email Sharon O’Brien to sign up for the club. This book club meets once a month on the second Thursdays at 3:30 p.m on Zoom.

The Detective Novel Club Books for 2025

  • January 9:  Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
  • February 13:  Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosely
  • March 13:  And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  • April 10: TBD 
  • May 8: TBD 
  • June 12: TBD 
  • July 10: TBD 
  • August 14: TBD 
  • September 11: TBD 
  • October 9: TBD 
  • November 13: TBD 
  • December 11: TBD 

Films watched and discussed by members of the First Friday Movie Club encompass a broad range of genres: some are classics, others are contemporary. Some are American blockbuster hits and others are foreign independent gems. All films selected lend themselves to robust discussion and discovery and are watched in advance of the discussion session.

Group members view films independently in advance via their public library or streaming services like On Demand, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google, Vudu or Netflix. Contact hosts Ralph Stromberg or Sharon O’Brien to confirm meeting dates and film selections. Contact Ralph at ralphastromberg@gmail.com or Sharon at aa9938@wayne.edu.

This group is currently meeting virtually via Zoom on the first Friday of every month at 1:00 PM.

First Friday Movie Club Selections for 2025:

  • January 10: Kramer vs Kramer — with Dustin Hoffman, Meryl  Streep, and Justin Henry
  • February 7: What’ Eating Gilbert Grape — with Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Juliette Lewis
  • March 7: TBD 
  • April 4: TBD 
  • May 2: TBD 
  • June 6:  TBD 
  • July 4: No Meeting
  • August 1: TBD 
  • September 5: TBD 
  • October 3: TBD 
  • November 7: TBD 
  • December 5: TBD 

Interested in joining a group of SOAR members to discuss issues especially relevant to women? The SOAR Women’s Issues Group chooses topics ranging from sexism and feminism, to ageism and women in business. The group considers women roles in politics, parenting and grandparenting, along with a host of other issues. Many meetings will feature advance readings, videos and other resources, and all will include a host to facilitate a rich discussion.

The SOAR Women’s Issues Group chooses topics ranging from sexism and feminism, to ageism and women in business. The group considers women roles in politics, parenting and grandparenting, along with a host of other issues. Many meetings will feature advance readings, videos and other resources, and all will include a host to facilitate a rich discussion. Meetings are informal and the group welcomes up to 25 people.

This SIG is currently on hold.  For more information, please contact the SOAR office at (248) 626-0296.

Launched in the spring of 2022, this new SIG, led by SOAR faculty members, Al Darold and Dan Harmon focuses on the outcomes of a topic from current events.  This group will meet once quarterly, on Tuesdays at 1 p.m., with each discussion focused on a topic “ripped from the headlines.” Members will consider the topic’s impact and outcomes and will also help to select topics and meeting dates for future classes. Interested in joining? Please contact Al Darold or Dan Harmon.

Great Decisions Topics for 2025

March 11:  China’s Long View vs. America’s 4-Year Cycle

June 10:  TBD 

September 9:  TBD

December 9: TBD 

SOAR LLI members are invited to join the new SOAR LLI Shared Interest Group (SIG) the Roaring Twenties, which will explore the culture, literature, art, and music from 1919 to 1929.  This SIG will meet for the first time on October 9, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom, hosted by Sharon O’Brien.  We will continue to meet the second Wednesday of every month, except December, on Zoom at 3:30 p.m.

If you are interested in joining this SIG, please email Sharon O’Brien at aa9938@wayne.edu.

The Roaring Twenties Topics for 2025

January 8:  Art of Al Hirschfeld in New York City and Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Mexico
February 12: TBD
March 12: TBD
April 9: TBD
May 14: TBD
June 11: TBD
July 9: TBD
September 10: TBD
October: 8: TBD
November 12: TBD
December 10: TBD

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