Esta historia también está disponible en español.
Over the past seven years, the Spanish Book Club has gained about 20 regular in-person members, plus more online and continues its monthly meetings.
"Our group has grown from eight participants. Now we are 20. And we have read more than 30 books," said Marinela Díaz, who founded the club in February 2019.
The book club serves as a local resource for native Spanish speakers and language learners in the Bloomington-Normal area.
"It has become a space where, for example, people who are new to town and have joined the club find friendships, find people from their same country… they feel that sense of belonging," Díaz said.
The club meets about once a month at a local library to discuss selected works of Spanish-language literature. These meetings provide a consistent space for participants to engage with various texts.
2026 reading list
This year, the Book Club will focus on eight books:
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
- Todas esas cosas que te diré mañana – Elísabet Benavent
- Arráncame la Vida – Ángeles Mastretta
- The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
- La Mesa Herida – Laura Martínez-Belli
- Verity – Colleen Hoover
- The Grace Year – Kim Liggett
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab
"I try to see more or less what they like, and I choose from there; I make a pre-selection, and then I show it to them so they can vote... books that leave them with a message or move something inside them, and others that are much lighter reads," said Adriana Padilla, director of the club.
Padilla is in charge of coordinating the club. With her background in psychology, she offers members a different perspective on how to approach literature.
“She is deserving of the coordination position... First, because she knows many books, and second, because of that sensitivity to read and understand the characters and lead the discussion humanly,” Díaz said.
Membership and participation
"Everyone is always welcome to join... It is not an exclusively female group. Over the course of these seven years, there have been men who joined... even if you didn't read the book, come to the discussion," said Díaz.
The group currently comprises about 20 members from diverse backgrounds, including international residents, local professionals, and students. Others join the group on Zoom or on Facebook. This growth reflects an increasing interest in Spanish-language programming within McLean County.
"I feel it is a very diverse group in several ways... different countries, that's why it's diverse, and different ages. We have older adults... but we also have a group of young women who give us that perspective," Díaz said.
Library resources and access
To support the club, the Normal Public Library facilitates access to monthly selections in multiple formats:
- Physical copies: Available for loan at the library's circulation desk.
- Digital access: Some titles are usually available through the library's e-book platforms to suit different reading preferences.
Meetings are held in the libraries' community rooms, offering a central location for its growing membership.
"One of the factors that can tell us how much the book club has grown is the number of Spanish books in the two libraries, Bloomington and Normal ... from perhaps a catalog of five or six books, today you can see full racks," Díaz said.
Community impact
Monthly sessions focus on both language practice and thematic analysis of the chosen books.
"Perhaps you understand them one way, but another person arrives and from their world, from their experiences, perspective, and so on, they teach you to read it in another way. So, honestly, I think they have given more to me than what I can give to them," Padilla said.
The consistency of the club, or the consistency of anything you want to do, is what allows people to say yes. There is definitely a clear objective in this group," Díaz said.
To get involved in the Spanish book club, contact Adriana Padilla or Marinela Díaz. They have a Facebook group and a WhatsApp group. If you are interested in joining the Book Club, simply show up to one of the meetings or connect with them on Facebook.
