Faith-based book club grows in popularity, builds community by sharing God
By Claire Collins
Women of faith across East Tennessee are sharing in their love of reading and fellowship through Well-Read Mom, a national Catholic book club seeking to help women read good literature and ponder life’s most difficult and beautiful questions.
Founder Marcie Stokman loved reading and found she was a happier person and a better mother when she was reading and discussing good books. When her daughter complained about the lack of depth in the mom groups she had attended, Ms. Stokman seized the opportunity and founded a book club-turned movement, which now boasts over 1,000 groups and 10,000 members nationwide.
Many of these groups, as well as participating individual members, can be found throughout the Diocese of Knoxville.
Starting a group
“I started my group in 2016,” said Nina Gouge of Knoxville. “I had heard about Well-Read Mom online and wanted a book club that went deeper and read harder classics.”
Though her group waxed and waned initially, it has recently increased significantly with about 15 members per meeting.
Beth Barnette of Kingsport helped start her local Well-Read Mom through the initiation of a friend.
“My friend Amber Vachon discovered the national Well-Read Mom organization and asked if I’d be interested in helping her organize a group in our community,” Ms. Barnette said.
“I was hesitant at first to add another commitment to my plate, but I felt called to invest time in something that would provide intellectual stimulation and create a space to gather with like-minded women. We invited friends through our personal networks, the church bulletin, and social media. Initially, we started with five or six women, but our group has since grown to around 10 participants at times,” Ms. Barnette added.
Erika Evans of Greeneville initially started her Well-Read Mom journey in Knoxville.
“I saw Well-Read Mom on Instagram. And though I found it a wonderful idea, I had just had my first baby and didn’t have the wherewithal to hunt down a group at that time, so I quietly read along as I could with the booklist,” Ms. Evans shared.
A sort of divine intervention then led to her joining a formal group.
“Then when I was pregnant with my third child, I was reading Strangers and Sojourners by Michael D. O’Brien at an OB/GYN appointment,” Ms. Evans recalled. “Due to my age and high blood pressure, they were checking ultrasounds more frequently, and I must have used one of those ultrasound images as a bookmark. When I returned the book to the local library, I unknowingly left the ultrasound image serving as my bookmark in the text. A few days, later I was contacted via messenger on Facebook by a member of the Knoxville Well-Read Mom group. She asked if I was reading along with Well-Read Mom and invited me to join. Well-Read Mom reads are meaty and demanding, and thus, she took a gamble that a new mother reading that particular book might well be part of this amazing organization. She was right.”
This invitation led Ms. Evans to then bring the joy of Well-Read Mom with her after a move.
“I’ve been so very grateful for her bravery in reaching out to me ever since. When we moved to Greeneville, I took the leap and decided to start a Well-Read Mom group of my own; first online thanks to COVID and now in person,” she said.
The Year of the Father
Every year, the team at Well-Read Mom picks a list of books, one per month, under a general theme for the year. The Year of the Father, which is 2024-25, has featured reads related to fathers and the role of fatherhood. The books follow fathers learning hard lessons through mistakes, good fathers who learn more about their identity through struggle and hardship, and the importance and example of spiritual fathers.
“I think all of the members of my group want to be reading somewhat difficult and thought-provoking books to become better women, and Well-Read Mom definitely gets us doing that,” Ms. Gouge observed.
Julie Maeng of Chattanooga has found that participating in Well-Read Mom has enriched her particular season of life as a mom to young children.
“Well-Read Mom was a total gift from God to me in this phase of life. I have always been an avid reader, and so the idea of discussing good literature with fellow moms just for fun sounded too good to be true,” Mrs. Maeng said.
“I have loved the way it has deepened my friendships with the women in Well-Read Mom and also given me so much insight into the texts, those in my book club, myself, my marriage, and my kids. It’s so clear to me that our souls crave beauty, and finding it alongside others in a book has been so powerful,” she added.
The books shared in Well-Read Mom can be challenging, but they promise to provoke discussion.
“Not every book will connect with every woman,” Ms. Evans said. “And some of the selections can be harder to connect to than others, but all demand focus, concentration, and invite reflection and conversation.”
Ms. Barnette explained the unique role her Well-Read Mom group has played in the Kingsport community.
“While our church and local community have other book clubs, they often rely on members to decide what to read. Some groups are strict about reading assignments, while others are more focused on the social aspect. Well-Read Mom is unique because it offers a beautifully curated list of books each year centered on a theme, along with well-crafted discussion questions. Faith is central to our discussions, even when the books aren’t overtly Catholic or religious,” Ms. Barnette observed.
“One of the key principles of Well-Read Mom is that you’re always welcome to attend, even if you haven’t started or finished the book—there’s no guilt, just grace for the season of life you’re in. Many of us have experienced times when reading was difficult, but the intention to read and engage is always there. This keeps our group from becoming purely social and ensures our discussions are meaningful and rooted in faith,” she added.
Women meet in homes, churches, coffee shops, and other meeting places, often accompanied by food and drink. Well-Read Mom provides an audio recorded by Marcie Stokman to begin every meeting that introduces the book and some of its major themes and closes with an audio introducing the next month’s book choice.
Challenging reads
Of the books she has read for Well-Read Mom, Ms. Evans recalls fondly one that was deeply challenging.
“Wit by Margaret Edson probably had the greatest impact on me. Like many of the Well-Read Mom books, it inspires us to think about how we should live our lives and motivates us to contemplate the value of earthly things knowing death is inevitable,” she shared.
A Well-Read Mom group serving the Knoxville area that is led by Nina Gouge, who is an All Saints parishioner. (Photo courtesy Well Read Mom-Knoxville chapter)
For Ms. Gouge, a longer read about a woman’s life full of mistakes, lessons learned, and growth has stayed with her.
“I think Kristin Lavransdatter has probably impacted me the most, because it’s about a Catholic wife and mother who makes some wrong choices but ultimately gets back on the path of God’s will, despite many hardships. It’s inspiring to me in my vocation of wife and mother and my own set of hardships.”
“The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom has had a profound impact on me,” recalled Ms. Barnette. “I pray for the kind of joy she displayed in the face of unimaginable pain and suffering. Her story is a testament to how God offers comfort and strength in every situation, and it’s a beautiful reminder that no one can take God away from your heart.”
Though in different places with different members, the women involved in the Well-Read Mom groups all appreciate their experiences and the profound impact the groups have had on them.
“I’m honored to be part of a group with such faith-filled and inspiring women,” Ms. Barnette said. “Being a member has made me a better mom, not only because I’m prioritizing reading and modeling that for my daughter, but also because our discussions often touch on our experiences of motherhood. We encourage and support each other in our vocations, and it’s a true blessing to be surrounded by such love and wisdom.”
“Taking on the challenge of reading these books has led to deep conversations and shared intimacy as we approach our lives as mothers,” according to Ms. Evans. “Not all of the moms in our group are Catholic, including my co-leader, and since these books invite us to observe our faith through the eyes of a variety of characters facing all kinds of dilemmas, obstacles, joys, and grief, we are able to approach conversations about faith in an open and loving way. Well-Read Mom opens a door inviting women in to connect and build community through a shared faith in God.”
Some women have even found that participating in Well-Read Mom has helped them become more connected to the body of Christ outside of their specific communities.
Mrs. Maeng recounted an experience she had while traveling. “I met a woman on a swamp tour in New Orleans who made a reference to St. Francis, and we realized we were both in Well-Read Mom. We had the most delightful conversation about St. Francis and Steinbeck and raising kids and books!”
“Well-Read Mom has been a huge blessing in my life,” Ms. Evans said, “and has pushed me to a better understanding of my faith and a stronger connection to an amazing group of women that I cherish!”
Active groups throughout the diocese can be found through the “Find Your Community” tab on the Well-Read Mom website, wellreadmom.com, as well as more information about the organization and how you can start your own Well-Read Mom chapter for your parish or community.
Read more: Heather King: Books, faith, friendship and a ‘Well-Read Mom’
