Join I Start Wondering’s New Book Group
By Dorian Martin
I Start Wondering Founder
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ~Anna Quindlen, author and journalist
We believe that the women who have reached midlife and beyond who read I Start Wondering have a zest for life, a wealth of experiences, and a deep curiosity about possibilities. What we didn’t have – until now – is a welcoming place to discuss what we face with other women our age.
That’s changing this fall. I Start Wondering is launching a book group specifically focused on the issues and dreams of women who have reached midlife and beyond.
We want our book group to be a kind space designed to promote a sense of community and encourage conversations around topics that matter to us at this stage of life. Our book group selections will cover the gamut – fiction and non-fiction – with input on selections coming from our community so that we can address how to negotiate life’s gifts and challenges and contemplate our legacy.
Our First Selection: Whistler
Our first book selection is a 2026 release: The New York Times bestseller Whistler by Ann Patchett, an award-winning author who is the recipient of the 2026 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction and the 2026 PEN/Audible Literary Service Award.
We chose this well-lauded novel because of its main character, Daphne, who is in her 50s and navigating issues such as elder caregiving, family secrets, adult siblings, mentoring, and retirement.
Part of the publisher’s synopsis reads:
“Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.”
Next Steps to Join
Here’s what you need to do to take part in this book group discussion:
Sign up: Be sure to complete the registration page so we know you plan to join us! In doing so, you’ll also be able to sign up for our weekly I Start Wondering newsletter. Click the pink button below.
Dive in: Get your physical or audio copy of the book from the public library, your local independent bookseller, or your favorite retailer. If you want to financially support I Start Wondering, you can purchase your copy through our Bookshop.org affiliate link.
Mark your calendar: We’ll meet virtually at 2-4 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, November 15, 2026. We’ll send out a link to the virtual meeting when we get closer to the date.
Watch your email: We’ll send out the meeting link the week of our meeting.
Have a say:
Those who participate in the actual book group will have a chance to vote on our next book selection. Our next meeting will be in early 2027.
We hope you’ll join us!
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