SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)

A Benefit of SOAR LLI Membership

Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are a way for SOAR members to take a deep dive into areas of common interest. SIGs are intimate (limited to 25 active members), hosted by a SOAR volunteer (or team of volunteers) and typically meet once a month 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 and promote friendship and fun! SIG meetings generally last 90 minutes.

Book Clubs

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 SIG remains one of the most popular. The award-winning fiction and non-fiction books chosen are selected by members of the SOAR Book Club who take turns moderating discussions. The SOAR Book Club meets the third Friday of each month at 1:15 p.m. This SIG is organized by Bonnie Cousens.

The Book Club Books for 2026

January 16: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
February 20: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
March 20: The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes
April 17: The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
May 15: Last Call, The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent
June 19: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
July 17: TBD
August 21: TBD
September 18: TBD
October 16: TBD
November 20: TBD
December 19: No Meeting

The History Book Club

Launched in 2020, the books read by this group focus on literary, nonfiction books which highlight a particular historic event or era. Books are nominated by members and the group meets on the second Friday afternoon of each month at 1:30 p.m. This SIG is organized by Sharon O’Brien.

The History Book Club Books for 2026

The SOAR Literary Society

Literature lovers unite! Introduced in 2020, this book club delves into the author’s and the book’s themes, styles, and messages. The group meets the third Wednesday of each month at 1:00p.m. This SIG is organized by Constance Silver.

The SOAR Literary Society Books for 2026

January 21: Billy Budd (3:30 p.m. start time) by Herman Melville
February 18: The Handmaid’s Tale (3:30 p.m. start time) by Margaret Atwood
March 18: Chocolat by Joanne Harris
April 22: Stories by Guy Maupassant se (3:30 p.m. start time) by Virginia Woolf
May 20: A Bell for Adana by John Hersey
June 17: Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
July 15: TBD
August 19: TBD
September 16: TBD
October 21: TBD
November 18: TBD
December 16: TBD

The Detective Novel Club

This SOAR book club explores the many types of detective novels, from the classics to the potboilers, to the novels of today. This SIG meets the second Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. This SIG is organized by Sharon O’Brien.

The Detective Novel Club Books for 2026

January 8: I am the Only Running Footman by Martha Grimes
February 12: The League of Frightened Men by Rex Stout
March 12: The Red-Headed League, and The Adventures of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
April 9: What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson
May 14: TBD
June 11: TBD
July 9: TBD
August 13: TBD
September 10: TBD
October 8: TBD
November 12: TBD
December 11: TBD

First Friday Movie Club

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 2026:

January 9: Casablanca — with Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid
February 6: CANCELLED
March 6: 12 Angry Men — with Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley
April 3: A River Runs Through It — with Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, and Tom Skerritt
May 1: Spotlight — with Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
June 5: Taxi Driver — with Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd
July 3: TBD
August 7: TBD
September 4: TBD
October 2: TBD
November 6: TBD
December 4: TBD

Women’s Issues Group

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.

Great Decisions

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 2026

March 17: U.S. Medical/Healthcare Environment

June 17: TBD

September 16: TBD

December 16: TBD

The Roaring Twenties

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 met 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 2026

January 14: I, Too and The Negro Speaks of Rivers and The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes
February 11: How It Feels to be Colored Me by Zora Neale Hurston
March 11: The Suffrage Movement by Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells
April 8:The New Yorker (Mandibles and Syndromes and the Smell of Dust) by Harold Ross
May 13: The Bloomsbury Group
June 10: How Should One Read a Book by Virginia Woolf
July 8: TBD
August 12: TBD
September 9: TBD
October 14: TBD
November 11: TBD
December 9: No Meeting