The Interfaith Women’s Book Group was formed in 2009 when a group of women from the Presbyterian Church of Western Springs reached out to women from the Mosque Foundation of Bridgeview with the expressed hope of fostering understanding of our Christian and Muslim neighbors. Presently, the Group joins hands with the women of the Mosque Foundation, the Presbyterian Church of Western Springs, as well as women from several other local congregations to read, share and laugh together as they build bridges to friendship and understanding. The group meets monthly, September through May, Wednesday afternoons for fellowship, book, and film discussion. They typically meet alternately between the Mosque Foundation and the Presbyterian Church of Western Springs.
For more information, please contact MaryJo. Also, please check the church calendar for meeting information.
Here’s the list for the 2025/26 Season:
September 17, 2025, at PCWS
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier
Facilitator: Ann Beran Jones B, LT, A, CD, E-AUDIO
October 15, 2025, at Mosque
Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermaisen
Facilitator: Mary Jo Blough Amazon (K, B, A)
November 19, 2025 at PCWS
Songs for the Broken Hearted by Ayelet Tsabair
Facilitator: Liz Thomas B
January 21, 2026 at Mosque
Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts
Facilitator: Mary Torgler B, LT, E, K, E-audio
February 11, 2026 at PCWS
Number 12 rue Sainte-Catherine by Roberta Harding Gates
Facilitator: Carol Akhras B
April 15, 2026 at Mosque
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Facilitator: Jeanean Othman B, LT, E, K, A. CD, Cloud
May 20, 2026 at PCWS
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Facilitator: Jerry Allers B, LT, E, A, CD, E-audio
June 17, 2026 at Mosque
Select books for 2026-2027
B-book, LT-large type, A-audio, K-Kindle, CD-compact disc, E-audio (download)
Other titles suggested but not selected:
Traveler by John Heagney
Sailing for Grace by Joseph Bauer
American Indian Stories by Zitkala-Sa
Addresses: PCWS, 5250 Wolf Rd, Western Springs and Mosque Foundation Food Pantry, 9851 S. 76th Ave, Bridgeview
Here’s the list for the 2024/25 Season:
September 18, 2024
Title: How to Know a Person: The Act of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen Author: David Brooks
October 16, 2024
Title: Rose Code Author: Kate Quinn
November 20, 2024
Title: The Whistling Season Author: Ivan Doig
January 15, 2025
Title: Last Summer on State Street Author: Toya Wolf
February 19, 2025
Title: Horse Author: Geraldine Brooks
April 16, 2025
Title: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants Author: Robin Wall (also available in Young Adult version)
May 21, 2025
Title: Mornings in Jenin Author: Susan Abulhawa
June 18, 2025
Title: The Women Author: Kristin Hannan
Also suggested:
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Women Whp Risk by Tom Doyle
God’s Hostage by Andrew Brinson
Here’s the list for the 2022/23 Season:
September 22, 2022
Title: On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist Author: Clarissa Ward
October 19, 2022
Title: Fahrenheit 451 Author: Ray Bradbury
November 16, 2022
Title: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Author: William Kamkwamba
January 18, 2023
Title: Winter Garden Author: Kristen Hannah
February 15, 2023
Title: The Invisible Wall: A Love Story that Broke Barriers Author: Harry Bernstein
March 15, 2023
Title: The Lincoln Highway Author: Amor Towles
April 19, 2023
Title: Hidden Life of Trees Author: Peter Wohlloben
May 17, 2023
Select Next Seasons Reading List
Here’s the list for the 2021/22 Season:
September 15, 2021
Title: Sunflower Sisters Author: Martha Hall
October 20, 2021
Title: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent Author: Isabel Wilkerson
November 17, 2021
Title: American Dirt Author: Jeanine Cummins
January 19, 2022
Title: The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion Author: Fannie Flagg
February 16, 2022
Title: I Am Nojood, Age 10 and Divorced Author: Najood Ali
March 16, 2022
Title: The Beekeeper of Aleppo Author: Christy Lefteri
April 20, 2022
Title: Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom Author: Ariel Burger
May 18, 2022
Also Recommended
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I Have Loved by Kate Bowler
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catherine Ingelman Sundberg
We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
Here’s the list for the 2020/21 Season:
Title: The Night Watchman Author: Louise Erdrich
Title: Being Mortal Author: Atul Gawande
Words of Wisdom from Children’s Books
Title: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek Author: Kim Michele Richardson
Title: Born a Crime Author: Trevor Noah
Title: The Secrets Between Us Author: Thrity Umrigar
Title: Tattoos on the Heart Author: Gregory Boyle
Also Recommended
The Black Penguin by Andrew Evans
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
American Dirt by Jeannie Cumins
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
I Am Najood, Age 10 and Divorced by Najood Ali