RMRT (Retired Members Round Table)

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The Retired Members Round Table (RMRT) shall exist to develop programs of particular interest to retired persons from all types of libraries and all forms of library services, including formal opportunities for continued involvement and learning; a variety of leadership training and opportunities for mentoring; lifelong professional involvement and networking; and active engagement in the American Library Association and the profession of librarianship.

Visit the Retired Members Round Table (RMRT) on the ALA website.

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Diving Into the Dark: RMRT's March 2026 Book Club - It's a Thriller!

  • 1.  Diving Into the Dark: RMRT's March 2026 Book Club - It's a Thriller!

    Posted 4 days ago

    As winter settles in and the sky turns that familiar shade of bleak gray, many of us find ourselves craving a story that jolts the senses-a narrative that pulls us out of the quiet and into something pulse‑quickening. For the March 2026 RMRT Book Club discussion, Ann Marie Pipkin has offered the perfect antidote to the late‑season doldrums: read a thriller.

    RMRT's next 5th Sunday Book Club will take place, Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 3pm Central Time. If you would like to participate, email lisa.kippur@outlook.com and she will get you the Zoom link as the Book Club date approaches.

    This March's prompt encourages readers to explore a sub‑genre they haven't tried before, opening the door to everything from twisty legal dramas to eerie haunted‑house tales.

    A Genre With Endless Corridors

    Thrillers are far from monolithic. As Ann Marie notes, even a quick browse through The New York Times 2025 recommendations under the "thriller" tab reveals a buffet of sub‑genres:

    • Twisty legal thrillers
    • Private‑eye mysteries
    • Haunted house tales

    Goodreads expands the field even further, categorizing thrillers into psychological, legal, spy, mystery‑driven, and more. For readers who want to push beyond their comfort zone, this prompt is an invitation to wander into a new corner of the genre.

    A Personal Reading Trail

    Ann Marie shares a glimpse into her own reading history-one that leans toward psychological suspense and character‑driven mysteries. Her Goodreads list includes modern staples such as:

    • The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
    • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
    • The Girl on the Train and The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
    • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
    • The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
    • The Guest List by Lucy Foley

    A pattern emerges: stories that burrow into the minds of their characters, especially those whose emotional instability adds an extra layer of tension. It's a sub‑genre that has exploded in popularity-and the data backs that up.

    Join the Conversation

    As March approaches, RMRT members are encouraged to pick a thriller-familiar or new, classic or contemporary.

    If you're staring out at the winter sky and craving a story that grips you from page one, this is the perfect moment to dive into something dark, twisty, and unforgettable.

    Check out our Book Club website to learn more!

    Retired Member Round Table 5th Sunday Book Club, March 29, 2026 | ALA



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    Lisa Kippur
    Membership Chair
    Retired Member Round Table
    She/Her/Hers
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