I am trying to get my shit together and plan out some book clubs for this community . . . I am wondering how we are feeling about reading in general these days?
Here are some of the books on my radar that I would LOVE to discuss in community. And maybe have a tiny bit more structure (break down the book by sections, or something like that?)
First book: What My Bones Knowby Stephanie Foo. I have loved Stephanie’s reporting, but haven’t read her memoir of CPTSD (which so many people have recommended to me).
I am also contemplating going through a Palestinian cookbook for the summer just for my own sake — learning about cooking as a ritual, as memory, as nourishment, as connection. Would anyone else be interested in this?
Finally, I was wondering if we might want to set up a few romance book clubs. I could figure out a way for people to talk about what kinds of romance they like, we could group people together and folks could have zoom meetings where they chat / gab about romance and let the special interest freak flags fly!
Let me know what you think of these ideas in the comments and I will get to planning!
I would love this! I just finished reading The Giver quartet by Lois Lowry, snagged from my kids’ bookshelf. I was so surprised that the overarching theme is parenting styles! They don’t go into religion, but the various parenting styles are front and center. Who knew? And in a book series for adolescents. But anyway, I’m ready for some more adult content and conversation!
Reading has been different this year for me. I’m reading more romance and just novels in general. The heavy stuff (which I love to learn from) has to be sprinkled in as I am needing more escape from the heavy; life has just become more and more serious and worrisome.
I started ‘What my Bones Know’ and it was very heavy. I had to take a break from it because it was bringing me down and affecting my outlook and mood. Stephanie’s vulnerability and honesty in sharing her experiences is something I want to learn from so I’m totally down to pick it back up. Just need to sprinkle in some romance too:). Plus processing it with others would be good for me.
I would be interested in discussing queer romance (not romantasy though) and/or The Wheel of the Year book. Thank you!
If you want some queer author suggestions, I enjoy Alexis Hall, May Archer, Annabeth Albert, Phillip William Stover, Roan Parrish, A. M. Arthur, Lucy Lennox, L. A. Witt, Saxon James, Sydney Smith, and Talia Hibbert.
I'd love to do a zoom-club (and/or written discussion) of either of those books! added to my list. i also just started Leaving The Fold, so thanks for that rec.
I hope Leaving The Fold is life giving for you! That book was such a helpful piece in my healing. <3 I follow the author on Instagram and I have also enjoyed her little prompts and thought provoking questions. :)
Curious about romance as I haven’t read much and really hate heteronormative romance like Tom lake or frozen river or the book based on SNL. Once a librarian recommended a series involving vampires and werewolves in the 1800s . That was enjoyable and I forget who wrote it..
I've been wanting to read What my Bones Know for a while now. Romance novels are my special interest, so I am always interested in talking more about them :)
I've never done a book club before, but I might venture into one if it was queer romance. (Currently reading Lucky Red which feels a little bit like a Queer response to Redeeming Love...but I didn't get beyond the fiest chapter of that one, so I could be wrong)
Yes to romance! I read SO much nonfiction before deconverting and now all I want is romance and fluff and specifically queer romance and all of the swoony happy stories of people loving people, just as they are.
I loved Stephanie foo’s book - and just listened to her episode on the we can do hard things podcast! And I’m down for anything related to the wheel of the year! ✨✨✨
I've been reading more romance recently because my real life has been a lot and I'm having a good time. I don't feel like I can commit to a multi-session situation, but would definitely be up for an occasional one-off discussion.
Very interested in Wheel of the Year and cookbooks. I used to belong to a cookbook book club and it was so much fun! COVID killed off my in person book clubs :(
I’m not usually a romance reader but I might give it a try.
I like The Wheel of the Year as an option for the main book series. I think What My Bones Know may be too heavy for me right now.
I'm not a romance fan in general, unless it's helping me reclaim what I didn't get to explore and enjoy as a teenager. (Down with the Christy Miller series! Gag!) And LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent-led romance-related fiction. Some I've read recently and liked are: Firekeeper's Daughter (Angeline Boulley), Forever... (Judy Blume), Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Saenz), Loveless (Alice Oseman), The Giver of Stars (Jojo Moyes), and City of Girls (Elizabeth Gilbert).
I would love this! I just finished reading The Giver quartet by Lois Lowry, snagged from my kids’ bookshelf. I was so surprised that the overarching theme is parenting styles! They don’t go into religion, but the various parenting styles are front and center. Who knew? And in a book series for adolescents. But anyway, I’m ready for some more adult content and conversation!
I love The Giver. Such an amazing book and so thought-provoking.
Reading has been different this year for me. I’m reading more romance and just novels in general. The heavy stuff (which I love to learn from) has to be sprinkled in as I am needing more escape from the heavy; life has just become more and more serious and worrisome.
I started ‘What my Bones Know’ and it was very heavy. I had to take a break from it because it was bringing me down and affecting my outlook and mood. Stephanie’s vulnerability and honesty in sharing her experiences is something I want to learn from so I’m totally down to pick it back up. Just need to sprinkle in some romance too:). Plus processing it with others would be good for me.
Yes to all the book clubs!
I would be interested in discussing queer romance (not romantasy though) and/or The Wheel of the Year book. Thank you!
If you want some queer author suggestions, I enjoy Alexis Hall, May Archer, Annabeth Albert, Phillip William Stover, Roan Parrish, A. M. Arthur, Lucy Lennox, L. A. Witt, Saxon James, Sydney Smith, and Talia Hibbert.
I'd love to do a zoom-club (and/or written discussion) of either of those books! added to my list. i also just started Leaving The Fold, so thanks for that rec.
I hope Leaving The Fold is life giving for you! That book was such a helpful piece in my healing. <3 I follow the author on Instagram and I have also enjoyed her little prompts and thought provoking questions. :)
thanks! i know already i'll have to read it really slowly & leave time to process, but i think it will be healing overall.
Curious about romance as I haven’t read much and really hate heteronormative romance like Tom lake or frozen river or the book based on SNL. Once a librarian recommended a series involving vampires and werewolves in the 1800s . That was enjoyable and I forget who wrote it..
I've been wanting to read What my Bones Know for a while now. Romance novels are my special interest, so I am always interested in talking more about them :)
I would loooove to join in on The Wheel of the Year with the group!
I've never done a book club before, but I might venture into one if it was queer romance. (Currently reading Lucky Red which feels a little bit like a Queer response to Redeeming Love...but I didn't get beyond the fiest chapter of that one, so I could be wrong)
Ooh I have that book but haven’t read it!
Me too!
I really liked Lucky Red.
Or optimistic, inclusive scifi? Becky Chambers restores my hope in people.
Yes to romance! I read SO much nonfiction before deconverting and now all I want is romance and fluff and specifically queer romance and all of the swoony happy stories of people loving people, just as they are.
Would also be interested in queer romance!!!
I loved Stephanie foo’s book - and just listened to her episode on the we can do hard things podcast! And I’m down for anything related to the wheel of the year! ✨✨✨
I've been reading more romance recently because my real life has been a lot and I'm having a good time. I don't feel like I can commit to a multi-session situation, but would definitely be up for an occasional one-off discussion.
‘What my Bones Know’ sound right up my alley and I will now run to see if my library has it.
Claudia Gray’s third installment in the Darcy/Tilney mystery series is coming out in June. You recommended the series last year (I think?).
Would love to do Wheel of the Year with a group!
Those both sound interesting!
Cookbook!
I'd be into going through the Wheel of the Year. And romance book club because I have OPINIONS.
Very interested in Wheel of the Year and cookbooks. I used to belong to a cookbook book club and it was so much fun! COVID killed off my in person book clubs :(
I’m not usually a romance reader but I might give it a try.
I’m interested in the cookbook idea!
I would be interested in Wheel of the Year!
Oooh, yes to the Wheel of the Year!
Interested in Stephanie Foo also
I like The Wheel of the Year as an option for the main book series. I think What My Bones Know may be too heavy for me right now.
I'm not a romance fan in general, unless it's helping me reclaim what I didn't get to explore and enjoy as a teenager. (Down with the Christy Miller series! Gag!) And LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent-led romance-related fiction. Some I've read recently and liked are: Firekeeper's Daughter (Angeline Boulley), Forever... (Judy Blume), Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Saenz), Loveless (Alice Oseman), The Giver of Stars (Jojo Moyes), and City of Girls (Elizabeth Gilbert).