Welcome back to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met and well-read. Let’s dive in.
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Open for debate: Is “up lit” a thing? Should we make it a thing? Somewhat related: here are 100 Books About Happiness.
Starting a book club that doesn’t suck: some tips. Rebecca breaks down book clubs into their components and considers everything from how to choose books to how to make sure your group is as accessible as possible. Thorough and helpful!
Squeeze one last round of summer reading in: The National Book Foundation asked some authors to share their own summer picks, and the range of recommendations is large and awesome.
Keeping up with the Booker: the longlist has been released! There are several Book Riot favorites on here (Exit West; Home Fire; Lincoln in the Bardo; Underground Railroad) all of which would make for excellent discussion material.
Want to try a romance but don’t know where to start? Historical romances are some of the most popular and accessible in the romance world. The other major players are contemporary — think Sleepless In Seattle — and paranormal — think vampires. Some romances blend genres, but these are where most folks start. And if historical sounds good to you, we’ve got a list of Georgian, Regency, and Victorian romances that might fit the bill!
You’re a rocker, you rock out: Have we got a reading list for you. Rachel lists seven biographies and memoirs about rock’n’roll musicians and groups that would pair nicely with a dance party, should your group need a more interactive approach!
Spotlight: Web Adaptations of Classics
In case you hadn’t noticed, YouTube is overflowing with modern adaptations of classic literature. You can easily fall down a Google rabbithole if you’re interested, but to save you some time I’ve rounded some up! And because the episodes are so short, it’s easy enough to add a few to any discussion of a classic work. Side note, if anyone out there is looking for an idea I would die for a modern adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude and/or Their Eyes Were Watching God!
– The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, adapting Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
– Carmilla, adapting Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan le Fanu
– Middlemarch: The Series, adapting Middlemarch by George Eliot
– Frankenstein, MD, adapting Frankestein by Mary Shelley
– Nothing Much To Do, adapting Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
– Emma Approved, adapting Emma by Jane Austen
– Green Gables Fables, adapting Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
– All For One, adapting The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
– In Earnest, adapting The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
And that’s a wrap: Happy discussing! If you’re interested in science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations (including the occasional book club question!) you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.
Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn
More Resources:
– Our Book Group In A Box guide
– List your group on the Book Group Resources page