Welcome back to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met and well-read. Let’s dive in.
This newsletter is sponsored by No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert, published by Penguin Random House.
Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district–and in their lives.
Announcing the 2018 Pulitzer winners! Here’s the list; the Fiction pick was a HUGE surprise to most of us.
Book group bonus: Has your group ever read a Pulitzer winner? If yes, do you think it deserved its award? If not, pick one!
It’s National Poetry Month! And we’ve got some recommendations for you because of course we do. Here are 15 female poets of color, and here are picks that cover both Arab American Heritage Month and Poetry Month.
Book group bonus: In addition to picking a collection to read, have everyone bring their favorite poem and read it aloud to the group! Yes, haikus count.
Reading in the Animal Kingdom: Animal characters aren’t just for kids! Here’s a round-up of Heather’s favorite fiction for grown-up that focuses on our furry friends. And may I add Tania James’s The Tusk That Did the Damage to your options? It includes the elephant narrator you never knew you wanted.
Book group bonus: This is a golden opportunity to take a trip down memory lane and compare/contrast your favorite kids’ books with animals.
More jazz hands! Daisy has five recommendations of books about the women of Golden Age musicals for you, and I too would love a biography of Cyd Charisse while we’re asking.
Book group bonus: Fall down a YouTube rabbithole of Ginger Rogers and Cyd Charisse clips. I recommend starting here (that ENTRANCE).
Not just Circe: If you love books that adapt Greek and Roman mythology in interesting ways, I hope that Circe by Madeline Miller is on your radar — but wait, there’s more!
Book group bonus: Pair a reading of an adaptation with the source material, naturally. And if you’re going to do something related to The Odyssey, I recommend Emily Wilson’s new translation!
YA is killing it with new voices lately: There’s a great surge of Asian/Asian-American representation in YA, and here are two lists that prove it. This one features South Asian authors, and this one East Asian. Related: Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is coming to Netflix this summer!
Book group bonus: I’m personally rooting for y’all to do a Jenny Han page-to-screen discussion, and none of you are surprised.
And don’t forget! You can enter our excellent mystery giveaway to win 15 excellent books, and Book Riot Insiders is doing a special promotion for a two-week free trial of the Novel level.
And that’s a wrap: Happy discussing! If you’re interested in more 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