Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met and well-read.
It’s our last club newsletter of 2018! I can’t thank you all enough for welcoming me into your bookish hearts and book clubs this year. I’ve so loved getting to share my book club tips & tricks with you and love all of your amazing feedback! Let’s do it again in 2019, shall we? I’ll meet you in your inbox on January 2nd.
This newsletter is sponsored by Flatiron Books and Legendary by Stephanie Garber.
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and the time to repay the debt has come.
Come Read Harder – It’s here! It’s here! The list of tasks for 2019’s Read Harder Challenge have been released. Check out the list here or watch Rincey break it down on YouTube over here.
- Book Club Bonus: Use the tasks on this challenge as a reference when selecting your book club picks. It’s an easy way to remember to read more widely and inclusively. And in case you need recommendations…. ehhem…
- Related: I’ll be hosting the Read Harder podcast in 2019! Available exclusively to Book Riot Insiders, the podcast will be a biweekly show wherein co-host Tirzah Price and I will recommend some sweet selections to read for each of the 24 tasks. Our first episode goes live on January 8th – subscribe to Insiders here if you haven’t already and catch us on your podcatcher of choice!
Club de Controversy: Know what’s boring? A book club where everyone loved the book and agrees on all points. Enter these 10 controversial books for book club guaranteed to spark some saucier club discussions.
- Book Club Bonus: Remember that it’s okay not to like the book club selection, even if it’s one you picked yourself! The point of book club isn’t just to find a book that everyone loves and feels the warmth & fuzzies for; it’s more about the discussion that the book incites, which often happens most easily when the read is one that challenges us.
Dear Publishing Peeps – I get it: publishers want to sell books. I’m sure it’s so, so tempting to green light a salacious memoir of a former member of 45’s merry band of half wits when you just know that sh*t will move. But seriously, enough already. Read this open letter to book publishers on why these kinds of books should be left the hell alone.
- Book Club Bonus: What changes do you want to see in publishing? I can think of…. a few. Talk about those changes in book club and then consider drafting either individual or collective letter to publishers yourselves. Whether you choose to send them is up to you – start by getting your grievances out on paper and remember to speak with your buying/lending habits.
Where Books Meet Brushstrokes – You know I’m all about that audiobook life. I listen in the car, in the shower, while doing my makeup, etc. I’ve never tried painting while listening to a great book but this post makes me want to post haste!
- Book Club Bonus: Who doesn’t love a craft hour + book club mash up? Gather your club pals, bust out the easels & paint brushes and get to making art while you audiobook. What a great way to learn a little something or just be entertained as you decompress with your best Bob Ross effort. #burntsiennaforever
That’s all I’ve got for you, my bookish pals. Thanks again for hanging with me in 2018! Shoot me an email at vanessa@riotnewmedia.com with your burning book club questions or find me on Twitter and the gram @buenosdiazsd. Sign up for the Audiobooks newsletter for tips and latest listens and watch me booktube every Friday too.
Happy holidays y feliz año nuevo, my friends! And as always, stay bad & bookish.
Vanessa