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Edie—smart, self‑assured, beautiful—always worked hard. She worked as a teller at a bank, she worked to save her first marriage, and later, she worked to raise her daughter as her second marriage came apart. Edie just wanted a good life, but everywhere she turned, her looks defined her. Two brothers fought over her. Her second husband became unreasonably possessive and jealous. And now, as a grandmother, Edie finds herself harassed by a younger man. The Lives of Edie Pritchard tells a multigenerational story of the West through the history of one woman trying to navigate life on her own terms.
Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed. The rain came back to Portland, but a little moisture won’t bring me down! I’m making actual plans to do fun things this summer—keeping things safe, wearing a mask etc—but hot damn, it feels so good to have stuff to look forward to. Thanks, Moderna!
So listen. I’m going to go look up kayaking equipment. You go and and read about some club-tastic books.
To the club!!
Nibbles and Sips
Am I plugging a Half Baked Harvest recipe for the umpteenth time? Yes I am, but hear me out. I had serious reservations when my friend said she was bringing a “breakfast salad” to the brunch potluck this weekend, but those worries were quickly put to bed from my very first bite into these dreamy Turkish eggs: wilted greens, avocado, and whipped feta crowned with a fried egg. The runny yoke adds a silky richness while the bright dressing and peppery bite of the greens balance out the salty cloud of feta. It’s just divine, I tell you. Divine! Book club must do brunch, and when you do, make this dish.
Happy Pride!
It’s the second week of Pride and a wonderful time to bring some queer reads into book club. Of course, we do that year round: but here are three to pick up in celebration!
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Jordan Baker is as set up to win as can be in 1920s America: she has money, education, social clout, even a mean golf handicap. She’s also a queer Vietnamese adoptee who gets treated like an exotic pet by her peers and finds many doors aren’t open to her. Her world isn’t just money and parties though; it’s also full of ghosts, infernal pacts and dazzling illusions. This Gatsby reimagining is full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess—feels perfect not only for Pride, but for delicious summer reading.
All My Mother’s Lovers by Ilana Masad
A queer 20-something returns to her hometown after her homophobic mother dies in a tragic car accident. When she finds five letters to five men in her mother’s will—none of whom is her father—she skips the shiva and goes on a mission to deliver each letter in person. On a road trip that takes her over miles of California highways, she discovers how little she really knew about her mother’s life. She’s also forced to confront her own fears as she navigates a new relationship.
With Teeth by Kristin Arnett
Sammie Lucas works from home in the close quarters of the Florida house she shares with her absent wife Monika where she keeps one eye on her son Samson at all times. He’s a sullen unknowable boy who grows from feral toddler to surly teenager, resisting Sammie’s every attempt at bonding. When Samson’s behavior goes from quiet hostility to physical aggression, their picture-perfect queer family begins to unravel. Sammie is forced to confront her role in the mess—and the chance it’ll never be clean again.
Bonus: I can’t mention Kristin Arnett and not remind everyone her first book Mostly Dead Things. Keywords: queerness, grief, lewd taxidermy.
Suggestion Section
The Book Club of My Dreams Was at the Library All Along (seriously, libraries rock)
Okay, so: the “porch pirate snatches books” part of the headline made me cackle. But the part where books intended for a prison book club were stolen off someone’s porch is terrible. The program relies on donations; if you can, consider dropping a few bucks here.
Thanks for hanging with me today! 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 and catch me once a month on the All the Books podcast.
Stay bad & bookish, my friends.
Vanessa