
Winter is the perfect time to join a book club. Whether you are looking to expand your mind or social network, we have a group for you. The Fiction Book Group meets the second Thursday of every month. The next meeting will be on Feb.13, and the group will discuss “Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang. I have joined their sessions a few times, and I was astonished by how intimate their discussions were. The group starts by discussing the novel and then connects it to current events. For example, while discussing “The Mountain Sings” by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, we not only talked about generational trauma but also generational resilience. I will always remember how good I felt leaving that discussion, knowing we are all in this together. The shared vulnerability the group expressed was uplifting.
I also enjoyed the All Access Book Group that we co-host with the Princeton University Library’s Special Collections department. Not only do they read the book, but they also view items related to it, whether that be original manuscripts by the author or items that provide further context to either the content or the time period of the novel. The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., when they will discuss “The Chosen and the Beautiful” by Nghi Vo, a retelling of “The Great Gatsby.”
If you are like me and enjoy the comfort of home, do not despair. The Black Voices Book Group meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month. The next book they will discuss is “Finding Me” by Viola Davis on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I attended this group once, and the welcoming atmosphere made me feel as if I were just talking to a group of friends.
If you would rather skip all the vulnerabilities and just be a philosopher, we have something for you as well. The Catherine Project Book Group reads texts that are the foundation of democracy. Some philosophers they have read include Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mary Wollstonecraft, and W.E.B. Du Bois. Attending this group made me feel like I was back in my undergraduate philosophy classes. I enjoyed it! Their next meeting will most likely be on Feb. 18, but please check our calendar of events for confirmation.
If you would prefer to get straight to business and want the book groups to eventually read your book, you might find the Writers Room useful. Writers gather to read aloud excerpts of their work and receive feedback. If this is the route you take, we cannot wait to read your book! And when you make millions of dollars from selling your book, we hope you will consider donating to our library.