Book Club News: November Issue
Greetings!

This month, our book club is discussing two novels that focus on women living in oppressive environments. Jennifer Coburn's Cradles of the Reich takes place in a Nazi breeding home, while Thrity Umrigar's Honor tells the story of a Hindu woman in India who has come under attack for marrying a Muslim man.

We also bring you our best nonfiction picks for book clubs in 2023, drawn from paperback releases available during the first half of next year, including powerful memoirs and books focusing on historical, societal and environmental subjects.

Plus, if you aren't already, please make sure to take advantage of our Book Club Central resources (details below). We hope you find them useful!

Also, we're looking for book clubs to interview in 2023, particularly genre specific groups. More below.

Very best,

Davina,
BookBrowse Publisher
Book Club Discussions
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If you have not, we suggest you go to "about the book" to avoid spoilers.
Cradles of the Reich
by Jennifer Coburn
From the Jacket

At Heim Hochland, a Nazi breeding home in Bavaria, three women's fates are irrevocably intertwined. Gundi is a pregnant university student from Berlin. An Aryan beauty, she's secretly a member of a resistance group. Hilde, only eighteen, is a true believer in the cause and is thrilled to carry a Nazi official's child. And Irma, a 44-year-old nurse, is desperate to build a new life for herself after personal devastation. All three have everything to lose.

From the Discussion

"This is an entrancing story of three women, strangers to each other at the beginning of the narrative, caught up in an astoundingly ugly program instituted by Nazi Germany... Though this is a work of fiction, the horrific program actually existed, and the characters’ plights are believable and intriguing. The story moves along at a clip and kept me captivated. This novel is for anyone who likes thrillers, and especially for those interested in learning about a little-known aspect of Nazi Germany." - gaylel

"I love historical fiction and in particular World War II fiction. I'm always on the lookout for stories which approach this time period from a new angle and this novel definitely did that... The sense of menace and danger were ever-present. I found the characters fascinating and I found myself flying through the pages." - darleneb

"I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I'm not typically much of a historical fiction reader, but I'm glad I decided to read it... The interesting historical basis as well as compelling characters held my attention throughout the story." - rebeccak
Honor
by Thrity Umrigar
From the Jacket

Indian American journalist Smita has returned to India to cover a story, but reluctantly: long ago she and her family left the country with no intention of ever coming back. As she follows the case of Meena—a Hindu woman attacked by members of her own village and her own family for marrying a Muslim man—Smita comes face to face with a society where tradition carries more weight than one's own heart, and a story that threatens to unearth the painful secrets of Smita's own past. While Meena's fate hangs in the balance, Smita tries in every way she can to right the scales. She also finds herself increasingly drawn to Mohan, an Indian man she meets while on assignment.

From the Discussion

"I loved this book. Beautiful, heartbreaking, thought-provoking. The characters were very well-developed and the book well-written. It gave me insight into a culture I am not at all familiar with. I have recommended it to my book club and we will be reading it in January." - CelesteW

"I have always thought Thrity Umrigar was an excellent writer, and this book does not disappoint. Honor evokes so many emotions - anger, disgust and hate, but also tenderness, love and devotion. I loved how the author expressed these feelings and conflicts through her beautifully drawn characters." - lynne Z

"I think every young woman should read this book! It shows the power men use to keep women in their control. I fear some of the things happening in my country now as men try to gain control of women's health. I loved the book and will look for and read others by this author and recommend it to my book club." - Joan Holmes
Best Nonfiction for Book Clubs in 2023
Reading nonfiction with your book club provides an opportunity to learn about new topics with the benefit of others' thoughts and perspectives. It can also be fascinating to discuss how authors have chosen to view and present certain aspects of nature, society, history or their own lives.

If you're looking to expand your group's nonfiction picks for next year, we have some suggestions! Here are half a dozen books covering a wide range of subjects that will be newly available in paperback during the first half of 2023, all of which come highly recommended by our reviewers. ... continued
Book Club Central
While BookBrowse offers plenty of general info for keeping up with the latest great books, we also have a special section dedicated to resources for book clubs.

On our Book Club Central page, which is accessible from the "Book Clubs" tab on the top menu bar, you can browse our current top-viewed book club books with accompanying reading guides, ongoing online book discussions, many interviews we've conducted with all kinds of book groups over the years, advice and more!
Looking for Book Clubs to Interview!
Would you be interested in sharing insights about your book club with BookBrowse readers? We're looking for groups to interview for our Book Club Q&A section. We'd be particularly interested in hearing from you if your group focuses on one of these areas:

  • Poetry
  • Books in translation
  • Language learning
  • Specific genres such as short stories, sci-fi, history and biography

If this is you, please send us a message. We'd love to talk to you!
Book Club: Current & Upcoming Discussions
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You can also find inspiration for your book club among around 200 past discussions.
Resources for Book Clubs
BookBrowse offers a cornucopia of resources for book clubs including recommended books by genre, time period, setting and a wide range of themes; advice on starting and running a book club and much more!
Usually published once a month, Book Club News is one of BookBrowse's four free newsletters. We also publish BookBrowse Highlights every Thursday, Publishing This Week every Sunday; and Librarian News monthly.
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