Book Club News: February Issue |
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Greetings!
In this issue of Book Club News we take a look at our two newest book club discussions which are both receiving positive and plentiful posts: The Survivors by Jane Harper and The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates.
We also share two new articles based on our November 2020 "Book Clubs in Lockdown" research. Talking of which, if you have not done so, you can download the full report for free instantly, just by clicking.
Very best wishes,
Davina
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Discussions are open to all to view and participate, so if you've read either of these books, please do "join the discussion." If you have not, we suggest you go to "about the book."
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The Survivors
by Jane Harper
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From the Book Jacket
Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences.
The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home.
From the Discussion
"Once again Jane Harper DOES NOT disappoint! What I love the most about her books is that she treats the setting like one of her characters. Her descriptions are rich and evoke such strong feelings. While I didn't like all of the characters in The Survivors, I had opinions about every single one. It is a testament to Harper's writing that I found myself yelling at Verity and rolling my eyes at Ash. I wanted to shake Liam by the shoulders and remind Pendlebury that Evelyn Bay isn't her town. I loved Mia for her unwavering support and steadiness, and I was constantly proud of Kieran's growth and personal strength. My biggest problem is that I am so consumed by the story she creates that I devour it too quickly. And Jane Harper's is the kind of writing I do not want to end." - Acstrine
"As with all of Jane Harper's books, I loved this book - the depth of its characters, the visions of the gorgeous, wild surroundings, and the deep mystery surrounding the storm that left so much pain in its wake. I love this author!" - MarieRauter
"Jane Harper is a conjurer, keeping the plot suspenseful and the reader on the edge of her seat. I loved the way the puzzle fit together, leaving me wanting to read 'just one more chapter' before I turned out the light!" - Mary Alice
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Flatiron Books. Mystery. 384 pages. Published Feb 2, 2021 |
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The Moment of Lift
by Melinda Gates
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From the Book Jacket
How can we summon a moment of lift for human beings―and especially for women? Because when you lift up women, you lift up humanity.
Writing with emotion, candor, and grace, Melinda Gates introduces us to remarkable women and shows the power of connecting with one another.
From the Discussion
"I appreciated reading about the life Melinda Gates has undertaken to empower and 'lift' women all over the world. I was unaware of the many areas in the world that she has visited and given assistance. I liked reading about her willingness to hear from the women, to share their stories, and see the successes along the way. The stories about the women are my favorite parts of the book. Appreciation for the improvements to their lives kept me moving through the chapters. A well-written account of ambitious, positive change." - TerryPark
"It is an eye-opening book. Both in the sense of Melinda Gates' strong religious background and career/life choices, and also the circumstances that so many women live in throughout the world. Melinda's privilege is acknowledged, but it also allows her to do what so many of us cannot do." - Shawna
"I appreciated the focus on explaining why the issues the Gates Foundation focuses on (e.g., educating girls) are important. The book didn't make me feel bad about my limited awareness/action, or act as propaganda for Melinda or the Foundation... It remained passionate but factual - an approach I felt worked really well." - KimK
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Flatiron Books. Current Affairs. 304 pages. Paperback published Jan 12, 2021 |
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For many, one of the most appealing aspects of being in a book club is the opportunity for lively discussions about themes and subjects that are relevant to real life. Books ask us to contemplate what's important to us and think critically about how we live in the world and relate to others. They often require us to evaluate our beliefs and enhance our empathy.
In addition to the pandemic, 2020 brought a new wave of racial justice activism to the forefront in America, particularly during the summer months, and the visibility of that movement changed how some book clubs made their reading selections. Among respondents in U.S. groups that choose their books six months or less ahead of time, 28% reported reading more books about racial justice in 2020 than they had in the previous year, and 58% say they have discussed issues relating to race with their group at some point during the year.... continued
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How Book Clubs Have Sourced Books During the Pandemic |
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Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, over 84% of US book clubs we surveyed included at least one member who relied on borrowing print books from their library. With many public libraries operating under challenging conditions, it's unsurprising that many book groups have had problems getting copies of the books they want to read. Despite these difficulties, it's important to note that survey respondents express considerable appreciation for their local libraries--and the near-heroic efforts of librarians keeping things up and running... continued
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Webinars for Public Librarians |
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BookBrowse is currently offering two different webinars for public librarians:
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Building Community Through Book Clubs: We'll explore we actionable insights for librarians from our two recent research reports: The Inner Lives of Book Clubs (2019) and Book Clubs in Lockdown (Nov 2020). Next date Feb 15
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Join us for a free, 30 minute Guided Tour of BookBrowse for Libraries, an award-winning, curated readers' advisory tool for librarians and patrons. Next dates Feb 9 (today, 3pm ET) & Feb 19 (same content at both sessions). More about BookBrowse for Libraries
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Current & Upcoming Book Club Discussions |
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Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 150 past discussions. |
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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! |
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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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