A Little Life Update
If you have seen my recent Instagram post, you will know the past few months have been quite a ride. School has been full on, book club admin has completely slipped away from me (and somehow also multiplied like gremlins), and I have recently had my autism diagnosis which has been both a relief and kind of scary. I have mostly been like Dory saying “just keep swimming”, which is not my favourite, but I am starting to come out on the other side now, thank goodness!
Now that summer has finally arrived, I am slowing down a little. I have been spending my mornings reading in patches of sunlight like a housecat, brushing up on watercolour painting, dog sitting, drinking copious iced matcha and catching up on all the book club bits I have been meaning to share. I am also working on renovating my bedroom at the same time so we shall see how that goes…
So, with a fresh mug of tea, let us dive into the stories we are sharing together from July through to September.
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Our July pick is The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff and it has been exactly the kind of book that fits this time of year. It is sharp and darkly funny. I’ve started to post some discussion points and questions on Fable and I can’t wait to start seeing your thoughts trickling in...
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August is going to be such a joy. We are running a full read along for Table for One by Emma Gannon and I am already over halfway through. It‘s exactly the kind of read I love this kind of year: full of female empowerment and the kind of friendship moments that make you smile at the page. Naz and Willow are quickly becoming two of my favourite characters of the year.
Borough Press have kindly provided free copies for those who sign up and we will have reading prompts, discussion questions, story templates and plenty of space for your reactions and favourite lines. It is the perfect summer read and I cannot wait to dive into it with you!
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September brings us The Treasures by Harriet Evans. It is a sweeping, atmospheric, multi generational story that feels like sinking into a big armchair with a blanket. Viking/Penguin are providing twenty five copies only, so if you have not requested yours yet, please get in quickly. This one is going to spark such rich discussions - I can tell!
Looking Forward
Here is what I am hoping for as we move into the rest of summer…
More slow days. More stories worth sharing. More laughter at meetings. More snacks at meetings. And maybe fewer moments where I leave my phone in the fridge. It has happened. Please do not judge.
Thank you for being here, for reading with me and for making this community feel like a little ecosystem of kindness. Whether you are joining us for The Bandit Queens, Table for One, The Treasures or something later in the year, there is always a seat for you.
See you soon, book lovers.
