Welcome back to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met and well-read. Let’s dive in!
This newsletter is sponsored by The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater.
One teenager in a skirt.
One teenager with a lighter.
One moment that changes both of their lives forever.
A single reckless act during an 8-minute bus ride leaves one teen severely burned and the other charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The 57 Bus is Dashka Slater’s true account of the case that garnered international attention and thrust both high school students into the spotlight.
I decided to dedicate this week’s newsletter entirely to nonfiction. It’s definitely not the first genre you think of when you think of book clubs (is mystery anyone else’s first thought?) but I’ve talked to folks in Business Book Clubs, workplace groups that focus on nonfiction of all kinds, and been part of several groups that have incorporated nonfiction into their discussions. This year’s Read Harder Challenge even had two nonfiction-specific tasks! So whether your group has never read nonfiction or specializes in it, here are some great options.
I know it’s the day after Halloween, but one last Spooktober link for you: 7 nonfiction reads that’ll make you shiver.
Seriously though, nonfiction is super good for book groups! Sophia has the recs (25, to be precise) to prove it.
Looking to build some mindfulness habits? We’ve got a reading list for that! I speak from experience when I say that building a meditation practice is so much easier if you’ve got a buddy (or a whole group!) doing it with you.
Prefer a solid narrative? Here are 50 books of narrative nonfiction, split into categories like History, Science, Social Issues, and more.
Poetry counts as nonfiction, right? It’s a kissing cousin at the very least. Here are 12 poets for those of you who aren’t sure you actually like poetry.
To scratch that ER/House/Grey’s Anatomy itch: Here are some medical reads, most of which are nonfiction. (I can’t be the only one obsessed with the lives of surgical residents, can I?)
Ok, how about some pictures with that? Here are 5 true crime comics, for when your group is feeling brave.
And that’s a wrap: Happy discussing! If you’re interested in science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations (including the occasional book club question!) you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.
Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn
More Resources:
– Our Book Group In A Box guide
– List your group on the Book Group Resources page