Sponsored by Hanover Square Press, publisher of The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
London, 1939. A city torn apart by war and brought together by books. Grace has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, an old bookshop nestled in the heart of London. Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.
Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed. I spent a glorious weekend sitting and hiking in the sun, then giving my place a good spring clean and cooking whatever’s left in my fridge as I prepare to spend the next six weeks in San Diego (my fam is vaccinated, I could cry!). I finished two phenomenal books and got started on a third thinking I’d take my time with it, but I blasted through it in a little over a day. It’s about a cult, pairing nicely with my weird obsession with cult documentaries lately, so the club’s getting real cultish this week.
To the club!!
Nibbles and Sips
I find most salads woefully boring, so I’m always looking for one that will rock my taste buds. I love Greek salad, but this recipe takes a classic to the next level (ignore the detox stuff at the beginning, eat what you like). The secret? Roasting! Quickly toss some thickly chopped bell peppers, whole baby tomatoes, and big chunks of feta with a dressing of olive oil, garlic, salt, and oregano (I used dried), then roast that plus 1-2 halved lemons on a lined baking sheet for 17 minutes at 475 degrees. Mix in some sliced cucumbers, thinly sliced red onion, and Kalamata olives (for those of you that can stand them) with the roasted peppers, tomatoes, and feta. The juice from the lemon gets added to the dressing which you’ll then pour over the composed salad. The whole thing comes together in about 20 minutes and it’s bursting with flavor! This is one I’ll be busting out for my next in-person book club gathering for sure.
It’s a Cult Thing
There are so, so many books about cults. Book Riot has a list of 100 must-reads about cults and it’s from 2017! I’m highlighting just three titles today: two newer books and one by an author of color since a lot of cult book lists are hella white. As a bonus, Leah Remini’s Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology is the book that first looped me into the wild world of Scientology and it’s very wow.
My discussion points for all three of these are the same. 1) Examine the trends, the language, the behaviors, and the targets of cults and fanatic groups. 2) Where do you see those signs/trends in your everyday life? Do any of the groups you’re a part of use the language of fanaticism? 3) Why you think some people are so drawn to cults? Do you think you could ever be convinced to join one (or have you already)? Why or why not?
The Project by Courtney Summers
I just finished this YA novel on audio and I had to scream into a pillow every few chapters. Lo and Bea Denham were teenagers when they lost their parents in a tragic accident that very nearly killed Lo too. After Lo’s long and difficult recovery, Bea joins an organization called The Unity Project and leaves Lo in the care of their great aunt. On its surface, the group appears to be doing great things for its members and the community, but Lo suspects The Unity Project isn’t what it seems when Bea cuts off all contact. Lo uses her job at an online publication to start a not-altogether-sanctioned investigation into “the project.” Her determination to uncover the truth behind the group and its leader Lev Warren will put her in some very hot and murky water. (tw: emotional and physical abuse)
Side note: Lo is referred to by her last name at her job and I thought her boss was calling her “Denim.” Oh… it’s Denham. Got it got it got it.
For more YA books about cults, here’s another list for you, this one from just last year.
Cultish: The Language of Fanatacism by Amanda Montell
I knew I wanted to read this after Rebecca read it and told staff that it compares the language of actual cults to the language of cross-fit and basically concludes they use the same tactics but to different ends. Whew! In no uncertain terms, the book “analyzes the social science of cult influence: how cultish groups from Jonestown and Scientology to SoulCycle and social media gurus use language as the ultimate form of power.” Well alrighty then!
The World in Flames by Jerald Walker
It’s 1970 in Chicago and Jerry Walker is six years old. His parents are members of the Worldwide Church of God, a community that believes they’ve been divinely chosen for a special afterlife and that all others will perish in a fiery hell. Jerry finds the church’s beliefs both confusing and terrifying (like its prohibition against doctors and hospitals), but his parents see the church as their salvation: they joined the church when they were living in poverty in a dangerous housing project with the first four of their seven children and were both were blind as a result of childhood accidents, and they took comfort in the promise of that special afterlife for them and their children. They remain staunchly faithful to the church, even if it means following a religion rooted in white supremacist ideology and tithing to a megachurch that rakes in millions. This is Jerald Walker’s story of living through that experience.
Suggestion Section
I love these roundups we do of lesser-known titles and think they’re excellent fodder for book clubs. Try one out and see what you think!
This piece in defense of reading “guilty pleasures” reminded me of the importance of reading for fun in these chaotic times; it’s important to read for other reasons too, but don’t forget to come back to the fun part. If your book club hasn’t already done so, pick up a book that is 100% a pleasure read, no guilt involved! I do this in a two-person book club with a friend of mine where our “meetings” are only ever an exchange of texts. It’s all “WUT” and “OMG” with lots of emojis and exclamation points, and you know what? It’s delightful.
Thanks for hanging with me today! Shoot me an email at vanessa@riotnewmedia.com with your burning book club questions or find me on Twitter and the gram @buenosdiazsd. Sign up for the Audiobooks newsletter and catch me once a month on the All the Books podcast.
Stay bad & bookish, my friends.
Vanessa
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Thanks again to our sponsor Hanover Square Press, publisher of The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin! This powerful work of historical fiction is set in London, 1939: a city torn apart by war and brought together by books.