Popular Book Club Picks

Searching for study guides on books selected by some of the nation's top book clubs, curated by Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, the PBS NewsHour, the New York Times, and the American Library Association? Look no further. This collection covers critically-acclaimed classics like Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez to contemporary, buzzworthy novels like Girl, Woman, Other. We hope this compilation of study guides provides your own book club with lively discussion topics and keen insights.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

by Kim Edwards

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Disability, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a work of fiction written by Kim Edwards and published in 2005. The story follows the harrowed marriage of David and Norah, beginning with the birth of their twins, Paul and Phoebe, in 1964. Conflict immediately emerges within the novel as Phoebe is born with Down’s Syndrome and David decides to give her away rather than have his wife and himself face the pain of their daughter dying early like... Read The Memory Keeper's Daughter Summary

The Miniaturist

by Jessie Burton

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Religion & Spirituality, Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, World History, Magical Realism, Fantasy

The Miniaturist (2014) is the debut novel of English author and actress Jessie Burton. The novel became an international bestseller following a bidding war in 2013 and won the 2014 Waterstones Book of the Year award. In 2017, a television adaptation aired on BBC One, starring Anya Taylor-Joy.A work of historical fiction, The Miniaturist is set in 17th-century Amsterdam. Narrated in the third person, the story follows the coming-of-age of protagonist Nella Oortman within a... Read The Miniaturist Summary

The Ministry of Time

by Kaliane Bradley

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Love, Regret, Race, Future, The Past, Climate, Environment, Social Class, Community, Economics, Globalization, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags World History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

... Read The Ministry of Time Summary

The Music of Bees

by Eileen Garvin

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Friendship, Environment, Perseverance, Mental Health, Self Discovery, Animals, Plants, Beauty, Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope

Tags Animals, Science & Nature, Disability, Coming of Age, Agriculture, Education, Health, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Mental Illness, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Music of Bees Summary

The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Immigration, Marriage

Tags Coming of Age, Immigration & Refugeeism, Diversity, Race & Racism, Relationships, Indian Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature

The Namesake is a novel by the distinguished American writer Jhumpa Lahiri, who is known for her traditional narrative style often dealing with sensitive issues of immigrant life and culture clash. First published in 2003, this is her first novel, originally published in The New Yorker in shorter form, and it follows an immigrant Bengali family in America and the way its members adapt to a culture and society very different to their own. The... Read The Namesake Summary

The Nightingale

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Teamwork

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Military & War, World History, French Literature, Romance

The Nightingale is a best-selling historical fiction novel written by Kristin Hannah and published in 2015. Hannah is known for her other popular historical fiction works, including Winter Garden (2010) and The Four Winds (2021). The Nightingale, which takes places in France during World War II, was inspired by the life and memoirs of Andrée de Jongh, a Belgian woman who survived the war and organized the Comet Line, an underground effort that allowed countless... Read The Nightingale Summary

The Night Watchman

by Louise Erdrich

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Indigenous Identity

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, US History, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, American Literature, World History

... Read The Night Watchman Summary