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.

Three Women

by Lisa Taddeo

Publication year 2019

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Sexual Identity, Masculinity

Tags Love & Sexuality, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography

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Through Black Spruce

by Joseph Boyden

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Canadian Literature

Through Black Spruce, published in 2008, is Canadian author Joseph Boyden’s second novel. His first, Three Day Road (2005), is a work of historical fiction based on the life of Xavier Bird. Through Black Spruce focuses on Xavier’s son, Will Bird, and his granddaughter, Annie Bird. Boyden uses storytelling as a narrative framework to share the Bird family’s story. Annie and Will narrate alternating chapters, telling stories about their past year as the reader also... Read Through Black Spruce Summary

Tinkers

by Paul Harding

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Aging, Death, Family

Tags Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction, Relationships, Grief & Death, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Tinkers (2009) is Paul Harding’s debut novel. It delves into the life of a dying man, George Washington Crosby, as he reflects on his past and his family history. The narrative weaves together George’s memories with stories from his father’s life, and it explores the themes of mortality, memory, and the interconnectedness of generations. The novel, which is considered literary fiction, won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2010 PEN/ Robert W. Bingham... Read Tinkers Summary

Tin Man

by Sarah Winman

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Love, Memory, Regret, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past

Tags LGBTQ+, Romance, Historical Fiction

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Tom Lake

by Ann Patchett

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Love, Coming of Age, Literature, Memory, The Past, Plants, Place

Tags Realistic Fiction, American Literature, Agriculture, Arts & Culture, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

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Trick Mirror

by Jia Tolentino

Publication year 2019

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Femininity, Appearance & Reality

Tags Gender & Feminism, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Arts & Culture, Politics & Government

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Trust

by Hernan Diaz

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History

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Unaccustomed Earth

by Jhumpa Lahiri

Publication year 2008

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Tags Indian Literature, Asian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature

Unaccustomed Earth is a 2008 story collection by Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. Part 1 contains four stories with distinct characters and plotlines, while Part 2 follows the story of Hema and Kaushik through three different stories. Each story chronicles an important phase or event within the lives of the characters it addresses, and most of the protagonists are Bengali or Bengali-American individuals. Most of the storylines seem take place in the 1980s or 1990s, with... Read Unaccustomed Earth Summary

Under the Banner of Heaven

by Jon Krakauer

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality

Tags Crime & Law, Religion & Spirituality, US History, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Journalism, World History, Biography

In 2003, Jon Krakauer, nonfiction author and journalist, published Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Now the inspiration for a television series of the same title on Hulu, the story sent shockwaves as it explored religious extremism on American soil that closely resembled the Taliban-style extremism that had captured the country’s attention following the September 11 attacks. This guide refers to the 2004 paperback edition published by First Anchor Books.Content warning:... Read Under the Banner of Heaven Summary

Untamed

by Glennon Doyle (Melton)

Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Femininity, Trust & Doubt

Tags Gender & Feminism, LGBTQ+, Women`s Studies, Self-Improvement, Biography

Published in 2020, Glennon Doyle’s Untamed is her third memoir. An accomplished writer, philanthropist, and activist, Doyle documents her lifelong journey of self-discovery and uses personal experiences to encourage women on their own respective journeys towards freedom. Through the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, and race, Doyle unpacks the social conditioning that affects the lives of all humans, particularly women. Ultimately, Doyle offers a reflective guide to navigating life by looking internally and honoring one’s... Read Untamed Summary

Upgrade

by Blake Crouch

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Death, Future, Family, Good & Evil, Science & Technology, Politics & Government, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Climate Change, Politics & Government, Technology

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