The novel selections for this year, some serious in tone, others humorous, humanize societies’ struggles with a variety of issues: How to understand love and death, find acceptance, deal with prejudice, have courage to survive, question social choices.

OVERVIEW

This group is collaborative, convivial and friendly. Our discussions range from overarching questions about meaning to focusing on details of a writer’s style. We enjoy getting to know each other through our shared literary experience and love welcoming new members.

MEETING AND READING SCHEDULE

This reading group meets typically on the third Sunday of the month in the Athenæum’s Bound, from 12-1:30pm. PLEASE NOTE, the October, April, and May sessions will meet on different Sundays.

Sun, September 15
James, Percival Everett
NYT Best Books of 2024

*Sun, October 13 (PLEASE TAKE NOTE, this is the second Sunday)
The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz
2007 Pulitzer Prize, The National Book Critics Circle Award

Sun, November 17
North Woods , Daniel Mason
NYT Top Ten Book of the Year 2023
Washington Post Top Ten Book of the Year 2023

Sun, December 15
Small Things Like This, Claire Keegan
Shortlisted for the Booker Award 2022

Sun, January 19
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, James McBride
NYT Bestseller 2023
Named a best book of the year by NPR, Washington Post, The New Yorker and Time Magazine

Sun, February 16
As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner

Sun, March 16
March, Geraldine Brooks
Pulitzer Prize 2005

*Sun, April 13 (PLEASE TAKE NOTE, this is the second Sunday)
How Much of These Hills are Gold, C. Pam Zhang
NYT and Washington Post Notable Book of the Year 2020

*Sun, May 4 (PLEASE TAKE NOTE, this is the first Sunday)
Dear Life, Alice Munro
Best book of the Year: NYT, The Atlantic, Washington Post, NPR

GROUP FACILITATORS

Jan Erie retired from teaching high school English in Washington state in 2018. One of her first acts upon moving to Rhode Island was joining the Athenaeum, specifically for the wonderful selection of book clubs. She loves co-facilitating the NYT’s group with Kathy!

Kathleen Spencer is a retired English teacher, high school principal, and educational consultant. As a co-facilitator, Kathy looks forward with Jan to building community through a shared exploration of reading for pleasure and personal growth.

This group has reached capacity. To be added to a waitlist, please email readinggroups@provath.org with NYT as the subject line.

The Athenæum is deeply grateful to our wonderful volunteer leaders. Please note library reading groups are not classes or courses, but rather a way for individuals to discuss readings together, guided by both expert and amateur enthusiasts. Participants should expect discussion-based, not lecture-style meetings.

BROWSE

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The novel selections for this year, some serious in tone, others humorous, humanize societies’ struggles with a variety of issues: How to understand love and death, find acceptance, deal with prejudice, have courage to survive, question social choices.

This reading group meets typically on the third Sunday of the month in the Athenæum’s Bound, from 12-1:30pm. PLEASE NOTE, the October, April, and May sessions will meet on different Sundays.