Transparently, I’ve never been a bookclub person. I always want to read exactly what I want, when I want, and I haven’t found many bookclubs that read books I’m that interested in. So, why would I start a bookclub at ENB? Mostly because of the sweet readers who come into the store and make this place a reality. I’ve been fielding questions about when a bookclub would start since we first opened last year, and just a few months go we had our first official book chosen and meetup scheduled

We started with By Night in Chile, and right away, I was kicking myself for not starting sooner. I got so much more out of that book by reading along with a community. As soon as it was on the shelves, I started talking with people about it and learning what they knew about Bolaño, 1970’s Chile, Pinochet, and the place of clergy in a country dominated by Christianity.

All of a sudden, I was reading the same book as my friends and my mom and my neighbors. People bought the book that were just passing through or from afar online, and the community continued to expand. On the night of the actual bookclub event, I welcomed new and familiar faces to gather around a table, get a glass of wine and pile their plates with cheese and crackers. We all know how much we’re longing for a third-space these days, especially as so many of us work remotely (including myself most days!). It was a pleasure and felt like a real honor to facilitate people meeting eachother and sharing their thoughts and experiences in relation to something we had all read together.

We read Parable of the Sower next, a familiar favorite for many, but one that was new to me. I learned so much from other readers and bookclub-goers and it was the best introduction I could have asked for to an iconic author. It’s a book filled with anticipation, or dread, about the future, and here we are in that future and it makes no sense to read it alone. We are the community that can save itself, but only together.

I’m so excited for our next pick that just got delivered yesterday, The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector. This is another author that’s new to me, but since I’ve opened the store, I’ve heard readers mention the name in awe. You can pick up your copy in store or on the website, and don’t forget you can sign up for our subscription too!

And one more thing! Our bookclub branding just got a makeover courtesy of Luke at Eden’s End, who also designed our t-shirts (which are now restocked in all sizes!). I love the style of the new assets and can’t wait to keep rolling out new books with such a cool look. Thank you to Luke and thank you to everyone who has supported the store and ACLU Tennessee by picking up a shirt.

Looking forward to reading this next one along with you, and hope you’re having the best Sunday.

Carrie