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.

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture, Romance, History: World, Drama / Tragedy


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Science / Nature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Marriage

Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Western, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Race

Tags Satire, Humor, Race / Racism, African American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Paul Beatty is the author of the 2015 novel The Sellout—a satire that makes fun of contemporary norms around race and identity. In the novel, Beatty applies his no-holds-barred idea of comedy to segregation, slavery, police brutality, and countless tragic and fraught issues that people typically treat with extreme seriousness and sensitivity. Through the main character, Me, the book provides an ironic and unexpected take on themes like Racial and Personal Identity and Capitalism’s Power... Read The Sellout Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, British Literature, Post Modernism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction

The Sense of an Ending (2011) is a novel by English author Julian Barnes. Composed of two chapters, the book follows the life of Tony Webster, a retired man looking back on his youth and reflecting on his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Veronica Ford, and an enigmatic friend, Adrian Finn. The title alludes to the meaning and closure Tony seeks as he nears the end of his life. The novel was met with critical acclaim... Read The Sense of an Ending Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language

Tags Grief / Death, Biography


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Art, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Historical Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture, Middle Eastern Literature, Realistic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Incarceration, History: Middle Eastern, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government, Jewish Literature

The Septembers of Shiraz (2007), a novel by Iranian writer Dalia Sofer, recounts the experiences of the Amins, an Iranian Jewish family, during the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s. The book is closely based on Sofer’s family history: When Sofer was 10, her family fled Iran, crossing the border to Turkey with the help of smugglers. The Septembers of Shiraz depicts the changing atmosphere and events that characterize the treatment of the wealthy class... Read The Septembers Of Shiraz Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction


Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic Literature, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Religion / Spirituality, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction

IntroductionThe Shining is a 1977 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It tells the story of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance during an isolated winter in which Jack becomes the caretaker of Colorado’s Overlook Hotel. It deals with themes of parenthood, isolation, addiction, and the bonds of family. The Shining was Stephen King’s third novel and his first hardback bestseller. It was adapted into a 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack... Read The Shining Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Flora/plants, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Science / Nature, Age of Enlightenment, Realistic Fiction, History: World

IntroductionThe Signature of All Things is an adult historical novel by American author Elizabeth Gilbert. It was published by Penguin Random House in 2013, and Gilbert had already established herself on the New York Times bestseller list with her two memoirs, Eat, Pray, Love (2006) and Committed (2010), after garnering critical acclaim for her earlier fiction, biographies, and magazine journalism. The Signature of All Things spans the life of the fictional Alma Whittaker, a keenly... Read The Signature of All Things Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Globalization, Society: Economics, Society: Nation

Tags History: World, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, War On Terrorism / Iraq War


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family

Tags Arts / Culture, History: World, Biography

Kao Kalia Yang’s The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father was published in 2016; this guide refers to the Kindle edition of the text. The book won the Minnesota Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Chautauqua Prize. The Song Poet presents the story of Kalia’s father, Bee Yang, as an artist and a song poet.Song poetry is a traditional form of Hmong art. The Hmong... Read The Song Poet Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Biography, Religion / Spirituality

The Sound of Gravel is a memoir by Ruth Wariner about her experiences growing up in a polygamist colony in Mexico. Originally published in 2015, the memoir is a rare, detailed examination of the life of children in polygamist colonies, and it examines several themes, including The Consequence of Childhood Neglect, The Flaws and Dangers of Fundamentalism, Courage and Resilience in the Face of Adversity, and The Joys, Pains, and Sacrifices of Familial Love. Ruth... Read The Sound of Gravel Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Poverty, Class, Indian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Romance


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell, is a science fiction novel that follows the life of Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit priest, and his friends as they prepare for and embark on a journey to the planet Rakhat. Defying conventional linear storytelling, each chapter shifts from past to present, with the entirety of the novel spanning from 2019 to 2060 and taking place between Earth and Rakhat. The protagonist of the novel is Father Emilio;... Read The Sparrow Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature

Donal Ryan’s debut novel, The Spinning Heart, was published in 2012 and chronicles the effects of a declining economy on a small Irish village. When the economy was booming, Pokey Burke headed a lucrative construction crew—the main source of jobs and revenue for many people in the village. However, once the economy plummets, Pokey disappears, taking with him the pensions of his crew and leaving most of the housing projects unfinished. Many of the men... Read The Spinning Heart Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Korean Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a 2013 novel by Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere, Young Jane Young, Out of the Easy, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow) that centers on the titular character, owner of a bookshop on Alice Island, a fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts. A.J. Fikry’s stubborn and bitter personality is on full display at the start of the story when he learns that his favorite publisher’s agent has died—and been replaced by... Read The Storied Life Of Aj Fikry Summary