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 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Gender

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Survival Fiction, Military / War, Asian Literature, History: World


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Story of Arthur Truluv is a 2017 novel by Elizabeth Berg that revolves around the stories of three unlikely companions: Arthur Moses, an elderly widower who finds solace in visiting his wife’s grave, Maddy Harris, a troubled teenager who feels out of place in her own life, and Lucille Howard, Arthur’s elderly neighbor grappling with her own loneliness. The novel is narrated in the third person omniscient point of view. These three unlikely friends... Read The Story of Arthur Truluv Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (2008), American author David Wroblewski’s family epic set in 1970s rural Wisconsin, fuses elements of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet with the story of a gifted boy named Edgar who is mute. Initial critical reaction celebrated the reach of its intricate plot, its massive cast of characters, the audacity of its retelling of Hamlet, and its investigation into the dark dynamics of a dysfunctional family, particularly the complex relationship between feuding brothers... Read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, History: Asian, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1946

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Classic Fiction, Race / Racism, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction

The Street, written by Ann Petry and published in 1946, follows Lutie Johnson, a single mother of a young boy named Bub, who moves into a new apartment in Harlem during the 1940s. Despite the squalid conditions of the apartment, and the strange and even threatening behavior of the building’s superintendent, Jones, Lutie takes the apartment because she knows she has few other options within her price range. She tells herself it will only be... Read The Street Summary


Publication year 1962

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Science / Nature, Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Philosophy, History: World, Sociology

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) by Thomas Kuhn stands as a seminal work that revolutionized the philosophy of science. As a scholar who shifted his focus from physics to the history of science, and later to the philosophy of science, Kuhn challenged prevailing notions about the nature of scientific progress, introducing concepts such as paradigms, normal science, and scientific revolutions. Situated at the nexus of science, history, and philosophy, Kuhn’s work upended the view... Read The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Psychological Fiction, September 11 Attacks, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

The Submission is a novel written by Amy Waldman and published in 2011. The novel takes place in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy. A jury has been tasked with judging the blind entries for a 9/11 memorial. When it’s revealed that the designer of the winning submission is Muslim, it sparks a public controversy.The memorial jury is composed of Paul Rubin, the chair; Ariana Montagu, an artist; Claire Burwell, a representative of the families... Read The Submission Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Philosophy, Business / Economics, Humor, Grief / Death, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Holocaust, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a historical novel by New Zealand author Heather Morris. Published in 2018, the narrative retells the true story of Lale Sokolov (born Ludwig Eisenberg), a Slovakian Jew and Holocaust survivor. The novel centers on the love between Lale and Gita, a young woman he meets while tattooing prisoners. Lale is the titular tattooist, forever marking his fellow Jews and other prisoners with the numbers that replace their identities in the... Read The Tattooist of Auschwitz Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons

Tags Asian Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Chinese Literature, Arts / Culture

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a novel by contemporary American writer Lisa See. See is one-eighth Chinese, and most of her books feature Chinese history and traditions. First published in 2017, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane centers around the story of a young girl named Li-yan, who lives with her family in remote tea mountains of China. In their everyday life, her village relies on rituals, belief, and taboos, and they are... Read The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Relationships, Class, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Biography

J. R. Moehringer’s The Tender Bar (2005) is a sweeping memoir that brings the reader on a journey from his earliest childhood memories to his young adulthood. The bar in question, Publicans (previously known as Dickens), played an enormous role in the author’s childhood by introducing him to an array of men who helped fill the void left by his absent father. Moehringer paints a vivid picture of his childhood home in Manhasset, his colorful... Read The Tender Bar Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Health / Medicine, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Sports, Mental Illness, Biography

The Tennis Partner: A Story of Friendship and Loss (1998) is a memoir by physician Abraham Verghese. It follows his friendship with David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the regular games of tennis that lie at the heart of their relationship. The book explores the themes The Disease of Addiction, The Power of Ritual, and Navigating Loneliness and Conflict in Relationships.Verghese is a physician, professor, and best-selling author. His first book... Read The Tennis Partner Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Parenting, Military / War, History: European, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, History: World, Romance


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

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

The Thirteenth Tale, written by Diane Setterfield, was published in 2006 by Emily Bestler Books/Washington Square Press. The book rose to #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list just one week after publication and won the Quill Award for debut author of the year. Before publishing this first book, Setterfield was an academic, specializing in 20th-century French literature. Since the publication of her first book, Setterfield has published two further books, Bellman &... Read The Thirteenth Tale Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Animals, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Set in an imaginary modern-day Balkan country, Téa Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife chronicles the effects of prejudice, isolation, and war on both a personal and universal scale. Obreht’s characters struggle to survive and live meaningful lives under the shadow of a lengthy war and its aftermath.Natalia Stefanović, a young female doctor and the narrator of the novel, learns that her beloved grandfather has died far from home on his way to visit her. Her investigation... Read The Tiger's Wife Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Post Modernism, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism

The Time Traveler’s Wife is a novel by Audrey Niffenegger published in 2003. It tells the love story of Clare Abshire and Henry DeTamble, revealed through their alternating perspectives in which each character is the first-person narrator. Henry was born as a with a condition that allows him to travel in time, though when and where in time he travels is out of his control.Using a non-linear plot structure, Niffenegger explores a range of themes... Read The Time Traveler's Wife Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Gender, Society: Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Southern Literature, History: World


Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Society: Class, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Satire, Drama / Tragedy, Race / Racism, Immigration / Refugee, American Literature

Published in 1995, The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle tells the story of two couples living parallel lives in Southern California: Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher, affluent white Americans with a home in the upper-middle-class subdivision of Arroyo Blanco; and Cándido and América Rincón, undocumented immigrants from Mexico living in a makeshift camp at the bottom of the canyon. Rotating among the perspectives of the four protagonists, the novel explores the inequality inherent in the United States... Read The Tortilla Curtain Summary


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, History: European, Immigration / Refugee, Post-War Era, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Classic Fiction

Shirley Hazzard (1931-2016) was an Australian novelist and United Nations worker who settled in the United States. The Transit of Venus (1980) is Hazzard’s third novel and the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. It draws upon Hazzard’s own experiences of an Australian childhood, emigrating abroad, and being part of the first generation of working women. Critics responded to the juxtaposition of intimate, personal narratives with a broader examination of what... Read The Transit of Venus Summary