me: Hello, and welcome to the first ever meeting of the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club!
me: No, it’s cool. This is a super laid-back book club. I’m not even wearing pants.
You: I see. Well, now it’s even more awkward.
me: It’s a talent. So here’s what you missed. I started a book club for introverts who want to read strange, wonderful books. The first one went out last week (along with book club stickers and pins and signed bookplates for the first 1200 people who signed up) and I just published a post on the Facebook page where people can discuss the book but some people hate Facebook so I’m also posting this right here in case people want to discuss in the comments of this blog post. Or if you want to just read it and never discuss it at all that’s totally cool too.
You: Oh. Well, that actually sounds like something I’d very much be into. How do I get in on this?
me: Well. We’re all sold out of January’s book but you can still get it from other indie bookshops or from the library. It’s called FOLLOW ME TO GROUND by Sue Rainsford, and it is deliciously weird. We actually had so many people interested in the book club that we had to stop offering new memberships for a bit but we are now adding more for February so you can click here to join if you haven’t already.
You: Oh wait. I just remembered that I already joined this club in a drunken haze last month. I guess that explains why that book arrived in mail today?
me: Hello, soulmate. Welcome.
You: So…what now?
me: Now you read the book and if you want to discuss it you can do that here or over here on the Facebook page but no pressure if you just like to lurk or save up all of the years books until summer vacation or leave them in Little Free Libraries. THERE ARE NO RULES.
You: This sounds amazing. So…can you tell me what next month’s book is going to be?
me: OMG I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED. (Although technically since you’re a member you should already have an email from me from last week where I spilled the beans early to members.)
Next month’s book is AMERICAN SHERLOCK: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI, by Kate Winkler Dawson. I devoured it in one night. If you are a true crime aficionado like me you will LOVE it and even if you aren’t it is such a fascinating book. It’s all about the life of Edward Oscar Heinrich, one of America’s first forensic scientists who cracked at least two thousand cases starting in the 1930’s.
You: Oh. That does look good.
me: And the author is from Texas so she’s coming down this week and signing copies of the book for us, so as a member you’ll be getting a signed edition of the book.*
You: What.
me: I KNOW RIGHT?
You: And what’s the book pick for March?
me: I’m still working on March but I can tell you that April is a humor memoir/essay and the author is one of my favorite writers of all time and I love her IRL.
You: Hmm…I think I can guess. Is it-
me: THE FIRST RULE OF BOOK CLUB IS THAT WE DON’T SAY WHAT THE NEXT BOOK IS UNTIL THE MONTH BEFORE.
You: You literally just told me there were no rules.
me: I am a complicated woman.
You: So will the authors ever show up in the comments of the book discussions?
me: They’re all invited to but some are introverts too so no pressure on them. I do though send them questions and I’ll share the answers here and on the Facebook page. Sue is working on hers right now so look for them in the comments when she’s done. And as a special thank you members will get an email with answers to THE WEIRD FIVE, which is a special five-question list every author will be given.
You: Thank you. I feel very important.
me: You should. You’re literally helping to create an entire bookshop just by being a member. That is some heavy magic.
You: Okay. I’ve got a book to curl up with. Any suggestion as to which cocktail to pair it with?
me: Hmmm… since the main character is a magic vegetable creature maybe a bloody mary with lots of root veggies in it? Tomato juice, celery, blood thinner….It’s practically a health drink.
You: I’m sorry, did you say “magical vegetable creature“?
me: Yes. And this is exactly why you need to read the book because it is like nothing I’ve ever read before and I need to discuss it right now.
You: I am both scared and intrigued.
me: Then I’ve done my job. Happy reading, friend.
*Just a note here that while we are currently accepting new members, only the first 2,000 members will get a signed copy of this book because that’s all we bought so if you are already a member you’re golden and if you aren’t yet but want to be just do it as soon as you can. 🙂 As always, if you have any questions just email us at orders@nowherebookshop.com. This post will stay open for months so no worries if your book hasn’t arrived yet or if you’re a slow reader.
PS. A few people are saying they can’t get access to the Facebook page when they click on the links. It’s open to anyone so if you have issues just search for “fantastic strangelings book club” in Facebook and that should work.