January is an ideal month for reading — not only is it cold out, but there’s not all that much going on, and we’re all looking for ways to better ourselves at the start of the new year. So crack open a book, and better yet, do it with your neighbors in a book club! Think of it like dating — just because one book club isn’t right for you doesn’t mean there isn’t another out there waiting for you.
The Lit Room’s Offerings
Garden City is home to the quaintest little bookstore, The Lit Room, which is about to open in a new space called Oldspeak, a book and beer spot on Chinden Boulevard. I’ll let you know when that’s opening (soon!) but they’re still running book clubs while construction wraps up on the new space.
Boise Banned Book Club: This book club began because of a rise in book banning locally a couple years ago, and has only increased in relevance and popularity since then. On Thursday, Jan. 23, they’ll be discussing the classic Sandra Cisneros novel “The House on Mango Street.”
Boise Peoples’ Reading Group: The Lit Room hosts this community-led group, which does a deep dive into texts analyzing systemic power structures. They meet one Sunday a month, and will be wrapping up “We Do this ‘Til We Free Us” by Mariame Kaba on Jan. 26.
Hopeless Romantics Book Club: Jump two feet first into “The No-Show” by Beth O’Leary on Feb. 11. This monthly club will be held at Proletariat Wine Company this time around.
Edgar Allen Hoe’s Book Club: Horror fans, arise! The next meeting will be about Jennifer McMahon’s “The Winter People” on Feb. 12.
Boise Public Library Book Clubs
If you’re not ready to commit to a book club, the library system hosts Coffee and Conversations every other Friday, and Books & Brews at two different locations each month. Either gathering is a good way to break the ice!
The Ultimate Book Nerd challenge is also taking off again this month, and is a self-guided tour through fifty books based on different categories. Some category examples: A book about or from Australia, a book published 10 years before you were born, a book about pirates, etc. There will also be two book clubs offered at different times and locations, to be announced soon.
The libraries also offer the kind of book clubs you’re thinking of, with regular meetings (typically monthly) featuring conversations based on one book:
Collister Book Club: Meets the second Tuesday of every month, at the Collister branch. This month’s book is “The Thursday Murder Club,” and the meeting is tomorrow — maybe listen to the audiobook at two times speed!
Book Club at the Library! at Bown Crossing: The Bown library’s monthly book club meets on first Fridays. I might pop in just for March’s book, “Trick Mirror” by Jia Tolentino.
Hillcrest Book Club: Meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month (so tomorrow!) at the Hillcrest location. This month’s book is “Mercury Pictures Presents” by Anthony Marra.
Queer Book Club: This is more conversational and recommendations based, without a monthly book that everyone’s reading together. You’ll find something new! The club meets on first Wednesdays at the Hillcrest library branch.
Rediscovered Books Brings the Book Clubs
Of course local favorite Rediscovered Books offers a bounty of book clubs! Keep an eye on their events calendar. These clubs typically charge a little more, but they come with a unique business host and copy of that month’s book.
They also vary from month-to-month, and many don’t meet monthly. Here’s a sampling of three of their clubs, so you can get a taste of what’s on the shelves.
Cynical Lovers Book Club: You don’t have to be a cynic yourself, but if January’s book pick (“Intermezzo” by Salley Rooney) is any suggestion, this is the book club for folks who aren’t afraid to analyze with passion. This month’s club will be hosted at Wood & Root in Meridian on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Amateur Detectives’ Book Club: If you always guess how the story’s going to end, maybe this one is for you! This month, the club is reading “Cain’s Jawbone” by Edward Powys Mathers, a nearly century-old puzzle in a century of pages. They’ll meet at Terroir on Tuesday, Jan. 28, to try to get to the bottom of the (six) murder mystery.
Food for Thought Cookbook Club: Hey foodies! Need a wellspring of ideas? Maybe join this one, starting on Jan. 30 with “Love & Lemons: Simple Feel Good Food” at Meriwether Cider in Garden City.
