Around this time last year, myself, along with my sisters, Lorielle and Raelene, started a summer book club that not only kept us connected throughout the summer months, but also created a natural segway for The Blondielocks. As mentioned last year, my sisters are both avid readers (one even has a dedicated Book Instagram account) and have been since they could read. Myself on the other hand, am not. When I do read, you can typically find me immersed in a home decor or flower inspiration book…so this bookclub was also a way for me to start reading novels, on a schedule, that I was accountable for.
I always find the summer to be a great time to pick up a new book, even if you’re not an avid reader like myself. There’s just something about sitting on a park bench or laying on a beach towel overtop the sand and getting lost in a good book. I’m so excited to re-launch our summer 2018 book club today by sharing with you our 2018 book club picks and why we’re excited to read them.
PS: All of our books can be found at Chapters Indigo and we have graciously been gifted these books for our book club. I will be running a giveaway at the end of June, July and August for a $50 gift card to Chapters Indigo, so be sure to check back at the end of this month for your first of 3 chances to win!
PPS: Be sure to follow us on Instagram (Kaylee, Lorielle & Raelene) and if you want more ideas of books to read, head on over to book club picks from last year, which all come highly recommended by us!
Book: The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer:
Why We’re Excited to Read it:
Kaylee: I am a very visual person by nature and this year, while not advised, I am admittedly judging all of the books we’ve chosen by their intriguing covers. For someone who doesn’t read frequently, it is very important to be to be drawn to the look of the book and The Female Persuasion catches my eye like no other. Aside from the cover, I am looking forward to reading a book that, from the synopsis, seems to foster positive female relationships. As someone in an industry full of incredibly talented and hard-working women, I think I will end up feeling very inspired by The Female Persuasion and taking a lesson in female friendships and mentorships.
Lorielle: I have seen Meg Wolitzer’s book The Female Persuasion EVERYWHERE on the bookstagram side of Instagram lately so when Kaylee asked what books we should read for Blondielocks book club this year, I knew we had to include it on the list. From the synopsis, The Female Persuasion appears to be a book about female friendship, mentorship, and ambition, especially in the workplace. It seems like it’s going to be an intriguing and complex feminist read…one of my favourite types of book! Overall, I have high expectations for this book and I think it will be interesting to see if this book holds up.
Raelene: I’ve seen this book posted on Instagram a few times and had actually added it to my reading list before starting up the book club again. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to read it. The synopsis makes the protagonist Greer sound very relatable and the overall story sounds equally captivating and inspiring. I’m hoping this book lives up to the hype and gives me a little push of inspiration, that I often lack during the summer months.
Book: Calypso by David Sedaris:
Why We’re Excited to Read it:
Kaylee: Not surprisingly, I have yet to read anything by David Sedaris nor any other authors who write dark humour. However, I do enjoy listening to dark comedy and with a book that states “beach reading for people who detest beaches, required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumor joke”…how could we not include this book in our summer book club!? PS: This is our June pick for those who want to follow along with us!
Lorielle: David Sedaris is perhaps one of the most prominent writers currently writing in the humour genre. Admittedly, I’ve only ever read one essay by Sedaris in a Comedy and Tragedy English class I took in my undergrad a couple of years ago. I don’t remember the title of the essay—or even what the essay was about—but I do remember how it made me feel. It was a very funny essay that easily made me laugh but it also had a tinge of despair to it that prompted a whole slew of emotions within me while I read it. I have the feeling that Calypso, a book that is described as being “…beach reading for people who detest beaches, required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumor joke”, will do the same. I think this book will, of course, be funny but, personally, I am a fan of dark humour and I think this book is really going to deliver on that front, making me very excited to read it!
Raelene: I’ve recently gotten into reading more of the humour and comedy genre. Most notably, books by Samantha Irby and Scaachi Koul. I enjoy their writing because of the contrasting humorous and sobering themes. I’ve never read anything by David Sedaris before but, this book sounds like it’s definitely suited to my taste. I’ll leave you with this quote from the synopsis (minus the beach remark) that completely sold me: “This is beach reading for people who detest beaches, required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumor joke.”
Book: Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo:
Why We’re Excited to Read it:
Kaylee: I very much enjoy reading books that go back and forth between characters and perspectives and connect in the end (I absolutely loved Into The Water for that reason). I’m looking forward to reading Welcome to Lagos is because it follows 5 characters who all have different experiences and backgrounds but all have one thing in common…they’re in search of freedom and a new start in Lagos, Nigeria. Aside from the characters, I am looking forward to reading and learning about Lagos, a place I am admittedly ignorant about. After reading a few reviews that mention that the city of Lagos is written in a way that it almost becomes another character, I feel like I will have more of an understanding of the city and the people who live there.
Lorielle: I first heard of this book from Emma Roberts’ and Karah Preiss’s now very popular Belletrist book club. I was, of course, initially drawn to the very vibrant and colourful cover—I know, I know, “don’t judge a book by its cover”…but how can you not when it’s so dang cool looking?! From what I can tell from the synopsis, Welcome to Lagos takes place in the title city of Lagos, Nigeria and follows the lives of seven people whose stories interconnect as they strive towards their common goal of “freedom and a new life” in the city. I absolutely love novels that contain multiple narratives and perspectives—especially when those narratives intersect in unexpected or surprising ways—so I think I am really going to enjoy this book!
Raelene: The synopsis I read for this book was definitely ambiguous, which intrigued me right away. I’m not exactly sure what to expect from this book but it seems like the story is going to be told through many different perspectives – a style of writing I’ve really come to enjoy. This book was also a Belletrist pick for the month of May, so I’m definitely expecting this book to be enthralling. I’m excited to delve into these characters lives.
