Let's Select Our Next Book! January Book Club Poll/ Potluck at Sumayyah's House!

Book Club Poll: https://strawpoll.com/xVg71mY9pyr

Hey Book Club People! We had a great discussion about Angela Davis' life and how the obstacles that she faced mirror what we're going through today. Her autobiography personally gave me hope for the better society that we can create when we are intentional about community. With everything going on in the world from rampant economic inequality to environmental catastrophe and blatant discrimination, these are the types of conversations that we should be part of and foster in our respective circles to make a real change. There is definitely hope for a better tomorrow and as the old church folk say, "Faith without works is dead!", so we need to get to work and talk about these books which ALWAYS make for great discussion! Our next book will be a fiction title that we'll discuss during our January book club meeting (specific date and venue to be determined in the future), and I really look forward to continuing these important discussions with y'all!

I'm setting up a book club poll for everyone to vote on the next book before December 12th at 11:59pm. We'll have a little potluck on December 13th at Sumayyah's house to discuss book club happenings as well as what people think of the book that will ultimately be chosen. Please feel free to bring whatever you like but don't feel pressured to bring anything if you just want to chill; just be sure to bring yourself!!
The link to the potluck sheet if you want to bring something is here!
I will send you all the address as you RSVP so be on the lookout for messages so that you know where we'll meet.

I will announce the book on December 13th, Saturday, when we meet. Keep an eye out on this meetup page for when the venue is decided!

FYI, our book club alternates between fiction and nonfiction books, and this is a fiction month. We will be choosing between the following 5 titles (these were randomly selected from our book club list):

Poll: https://strawpoll.com/xVg71mY9pyr

Poll closes on December 12th at 11:59pm MT!!
------------------------------Book Descriptions Below-------------------
The Ballad of Black Tom (2016) by Victor LaValle - Set in 1920s New York, The Ballad of Black Tom blends cosmic horror with social commentary as it reimagines a classic H.P. Lovecraft tale through the perspective of a young Black man navigating racial injustice and supernatural forces. LaValle infuses the story with eerie atmosphere and sharp cultural insight, offering a powerful critique of Lovecraft’s legacy while honoring the weird fiction genre.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010) by N. K. Jemisin - In The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Jemisin introduces readers to a world where gods walk among mortals and political intrigue shapes the fate of empires. The story follows Yeine Darr, a young woman thrust into a royal power struggle after her mother’s mysterious death. Blending myth, politics, and emotion, Jemisin’s debut novel set a new standard for character-driven epic fantasy.

Kindred (1979) by Octavia E. Butler - Kindred is a time-travel novel that follows Dana, a contemporary Black woman who is suddenly pulled back to the antebellum South, where she must confront the brutal realities of slavery and her own ancestry. Through its compelling narrative and emotional depth, Butler weaves science fiction with historical truth, creating a groundbreaking exploration of identity, survival, and history’s lingering scars.

The Returned (2013) by Jason Mott - In The Returned, long-dead loved ones inexplicably begin to reappear around the world, alive and unchanged, challenging families and governments to face the mysteries of life, death, and faith. The novel focuses on one small town’s struggle to understand these miracles and their emotional consequences. Mott’s debut blends quiet human drama with speculative intrigue and moral reflection.

Parable of the Talents (1998) by Octavia E. Butler - Set in a near-future America fractured by chaos and authoritarianism, Parable of the Talents continues the story of Lauren Olamina, a visionary leader striving to build a new belief system and community amid social collapse. Butler crafts a gripping and prophetic narrative that explores resilience, hope, and the human capacity for change in dark times.
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Poll:
These books were randomly selected from the book list at the following link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EfdJlaTJydyXoiQsEcb02k1cYucu-Ta-EYc6alkKOTw/edit?usp=sharing

Everyone gets to make 2 selections and voting ends on December 12th, Friday, 11:59pm. I will announce the book that has the most votes on December 13th, Saturday, and then I will schedule a tentative meeting at a TBD venue sometime in January (preferably 5 weeks after so that we have enough time to acquire and read the book)! Don't hesitate to DM me if you think that you need more time to read the book and we may be able to move back the meeting date.

Also, If you have a particular book that you'd like to add to future polls, feel free to contact me on Meetup or add it to the book list shown above!

Thank you all for showing up and being such incredible people!
-austin

Poll: https://strawpoll.com/xVg71mY9pyr