Women's Book Club for Introverts (30's & 40's) in Berkeley

I'm kicking off our first June event with this debut novel by Holly Brickley that's been on my to-read list. I'm a sucker for mixtapes/playlists and the music of the early 2000s (The Shins, Modest Mouse, Interpol, LCD Soundsystem, etc.) holds a special place in my heart. Music + love + life = should be fun. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214269394-deep-cuts

"Deep Cuts are the more obscure titles in a musician’s biography. They constitute the sweet spot of a musician’s oeuvre where only superfans and music aficionados take shelter. Holly Brickley’s protagonist, Percy, accords this term her own definition, “I personally like to pretend the phrase “deep cut” has a totally different meaning, one that has nothing to do with anyone else’s opinion. How deep does it cut? How close to the bone? How long do you feel it?” It’s an easter egg for how the reader should devour this book, too. For all this talk about depth, the story operates on tangible surfaces. How much you want to feel is up to you, which is a good thing, for the book isn’t bogged down by the pretension of being something it’s not. It’s a breezy read, but not a single scene exists without purpose, and not a single editorial call is made without a callback. How strongly do you want to feel the highs and the lows (despite what the overall context of the book suggests, there are some unpalatable experiences woven in, once again, in the manner of the era: character-defining, but unacknowledged beyond the event)?" — Kritika Narula, Compulsive Reader

*Note, this first event will be at my place in West Berkeley (near Page and Fifth Street), so it will be super low-key! My apartment is cozy and I have just enough room for 6 of us. It's also not usually hard to find street parking nearby. I will provide beverages and some snacks. Feel free to bring something if you want, but you are not required to! Please be aware that I have a senior beagle mix, Frito, who will be around in case you are allergic/don't like dogs. Please reach out if you have any questions. Thanks!

For our second June event, I've chosen Suleika Jaouad's first book from 2021. It's been on my list so long that she's already written another book! Suleika is a writer, advocate, and artist. I've been following her and her work on Instagram after watching the documentary, American Symphony. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50743767-between-two-kingdoms

"Jaouad started writing about what it's like to face a life-threatening illness at 22. During her "incanceration" — months in isolation to prevent infections — she documented her grueling treatments, first in a blog, then in a weekly column and videos for The New York Times called 'Life, Interrupted,' which generated an enormous response. She had become a different sort of war correspondent. Between Two Kingdoms, Jaouad's searching memoir of her illness and its aftermath, takes its title from an observation in Susan Sontag's Illness as Metaphor: 'Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick.' The line between them, Jaouad discovers, is more porous than most people realize." — Heller McAlpin, NPR Book Reviews

*This event will be held at the new Kitava location on Solano Ave in Albany. They have lots of allergen-friendly food options. You can find their menu here: https://www.kitava.com/kitava-albany-menus/

Please reach out if you have any questions. Thanks!

For this event, I've chosen this debut novel by Andy Anderegg. I've seen this book recommended all over the place, and it's only been out since early April! I'm also intrigued that it's written entirely in the second person. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215089436-plum

"The second-person narrative may initially disorient readers, but once you get comfortable in it, this perspective ultimately succeeds—a direct path to connecting with J’s thoughts and experiences. It’s easy to get invested in her introspective journey, and the well-written perspective definitely impacts that. As the story unfolds, the you-narrator enhances our comprehension of the protagonist’s internal conflict, and we’re drawn deeper into her world. The brevity of the chapters also adds greatly to the pace. Plum is an intimate exploration of abuse and the winding path toward healing. It captures the struggle of growing up in a hostile environment and the painful process of self-discovery and acceptance. As J starts to confront her past rather than evade it, the narrative evolves into a reflection on survival, the complexities of human connections, and the long road to recovery." — Lola Lee, IndieBookView

*This event will be held at Cafe Leila on San Pablo Ave in Berkeley. They have a large back patio, so hopefully we can sit outside. You can find their menu here: https://www.cafeleila.com/menus

Please reach out if you have any questions. Thanks!

For this event, I've chosen this book of essays by Geraldine DeRuiter. Geraldine is famous for making the cinnamon roll recipe (and writing an essay which inspired this book) that Mario Batali included in his apology letter. Food + feminism = fun? We will find out! https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/177186058-if-you-can-t-take-the-heat

"DeRuiter assembles essays into a funny, irreverent memoir about family, food, cooking, and eating, as well as life in the kitchen and around assorted tables. She recalls her first memory of food ('mint toothpaste, served straight from the tube'), her discovery of New York bagels, and her shameless love of Red Lobster, which began when she was growing up in Florida. Red Lobster 'had people who were kind to me, and cheesy biscuits that were served warm, in a little basket. It taught me that life had more to offer.' Women portrayed on TV shows, though, would likely refuse those warm biscuits: Either they wouldn’t eat at all, or when they ate, they’d be chided for being super picky. It was 'a hard thing to learn,' DeRuiter admits, 'that we can ask things of other people, that we can order food how we want it. That our bodies deserve to be nourished and loved and fed the way we want them to be." — Kirkus Reviews

*Note, this event will be at my place in West Berkeley (near Page and Fifth Street), so it will be super low-key! My apartment is cozy and I have just enough room for 6 of us. It's also not usually hard to find street parking nearby. I will provide beverages and some snacks. Feel free to bring something if you want, but you are not required to! Please be aware that I have a senior beagle mix, Frito, who will be around in case you are allergic/don't like dogs. Please reach out if you have any questions. Thanks!