Books & Us - A Melbourne Book club

Book Club: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Step into a world where stories become portals and doors are more than thresholds—they are invitations. In The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix E. Harrow weaves a gorgeously imagined tale of discovery, identity, and the radical power of possibility. At its heart is January Scaller, a curious, lonely girl living at the turn of the 20th century, whose life changes when she discovers a mysterious book that hints at other worlds—and at the truth of her own origins.
As January follows the book’s breadcrumbs across hidden histories and forgotten doorways, she must navigate forces determined to keep the worlds closed and her story contained. Harrow blends fantasy, folklore, and historical fiction to explore what it means to belong, to resist, and to step boldly into one’s own narrative.
With lush prose and a sense of wonder thrumming through every page, The Ten Thousand Doors of January celebrates the transformative power of stories—how they shape us, free us, and carry us to places we never imagined possible. This is a novel about opening doors: between worlds, between people, and within ourselves.
Discussion Points:

• How does Harrow use the metaphor of doors to explore freedom, change, and self-discovery?
• In what ways does January’s coming-of-age journey challenge the constraints—social, familial, and fantastical—placed upon her?
• How do stories and written texts function as both guides and catalysts throughout the novel?
• What do the relationships in the book reveal about loyalty, belonging, and chosen family?
• How does the novel’s blend of history and fantasy shape your understanding of “other worlds”—both literal and metaphorical?