Croydon Bookworms (Book Club in-Person)

Misery by Stephen King (370 pages)

Summary
Paul Sheldon. He's a bestselling novelist who has finally met his biggest fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes and she is more than a rabid reader - she is Paul's nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house.

Join us for our first book club meetup at "Croydon Bookworms Club" where we'll be diving into Stephen King's gripping thriller, "Misery." Get ready for a chilling discussion as we explore the depths of this classic tale of obsession and survival. Whether you're a die-hard King fan or new to his works, come share your thoughts and insights over drinks at the Dog & Bull pub.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (336 pages)

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Satire (It's not a thriller nor a mystery)

Summary:
Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.
So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.
So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

Step into the world of R.F. Kuang with us at the "Croydon Bookworms" for our upcoming book club session. We'll be diving into the layers of "Yellowface," a captivating novel by one of my favorite authors. Expect a thought-provoking discussion as we delve into themes of racism and culture appropriation, all while enjoying (hopefully) the sun at the Dog & Bull. Don't miss out on the chance to share your thoughts and connect with fellow fans over a refreshing drink.