Next Chapter Society Book Club

Join Next Chapter Society Book Club on Thursday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m. (time updated) as we meet to discuss "Our Hideous Progeny" by C. E. McGill. Check out the Nashville Public Library's online catalog or reserve a physical copy for pickup at your local branch!

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, but she doesn’t know why or how. . . .

The 1850s are a time of discovery, and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary is keen to make her name in this world of science alongside her geologist husband, Henry—but despite her sharp mind and sharper tongue, without wealth and connections their options are limited.

When Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle’s past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing her and Henry’s professional and financial future. Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland; to Henry’s intriguing but reclusive sister, Maisie; and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret.

A queer, feminist masterpiece inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic, Our Hideous Progeny is a sumptuous tale of ambition and obsession, of forbidden love and sabotage and a twisty Gothic adventure that may forever change your view of human nature.

A LAMBDA Literary finalist for Lesbian Fiction and a Triangle Publishing finalist for Debut Fiction

Where are we meeting: Diskin Cider
Cider and food menu: available here
Parking: There’s street parking and the building at 1300 Martin St. allows patrons to use their parking lot after hours.

Gather with some of Nashville's fellow book lovers and learn more about the Next Chapter Society, the Nashville Public Library Foundation's emerging leaders group. Even if you haven't read the book, you are still welcome to join us!

Join Next Chapter Society Book Club on Thursday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. as we meet to discuss "Ambition Monster," a memoir by Jennifer Romolini. Visit the Nashville Public Library's online catalog at nashville.overdrive.com to get your copy!

After years of relentlessly racing up the professional ladder, Jennifer Romolini reached the kind of success many crave: a high-profile, C-suite dream job, a book well-received enough that reporters wanted to know the secrets to her success, and a gig traveling around the country giving speeches on “making it.” But beneath this polished surface was a powder keg of unresolved trauma and chronic overwork. It was all about to blow.
Ambition Monster is a gutsy and powerful look at workaholism, the lingering effect of childhood trauma, and the failures of our modern rat race. This is a Cinderella story of success and a brutal appraisal of the cost of capitalism—perfect for people pleasers, overachievers, and those whose traumas have driven them to be perfect, no matter the cost.
Where are we meeting: East Nash Beer Works
Food menu: available here
Parking info: Free parking available at the taproom main lot, next door at Custom Sling Co., the lot directly across the street from the taproom and 401 E. Trinity Ln. (across from Community Market)

Gather with some of Nashville's fellow book lovers and learn more about the Next Chapter Society, the Nashville Public Library Foundation's emerging leaders group. Even if you haven't read the book, you are still welcome to join us!

Join Next Chapter Society Book Club on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 for a conversation with "You Shouldn't Be Here" author Lauren Thoman and NPL librarian and author Lisa Bubert. Visit the Nashville Public Library's online catalog at nashville.overdrive.com to get your copy!

When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she’s thrilled at the possibility of a ghost. Finally, something interesting is happening in her boring hometown of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. But why is she the only one who can hear it? And what does it want from her?

Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao just got the keys to her new home, which is located close to her job, within walking distance of a dog park—and, most importantly, in the town where her cousin went missing several years ago. No one in East Henderson wants to talk about what happened, but Madelyn is determined to find answers.

As the two strangers search for clues, their investigations begin to point toward the same dark place. But by the time they realize that the truth could be deadly, it’s too late to turn back. And someone out there will stop at nothing to make sure their secrets stay buried.

Where are we meeting: Grandpa Bar
What's on the menu?: There does not appear to be a food menu. Drink menu is here

Gather with some of Nashville's fellow book lovers and learn more about the Next Chapter Society, the Nashville Public Library Foundation's emerging leaders group. Even if you haven't read the book, you are still welcome to join us!