December Book Club: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

For December, we’re switching up the genre a bit and heading into literary sci-fi / post-apocalyptic vibes with Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This book has earned major recognition — including being named one of the New York Times’ Best Books of the Twenty-First Century, with strong ratings on both Amazon (4.3) and Goodreads (4.1).
I know this time of year gets busy, so I picked something on the shorter side. It’s about 300 pages, which makes it a pretty manageable read during the holiday season.

The story follows a traveling Shakespeare troupe moving through the Great Lakes region after a pandemic reshapes civilization. They perform for scattered communities, try to keep art and beauty alive, and eventually cross paths with a very intense prophet who complicates everything. The novel jumps between timelines — before and after the collapse — and explores connection, survival, memory, and what matters when everything else falls away.

We’ll chat about:

• How believable this version of the apocalypse feels
• Why art and storytelling still matter when the world changes
• The Prophet (aka: what happens when one man takes himself way too seriously)
• The characters, timelines, and themes that stood out to you

A quick note on RSVPs:
Please update your reservation a few days ahead so I can give the restaurant an accurate headcount. And if you end up on the waitlist — don’t worry. People usually adjust their plans, and spots tend to open up.

Everyone’s welcome — even if the holiday chaos makes finishing the book a challenge.