6 discussion-worthy reads for your book club

6 discussion-worthy reads for your book club

(KSL.com)


6 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Book clubs are as varied as the readers who form them. Whether you're discussing online or meeting every month in a cozy living room, you'll need great books to get you reading, thinking and talking. For the new year, here's a fresh new list of six amazing books, four fiction and two nonfiction.

1. "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel

Dystopian novels have been really popular the last several years; this is one of the most thoughtful. It feels so real that you ask constantly while reading, "If the world ended, what would I really miss?"

It starts with the death of a famous actor and a devastating flu pandemic. Civilization as we know it ends. Then the narrative moves between present time and 20 years after the flu, weaving an amazing story of several characters. Beautifully written and extremely thought-provoking.

Content note: Mild use of language, mild sexual references, and mild violence.

2. "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang

This is a graphic novel, a genre that is not traditionally a pick of book clubs, but it offers a unique reading experience for your group. This award-winning book follows three characters who have one simple goal: to fit in. The main character is the only Chinese-American student in his school and the scenes in this book give life to lots of questions about identity, racism, kindness and being comfortable in your own skin.

Content note: Some bullying, but otherwise clean.

3. "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

A memorable book, "Wonder" makes you think about how you treat others. It's also a great way to ponder how to teach children to treat others. The main character, August, is born with severe facial deformities, and at age 10 he's about to enter regular school for the first time. His experiences, and those of the people in his life, will give your book club endless things to talk about.

Content note: Clean

4. "My Name is Asher Lev" by Chaim Potok

Asher Lev is an incredibly talented artist. From his youngest days, he has a gift for creating stunning drawings and paintings. But when his artistic talents and pursuits clash with his family's deeply rooted Jewish faith, Asher struggles to balance his art and his heritage. This is a deeply moving story, so richly told that it's truly unforgettable. A profound tool for looking at humanity, religion, family and art.

Content note: Mention of female nudity (breasts) in art and mention of violence toward Jews.

5. "Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind" by Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire

This nonfiction read, based on a viral Huffington Post article by one of the authors based on the research of the other author, offers a glimpse into the "messy minds" of creative people. The book explores 10 things that creative people do differently, such as play, daydream, seek out solitude, etc. It's fascinating and challenges a lot of old thinking about how creativity works. So whether you're an artist, a writer or a crafter, this book will get you thinking.

Content note: Clean

6. "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Lively discussion is guaranteed with nonfiction historical accounts like this underdog story from the Depression. Nine regular young men — loggers, farmers, shipyard workers — showed the world what true grit really means by rising above hardship to row themselves to Olympic and personal glory. A riveting story about "beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times."

Content note: Clean

VIDEO:


![](http://media.bonnint.net/slc/2538/253882/25388244\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Teri Harman -----------------------------

Teri Harman, author and book enthusiast, writes a monthly column for KSL.com and contributes book-related segments to "Studio 5." Her novels, "Blood Moon," "Black Moon" and "Storm Moon" are now available. Visit her at teriharman.com.

Photos

Related links

Related stories

Most recent Family stories

Related topics

Family

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

KSL Weather Forecast