Most Read This Week In Literary Criticism

[close] Welcome to the book club for people with opinions!! We are proud to announce that this is Goodreads’ VERY FIRST GROUP where peace was never an option. We read everything. Literary classics. Pulitzer winners. BookTok romances. Fantasy epics. Weird little books with 300 ratings. No book is too highbrow; no book is too trashy. If it’s worth reading, it’s worth arguing about. This is a discussion-first group. We are here to debate themes, symbols, writing quality, characters, plot holes, author choices, reviews, ratings, and occasionally each other. Strong opinions are encouraged. You think the blue curtains symbolize grief? Defend it. You think the author accidentally wrote the worst protagonist in modern literature? Present your evidence. You gave a beloved classic one star? Explain yourself. If you like writing 5-star reviews that read like a thesis statement, or 1-star reviews that read like a hate letter, you’re home. Go into the group threads, go onto other members' profiles, and start a debate. If someone's take is weak, tell them. The goal isn’t to agree. The goal is to think harder, read closer, and have more interesting conversations than “5 stars, loved it.” Bring receipts.

[close] A group that includes students studying fundamentals of literary interpretation. These are books brought up in our discussions and blog posts.

[close] This book club is for all those who are interested in English literature, philosophy, and history, and who can read at least one book per month and participate actively in the group discussions on Zoom/Google Meets/Microsoft Teams.

[close] We read literary fiction from 2000 to present, with the intent of finding those literary gems of timeless and enduring quality. We're less focused on the latest bestsellers, or discussing books already well-represented in other groups. Our passion is to explore works, from around the world, which stand a chance of being remembered fifty years from now. In addition to seeking out books with literary merit, we also encourage lively and thought-provoking discussions. All are welcome to join 21CL, whether you're already a fan of literary fiction, or just starting to explore.