The Next Best Book Club discussion

Big Top Halloween (1988)

“Here Comes Jesus” – Read a book that features religion The Winter Ghosts; Dinner for Vampires
“In My Town” – Read a book that takes place in your hometown/state, or is written by an author from there The Ghost Orchid
“Priscilla’s Wedding” – Read a book that features a female protagonist Return to Wyldcliffe Heights; I Know My Name
“Push” – Read a book that you had to push yourself to finish (and probably should have DNFd but didn’t) The Book of Love
“Scream” – Read a book that scares the beejezus out of you The Spite House
“But Listen” – Read a book that you know you’ll never stop talking about The Winter Ghosts
“Big Top Halloween” – Read a Halloween themed book Blood Sugar
“Life in a Day” – Read a book cover to cover in one day and take credit for it here Abandoned Prayers
“Sammy” – Read a book that features someone’s name in the title Joan
“Doughball” – Read a book that prominently features food Butter
“Back o’ the Line” – Read the book that’s been sitting in your TBR the longest Swamplandia!
“Greek is Extra” – Read a book written by an author from a different nationality/culture than you Butter


Up In It (1990)
“Retarded” – Read a book that is highly offensive and/or features very dated and inappropriate themes in today’s culture Blood Sugar
“White Trash Party” – Read a trashy novel Pride and Pleasure
“Hated” – Read a book and if you absolutely hated it, take credit for it here The Book of Love
“Southpaw” – Read a book that’s a little off kilter or left of center The Chaos of Stars
“Amphetamines and Coffee” – Read a book that features addiction The Women
“Now We Can Begin” – Read the first book in a series and take credit for it here The Reasons For Marriage
“You My Flower” - Read a book with flowers on the cover Nemesis
“Son of the South” – Read a book that is set in southern state Swamplandia!
“I Know Your Little Secret” – Read a book you’d consider a guilty pleasure The Reasons For Marriage; Butterfly Island
“I Am the Sticks” – Get cozy with a seasonal read The Winter Ghosts


Congregation (1992)

“Her Against Me” – Read a thriller Girls of Brackenhill; In The Frame
“I’m Her Slave” – Read a book written by a female author or an author who identifies as female The Familiar; The Dollhouse Academy
“Turn on the Water” – Read a cli-fi book Wild Dark Shore
“Conjure Me” – Read a book that features ghosts/spirits Home Before Dark; Hokuloa Road
“Kiss the Floor” – Read a book with romance elements The Reasons For Marriage; Mutual Interest
“Congregation” – Let yourself be influenced by the masses, read a book that’s heavily featured on Bookstagram or TikTok The Women
“This is My Confession” – Read an autobiography or an auto-fiction title Raising Hare: A Memoir; Dinner for Vampires
“Dedicate it” – Read a chunkster, a book with 400+ pages The Swan Thieves; Free Food for Millionaires; On the Savage Side
“The Temple” – Free space, read anything you want and take credit for it here The Lake of Dead Languages
“Let Me Lie to You” – Read a book with a twist you did not see coming Follow Me; The Fury
“Tonight” – Read a book in one sitting Return to Wyldcliffe Heights
“Miles Iz Ded” – Read a book that features made up language or unique vernacular The Secret History

Gentlemen (1993)

“If I Were Going” – Read a book while on a road trip/vacation The Night Ship
“Gentlemen” – If you read a book that you are absolutely obsessed over, take credit here Egg & Spoon
“Be Sweet” – Read a book that’s lighthearted and cutesy Marigold Mind Laundry
“Debonair” – Read a book that made you feel fancy Orbital
“When We Two Parted” – Read a book that you never wanted to end
“Fountain and Fairfax” – Read a book that focuses on place and landscape Paris
“What Jail is Like” – Read a book that kept you captive the entire time The Last Housewife; The Cemetery of Untold Stories
“My Curse” – If you read a book that everyone else loved but you didn’t, take credit for it here Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow; On the Savage Side
“Now You Know” – Read a new-to-you genre The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity - Kaoru & Rin Vol. 1
“I Keep Coming Back” – If you re-read a book, take credit for it here Nemesis
“Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer” – Save this spot for the last book you read this year!


Black Love (1996)

“Crime Scene Part One” – Read a true crime book or crime novel The Amish Wife
“My Enemy” – Give ‘em another chance, read a book by an author you read previously but didn’t like
“Double Day” – Free space, read anything you want and take credit for it here The Broken Girls
“Blame, etc” – Finally read that book you keep meaning to read but have been putting off The Swan Thieves;
“Step Into the Light” – Read a book that won an award Orbital
“Going to Town” – Go buy a book, read it immediately, and take credit for it here The Spite House
“Honky’s Ladder” – Read a book with a wildly inappropriate or misleading title F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems
“Night by Candlelight” – Read a historical fiction book Paris
“Bulletproof” – Read a book with a lot of action Survive the Night
“Summer’s Kiss” – Read a book set in the summertime, or a book that could be considered a beach read Reckless Girls
“Faded” – Read a used book (the more beat up the better) The Godfather


1965 (1998)

“Somethin’ Hot” – Read a book that’s got sizzlin’ spicy romance in it Pride and Pleasure
“Crazy” – Read a bizarro or weird fiction book How to Fall in Love in a Time of Unnameable Disaster: A Novel
“Uptown Again” – Read a book that’s set in a big city A Gorgeous Excitement
“Sweet Son of a Bitch” – If you read a book and gave it 5 stars, take credit for it here Lone Women
“66” – Read a book that features an elderly protagonist Nemesis
“Citi Soleil” – Read a book that’s translated from another language Butter
“John the Baptist” – Read a book that features a character with a different or unique job/career Swamplandia!
“The Slide Song” – Slide out of that book you’ve been struggling to read, go on, DNF it and take credit for it here Blood Sugar
“Neglekted” – Read a book that’s been on your TBR for over a year Keeper of Enchanted Rooms
“Omerta” – Read a book set in a made-up place Gingerbread
“The Vampire Lanois” – Read a book that features vampires or other creatures of the night Lucy Undying
 

Do to the Beast (2014)

“Parked Outside” – Read a book in which the main character is on the run from something The Spite House; The Children on the Hill
“Matamoros” – Read a book set in another country The Familiar; Butterfly Island
“It Kills” – Read a book that features a slasher or a lot of gore Bright Young Women
“Algiers” – Read a book written by an author of a different nationality than you Marigold Mind Laundry
“Lost in the Woods” – Read a book that takes place in or around the woods Girls of Brackenhill; Heartwood
“The Lottery” – Read a book that was gifted to you The Music of the Deep
“Can Rova” – Free space, if there are no prompts that fit the book just you read, take credit for it here The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
“Royal Cream” – Read a book that features food Gingerbread
“I Am Fire” – Read a book with a red cover The Book of Love
“These Sticks” – Read Appalachian fiction or a book that takes place in the Fall Demon Copperhead


In Spades (2017)

“Birdland” – Read a book with a bird on the cover or that features birds Gingerbread; Other Birds
“Arabian Heights” – Read a book that’s considered a classic The Castle of Otranto
“Demon in Profile” – Read a book that features demons or possession My Best Friend's Exorcism
“Toy Automatic” – Read a YA book The Chaos of Stars
“Oriole” – Read a book with a red cover The Women
“Copernicus” – Read a book that takes place in outer space Orbital
“The Spell” – Read a book that features witches or the occult The Familiar
“Light as a Feather” – Read a book that is less than 100 pages long The Castle of Otranto
“I Got Lost” – Read a book that confused the heck out of you The Travelers
“Into the Floor” – Read a book that’s just totally trippy Marigold Mind Laundry


How Do You Burn (2022)

“I’ll Make You See God” – Read a book that prominently features death or grief Home Before Dark; Final Girls
“The Getaway” – Go hide from everyone and read a book, then take credit for it here Survive the Night
“Catch a Colt” – Read a western, or a book that features horses/cowboys Lone Women
“Jyja” – Read a book with one word in the title Nemesis
“Please, Baby, Please” – Read your most anticipated book of the year and take credit for it here The Bewitching
“A Line of Shots” – Read a book that’s set in a bar/features a lot of drinking A Gorgeous Excitement
“Domino and Jimmy” – Read a book about BFFs Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
“Take Me There” – Read a book that features a place or thing that you’ve visited or experienced The Amish Wife
“Concealer” – Read a book that turned out to be something different than you had expected Lone Women
“In Flames” – Read a book that really pissed you off Abandoned Prayers; A Haunting in the Arctic

Whoo hoo! Thanks for joining!

1. Return to Wyldcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman:
“Priscilla’s Wedding” – Read a book that features a female protagonist;
“Tonight” – Read a book in one sitting;

LOL, not waiting until the new year for this one, huh?

I honestly didn’t think I would finish the book before the New Year; I could have put it on my Depeche Mode challenge but It seemed to cover a lot of the prompts I already crossed out.

Love the enthusiasm! Keep going!!!

2. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager:
“Conjure Me” – Read a book that features ghosts/spirits;
“I’ll Make You See God” – Read a book that prominently features death or grief;

3. Lone Women by Victor LaValle:
“Sweet Son of a Bitch” – If you read a book and gave it 5 stars, take credit for it here;
“Catch a Colt” – Read a western, or a book that features horses/cowboys;
“Concealer” – Read a book that turned out to be something different than you had expected;

4. The Book of Love by Kelly Link:
“Push” – Read a book that you had to push yourself to finish (and probably should have DNFd but didn’t);
“Hated” – Read a book and if you absolutely hated it, take credit for it here;
“I Am Fire” – Read a book with a red cover;

5. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo:
“I’m Her Slave” – Read a book written by a female author or an author who identifies as female;
“Matamoros” – Read a book set in another country;
“The Spell” – Read a book that features witches or the occult;

6. The Reasons For Marriage by Stephanie Laurens:
“Now We Can Begin” – Read the first book in a series and take credit for it here;
“I Know Your Little Secret” – Read a book you’d consider a guilty pleasure;
“Kiss the Floor” – Read a book with romance elements;

7. Nemesis by Agatha Christie:
“You My Flower” - Read a book with flowers on the cover;
“I Keep Coming Back” – If you re-read a book, take credit for it here;
“66” – Read a book that features an elderly protagonist;
“Jyja” – Read a book with one word in the title;

8. Butter by Asako Yuzuki:
“Doughball” – Read a book that prominently features food;
“Greek is Extra” – Read a book written by an author from a different nationality/culture than you;
“Citi Soleil” – Read a book that’s translated from another language;

9. The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse:
“Here Comes Jesus” – Read a book that features religion;
“But Listen” – Read a book that you know you’ll never stop talking about;
“I Am the Sticks” – Get cozy with a seasonal read

10. Pride and Pleasure by Sylvia Day:
“White Trash Party” – Read a trashy novel;
“Somethin’ Hot” – Read a book that’s got sizzlin’ spicy romance in it;

11. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell:
“Back o’ the Line” – Read the book that’s been sitting in your TBR the longest;
“Son of the South” – Read a book that is set in southern state;
“John the Baptist” – Read a book that features a character with a different or unique job/career;

12. Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession and Amish Secrets by Gregg Olsen:
“Life in a Day” – Read a book cover to cover in one day and take credit for it here;
“In Flames” – Read a book that really pissed you off;

13. The Amish Wife by Gregg Olsen:
“Crime Scene Part One” – Read a true crime book or crime novel;
“Take Me There” – Read a book that features a place or thing that you’ve visited or experienced;

14. Girls of Brackenhill by Kate Moretti:
“Her Against Me” – Read a thriller;
“Lost in the Woods” – Read a book that takes place in or around the woods;

15. The Spite House by Johnny Compton:
“Scream” – Read a book that scares the beejezus out of you;
“Going to Town” – Go buy a book, read it immediately, and take credit for it here;
“Parked Outside” – Read a book in which the main character is on the run from something;

16. Survive the Night by Riley Sager:
“Bulletproof” – Read a book with a lot of action;
“The Getaway” – Go hide from everyone and read a book, then take credit for it here;

17. The Women by Kristin Hannah:
“Amphetamines and Coffee” – Read a book that features addiction;
“Congregation” – Let yourself be influenced by the masses, read a book that’s heavily featured on Bookstagram or TikTok;
“Oriole” – Read a book with a red cover;

18. Marigold Mind Laundry by Yun Jung-eun:
“Be Sweet” – Read a book that’s lighthearted and cutesy;
“Algiers” – Read a book written by an author of a different nationality than you;
“Into the Floor” – Read a book that’s just totally trippy;

19. The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White:
“Southpaw” – Read a book that’s a little off kilter or left of center;
“Toy Automatic” – Read a YA book;

20. Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus:
“Big Top Halloween” – Read a Halloween themed book;
“Retarded” – Read a book that is highly offensive and/or features very dated and inappropriate themes in today’s culture;
“The Slide Song” – Slide out of that book you’ve been struggling to read, go on, DNF it and take credit for it here;



Boring AND offensive, I had to remind myself that I didn't have to read this if I didn't want to...

21. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin:
“My Curse” – If you read a book that everyone else loved but you didn’t, take credit for it here;
“Domino and Jimmy” – Read a book about BFFs;

22. Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg:
“Neglekted” – Read a book that’s been on your TBR for over a year;

23. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll:
“It Kills” – Read a book that features a slasher or a lot of gore;

24. A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner:
“Uptown Again” – Read a book that’s set in a big city;
“A Line of Shots” – Read a book that’s set in a bar/features a lot of drinking;

25. Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi:
“Omerta” – Read a book set in a made-up place;
“Royal Cream” – Read a book that features food;
“Birdland” – Read a book with a bird on the cover or that features birds;

26. Orbital by Samantha Harvey:
“Debonair” – Read a book that made you feel fancy;
“Step Into the Light” – Read a book that won an award;
“Copernicus” – Read a book that takes place in outer space;

This book is in my TBR. How did you like it?

Lori wrote: "This book is in my TBR. How did you like it?"

I loved it, but I'm not 100 % sure why. It was kind of like meditating. I admit that it could be considered a boring book, but I felt refreshed after reading it.
Full disclosure: I teach a class called Composition in the Natural and Social Sciences.

27. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James:
“Double Day” – Free space, read anything you want and take credit for it here;

28. Lucy Undying by Kiersten White:
“The Vampire Lanois” – Read a book that features vampires or other creatures of the night;

29. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman:
“The Temple” – Free space, read anything you want and take credit for it here;

30. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole:
“Arabian Heights” – Read a book that’s considered a classic;
“Light as a Feather” – Read a book that is less than 100 pages long;

31. The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman:
“In My Town” – Read a book that takes place in your hometown/state, or is written by an author from there;

32. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova:
“Dedicate it” – Read a chunkster, a book with 400+ pages;
“Blame, etc” – Finally read that book you keep meaning to read but have been putting off;

33. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold:
“Can Rova” – Free space, if there are no prompts that fit the book just you read, take credit for it here;

34. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy:
“Turn on the Water” – Read a cli-fi book;



My re-reading The Castle of Otranto recently has influenced my interpretation of this book, because it really felt like an 18th century gothic romance dropped into a 21st century cli-fi setting.

35. Paris by Edward Rutherfurd:
“Fountain and Fairfax” – Read a book that focuses on place and landscape;
“Night by Candlelight” – Read a historical fiction book;

36. The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead:
“What Jail is Like” – Read a book that kept you captive the entire time;

37. Joan by Katherine J. Chen:
“Sammy” – Read a book that features someone’s name in the title;

38. Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn:
“Let Me Lie to You” – Read a book with a twist you did not see coming;

39. The Music of the Deep by Elizabeth Hall:
“The Lottery” – Read a book that was gifted to you;

40. Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton:
“This is My Confession” – Read an autobiography or an auto-fiction title;

41. My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix:
“Demon in Profile” – Read a book that features demons or possession;