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As You Wish: what’s happening in Book Club and Book School this fall

Readers, whether you’re reading for comfort, discovery, or escape, a great conversation about your most recent read elevates the experience from entertaining to memorable.

If you’re looking for a place where you can get those bookish conversations and make connections with fellow readers, the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club is the place for you.

In our one-of-a-kind community, we read books and discuss them together, often with their authors. With our monthly book selections, we have a structure to support our reading lives—yet we have a ton of flexibility to read what and when we want.

Part of the fun of reading in community is learning together: we enjoy classes that help us build our reading skills, making us more insightful readers and better bookish conversationalists, as well as classes that support our reading lifestyle, like learning how to book journal or up our #bookstagram game. (We record all classes so they’re ready for you whenever your schedule allows.)

My team and I are so excited to share our plans for the upcoming season. We’re celebrating all things Autumn with books, classes, and events that make you feel like a student stepping back on campus and hauling your backpack full of novels across the quad. (Or was that just me?)

Together, we’re reading three books perfect for fall (along with accompanying flight picks), talking with authors, hosting a Shakespeare watch party, and getting excited and informed about upcoming titles in our annual Fall Book Preview.

Please note: you don’t have to participate in every single thing to benefit from your MMD Book Club experience! Think of it as a buffet, and fill your plate with what you most want to enjoy right now. But know that everything here is included with your membership. Take a look at what we have in store…

The Fall Book Preview

Join us for our third Fall Book Preview, where I’ll share a curated list of the season’s hottest new titles, plus the info you need to decide which belong on your TBR.

This year’s Fall Book Preview is set for October 21 at 1 pm and 7 pm EDT. In this video event, I’ll share the books I’ve most enjoyed, the ones I’m most looking forward to reading, and the ones the industry is most excited about, all with release dates from September through November. (I might sneak in a few end-of-August or early December titles, too.)

Our Fall Book Preview event is exclusively for members of our MMD Book Club community and What Should I Read Next Patreon “Book Lover” supporters. Our communities will also receive a printable with every title included in our preview.

We’re learning to read better, together in Book School

This year, we’re going back to book school with a syllabus of fall courses on our most frequently asked questions about books and the reading life. That’s why we’re calling this our “As You Wish” edition! Classes like these are not only a great deal of bookish fun, they help us read better and get more out of our precious reading time. Our fall classes are:

• What kind of classics reader are you? Our Book Clubbers often lament that they’re intimidated by old novels—the ones they’ve been meaning to read for ages, but have been hesitant to start. We’re here to help! In this fun and accessible class we’ll give you practical tips for diving in, based on your unique reading style.

• Writing for Readers. So many readers long to be writers—whether solely for their own benefit or for future publication. If you relate—or if you simply want to better understand how the books you love get made—this class is for you. In our conversational session, novelist Kimmery Martin joins me to discuss how to get started, what you need to know, and why you might want to take the plunge.

• How to Write a Book Review. Why is it so hard to talk about books we love (or don’t)? This session is packed with practical tips and an easy formula for creating book reviews, whether you want to sum up your reading experience for your bestie, record your thoughts in your private book journal, or share publicly on Instagram, Goodreads, or other public review sites.

Please note: we teach our classes live, and record every class and author talk so you can watch these on your own schedule.

Our Autumn Book Club selections

This mix of backlist, classics, and modern classics is sure to provide ample fodder for discussion, insight, and readerly growth.

September
Main pick: If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Flight picks: The Secret History by Donna Tartt and King Lear by William Shakespeare

October
Main pick: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Flight pick: Pride by Ibi Zoboi

November
Main pick: Shiner by Amy Jo Burns
Flight pick: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

Join Us

Our Fall season will help you get more out of your reading life as we learn to read better, together—and we’ll have so much fun in the process!

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED.

I can’t wait to read with you this season. Happy reading, friends!

Anne

12 comments

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  1. Pam says:

    Looks like I’m getting a jump start for September. I’m halfway through The Secret History by Donna Tartt. One of those books that I’ve owned for 20+ years but never read … !

    Although I don’t belong to the book club, I’m always interested in hearing about what you are up to. Maybe someday I’ll take the plunge and sign up 😀

  2. Tracie says:

    Thanks for the reminder that we don’t have to participate in every single thing! The abundances of choices can be overwhelming if you feel like you have to do it all. The good news is that MMD Book Club offers a lot of wonderful opportunities. I’m excited for fall!

  3. Elizabeth Spencer says:

    I am soooo excited for the fall lineup! Already about 30% into The Secret History and can’t put it down. I love when I discover a backlist classic like this through the book club. Last fall I got to check several “lifetime TBR” titles off my list like Never Let Me Go and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. And even when the monthly pick turns out not to be for me, I still get something out of the author chats.

    Just leaving this comment for anyone who may be on the fence about joining. I get so much out of book club and it’s been a comfort during the pandemic. Anne is right that you don’t have to watch/read everything to enjoy it. I’ve been slowly making my way through the treasure trove of author chats and classes from before I joined.

  4. Linda says:

    Anne….I’ve pre-ordered your book journal. Can I get the few extras you noted with my pre-order? How do I sign up for those?

  5. Maryann Horner says:

    I’m curious about the book club. Does the monthly fee include the classes? Or are they additional? And if so how much more? I’d really like to take the one on writing reviews. I always seem to have trouble with that.
    Thanks
    Maryann

    • Lynn says:

      The cost of membership includes everything. There are no additional fees. I joined last winter and I have enjoyed watching many of the author chats and classes from previous years.

    • Lynn says:

      The membership does not include the cost of the books. I buy some, and borrow many from the library. I try and read the Main Pick for each month, but you can pick and choose whatever you like, there are an abundance of suggestions available.

  6. Jennifer says:

    I *finally* (after many years of contemplating doing it) have joined the MMD Book Club! I am excited to read the September book and look forward to lots of bookish content and discussion. Thank you, Anne and team, for having a place for all of us booklovers to go!

  7. Sarah Williams says:

    I joined the MMD Book Club last year. It has been worth it for me. Since I work full-time and I try to manage my screen time, I don’t frequently participate in the forums. However, I LOVE the book previews, author chats, and member meet-ups. I always come away with new book recommendations. That TBR is growing! And I know when I do retire(hopefully next June), I plan on participating more in the forums.

  8. Teri Hansen says:

    Finished The Secret History last month–the audible version read by the author–and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was never on my radar until it was named a flight pick for September. So much to discuss with that one!

  9. Dana Frazeur says:

    Can you tell me what the difference is between the $15/mo MMD Book Club and the $5/mo Patreon membership (other than the price of course!)

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We appreciate a good conversation in the comments section. Whether we’re talking about books or life, differing opinions can enrich a discussion when they’re offered for the purpose of greater connection and deeper understanding, which we whole-heartedly support. However, my team and I will delete comments that are hurtful or intended to shame members of this community, particularly if they are left by first-time commenters. We have zero tolerance for hate speech or bigotry of any kind. Remember that there are real people on the other side of the screen. We’re grateful our community of readers is characterized by kindness, curiosity, and thoughtfulness. Thank you for helping us keep it that way.

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