Book clubs in York

Below you'll find every active listing we have for book clubs and readers in York

Added 18 days ago

Short Reads Club

We exclusively read short stories, typically two per session. I started the club because I'm a huge fan of short stories. Often overlooked, they take so much discipline and craft to write well and there are some absolute gems out there waiting to be discovered, whether theyre timeless classics, or fresh, contemporary takes. We meet every second and fourth Sunday of the month, at the Amnesty Bookshop on Micklegate. You can find more details on the Meetup App by looking for Short Reads Club, York. It's great for people who don't have time to read a whole novel around their other commitments, or for anyone just getting back into reading, as well as those of us who just love short stories. Some of our past reads include Shirley Jackson, Isaac Asimov, Edna O'Brien, Albert Campus, Naomi Booth, F Scott Fitzgerald, Jhumpa Lahiri and more, and we will definitely be revisiting some of them again in the future. We read across genres, welcoming suggestions from members. We do our best to make the chosen stories freely accessible, as well as providing teas, coffees and biscuits (there is a small attendance fee to cover admin). All are welcome, but there are limited spaces, so please do sign up on Meetup, or feel free to get in touch.

Added 18 days ago

Kate

I currently run a short story book group every second and fourth Sunday of the month, meeting at the Amnesty Bookshop on Micklegate. You can find more details on the Meetup App by looking for Short Reads Club, York. It's great for people who don't have time to read a whole novel around their other commitments, or for anyone just getting back into reading, as well as those of us who just love short stories. We read across genres, welcoming suggestions from members, and usually read two stories per session. I'm also considering starting a short story reading club specifically for stories that fall into the horror/weird fic/uncanny genres. If that would be of interest to you, please let me know.

Kate recommends:

Folk

by Zoë Gilbert | Buy this book

Whether you read this as a collection of short stories that share a setting, or as an unusual novel about a strange rural town perched between the sea and moors, its inhabitants, rituals, and secrets this wonderfully rich, dark book is perfect for fans of folk horror, the strange, and the weird.

Graham MacDougall

Eclectic reader looking to join a book group in York as recently moved here

Anna Davies

Lover of books, hoarder of stories, and devoted servant to a highly judgmental cat. When not buried in a novel, I can be found negotiating reading space with said feline, who firmly believes that all open books are, in fact, designated nap zones.

Anna Davies recommends:

Ada & Eddie

by Barry Harden | Buy this book

I received a preview copy of this engrossing thriller which I thought would interest you as it takes place in the North York Moors. Eddie is a humble, homeless man who lives in the moors, choosing to live among nature and animals rather than endure the cruelty of humans. He comes upon the body of a murdered young woman and reluctantly decides to bury her. Searching for tools in a nearby farmhouse, he meets Ada, a feisty widow who convinces him to report it to the authorities. Together they embark on a mission to discover the identity of the young woman, a pursuit that unwittingly brings them towards a collision course with political corruption, murder, and betrayal. The presence of a deeply entrenched mole within their group of confidants keeps the reader guessing their identity until the shocking finale. I couldn't put it down.

Dan

Reserved

Dan recommends:

Teatro Grottesco

by Thomas Ligotti | Buy this book

A collection of Ligotti’s fiction, predominantly concerned with corporate horror. I would liken it to the TV series Severance in tone and theme only. Not conventional horror - gore and monsters don’t seem to interest Ligotti.

R Carter

I am an avid reader of weird fiction (Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti, Robert Aickman, China Mieville). I also enjoy sci-fi - M John Harrison is a favourite - but I would like to expand my horizons and discuss with like minded people.

R Carter recommends:

Teatro Grottesco

by Thomas Ligotti | Buy this book

Nelson.10pm

I would tell my younger self to read more; so take on my own advice. I’m looking forward to meeting people who regularly get last in the boundless world of books and upon their return, want to discuss their impressions.

York Sci-fi Bookclub

I have a Bookclub! Yorks longest running scifi bookclub, available to all, used by few, over a decade of continuous operation. Currently meeting third Thursday of the month in the Minster Inn, 7:00pm.

Geoff

Genres,will try anything,used to go to a book club at Market Weighton library some years ago and would like to try again.

GT

Avid reader, dabbles in poetry and portraiture. Got online book club going but looking for local connections to chat about anything interesting and well-written. Classics, crime, comedy, fantasy, history, politics, philosophy, and oh… Japanese literature. New to York.

GT recommends:

Strange Weather in Tokyo

by Hiromi Kawakami | Buy this book

One online review stated, “it’s the distinctive Japanese sensibilities, in slow-paced almost no-sight-to-end kind of storytelling that’s worked its magic on me. The simplicity in the language, interspersed with musical poetry… makes falling in love with the generously beautiful and uncomplicated so easy. Why do some relationships have to be troublesome? And why are the best so hard to have?” I’ve read it twice and each time it reminded me of Howards End and that crucial human need for deep connections to colour life’s daily grey. It’s a tender story of love that defied differences, the typical and social norms — but without much drama, frills or pretentiousness. Simple, beautiful, poetic, poignant, but with so much hope.

Clare

Love crime, big Ian Rankin fan, also John Grisham and similar but also broader interests, modern writers. Aspire to read some classics one day. I’m looking for a group to join, a new hobby and people to chat with. Also to make me more accountable with my reading.

Olivia

Moving to York from the US and looking for a book club to join! Interested mainly in crime/thriller/mystery novels. Also interested in art, history and politics.

Stephie

I enjoy discussing (and learning about) history, folklore, literature, sociology, and all things supernatural and ghostly. I also like the idea that a book group would keep me accountable for reading the chosen materials. The internet has killed my attention span and I want it back!

Stephie recommends:

Julien’s House

by Judith Hawkes | Buy this book

A dreamily atmospheric book about a pair of married psychical researchers who move into a reputedly haunted house in order to prove or disprove the local stories. The subtlety of the hauntings; the slow trickle of information that the wife receives without being aware—-because how many of us imagine that our most fleeting thoughts might be whispered into our subconscious by someone we can neither see with our eyes or hear with our ears? And the husband, desperately jealous of his wife’s off the charts psychic gifts and unable to perform sexually, suddenly finds himself sexually attracted to his wife again. Is it just the new environment? Is it some sort of physical, hormonal change in him? Is it an eighteen year old boy who was desperately in love with his young stepmother? No clear answers come as the tension between the couple and the intensity of the haunting build. The author’s extensive reading in early 20th century spiritualist literature adds an overlay of the scientifically presented romanticism of the time, and the changes in light and shadow throughout the day are almost a character themselves. A book so good that after having bought and read the paperback to death, I sought out and bought the hardcover.

Stella H

Looking for fellow travellers in crime reading! (And Yorkshire walking!) Currently on The City & The City (China Mieville).

Wolflover

I'd love to find a book group in York to read and chat about all things sci-fi and fantasy! Fav authors include Adrian Tchaikovsky, Scott Lynch and Michelle Paver, and the humour of the HTTYD books makes me cackle to this day

William

I'm a reader who writes, lives in York and is looking for people who like to take about literature, history and philosophy in pubs.

Sam Swales Snowden

I am a long time reader, my favourite go to hobby and even when I’m not reading a lot it’s always a bit before I go to bed ! I read everything fiction, classics, contemporary, memoirs, politics! Would like to meet others to discuss and get inspiration for the next read.

Rosalind

Recently moved to York, I’ve always enjoyed reading. Enjoy reading recommended books as there are too many to chose from otherwise!

Rosalind recommends:

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett | Buy this book

Beautifully written, can re read and enjoy every time.

BitskiReader

I live in York and enjoy lots of genres but am mainly into reading fantasy and romance currently.

Robyn11

Hi, I recently moved to York from out of the area. I got back into reading about a year ago, mainly fantasy. It would be great to meet local people with the same interest in books that I have.

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