Feminist Book Club is a unique community of readers who are dedicated to social justice through collective learning and conversations. I have been fortunate enough to be a member of Feminist Book Club since the spring of 2019. Throughout my time with Feminist Book Club, I have been able to celebrate its first birthday, watch us expand to in person meetings for Twin Cities members, and seen an immense amount of growth.
What makes Feminist Book Club so extraordinary and special is the connections made between members. As a member of the monthly book club, you have the opportunity to join our private Facebook group and Slack channel where we share ideas, talk about the book between monthly video chats, and create friendships. However, the true prize of Feminist Book Club are our monthly book club meetings on Zoom.
Feminist Book Club has almost doubled in size within the past few months and with the increase in members, has come an increase in those who join our monthly meetings. We went from having one book chat per month on Zoom to adding two more options for members to join in so everyone has a chance to discuss our book pick and more.
If you have ever wondered what makes our book chats so special, keep reading to hear the reasons that our members join each month!
5 Reasons to Join Our Monthly Video Chats:
1. To meet people from all around the world!
Our monthly Feminist Book Club chats give members the opportunities to meet and discuss our book of the month with members joining from all around the world. Currently, we have members in the United States, Australia, Denmark, and more because of the options to join virtually. With each monthly chat comes new friendships that emerge as we discuss our monthly book pick, and our experiences in general.
2. To hear new perspectives that will broaden your understanding of a topic
Each month our members meet on Zoom to discuss the monthly pick but with a great deal of members, comes a broad range of specialties. All of our members are experts on different topics with unique passions. I have learned so much from our members during our monthly video chats and because each book we pick is so different, each of our members get an opportunity to share their expertise. As a result of each member having their own unique perspective, our one and a half hour meetings are an opportunity for expanding your mindset and a great deal of learning.
3. To challenge your own beliefs
With a large base of members, not everyone you meet will share your exact same beliefs. By listening to others who may not share the exact same lived experience and views as you, there comes a great deal of reflection and learning. Our members discuss how race and privilege impact our beliefs and opinions which can challenge your ideologies and cause discomfort, but in a way that stimulates personal growth. With this in mind, Feminist Book Club does not tolerate hate of any kind.
4. To motivate you to read our monthly pick
Each month members send in suggestions of books that align with a particular theme. After our dedicated founder, Renee, organizes all of these books into a list, members have the opportunity to vote on which book will be our choice for that particular month. For a lot of our members, this list of books each month adds on to our never ending to be read piles because members suggest some really great titles. With this in mind, not every book chosen by members is a favorite for everyone but by reading the monthly pick, you are often stepping outside of your comfort zone and challenging yourself. Each month, our members work together on Facebook and Slack to give tips on how to best read our pick in time for our video chat. This month, our members are suggesting that you read Hurricane sooner rather than later because of its unique prose.
5. To join a community of badass people!
I may be biased, but members of Feminist Book Club are some of the best people out there! Although we are all located far from one another, there is truly a sense of community within our members. We work together to help one another not only with book suggestions, but with supporting each other through the ups and downs of life. We celebrate birthdays, new jobs, and more because our badass members care for one another. Through our monthly video chats, members help tighten the relationships within our community of badass people.
