Beyond Walks: How Books Are Uniting UH Women's Walk Club Members
The Book Club subgroup of the University Heights Women’s Walk Club (UHWWC) began in January of 2024 and has grown to 200 members. We have read 23 books so far, and continue to meet monthly to discuss our latest reads. Every few months, each member has the opportunity to nominate a book. We then determine the next three books via polling.
Choices range from popular fiction to classics to sci-fi and mysteries. Some common themes have emerged from the choices: the majority of picks are by female authors and explore the complexities of the human experience, often specifically of women. Gathering to talk about these books can open our eyes to the variety of experiences shared by the characters as well as by our fellow book club members. With every book a new perspective is gained, and often our discussions highlight things members may not have noticed during their own reading.
For our January book club, we read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Many were excited to revisit the classic or try it for the first time ahead of the new movie adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The conversation was lively with many reactions to the reputation of the novel versus the experience of reading it for the first time or for the first time as an adult. Multiple groups planned outings to see the movie adaptation in February together after which we discussed the differences and similarities in the adaptation. Experiences like these are an exciting result of bringing together a group of readers in our community.
Below is a list of recommended readings that have been big hits or sparked a lot of discussion during UHWCC Book Club meetings:
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (a romance set in University Heights!)
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The UHWWC Book Club meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. If you’re interested in joining the UHWWC Book Club, you can follow us on Instagram at @universityheightswomenswalk, our website: www.UHWWC.org, or via email at hello.uhww@gmail.com.