READ (GREAT) LITERATURE
IN GOOD COMPANY.
In the BOOK CLUB, we go deep into a book’s culture to reflect on
its meaning & significance—why does it matter & what can we learn?
CURRENTLY READING—
Our book club is more than just a reading list; it's a space for engaged, thoughtful dialogue where literature becomes a shared experience. Each month, we dive into works that challenge, inspire, and provoke—books that stir something deeper and push us to think critically about the world and ourselves. We favor timeless works over fleeting trends, focusing on novels, essays, and stories that leave a lasting imprint. If you're ready to explore literature that resonates, we invite you to join us.
01
Reading Now in November
Shirley Jackson's gothic tale of familial isolation and social paranoia explores the fragile boundaries between madness and survival, offering a haunting reflection on the dark underside of the American dream.
02
In this raw, experimental novel, Quin dissects the layers of identity and repression, creating a surreal landscape where psychological tension and space distort the lines between reality and delusion.
Reading Next in December
03
Reading Next in January
This novel is a journey through family, identity, and the search for freedom, weaving myth and memory into a story that feels both epic and deeply personal. It’s a narrative that speaks to the hidden parts of ourselves.
Onboarding Materials—
Delivered directly to your door, these materials offer prompts and questions designed to help you articulate your creative influences, projects, and goals. Considering your intellectual biography, how do the threads of who you are intertwine with the cultural resources that have shaped you?
READING GUIDES —
On the 2nd day of each month, we deliver a Reading Guide to your inbox that’s equal parts insightful and entertaining: we lead you through a deep, close reading, covering the essentials while sharing all the juicy bits—because we never leave out the good stuff.
COMMUNITY —
Our community is our raison d'être, infusing every moment with purpose and meaning. That's why we connect in Geneva—not just to discuss the book but to share articles, quotes, and gifs that enhance your reading journey and truly foster a sense of belonging within the Club.
ARCHIVE ACCESS —
Members enjoy exclusive access to our archive of Reading Guides and recorded meetings, allowing you to revisit past discussions and catch up on favorite titles you may have missed. This ensures you can dive back into insightful analyses and conversations at your own pace.
MEETINGS —
We gather twice a month—midway and at the finish—to dive deeper into our reading. Led by our Book Club Moderator, each session unpacks fascinating insights about the book, author, and cultural backdrop, sparking thoughtful discussions and meaningful exchanges among members.
Give yourself the gift of a reading practice
MODERATED BY—
ASHLEY PATTISON-SCOTT
Ash is a reader, a MFA candidate at Sarah Lawrence, a writing teacher, and the So Textual Book Club Moderator. Previously, she was the Creative Director of The New Literary Project.
“While I do love the feeling of reading a book on my own, listening to the words echo in my mind as I go about my day, I think I love discussing books just a little bit more. Reading is how we make sense of ourselves, but discourse is how we make sense of ourselves in relationship to the world.
In a culture that values the individual, I’m thrilled to lead discussions with So Textual, a community that values reading in a collective. Together, in discussion, I hope we can multiply our literary ideas and insights to learn, and grow.”
FAQ—
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At the beginning of each month, Members receive an email announcing that month’s Book Club selection. If you’ve signed up to receive your book in the mail, it will arrive the first week of the month.
Next, you’ll find updates, prompts, and good conversation in our Geneva channel where you can connect 24 hours a day. It’s a great place for us to share our reading impressions, as well as articles or relevant info.
Throughout the month, we’ll email you the Reading Guides. These are fun explorations on themes and cultural influences, with queries for further engagement in the community channel.
At the end of the month, we meet virtually with our Book Club Moderator to discuss the book together. It’s our favorite hour of the month and a great way to make friends.
Lastly, we are (currently) working to archive everything to the website so that you have access to all the content—even from Book Clubs before you became a Member. Stay tuned!
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Yes! Our Geneva community allows people from different countries and time zones to connect. (However, not all countries permit Geneva access—be sure to check your country’s guidelines.
Additionally, while our Book Club meetings always take place on EST, we will be recording and archiving them on the website beginning in 2024. This will make it possible for those in other time zones to still attend the meetings. (Please be patient as we develop the infrastructure to do this—it is a top priority but may take us a bit of time to execute).
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Unfortunately, we can only ship books within the contiguous United States.
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If you have an enduring (cult) classic in mind, we’d love to hear about it! Email us at info@sotextual.com to put it on our radar.
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Of course! We love to receive both constructive criticism and raving reviews. Your feedback lets us know what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can better improve our offerings.
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We understand—work, vacations, life. If you need to pause your Membership subscription for a little while, simply email us at info@sotextual.com.
WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING—
“The sexiest book club on earth.”
—Erin C.
“So Textual is one of those internet gems I'm tempted to gatekeep, but I can't stop telling everyone I know. Every newsletter is sharp & delicious. Receiving one in my inbox feels like being invited to a fabulous dinner party. All for the price of a coffee date? I'm obsessed.”
— Madison H.
“I have been a voracious reader my entire life, and So Textual is giving me the opportunity to access books I otherwise would never have known existed. I feel intellectually challenged by the selections, and I love the opportunity to connect with others who care so deeply about literature. I also love that there’s no “snobbery”—readers of any level can feel comfortable learning how to engage a text. I’m glad I joined!”
— Jessica C.
”…the prompt mailing, beautiful packaging of the book, & the thoughtfulness of the onboarding materials also in hard print is beyond my expectation. This has been such a pleasant surprise for me, & I am so looking forward to my journey in this group! …Bar none the most pleasant consumer experience I have encountered in quite some time.”
— Eleanor W.
“So Textual's book club walks that fine line of feeling both cool and exclusive, but also supportive and welcoming. The book selections are thoughtful but not on the nose, (we haven't read something I've already been through yet) and the reading guides help me contextualize what I'm reading and how I feel about it. The monthly meeting and always-on Geneva discord is the perfect choose-your-own-engagement-level adventure. I wish I had a group like this for every genre of literature I'm into!”
— Shannon F.