Book Club Summer Journey: Writers Talk Writers

Girls Write Now’s Book Club Was a Unique Way for Writers to Connect About Their Favorite Summer Reads

From answering prompts by literary legends to processing grief through Korean food, the mentors and mentees of our Book Club Journey discovered new worlds and expanded their horizons as they made their way through The Book of Alchemy by Girls Write Now Honoree Suleika Jaouad, Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, and Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. Over the summer, mentors and mentees focused on reading as writers and taking note of the ways each author crafts their story. In addition to providing us with copies of her books, author Suleika Jaouad is also supporting Girls Write Now with The Alchemy Fund, a community-based fundraiser.

“I loved reading the books in this Journey because I never would have picked them up myself,” Mentee Ella Yarden said. “It was also so fun to talk about the books and hear others’ interpretations because I usually don’t think too deeply about novels I read on my own. This Journey really helped me dig into symbolism and really enhanced my reading experience.”

The book selection this summer reflects the breadth of topics, identities, and genres in the Girls Write Now community. Mentors and mentees had a chance to write reviews of the books, including this one by Hope Charuvastra, published on the Girls Write Now Media site. Beyond improving their analytical skills, our mentors and mentees found ways to profoundly connect over the books they read.

“I loved the book selection, especially Home Is Not A Country. My mom read it with me and we loved it,” Mentee Sierra Williams said. “I’m so grateful Girls Write Now sent the books for free as well. Reading… with my mom was really great because we don’t get these moments together often.”