Starting Fresh with a New Year's Beginning
A Year of Reading and Sharing: Book Club Traditions and New Releases
In a celebration of literature and shared quiet time, a book club in [location] has been keeping a cherished tradition alive, reminiscent of the Icelandic "Jólabókaflóð" on Christmas Eve. This unique tradition involves the gift of books, followed by an evening of cozy reading together[1][2][3].
The tradition, which started during World War II in Iceland, gained prominence as paper was one of the few non-rationed items in the country, having recently gained independence in 1944. To maintain a meaningful gift exchange, people began giving books to each other, and the tradition has since become a beloved part of Icelandic culture[1].
Every year, the Icelandic book trade publishes a "Book Bulletin" catalog in November, allowing people to order books as Christmas presents[1]. The book club in [location] follows suit, with this year's first book being "God of the Woods" by Liz Moore, a gripping tale about a mysterious disappearance that took place in 1975[4].
The second book to be read is "James," a re-telling of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Percival Everett[5]. Other books chosen for the year include "Martyr!" by Kaveh Akbar, "The Extinction of Irena Ray" by Jennifer Croft, "Bee Sting" by Paul Murray, and "Aflame" by Pico Iyer[2][6][7].
The conversation about "Aflame," Iyer's search for meaning through silence and retreats, will be aired in the near future[8]. An extra credit spot is left for the still-to-be-announced spring speaker of Lunch for Libraries from the Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison Public Library Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Go Big Read[9].
Apart from the annual book club, another holiday tradition is Bookstore Brunch Day, which takes place between Christmas and New Year's. During this event, the book club chooses the 11 books they'll read together over the next year[10]. Listeners are also encouraged to share the books they are reading by emailing listen@our website[11].
In the spirit of the Icelandic tradition, the book club also enjoys hot cocoa and a special Christmas ale called jolabland, creating a warm, hygge-like atmosphere fitting for [location]'s cold winters[1].
References: 1. Iceland's Christmas Book Flood 2. Pico Iyer's "Aflame" 3. Bookstore Brunch Day 4. God of the Woods by Liz Moore 5. James by Percival Everett 6. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar 7. The Extinction of Irena Ray by Jennifer Croft 8. Conversation with Pico Iyer about "Aflame" 9. Lunch for Libraries 10. Book Club Choices 11. Share Your Reads
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