The Online Rainbow Book Club

 

On Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 6pm to 7pm was the first Online Rainbow Book Club of 2026. It was also the first time I've attended this online book club. 

I've been meaning to join a book club and stick with one long term as I enjoy reading and discussing books with others. Book clubs are the perfect venue for book discussions with others. 

I've also desired to be more involved in using the public library and the services they have to offer. 

The Online Rainbow Book Club is offered through our public library on a monthly basis. In fact, our public library offers several book clubs. Most of the book clubs seem to meet in person. I specifically chose the Online Rainbow Book Club because it meets online vs. in person. 

The Online Rainbow Book Club "is for all readers ages 18 and over who enjoy thoughtful and supportive discussions centering on LGBTQ+ titles, characters, and themes."

I do not fall into the LGBTQ+ spectrum. But as I've already mentioned I enjoy reading and discussing thought provoking books with others. 

Diversity and inclusivity are also big buzz words being used in recent years. I enjoy reading books written by and/or about minority groups. It is important to me to learn more about those around me as I feel it helps to build empathy, compassion, and understanding about those living different lives/lifestyles than myself.

I enjoyed attending my first Online Rainbow Book Club this past Thursday evening. We read and discussed Gideon the Ninth by Tamsym Muir. I'm looking forward to this month's read and upcoming book discussion. 

Alta Journal's California Book Club Featuring Author, Ishmael Reed and His Novel, Mumbo Jumbo

 

I've become a huge fan of Alta Journal's California Book Club over the years. They offer a superb selection of amazing author guests lined-up throughout the year. One author each month is featured in the California Book Club and the author is joined by host John Freeman along with a guest moderator/interviewer.

On Thursday, April 17th, from 5-6pm PDT, author, Ishmael Reed discussed his novel, Mumbo Jumbo and answered questions from guests attending virtually.

This was a fun virtual event to attend. I've been meaning to read Mumbo Jumbo for a few years now and I'll have to grab it and read it for sure now.

Alta Journal - California Book Club - Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

Last Thursday evening from 5pm-6pm Pacific Daylight Time, I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Charles Yu discuss his novel, Interior Chinatown. I listened to the unabridged audio version of Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu during the Fall of 2021. I really enjoyed this novel. I was thrilled to learn that Charles Yu would be discussing his novel via Alta's California Book Club as I always enjoy hearing about an author's writing process and other tidbits they discuss with viewers/readers of their novels.

During Alta's California Book Club, John Freeman was the interviewer and he started things off with Charles Yu. Then author, Bonnie Tsui, took over and spoke with Charles Yu. See the following transcript to read what transpired during this month's California Book Club discussion.

This happens to be my first virtual book event for the 2023 calendar year. I find this kind of surprising that this is the first virtual bookish event of 2023 that I've attended as the three previous years, I ONLY attended virtual events, PERIOD, end of story. Additionally, I attended several virtual events evenly spaced throughout each year in 2020-2022.

On the other hand, with things returning to normal since the pandemic began, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised I haven't attended many virtual events this year... Well, except for the very fact that I still don't feel comfortable attending in person events at this time. I still prefer (hands down) attending virtual events. I feel like I'm the only person left on the planet that feels this way as everyone else has moved on and returned to living normally as if the pandemic never existed in the first place. 

So where do you fall on the spectrum? Have you fully returned to living life as you did before the pandemic? Or are you in some sort of hybrid situation where you have returned to some sort of modified lifestyle?

The BuzzFeed Book Club!

I came across a new online book club a few days ago in an article titled, Welcome To The BuzzFeed Book Club! by Arianna Rebolini. In the article, Arianna Rebolini wrote the following:

Hello! Are you a person who loves to read but is often overwhelmed by the task of choosing a new book? Do you have a million open tabs of book recommendation lists? Do you wish you could hire someone to pick your books out for you — is a book concierge even a thing? Do you straight-up love books and want a place to chat about them with fellow discerning, thoughtful, and enthusiastic readers?

Each month, BuzzFeed Books will select one brand-new book for members to read together.

We’ll announce the selection before it comes out so you’ll have plenty of time to preorder or reserve it at your local library.

We’ll chat about these books in the BuzzFeed Book Club Facebook group — where we’ll ask discussion questions, share our opinions, gush and rant about our favorite and least favorite characters, make plot predictions, host Q&As with the authors, and generally drop in random thoughts as we read together.

You’ll get two newsletters a month, full of exclusive content from the authors, highlights from the Facebook group, blurbs from future selections, giveaways, and more.

And each month you’ll have an opportunity to weigh in so we can tailor the book club to what you want: What kind of books do you like to read? Did you love this one or hate it? What kind of book-related features do you want to see from us?

It’ll be a blast — and it’s free!

The first book chosen for Buzzfeed's Book Club is a novel titled, Family Trust by Kathy Wang. Discussion for Family Trust by Kathy Wang will begin on November 1, 2018.

It just so happens that I received a FREE copy of Family Trust by Kathy Wang through Goodreads Giveaways. I have yet to read Family Trust though. I have a busy schedule through the end of the month. Plus, I am already reading a book at the moment... So, I'll try to read this novel before November 1st as I'd like to join in the discussion group as soon as possible.

Online Book Clubs You Can Join Right Now!!

I discovered an article on Bustle's website titled, 14 Online Book Clubs You Can Join Right Now by Charlotte Ahlin. In the article, Charlotte Ahlin writes the following:

I don't know about the rest of you, but whenever I'm reading a good book, I spend every waking moment wanting to talk about that book. The trouble is, most of the people around me are not reading the same book, and they have no interest in hearing all my feelings about Octavia Butler over a glass of wine at 11 PM. That's where book clubs come in. Book clubs are the perfect way to keep reading, talk about what you're reading, and make friends with other readers. And you don't even have to leave your house to join one. Here are some of the most popular online book clubs to get you started.

I mean, yes, starting a book club with your friends or your co-workers or your mom's friends' co-workers is still very much an option. But if it's hard for you to get together with your fellow readers in the analog world, or if you're looking for some new reading inspiration, these are the book clubs you should know about. From diversifying your personal bookshelf to helping incarcerated readers get access to reading material, these book clubs are creating communities and changing the book club paradigm.

I've been wanting to join a book club for awhile. Perhaps an online book club would work best for me.