Join Coffee & Conversation: the Fort Thomas Branch’s Genre-Spanning Book Club
Looking for a laidback book club to join? Consider Coffee & Conversation: a longstanding group at the Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch.
Led by Natalie Shadrick, the club is perfect for casual book lovers of all ages. If, like caffeine fiend Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore Girls, you’ve ever requested coffee in an I.V., Coffee & Conversation may also be the match for you!
The group meets at 2 pm on the second Wednesday of the month. April 9’s title is a short story collection by Jolene Mcllwain, Sidle Creek. And May 14’s title is The Wager by David Grann, a nonfiction book that focuses on the Wager Mutiny. We caught up with Shadrick to chat about what members can expect from Coffee & Conversation.
Can you describe the vibe of Coffee & Conversation?
Shadrick: It’s a very relaxed, social club. We’ve all gotten to know each other and enjoy each other’s company. We’re always welcoming new members as well. It’s very much a: ‘Let’s read outside of our comfort zone together, and then sometimes come back to the comfort zone, too.’
And you serve coffee at the club, right?
Shadrick: Yes, we serve coffee and then we also have tea. The club is very much: relax, grab a beverage and talk about the book we just read.
Can you tell me a bit about your process selecting the books and what you think about when curating what you’re going to read?
Shadrick: I try to get a lot of variety in there. I know that, with feedback I’ve gotten before, is people like when I’ve picked something they wouldn’t have picked on their own. I try to also not to stick to just one genre or type of book. Typically, when we pick in six-month increments, I’ll do four fiction and two nonfiction. I also normally try to do two classics and then get in some contemporary reads—books you missed or may have not heard of yet.
Since it is a mix of genres, do you find that members find new things that they didn’t expect to like when they joined Coffee & Conversation?
Shadrick: Yes, I always start book club with the question of: ‘What was your first impression? And did that change?’ It’s always exciting when someone says, ‘I went into this not expecting much and then I liked it.’ Other times, you go in with really high expectations.
I try to also have some books that are in line with what one would typically pick up, but then it’s always exciting to stretch your horizons and try something new.
Sometimes we get to book club and it is: ‘I hated this book.’ I’ve gotten that before, but it’s not a ‘How dare you pick this!’ Instead, it is a, ‘I hated this, but I wouldn’t have picked it up and am glad I tried it.’
What are some examples of past titles you’ve read for Coffee & Conversation?
Shadrick: Back in October, we read Frankenstein. That one, I think a lot of us—including me—went in with the expectation of it being October, spooky season. Really, that book is not a spooky season book. We kind of all had that experience of asking, ‘What is this book actually about?’
[In March], we’re reading Emma. That’s two examples of classics. Last month, we read How to Say Babylon, which is a memoir about a woman who grew up in the Rastafari tradition. Before that, we read a cozy mystery, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. If that gives you an idea of the range, we went from cozy to a pretty serious memoir to a classic.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about joining Coffee & Conversation, but might be nervous to do so?
Shadrick: We’re always happy to have new people. Come have a cup of coffee or tea with us. We’ll discuss the book and it’ll be a good time!
View upcoming Coffee & Conversation meeting dates, along with other book clubs, at cc-pl.org/book-clubs.
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From composting to planting broccolini to learning about cool critters, Family STEAM Night was fun for all. Lucky for us, there's still STEAM-related programs at every branch all month long. 🐍♻️🐟🌱
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We had the best time!!