The Books We Never Read Club

The Books We Never Read Club is a monthly book club for adults returning to the joy of vintage children's and YA books they always meant to read, or the ones they loved but have forgotten, ones we never heard of, and ones that are worth revisiting as adult humans of all ages.

Each month we choose a classic title and explore it as a whole object: the writing, the illustration, the art style, what it reveals about how childhood was imagined at the time, and what that can tell us about childhood now (and ourselves). What is the magic, and why is it still relevant to our lives and our perception of children and childhood.

We meet once a month for a live discussion, with an ongoing conversation in our community space in between. Discussions cover themes, context, and the artwork in depth.

What we read: Vintage and classic children's and YA fiction, with a focus on illustrated editions and books with distinctive visual identities (which can also mean books which are strongly evocative and so have a clear visual identity in our minds).

How it works: One book a month, announced in advance so you have plenty of time to get hold of a copy. Live discussion at the end of the month, recorded for anyone who can't make it.

Participation: Completely relaxed. Come to the live discussion when you can, drop into the community chat when you feel like it, and read at your own pace.

House rules: Be kind, be curious, and don't apologise for having a strong opinion about a book. Spoilers are to be expected after the live discussion date.