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An illustration with a dark blue background and off white illustrated text that reads 'Queer Book Club'. Around the title are lots of different doodles filling the background, including plants, books, a mushroom, a pen and a cafetière.

Queer Book Club

5th Sep 2023

A space to share a love of queer novels, memoirs and writing.

Project Details
Creative Team
  • Co-founder and producer: Emma Curd
  • Co-founder: Tori Dennett
  • NPO Public Programme Coordinator: Arthur Britney Joestar

Queer Book Club is an inclusive reading group open to anyone from St Helens to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature. Founded in Autumn 2023 by a group of local queer artists, producers and book-lovers, Queer Book Club is a space to share a love of queer novels, memoirs and writing.

How to get involved

Queer Book Club takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at St Helens Book Stop, 11 Bridge Street, St Helens, WA10 1NN.

Queer Book Club will take a break in January and return in February 2025. Coming up:

  • In the new year we'll be discussing Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth - 4th February 2025 - book via Eventbrite

Booking is free via Eventbrite, and sessions are drop-in. You don’t have to have been before to join in, and we encourage you to read the book ahead of the session. After the discussion about this month’s book, we welcome suggestions for future reads!

Access

We want to make Queer Book Club as accessible to as many people as possible and therefore we will hold two pre-bought copies of the book. Either contact Britney via arthur.britney@heartofglass.org.uk or call in to The Book Stop to borrow a copy.

Additionally, as a QBC reader, you also receive 20% off your copy of the chosen book this month at The Bookstop in St Helens by quoting "Queer Book Club" at the till.

Safer Spaces

This book club will use Heart of Glass' Safer Spaces Agreement to create a space that aims to be as welcoming and respectful as possible.

Please be aware that the content of some of the books we have read and discussed so far have been emotionally challenging, including references to: violence, sexual assault, abusive relationships, death and suicide, homophobia and transphobia. We encourage readers to carefully consider the chosen text before starting to read each month.

Catch up

If you’d like to catch up on what we’ve read so far, all of these titles are available to borrow from our Queer Book Club Lending Library:

  • In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (October 2023)

  • The Society for Soulless Girls, by Laura Steven (November 2023)

  • Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin (December 2023)

  • De-Transition, Baby by Torrey Peters (January 2024)

  • She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (February 2024)

  • Love Me Tender by Constance Debré (March 2024)

  • ⁠Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg (April 2024)

  • Bellies by Nicola Dinan (May 2024)

  • Big Swiss by Jen Beagin (June 2024)

  • Nettleblack by Nat Reeve (July 2024)

  • Wild Things by Laura Kay (July 2024, special event with the author)

  • Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (September 2024)

  • Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval (October 2024)

  • Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (December 2024)

Contact Britney via arthur.britney@heartofglass.org.uk or call in to The Book Stop to borrow a copy.
sthelensbookstop.co.uk
Read about the events

Queer Book Club Events

Off white background with Ochre hand drawn text reading 'Queer Book Club' with a blue illustration of a person with short hair holding a book open in the palm of their hand with stars coming out of the pages.
On Now
Free

Queer Book Club: February

Tuesday 4th February
In February, we’ll be discussing Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
Get Tickets
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