For December’s Book Club we will discussing City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. In this richly textured cityscape with its layers of conquered and conquering people, long-outlawed gods, and squalor and magic alike, a master spy arrives to investigate a murder. While considered epic fantasy, this isn’t your usual European high kingdom, instead inspired by czarist Russia and Mughal India, as conquered and conquerors, respectively.

“A rich, layered, thoughtful story, full of gods and magic and characters that feel unflinchingly true… every once in a while I read a book that’s so well done, I find myself wanting to punch the author in the face out of pure envy. Congratulations, Mr. Bennett—you just made the face-punching list!” -Jim C. Hines

What we discussed at the November’s Book Club meeting: The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey. Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don’t like her. She jokes that she won’t bite. But they don’t laugh.

We found it to be a gripping story that pulls you along, making you question life, evolution, death, and what’s best for humankind.

When: Monday, December 8th, 2014 6:30pm-7:30pm Where: Filter Cafe 1373-75 N. Milwaukee Ave

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