It is the best time of year to curl up with a good book. Whether you desire to get lost in a captivating tale, or are looking for something more thought-provoking, there is a virtual book club in Albany County for you! During the age of social distancing, these books clubs are a great opportunity to connect with the local community and engage in a lively virtual discussion. Keep reading to get the scoop on local organizations in Albany County hosting online book clubs.
Historic Albany Foundation
The next Historic Albany Foundation virtual book club kicks off on Tuesday, January 26! The book club will discuss ‘'The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth and Power' by Deirdre Mask. This book was chosen for its timeliness to the current political and racial climate in the United States, as well as right here in Albany. The author, Deirdre Mask, will be joining the virtual book club for the third session on February 9! The HAF Book Club is co-sponsored by NYS Writers Institute and Discover Albany.
The book club will meet via Zoom on January 26 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, February 2 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and February 9 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. In preparation for each session, read a third of the book (around 90 pages). Email kparker@historic-albany.org to sign up.
Albany Institute of History & Art
The Albany Institute of History & Art has teamed up with the Albany Public Library for a virtual Book & Art Club! January's book is The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis. If you binged the popular Netflix series last Fall, now is the perfect time to dive into the book it is based on. Engage in a conversation about the book and enjoy a presentation by an Albany Institute curator of items from the museum's collections relevant to The Queen's Gambit.
The book club will meet via Google Meets on January 28 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Register at this link.
Friends of the Pine Bush
The first-ever book club by the Friends of the Pine Bush Community will be held virtually on February 25! The book club will discuss "The Overstory" by Richard Powers. The novel, a winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, explores the power of trees. The page count nears 500, so don't wait until the last minute to start reading this novel!
The book club will be held via Zoom on February 25 at 7:00 PM. Find details on how to join at this link or email info@PineBushFriends.org for more info.
Ten Broeck Mansion
The Albany County Historical Association, stewards of the historic Ten Broeck Mansion, are launching a virtual book club! The book selection is 'Albany: Crossroads of Liberty" by Alice Kenney. The discussion will explore Albany's identity, what makes Albany such a unique American story and how do museums tell more inclusive stories. Each meeting will also include a behind-the-scenes look at ACHA's archives and collections with insights on how historians use artifacts to deepen our understanding of history. The Ten Broeck Book Club is unique in that it is offering the book to club members for free. All you have to pay is postage!
Stay tuned on Ten Broeck Mansion's Facebook for a sign-up announcement and further details.
Local Libraries
Albany County residents, check your local library for a virtual book club! The Albany Public Library (residents of the city of Albany or any municipality in Albany or Rensselaer counties qualify for a library card) hosts a variety of virtual monthly book clubs such as a Fiction Book Club, Teen Book Club, Antiracism Book Club and a Forever (Young) Adult Book Club (young-adult-books-for-adults book club). The Altamont Free Library, Colonie's William K. Sanford Town Library, Guilderland Public Library, Voorheesville Public Library and Westerlo Public Library are among the local libraries in Albany County hosting online book clubs.
