The popular Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Sci-Fi Fantasy book groups hosted by Alice Hutchinson’s independent bookstore, Byrd’s Books, in Bethel have become more than just gatherings. They are conduits for much needed independent thinking, sharing, and free communication. The book groups are free to the public and always open to newcomers. Meetings are held both in store and on Zoom by request (call Byrd’s Books for link), and books are available to purchase in paperback.
** On Thursday, February 13th at 7:30pm, the Non-Fiction book group will examine The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power and Deception on the Eve of World War I by Douglas Blunt. This instant New York Times bestselling “dynamic detective story” (The New York Times) reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance. On September 29, 1913, the steamship Dresden was halfway between Belgium and England. On board was one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine was on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrived at his destination. He vanished during the night and headlines around the world wondered if it was an accident, suicide, or murder.
** On Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30pm, the Sci-Fi group will explore Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel (Secret Projects) by New York Times best-seller, Brandon Sanderson. This rollicking, riveting tale set in the Cosmere universe—a standalone adventure perfect for fans of The Princess Bride—centers around the simple life Tress, enjoying the simple island pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death.
** On Tuesday, February 18th at 7:30pm, the Sci-Fi Fantasy book group will uncover The Jin-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu. Shantiport was supposed to be a gateway to the stars. But the city is sinking, and its colonist rulers aren’t helping anyone but themselves. Lina, a daughter of failed revolutionaries, has no desire to escape Shantiport. Her brother, Bador, is a small monkey bot with a big attitude and bigger ambitions. He wants a chance to leave his dead-end planet. When Shantiport's resident tech billionaire coerces Lina into retrieving a powerful artifact rumored to be able to reshape reality, forces from before their time begin coalescing around the siblings. And when you throw in a piece of sentient, off-world tech with the ability to grant three wishes into the mix… None of the city's powers will know what hit them.
** Thursday, February 20th at 7:30 pm, the Fiction book group will explore North Woods, a novel by Daniel Mason. A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier. Traversing cycles of history, nature, and even literature, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space. Written along with the seasons and divided into the twelve months of the year, it is an unforgettable novel about secrets and fates that asks the timeless how do we live on, even after we’re gone?
A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.Traversing cycles of history, nature, and even literature, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space. Written along with the seasons and divided into the twelve months of the year, it is an unforgettable novel about secrets and fates that asks the timeless how do we live on, even after we’re gone?
Byrd’s Books is located at 178 Greenwood Avenue across from the Bethel Public Library. Author discussions and Book Group gatherings are regularly added to Byrd’s Books’ calendar of events at ByrdsBooks.com Hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays10:00am to 6:00pm, Sundays 12:00 noon to 4;00pm, Closed Mondays. For directions to the store or more information, call Byrd’s Books at 203-730-2973. To review the shop’s expanded catalog of new titles, go to ByrdsBooks.com
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