Located in Chatham, Illinois

Book Clubs

BIAGB Book Club

Bring your lunch and your love of reading to this midday book club. Each month, we discuss a different book in a welcoming and relaxed environment. From bestselling fiction to compelling non-fiction, there’s always something new to explore. For a complete list of the books we've read, click here.

When: Third Wednesday of each month at 12:00 PM
Where: Library Conference Room

A black woman in late 19th century dress styling hair of a seated white woman in late 19th century dress August 20

Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiavernini

Julia Grant, beloved as Ullyses S. Grant’s wife and the First Lady, grappled with a profound and complex relationship with Jule, the slave who was her namesake. While Julia spoke out for women -- Union and Confederate -- she continued to hold Jule as a slave behind Union lines. Upon the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jule claimed her freedom and rose to prominence as a businesswoman in her own right.

yellow background with multi colored books flying aroundSeptember 17

The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams

Working at the local library, Aleisha reads every book on a secret list she found, which transports her from the painful realities she's facing at home, and decides to pass the list on to a lonely widower...

Along the River Seine in Paris with people strollingOctober 15

The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris by David McCollough

Relates the story of the American artists, writers, and doctors who traveled to Paris in the nineteenth century, fell in love with the city and its people, and changed America through what they learned there.

See an eye looking through a keyhole with a blue doorNovember 19

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be

Hooked On Books

Whether you’re into contemporary fiction, historical drama, or page-turning mysteries, Hooked on Books is perfect for readers who enjoy a wide variety of genres. Join us for lively evening discussions that dive deep into each month’s featured title. For a complete list of the books we've read, click here.

When: Second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM
Where: Library Conference Room

Book cover for Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom.August 13

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

Inspired by a true story, Crow Mary follows a young Crow woman who, after marrying a white fur trader in 182, finds herself caught between cultures in a violent, changing world. When Mary bravely rescues kidnapped Nakota women after a massacre, her act of defiance sets off a chain of events that tests her marriage, identity, and strength across decades of frontier life in North America.

Sailing Ship in a stormy seaSeptember 10

The Wager by David Grann

On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty's Ship the Wager. The men, after being marooned for months, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than 2500 miles. They were greeted as heroes. But then ... six months later, another, even more decrepit craft made land. This boat contained just three castaways, and they had a very different story to tell.

"The Mighty Red" in red letters on a black background. The background also has three white lines on it.October 8

The Mighty Red by Louis Erdrich

In North Dakota farming country in 2008, Gary Geist is about to marry young Kismet Poe. Hugo, a gentle red-haired, home-schooled giant, is also in love with Kismet, and he is determined to steal her and is eager to be a home wrecker. Meanwhile, Kismet's mother also works for the farm and has dark visions for their futures.

Black Pine Tree on a dark blue background. White dots like stars are sprinkled on the coverNovember 12

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

1985. Three teenagers have been drinking. One of them gets behind the wheel of a car, and, in an instant, everything on Division Street changes. Each of their lives, and that of Ben Wilf, a young doctor who arrives on the scene, is shattered. For the Wilf family, the circumstances of that fatal accident will become the deepest kind of secret. On Division Street, time has moved on. 

Outer Edge

Explore new worlds and daring adventures with Outer Edge, our book club dedicated to science fiction, fantasy, and horror lovers. From epic space operas to magical realms, we celebrate the imagination in every form. For a complete list of the books we've read, click here.

When: Third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM

Where: Library Galleries B&C

 

Book cover of Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White. Cover in blue and red with a biblically accurate angel with six wings.September 18

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him - one that ended the world and infected him with a bioweapon turning him into something monstrous. Rescued by a group of queer teens, Benji is offered shelter by their leader, Nick - as long as he can control the monster and use its power. But as Benji settles into his new family, he begins to suspect Nick has dangerous secrets of his own.

 

Book cover of The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James shows a motel in the background with the motel sign in the front, lit up in neon red and orange. Below the names of the motel name is another sign that says vacancy.October 16

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden...

 

Book cover of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology. Shows various animals and wildlife in vibrant oranges, pinks, green, purple, and blue along the sides and bottom of the title.November 20

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

Many indigenous people believed that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai'po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear - and even follow you home.