Book Clubs
Goldfinch Book Club
We warmly welcome you to our friendly, inclusive Goldfinch Book Club, hosted by Lou, a local author and librarian whose passion for books knows no bounds.
Our club meets in a cosy nook of the shop, surrounded by all things literary. There’s also a licensed bar, and we all know how books and wine go well together. But a cup of tea can be just as fun, especially when paired with a good book, and friendly company…
We meet on the last Wednesday of the month at Goldfinch Books, 24 High St, Alton. There are 2 groups (4-6pm and 7- 9pm)
Dates are in the Events section of the website
If you would like to join us, and expand your bookish horizons, you can purchase the Goldfinch Book Club subscription available in the Store (details below).
May Book Club Choice
Non-Fiction
More Info.
Subscription NOTES:
Monthly Standing Order £14 includes book.
Your 1st subscription fee will be taken on the day you subscribe, and the next one will be one month later. You can cancel any time.
Your first book will be ready by 1st January (or before). If you subscribe part way through the year, your first book will be ready on the 1st of the month after you subscribe.
With subscription, you will be allocated a Book Club Membership #Number which you must use when making your choice of book (on the months when there is a choice).
Book packaged and ready for collection by the 1st of the month if not before.
Some months there will be a choice of book from a list. Choices should be advised to us via a website poll as soon as possible after choices announced (on the book club page). If you don’t choose via the poll then a choice will be made for you and that book allocated to you for that month.
You get the book whether or not you come to that month's book club (it’s not mandatory to come in person…!). Note that you may, if you request, exchange the Book Club book for another book in the shop (before reading it).
Book Club Members are able to bring a guest to Book Club on occasion and we ask that the guest pay a club fee of £5 at the bar (excludes book). This is to allow people to bring a friend to see if they may like to join, or if they have a visiting guest for example. If guests are to come regularly then we ask that they buy a subscription (or subsidised subscription if appropriate).
NOTE: A small number of subsidised subscriptions are available - these are for those who would otherwise not be able to manage the membership fee, and for those who volunteer with Goldfinch. These memberships are exactly the same as standard membership and include a copy of the book every month (please email gary@goldfinch-books.com for details and a code)
Principles:
In general, chosen books are not to be too ‘high-brow’ literary, although there may be some on lists that fit this description. Where this is the case, there will be options.
A mix of ‘all read the same book’ and ‘options from a list’ will be used with a combination of prize shortlists and genre ‘champions’
For more information, contact: lou@goldfinch-books.com and/or gary@goldfinch-books.com
2026 Plan (subject to change):
JAN: Gary’s uplit pick -all read a book from list of 3 - Bloomsbury giveaway to be included
FEB: Traditional approach (with a twist, TBC): all read the same book
MAR: Jude’s Crime Corner top crime paperback of the year so far - The Chase, Ava Glass - Author Talk March 26th)
APR: Women’s prize 2026 (fiction) longlist (see video on the judges below) – choose from the paperbacks listed (options from a list).
MAY: Ella’s Non-Fic pick - all read the same book
'THIS BOOK CHANGED THE WAY I TALK ABOUT POLITICS.' GRACE BLAKELEY, AUTHOR OF VULTURE CAPITALISM
Democracy is dying because we are clinging to a dangerous and outdated myth: talking about politics can change people's minds. It doesn't.
This provocative debut from a bold new voice combines a fascinating range of research to show us the psychological and sociological factors that really shape our politics.
Drawing from ancient philosophy to modern neuroscience and social science, Dr Sarah Stein Lubrano reveals the surprising truth about how people think and behave politically. From friendship to community organizing and social infrastructure, she explores the actions that actually do change minds.
In a world where politics keeps getting more irrational, dishonest, violent and chaotic, it's getting much harder to reach people with words alone. So people who really care about democracy must ask: how can we stop arguing and do the deep work to build stronger foundations for political life, and a better world for us all?
AUTHOR VISIT WEDNESDAY 27th May
Sarah Stein Lubrano
Sarah is coming to the Goldfinch Bookclub (the 7pm one) for an interview and to answer questions on her book
Wed 27th May
4pm til 6pm Bookclub - all clubbers welcome
7pm til 9pm - Author discussion - all welcome
JUN: Genre champion week – Jeff’s sci-fi list. Jeff brings list of 10 sci-fi books – people can read different books options from a list
JUL: The 2025 Booker winner, FLESH (paperback) – all read the same book (but note: an alternative “not the booker” option will also be announced by 15th June)
AUG: Kat’s Romance pick for the summer: all read the same book . Book to be announced by 15th July.
SEP: British Book awards shortlist (paperbacks) – pick any one to read (fiction) options from a list
OCT: The 2026 Carnegie winner for YA fiction – all read the same book
NOV: The 2026 Pulitzer winner (paperback) – all read the same book (but note: an alternative “not the Pulitzer” option will also be announced by 15th Oct)
DEC: Social event and surprise tailored xmas book gift from Lou and the team!!
YA BOOK CLUB IS ON The 2nd THURSDAY of the month FROM 5PM TIL 6PM.
COME AND JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT ALL THINGS YA.
Club fee £2 each monthly session.
Intended for ages 13+
Good YA literature can challenge, educate, move and inspire us in its pages - compound this with the tangle of emotions at an age when our perspectives, relationships and experiences are new, strange and intense, and we have a powerful mix. YA has us asking ourselves and each other big questions, the exploration of which can provide solace in a confusing, messy world.
