What we’re about
At Women Authors Book Club Philly, we are a community of book lovers who are passionate about reading and discussing books by women authors. All genders are welcome to participate! Our group enjoys diving deep into the themes, characters, and writing styles of the books we read. Whether you're into fiction, non-fiction, or memoir, there's a place for you in our group. Join us for lively discussions, meaningful insights, and a supportive community of fellow bookworms. Let's celebrate women authors and their wonderful contributions to literature together.
Our club chooses titles on a rotating basis by authors from the 19th century (and earlier), 20th century, and 21st century, so both classic and modern books can have their day. Members who attend meetings can vote on upcoming titles.
We meet on Saturday afternoons at Higher Grounds Cafe in Northern Liberties. Hope to see you there!
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Book Discussion: The Last Man by Mary ShelleyHigher Grounds, Philadelphia, PA
Our February book discussion will be on The Last Man by Mary Shelley, an English author writing in 1826. Per Goodreads:
A futuristic story of tragic love and the gradual extermination of the human race by plague, The Last Man is Mary Shelley's most important novel after Frankenstein. With intriguing portraits of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, the novel offers a vision of the future that expresses a reaction against Romanticism, and demonstrates the failure of the imagination and of art to redeem the doomed characters.
Possible discussion questions include:
- Shelley narrates a (real) visit she made to the Sibyl’s cave with her husband Percy, where they find leaves that contain fragments of the Verney’s tale. What is the significance of the Sibyl and of this method of narration?
- Why do you think Shelley frame the tale as both a personal/autobiographical story and as a prophecy of the future?
- Much of Volume I focuses on the upbringing and early domesticated lives and loves of the main characters. As we know, however, these idyllic early moments are leading to disastrous conclusions. Why does
Shelley spend so much time detailing romantic relationships and affectionate domesticity? - What does this vision of the future tell us about Shelley, the nineteenth century, and our own historical moment in 2025? (Note: Verney’s tale begins in 2073 and ends in 2100.)
- One recurring term/image throughout the novel is that of the “labyrinth”. Why is this image important for the novel? How does it relate to the novel’s structure?
- The Plague develops alongside ecological catastrophes throughout the novel: super-storms, crop failures, mass migration, flooding, earthquakes, and so on. Is there a link here?
- Can we read this novel as a prophecy of global warming and/or the destruction of the Earth by humans? If yes, how is that so? If not, how do you account for the fact that only humans die (and not animals, plants, etc.)?
- Shelley envisions what would happen to the world if humans went extinct. What does her vision reveal? Is this how you would envision the end of humans?
- Is Shelley's version how modern film and literature imagines extinction?
- Last Man stories persist, both in literature and film. What are some other examples?
- The plague that Shelley imagines had several historical and contemporary parallels then: outbreaks of typhus, yellow fever, and the bubonic plague were still a real threat. In our own time, critics have found parallels with AIDS, Ebola, and various super-flus and super-viruses. What, if anything, is different about Last Man narratives then and now?
- What, if anything, can we learn from Shelley’s novel?
Also at this meeting, we'll vote on our book to discuss in March.
In keeping with our group's design, we discussed a 21st century woman author in January, we'll be discussing a 19th century author in January, and a 20th century author in March.As always with cafe-based events, please plan to purchase a beverage or snack from our host to thank them for the use of their space. Higher Grounds also has a delicious lunch/brunch menu, so feel free to come early and dine.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
