Night Vale Book Club: Our Next TWO Books

Hey y'all, it's Jeffrey. We're in the back half of Vacation by Deb Olin Unferth over in the chat (Book Club is a benefit for Weird Scout members and up). I'm so enjoying this re-read and everyone's insight into this book. Given that we're less than 2 weeks away from our next book. I think you'll need a heads-up for what to read next.

And since the next book, which is a play (actually it's 3 plays), is really short, I'm going to give you the next TWO books we'll be covering for Book Club.

First is Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno.

The publication from Theatre Communications Group (including ebook versions) features the titular play as well as two other short plays called Lady Grey (in ever-lower light) and Mr. Theatre Comes Home Different. 

Plays can be difficult to read if you're not in the regular habit of doing so, but I will say that Thom Pain is a monologue, and (I think) pretty straightforward in its printed form. Like Vacation, Thom Pain was a foundation for the writing style we crafted when creating Night Vale. It's funny, grounded, surreal, and at times pretty confrontational. I adore this play, and just like Joseph's sentiments on Deb Olin Unferth, I think Will Eno is a genius at putting words and thoughts together.

So here's the schedule for discussion:

• MON, FEB 3: We'll discuss the entirety of the play, Thom Pain (based on nothing)

• MON, FEB 10: We'll discuss the other two plays Lady Grey and Mr. Theatre

The whole book, all 3 plays, is only 64 pages.

Now, let's go ahead and tell you the book after that: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

Our first two book selections were lesser-known, but deeply personal to Joseph and me. So for book number three, we thought we should pick an absolute legend of a book. I haven't read this thing in 20 years, and I'm dying to re-read it with all of you.

Here's the WHALitC discussion schedule (each week is ~50 pages of reading)

• MON, FEB 17: Chapters 1 & 2

• MON, FEB 24: Chapters 3 - 5

• MON, MAR 3: Chapters 6 - 8

• MON, MAR 10: Chapters 9 & 10

So go get your copies of Thom Pain and WHALitC, and join us when the time comes to chat about those. Hope you all are having as much fun as we are.

-jeffrey