Make 2021 one for the books 📚
If reading more is the resolution you want to cross off the list this year, you're in the right place to start (or keep going strong).
Welcome, welcome 👋 I’m so glad you’re joining in the mission to read (at least) 12 books this year.
Whether you’re a seasoned reader or a modern-day human being juggling chores, meetings that could’ve been emails, and an impending sense of doom (courtesy of the pandemic); surely you have found yourself longing for the solace of a well-written verse to escape reality, or a motivating word that will take you a step closer to success, (on average, CEOs read 60 books per year).
Say no more, because now you’ll get book recommendations, reviews, event info, curated collections for every mood DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX to make sure you never run out of material to read.
12 BOOKS CLUB brings the inspiration, you just lay back and enjoy the ride. And when I say enjoy, I MEAN enjoy. Did you know that reading fiction is more effective at reducing stress than listening to music, sipping tea, and taking a walk? In fact, stress levels are reduced by 68% after reading. And don’t get me started about swapping your screens for a book before bed… so long, insomnia. If you need more reasons to join in, make sure you follow @12booksclub on IG.
A little about me. My name is Vanessa, and getting lost in the landscapes of a good novel has always been #1 in my list of favorite things (followed closely by floppy-eared dogs). I did my undergrad in publishing, and since then, I have collaborated with a handful of magazines writing about all things culture — you can check out some book reviews here and here (they’re in Spanish, because we’re a multicultural community!). I also led the English Language Bookclub in Milan, the pride and joy of my Italian experience.
“I love the solitude of reading. I love the deep dive into someone else's story, the delicious ache of a last page.”
Naomi Shihab Nye
I don’t intend to do this alone (it’s called 12 BOOKS CLUB for a reason). So, if you have a recommendation, know of a great local author, or want to get the conversation going on a cool literary subject; don’t hesitate to drop a line anytime.
Make sure you check out the $100 USD giveaway below and start 2021 with a brand new, delicious, crisp stack of books. And lastly, share this newsletter with your friends and loved ones so we can create a global community of readers!
Books that went copyright-free in 2021 and why you should care
On January 1, copyrighted works from the year 1925 entered the US public domain. And we’re pretty lucky because it just happens — thanks to its modern airs and upheaval after WWI — that particular year has been declared ‘The greatest year for books ever’, with the publication of novels such as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, Ernest Hemingway’s first work In Our Time, and Franz Kafka’s The Trial (in the original German).
Let’s consider ourselves double-lucky because the same happened with works of artists that died in 1950 and were protected by EU and other international laws. Making other masterpieces, such as those created by George Bernard Shaw (known for the play Pygmalion which was later adapted as the successful musical titled My Fair Lady) and last but not-even-close-to-least George Orwell with his novels 1984 and Animal Farm. Other great works: La casa in collina by Cesare Pavese and poems by Nelly Sachs.
Now to the juicy bits… why should you care? Much of the inspiration for modern art comes from taking a spin at the classics. And that’s why having free access to masterpieces opens a door for diverse interpretations and adaptations, especially for communities that couldn’t afford to pay millions for the rights before. Think 1984 but set in modern-day Africa where so many dictators maim dozens of countries; or Pygmalion but make it colonial Colombia… and those thoughts are just top of mind.
Bottom line, the sky is the limit. So make one of these books your first for 2021 and get those creative juices flowing.
4 literary events to check out in (what’s left of) January
HAY Festival with the participation of stellar authors
January 22th to 31th - Free with online registration
In the 2021 edition, you’ll be able to deep dive into conversations about the makings of contemporary literature with world-class authors such as Emmanuel Carrère, Isabel Allende, Marjane Satrapi, Paul Auster, and Ken Follett. Register for the talks here and enjoy a literary feast that has been described as “the Woodstock of the mind”. Did we mention they’re all FREE?
Since 2006, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, has been home to one of the most prestigious cultural festivals in the western hemisphere. Originally from the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, it began in 1988 as a meeting where friends shared their love for literature and the arts in general
Africa Writes Exeter Book Club series
Tuesday 26 January at 16:00 (GMT) - Free via Crowdcast
Join critically acclaimed author Maaza Mengiste in discussing subjects such as war, female power, and history while dissecting her second novel The Shadow King. Register here to attend.
Launched through Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature Programme, the January Africa Writes Exeter Book Club series is taking place in partnership with Saseni!, Authors.Cafe, Jalada Africa, Festival of Ideas, Libraries Unlimited, and the University of Exeter.
Other African authors, such as Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi have taken part in the series.
Costa Book Awards and the Costa Book Of The Year
Tuesday 26th January at 19:00 (GMT) - Free via Youtube
Fancy a front-row seat in a literary awards ceremony? Now is your chance! Since 1971, the Costa Book Awards have celebrated the most enjoyable books of the year by writers resident in the UK and Ireland. In 2021, the Costa Book Of The Year award ceremony is going virtual. Reserve your front row seat here.
Winners in the other categories:
First Novel: Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud
Novel: The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story by Monique Roffey
Biography: The Louder I Will Sing by Lee Lawrence
Poetry: The Historians by Eavan Boland
Children’s Book: Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant
Delve readers seminars winter 2021
January 26th to March 25th - $240 USD per event (reduced tuition available)
Looking for a book club experience that will help you explore multiple genres and get up close and personal with the works of authors such as Octavia Butler and Ursula K. Leguin? These seminars might be for you!
As their website states, “the Delve Readers Seminars cultivate a community around the shared experience of reading”. In weekly meetings, participants gather to share opinions and in-depth conversations. In the upcoming winter session, some of the topics you’ll talk about will be dystopian and utopian literature, while exploring diverse authors and genres. You can check out the program here.
Start 2021 with a brand new stack of books 📚
Enter our first giveaway for a chance to win $100 USD worth of books in 3 short steps:
1. Subscribe to the newsletter.
2. Follow us! @12booksclub on Instagram.
3. Like the Giveaway post on IG and leave a comment mentioning 2 book-loving friends 👯 (the more mentions, the higher the chances to win).
The fine print
Ends Wednesday, February 3rd at midnight EST. Check out our stories on the 4th for the winner💥 . US/LATAM/EU only (Hopefully soon we’ll expand 🌎🌍🌏 ). Only those who completed all the above steps will enter the giveaway. The prize will be given in the form of a gift card redeemable in selected book stores based on the winner’s location. The total prize is $100 USD (or equivalent in local currencies). Extra expenses -such as shipping- won’t be covered by 12 BOOKS CLUB or selected book store.
Bonus: A 💣 tweet that made our day
In the meantime, tell your friends about 12 BOOKS CLUB and help them stay on track with their reading goals for 2021!
And also, drop a comment below and let us know what you are reading this month (I just finished The Great Gatsby).