Book Discussions: January 2026

Decorah Public Library staff are hosting five book discussions this month. All groups are open to the public and newcomers are encouraged to attend. Anyone interested should call the library at 563-382-3717 to learn more or to reserve a copy of the book. To join any of the groups’ email distribution lists, contact ktorresdal@decorahlibrary.org. Multiple copy sets are generously provided by Friends of Decorah Public Library.

For more information, contact Tricia Gunderson (Friday Book Group) or Kristin Torresdal (Happy Hour, History, and Speculative Fiction Book Groups) at 563-382-3717.

 

My Friends

The Happy Hour Book Group will meet at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. on Wednesday, January 14 at 5:15 p.m. to discuss My Friends by Fredrik Backman. From the bestselling author of Anxious People comes a heartfelt story of friendship, art, and the lives we change without ever knowing it. A mysterious painting sends a young artist on a journey into a decades-old summer—and a bond so powerful it still shapes the future. 

 

 

 

 

 

We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland 

The History Book Group will meet on the second floor of the library on Thursday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss the second half of We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland by Fintan O’Toole. The book chronicles Ireland’s dramatic transformation from the late 1950s to today, highlighting milestones such as the collapse of Catholic authority, the violence of the Troubles, and the rise of American cultural and economic influence, offering a vivid portrait of one of the most striking national evolutions in recent history.  

 

 

 

 

The Names 

The Friday Book Group will meet on the second floor of the library on Friday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss The Names by Florence Knapp. A powerful and imaginative novel that asks whether a single choice can alter the course of a life. Through three alternate futures shaped by a mother’s decision, The Names explores family, survival, and the long shadow of abuse with remarkable depth and compassion. 

 

 

 

 

 

How long ’til black future month?

The Speculative Short Fiction Group will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, January 28 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the first five stories in N.K. Jemisin’s How Long ‘til Black Future Month. A bold and thought-provoking collection of short fiction exploring destruction, rebirth, and redemption. With sharp insight and imagination, N. K. Jemisin examines power, identity, and modern society through stories that linger long after the final page. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

The Speculative Fiction Book Group will follow at approximately 6:30 p.m. via the same Zoom link to discuss A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall. A charming fantasy set in an underwater world of magical scholarship and quiet romance. Told through letters and fragments, this tender story explores curiosity, connection, and the enduring power of love—even in the depths of loss. 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted: December 19, 2025

Categories: Book Discussions, Book Lists, News & Announcements

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