Books Discussions June 2026

Decorah Public Library staff are hosting five book discussions spanning literary fiction titles, history, and speculative works in June. All groups are open to the public and newcomers are encouraged to attend. Multiple copy sets are generously provided by Friends of Decorah Public Library.

Zoom links for the speculative groups are available on the library website. Anyone interested should call the library at 563-382-3717 to learn more or to reserve a book. To join any of the groups’ email distribution lists, contact ktorresdal@decorahlibrary.org

Lost Lambs

The Happy Hour Book Group will meet at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. on Wednesday June 10 at 5:15 p.m. to discuss Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. In Lost Lambs, Cash crafts a character-driven story of longing and dislocation, following individuals grappling with identity, connection, and the quiet consequences of past choices.

 

 

 

Empire’s Crossroads: A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present

The History Book Group will meet on the second floor of the library on Thursday June 18 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss Empire’s Crossroads: A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day by Carrie Gibson. This sweeping history traces the Caribbean’s complex past, exploring colonialism, cultural exchange, and the region’s enduring global significance from the age of exploration to the modern era.

 

 

 

 

 

33 Place Brugman

The Friday Book Group will meet on the second floor of the library on Friday June 19 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss 33 Place Brugman by Alice Austen. Set in Brussels, this novel interweaves the lives of neighbors in an apartment building, revealing hidden tensions, relationships, and the ripple effects of a single violent act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tusks of Extinction

The Speculative Short Fiction Group will meet via Zoom on Wednesday June 24 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler. This thought-provoking novella blends science fiction and conservation themes, imagining a near future where advanced technology raises urgent ethical questions about extinction, memory, and what it means to restore a species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural History of Dragons

The Speculative Fiction Book Group will follow at 6:45 p.m. via the same Zoom link to discuss A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. Framed as a scholarly memoir, this fantasy novel follows an unconventional woman who defies social norms to pursue the study of dragons, combining adventure, wit, and detailed world-building.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Posted: May 7, 2026