Looking for August book club ideas? Here are three month's themes to get you started. Whether you’re wrapping up summer with a beach read or exploring equality and wellness, there’s something here for everyone.
End summer with nostalgic reads that take you back to favorite vacation spots and shared memories.
Celebrate Women’s Equality Day with books by women authors who inspire and empower through their stories and struggles.
Expand your cultural horizons with books from diverse voices that reflect global experiences and traditions.
As summer comes to a close, the warm days and carefree adventures start to fade away, and fall begins to crisp up. This in-between time is just what you need to look back on the fun and memories of summer.
Books set on beaches, summer camps, or vacation spots will evoke nostalgia and take readers back to their own summer memories. This is the last hurrah of summer.
Books set in summer idylls will take readers to familiar and favorite places, which is what reading is all about. Imagine discussing a book that captures the magic of summer camp, the excitement of a beach adventure, or the peace of a mountain retreat. These stories will entertain you and give you a chance to share your own summer stories and memories.
Read these summer stories with your book club and think about your own adventures.
How do these stories relate to you? What do they make you feel? This theme is a chance to commiserate over shared memories and celebrate summer as it slips away.
August is a month of transition. Summer’s warmth starts to fade, and new routines begin to take shape. It’s also a perfect time to pick up a book that matches the mood of the season.
Whether you’re reflecting on the summer, thinking about the start of school, or celebrating powerful women’s voices, this reading challenge will guide you through some great book choices. Let’s break down the themes and explore what each one has to offer.
| Challenge | Task | Book Suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Read a Book Set in Summer | Choose a book that brings the feeling of summer to life. It could be about a beach, a summer romance, or simply those warm, lazy days. |
"The Summer Book" by Tove Jansson "Evvie Drake Starts Over" by Linda Holmes |
| Explore Academic Life | Pick a book that takes place in the world of academia. These stories often highlight the challenges and quirks of campus life. |
"Dear Committee Members" by Julie Schumacher "Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren |
| Celebrate Women Authors | Select a book by a woman author that focuses on gender equality or the experiences of women. These stories can be powerful and thought-provoking. |
"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver "The Power" by Naomi Alderman - |
| Discover Diverse Voices | Choose a book that introduces you to cultures and experiences different from your own. These stories will expand your understanding of the world. |
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini |
| Focus on Wellness | Engage with a book that encourages self-care and personal growth. This theme aligns with August’s National Wellness Month. |
"Finish" by Jon Acuff "The Art of Happiness" by Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler |
This reading challenge is designed to be simple and enjoyable. Here’s how you can make the most of it:
Pick a Theme: Start by selecting a theme that catches your interest. Each one is tied to the unique aspects of August, offering a meaningful reading experience.
Choose Your Book: After picking a theme, select one of the suggested books. Each recommendation is carefully chosen to match the spirit of the theme and to offer engaging stories.
Reflect as You Read: As you read, think about how the book connects to the theme. Consider what the story is saying about the world and how it relates to your own experiences.
Discuss and Share: Once you’ve finished the book, discuss it with your book club or reflect on it by yourself. Ask questions like: What did the book teach you? How did it make you feel? What new ideas did it introduce to you?
August is a time for both reflection and new beginnings. Use the table as your roadmap to make the most of this month’s reading. Enjoy the journey, share your thoughts, and let these stories enrich your August.
August is back-to-school time, with all the excitement and challenges that come with it. Whether you’re looking back on your own school days or navigating academia with kids, this theme has plenty of great reads. Books set in academic settings often explore the complexities of campus life, student and teacher struggles, and triumphs.
A good choice is ‘Dear Committee Members’ by Julie Schumacher, a humorous take on academia through a professor’s recommendation letters. For a more personal look, ‘Lab Girl’ by Hope Jahren is a memoir that explores the academic journey and personal and professional struggles. These will generate great discussions about the academic world and get you thinking about your own education.
Get the practical side of academia with ‘The Professor Is In’ by Karen Kelsky, a guide to the academic job market. This theme combines great stories with practical advice on academia. Whether you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner, there’s something for everyone in these academic adventures.
Women’s Equality Day is August 26th, so it’s the perfect time to celebrate the achievements of women authors and characters. This theme features books that show women overcoming societal obstacles and achieving personal breakthroughs. Another compelling read is a story where a character's father's death triggers significant life changes and feelings of resentment, adding depth to the narrative. A chance to read diverse stories of women’s experiences from different cultures and backgrounds.
One to watch is Barbara Kingsolver’s ‘Demon Copperhead,’ which won the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023. This book will get under your skin and explore poverty and addiction through the eyes of its strong female person protagonist and three women. These stories will entertain, inspire, and empower you and get you thinking about the importance of women’s voices in literature.
Read these impactful stories and think about their relevance. How do these stories relate to your life or the lives of women you know? What can we learn from the characters’ journeys? Celebrating Women’s Equality Day through books is a powerful way to acknowledge women’s contributions and strength.
Celebrate International Friendship Day by reading books about the beauty and complexity of friendships. These stories will explore the adventures, challenges and memories shared among friends, the enduring nature of these relationships. It’s a theme that applies to everyone as friendships are a big part of our lives.
Books about friendship often look at the evolving nature of these relationships, mirroring the changes and growth in our own lives. Whether it’s childhood friends, college buddies or lifelong friends, these love stories are a rich tapestry of human connection. They’ll explore the power of real friendship and the impact of friendships on our journey.
Share your own stories of friendship inspired by the books. How have friendships changed? What have you and your friends overcome and achieved together? This theme has great and thought-provoking reads and will help you appreciate the friends in your life and the human spirit.
August is National Wellness Month, so it’s time to focus on overall wellness and physical and mental health. This theme is an opportunity to read this month’s book which is all about self-care and personal development. From gratitude to mindfulness, there are many ways to boost your well-being through books.
Read self-help books like ‘Finish’ by Jon Acuff which has practical tips on overcoming procrastination and achieving goals. Books about disconnecting from technology and being physically active will also boost mental clarity and overall health, nurturing the human soul. These books will give you actionable ideas and more to try in your daily life.
Talk about the wellness practices mentioned in the books and share your own experiences. What has worked for you to manage stress and well-being? This theme has great reads and a supportive space for personal development and well-being.
Historical fiction is a genre that takes readers to different eras and different narratives. It’s perfect for book clubs that love to get into stories based on real historical events. Characters in historical fiction are often shaped by the events of their time so it’s a great backdrop for discussion.
Books will entertain and educate and give you insights into the challenges and triumphs of the past. You’ll be able to draw parallels between the characters’ lives and modern society and how historical narratives are still relevant today. This theme will take book clubs to different time periods and cultures and help them understand the history and its impact on the present.
Get lost in these historical stories and think about how the past affects our world today. What can we learn from the characters’ experiences? How do these stories relate to today’s issues? Historical fiction is a great way to connect with history and get a new perspective on the present.
Looking for the perfect August read? Check out the History and Vintage Military History and Fiction sections here at Reading Vintage. These categories have a wealth of stories that will bring the past to life and provide plenty of discussion and reflection material for your book club.
For those with a sense of adventure, travel books will take you to new places and new cultures. This theme is perfect for book clubs that want to explore adventures and global travels through literature. Being in a travel book club will make you appreciate different lifestyles and understand the world better.
Check out memoirs like ‘The Ride of Her Life’ by Elizabeth Letts, the inspiring story of Annie Wilkins who rode her horse across America at 63. Other great reads are ‘Lands of Lost Borders’ by Kate Harris and ‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed, which are epic journeys and personal transformations. These books will entertain and inspire you to go on your own adventure, and for more ideas, consider exploring additional travel memoirs and guides.
Share your travel experiences and dreams inspired by these books. How do the stories relate to your wanderlust? What new places and cultures have you discovered through literature? This theme is a great way to travel from the comfort of your reading armchair.
Family relationships are complicated and multi-layered, so they are a great theme for book club discussions. Books about family dynamics explore the threads that bind us and the joys and challenges of family ties. This theme will give you a chance to think about your own family experiences and relationships, whether through fiction or non-fiction.
Check out multi-generational family sagas like ‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee, which follows a Korean immigrant family across four generations. Another great read is ‘The Dutch House’ by Ann Patchett, which looks at how one real estate decision impacts a family over five decades. These books are a family history and legacy in themselves and will provide plenty of discussion material.
Share family stories and think about the themes in these books. How do the characters’ experiences relate to your own family dynamics? What can we learn from the stories? This theme has great reads and will help you understand family life better.
Reading banned books is a great way to explore controversial and challenging topics. Often removed from schools and libraries because of their content, these books will make you think and engage with different ideas. Perfect for book clubs that love a good debate.
Choose banned books that have caused a lot of debate and controversy. These books will entertain and make you think about censorship, freedom of expression, and the importance of diverse voices in literature. Discussing these books will help book club members understand the issues and have a more open-minded reading experience.
Think about why these books were banned and the effect of censorship on society. How do the themes relate to current issues? What are the pros and cons of banning books? This theme is a great way to engage with literature and the power of storytelling.
August is the perfect time to celebrate the beauty and importance of nature. Books about connection to the environment and conservation will inspire you to appreciate and protect the natural world. Great for book clubs that love the outdoors and want to get more environmentally aware.
Check out ‘Leave Only Footprints’ by Conor Knighton, which follows his journey through America’s national parks, humor, nature, and conservation. Another great read is ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ by Mark Adams, which retraces an Alaskan expedition and looks at regional environmental changes. These books are about individuals who are trying to make a positive impact on the planet and will inspire you to do the same.
Share the environmental themes in these books and share your own nature experiences. How do the stories make you feel connected to and protective of the environment? What can we do to contribute to conservation? This theme has great reads and will help you appreciate the natural world.
August is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Being in nature can have a profound impact on the mind and body, a great escape from the chaos of everyday life. Whether hiking through forests, birdwatching in meadows or just sitting in a local park for a peaceful afternoon, being in nature will refresh your soul and your wellbeing.
Being in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and clarify the mind. The fresh air and physical activity will invigorate your body, and the peaceful surroundings will calm your mind. Plus, being in nature will help you appreciate the environment, be more mindful, and feel more responsible for the natural world.
Reading Vintage has a great collection of nature books and birding guides for those who want to get more connected to nature. These vintage books are about our feathered friends and the cultural implications of extinction. With beautiful images and informative text, you can explore the wild natural world from your own home.
You’ll find pocket nature guides full of info to help you identify birds, fish, insects, plants and trees. Many of these guides are in great vintage condition, some even have the original owner’s notes which can be extra helpful. Each book is lovingly crafted by top experts in the field so you’ll have a rich and informative read.
Whether you’re a keen birdwatcher or just love being in nature, the Nature Book Collection and Birding Guide Collections at Reading Vintage are a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration. Dive into these great reads and they’ll guide your next outdoor adventure and deepen your connection to the natural world and appreciation for its beauty and complexity.
August is the birth month of several famous authors, so it’s a great theme for a monthly book club to explore their works. Highlighting authors with August birthdays will give you an excuse to celebrate their contribution to literature and discover new voices. This theme will give you the opportunity to get into the literary style and themes of these notable authors.
Try reading this month's book by authors like Isabel Allende, who has an August birthday, and get into her storytelling and characters. James Baldwin, another August author, has powerful stories on race and identity that still resonate with us today. Celebrating these authors' birthdays will lead to great discussions about their impact on literature and society.
Get into the works of these August-born authors and think about their literary legacy. How do their stories relate to current issues? What themes and styles make their writing different? This theme celebrates these authors and adds more diverse and powerful stories to your reading experience.
One of the best ways to enjoy a story is to see it on the big screen. This theme encourages book clubs to read a book that’s been made into a movie and then watch the film together. It’s fun to compare the two and discuss the pros and cons.
Make a list of books with recent or upcoming movie adaptations and try to finish the book before the movie is released. Consider classics like Pride and Prejudice or The Fault in Our Stars or newer titles.
Discuss how well the movie captures the book, what was changed, and how those changes affected the story. This is a fun and different way to engage with literature and film.
Reading award winning books is a great way to ensure great and thought provoking literature for your book club. These books have been recognized for their literary merit and often deal with complex themes so will lead to great discussions. This theme will give you a rich and satisfying read.
Try recent prize winners like Hernan Diaz’s ‘Trust’, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2023 for its complex narrative and exploration of power and complicity. Or ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver, which was praised for its powerful portrayal of poverty and addiction. These books are beautifully written and will make you think deeply about many issues.
Get into the themes and literary styles of these award-winning books. How do they deal with current issues? What makes their stories unique? This theme will give you a great way to get into literature that’s been recognized for its impact and craftsmanship.
Reading literature from different cultures is a great way to broaden your book club’s horizon. This theme will help you get into global perspectives by reading stories from various cultural backgrounds. It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and learn from the richness of human experience.
Try reading books about different cultures' traditions, struggles, and triumphs. These could be novels like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, which is about the Nigerian diaspora, or Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, which gives you a glimpse into Afghan culture. These stories will be engaging and will make you empathize with and appreciate other ways of living.
Get into the cultural insights from these readings. How do these stories help you understand other cultures? What are the similarities and differences? This theme will add to the reading experience by celebrating the many voices in our world.
Books about adventure and exploration will take you on thrilling journeys and into new worlds. This theme is great for book clubs who want to escape the ordinary and go on a literary adventure. These stories often feature characters who challenge themselves and discover new things about life and the world around them.
Try ‘Into the Wild’ by Jon Krakauer, which will make you want to find freedom through adventure, or ‘The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost’, which are humorous and heartwarming stories of spontaneous travel. Or ‘A Field Guide to Getting Lost’ by Rebecca Solnit, which explains the deeper meaning of travel and getting lost.
Think about your own desire for adventure and exploration. How do these stories make you want to step out of your comfort zone? What do the characters’ journeys teach you? This theme will give you great reads and encourage you to take on new challenges and experiences.
As we finish up our August book club themes, it’s clear each one offers great discussion opportunities. From celebrating the end of summer to powerful female voices and epic journeys, these themes have diverse stories that speak to our lives and dreams.
Get your book club into these themes and get into the world of literature. Whether you’re reading historical fiction, celebrating friendships, or reading controversial books, there’s something for everyone. Let these themes make your book club discover new authors, share personal stories, and appreciate the art of storytelling.
a. Themed book club meetings will enrich your reading experience and spark great conversations. Get into different genres and topics and level up your club!
a. Doing wellness in your book club is all about choosing books that are about self-care and personal growth. Discuss mindfulness and gratitude and suggest physical activities that relate to the theme of your reads!
a. Celebrating Women’s Equality Day requires powerful stories like ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver which is about women facing the world. Get into these stories and get inspired by their journeys.
a. To make your book club discussions more hands on, have members share personal stories related to the theme and ask open ended questions. Watch movie adaptations or do wellness tips from the books to shake things up.
a. Reading banned books in your book club will make you think critically and get exposed to different points of view. Take on the challenge and get deeper!
Author Bio: Pam of Reading Vintage
Pam is the owner and curator of Reading Vintage, an online bookstore specializing in rare and classic books. She scours Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region for timeless finds, sharing her expertise on book collecting and care through her blog.
When she’s not hunting for books, Pam enjoys nature with her Labrador Retriever and inspires others to love vintage literature.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
