Tidewater Women’s Book Club Favorites: Reflecting on Our Past Selections

Since its launch in January 2021, the Tidewater Women’s Book Club has brought together hundreds of readers across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Gloucester County to explore literature that resonates with women’s experiences and aspirations. Over the past three years, our monthly selections have spanned memoir, fiction, journalism, and poetry—curated to spark meaningful discussion, community connection, and personal growth. As we prepare our 2024 reading list, it’s time to take stock of our past favorites: which books inspired the most passionate discussions, drove the highest engagement on www.tidewaterwomen.com, and left lasting impressions on our members. This 2,000+-word retrospective analyzes reader feedback surveys, digital engagement metrics, and community testimonials to surface the books that truly defined our collective journey—and offers lessons for crafting an even richer Book Club experience going forward.

Our Book Club’s Evolution: From Modest Beginnings to a Thriving Community

When we announced the Tidewater Women’s Book Club in January 2021, our goal was simple: create a virtual space where women in Hampton Roads could gather—online and in person—to discuss thought-provoking titles. With just 50 founding members, our first meeting centered on Roxane Gay’s Hunger, a powerful memoir that prompted raw conversations about self-image, resilience, and the politics of embodiment. Over the next 36 months, membership swelled to over 1,100 registered readers, with average monthly attendance of 85 women across Zoom and pit-stop meetups at local libraries and cafés.

We published 36 monthly discussion guides and recaps on TidewaterWomen.com, each accompanied by author interviews, thematic essays, and curated reading lists. Our coverage drove remarkable traffic: the Book Club section averaged 4,200 pageviews per month—twice the site average—and the “January 2022 Recap: Becoming by Michelle Obama” post alone drew 7,500 unique visitors and 650 comments.

Data Sources and Methodology

To determine our Book Club favorites, we analyzed three primary data streams:

• Reader Survey Responses: A December 2023 survey of 430 Book Club members collected ratings (1–5 stars) for each of the 36 titles, plus qualitative feedback on discussion quality and book selection criteria.
• Digital Engagement Metrics: Google Analytics data for Book Club recaps and guides, including pageviews, average time on page, scroll-depth rates, and social shares from January 2021 through November 2023.
• Community Testimonials: In-meeting polls and post-discussion reflections capturing anecdotal insights on which titles members found most transformative.

By triangulating quantitative ratings, engagement figures, and narrative feedback, we identified the top five titles that defined our community’s journey.

Top Five Book Club Favorites

Below are the five titles that achieved the highest composite scores—combining average survey rating (≥4.7/5), pageviews (≥5,000 per recap), and social shares (≥200 per post)—along with key insights on why they resonated so deeply.

1. Hunger by Roxane Gay (January 2021)

Survey Rating: 4.9/5
Recap Pageviews: 6,200
Social Shares: 310

Our inaugural selection set the tone: Roxane Gay’s unflinching memoir about body, trauma, and survival spoke to many members’ lived experiences. In surveys, 78% of respondents cited the book’s raw emotional honesty as most impactful, and 65% reported feeling empowered to share personal stories in subsequent meetings. The January 2021 discussion—hosted on Zoom and livestreamed to 120 viewers—ranked highest for emotional engagement, with 92% of participants rating the discussion as “life-changing.”

2. Becoming by Michelle Obama (January 2022)

Survey Rating: 4.8/5
Recap Pageviews: 7,500
Social Shares: 420

Michelle Obama’s memoir of personal and political transformation resonated in our post-election milieu. Members praised her narrative arc—growing from community organizer to First Lady—as a roadmap for leadership and resilience. The January 2022 guide included exclusive interview excerpts and a virtual “fireside chat” with a local community organizer who connected her own story to Obama’s journey. In feedback, 82% of members said they felt “more motivated” to pursue public service or civic engagement after reading.

3. Educated by Tara Westover (July 2021)

Survey Rating: 4.7/5
Recap Pageviews: 5,400
Social Shares: 260

Tara Westover’s memoir of self-education amid an isolated upbringing provoked vigorous debate about family loyalty, institutional learning, and the power of knowledge. The July 2021 discussion saw the highest average time on page (6:12 minutes) and the deepest scroll-depth (82%). Members split on Westover’s choices—46% empathized with her estrangement, while 54% questioned the price of education—leading to one of our most spirited and nuanced conversations. Follow-up polls showed 70% of members pursued new learning opportunities (online courses, book clubs) inspired by the memoir.

4. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (February 2023)

Survey Rating: 4.75/5
Recap Pageviews: 5,100
Social Shares: 230

Coates’s letter to his son on race and identity catalyzed one of our most cross-cutting discussions, drawing readers from diverse backgrounds to confront systemic injustice. Although controversially intense, the February 2023 session had the highest live-attendance rate (95% of registrants) and prompted several members to join local racial justice initiatives. In qualitative feedback, 88% described the book as “eye-opening” and “necessary reading” for understanding contemporary America.

5. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich (September 2022)

Survey Rating: 4.85/5
Recap Pageviews: 5,300
Social Shares: 245

Erdrich’s historical novel, based on her grandfather’s leadership in fighting Native dispossession, drew praise for its lyrical prose and historical insight. Our September 2022 guide incorporated voices from local Lumbee and Nansemond tribal representatives, enriching discussions with indigenous perspectives. This session saw 220 comments on the recap post and the formation of a special interest reading subgroup for Native American literature, which now meets quarterly.

Additional Honorable Mentions

Several other titles earned strong support, narrowly missing our top-five threshold but nonetheless forging deep connections:

• Circe by Madeline Miller (March 2021): A mythic retelling that prompted creative writing workshops inspired by classical literature.
• Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (May 2022): A novel about immigrant aspirations that led to partnerships with local immigrant-support organizations.
• Women Talking by Miriam Toews (December 2022): A novel about women’s collective agency that catalyzed memoir-writing breakout groups.
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (June 2023): A blend of indigenous wisdom and botany that inspired community plant-walks and native-plant garden projects.

Community Feedback and Impact Metrics

Beyond the books themselves, our analysis highlights the importance of structured facilitation, multimedia enrichment, and community partnerships:

• Structured Discussion Guides: Sessions with detailed chapter questions and thematic frameworks scored 20% higher in participant satisfaction than those with open-ended discussion only.
• Author Q&A Events: Live Zoom appearances by Geeta Kothari (translator of Circe) and local poet Camilla Best boosted attendance and engagement, with 85% of attendees reporting deeper literary insight.
• Local Partnerships: Collaborations with Norfolk Public Library and Chesapeake Arts Commission expanded meet-up locations, increasing in-person attendance by 30%.
• Digital Engagement: Book Club recap series averaged 4,200 pageviews/month, a 15% uplift compared to other site series; social shares under #TWBookClub reached 1,350 over three years.
• New Community Initiatives: Inspired by Erdrich and Coates, members launched a monthly “Voices for Justice” discussion group and a quarterly “Creative Memoir Lab.”

Lessons Learned for Future Selections

Our retrospective yields several key lessons for crafting a Book Club that continues to thrive in 2024 and beyond:

• Diverse Genres and Voices: Balance memoir, fiction, poetry, and history to sustain interest and introduce fresh perspectives.
• Member-Generated Suggestions: Solicit poll votes for next year’s potential titles—our May 2023 voting round increased member investment by 40%.
• Multimedia Enrichment: Embed podcasts, video excerpts, and author interviews to cater to varied learning styles and deepen understanding.
• Community Action Tie-Ins: Pair readings with civic or creative projects (e.g., community garden for Kimmerer, oral history collection for Erdrich) to translate discussion into tangible impact.
• Flexible Formats: Offer both in-person sessions and hybrid digital access; our data shows 70% of members value the option to attend remotely when schedules conflict.
• Micro-Reading Groups: Form thematic subgroups—such as “Memoir Circle” or “Poetry Workshop”—to foster deeper engagement among smaller cohorts.
• Author Collaborations: Prioritize at least two live author Q&A sessions per year, as these events consistently yield the highest satisfaction scores (4.9/5).

Looking Ahead: Our 2024 Reading List Preview

Based on survey input and thematic aspirations, we’re excited to announce a sneak peek of our tentative 2024 titles:

1. The Invisible Kingdom by Meghan O’Rourke—an exploration of chronic illness and belonging.
2. Hell of a Book by Jason Mott—a metafictional road novel tackling race and storytelling.
3. Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong—cultural criticism and memoir reflecting on Asian American identity.
4. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu—a satirical look at representation and cultural tropes.
5. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler—a novel blending family drama with ethical questions about science.
6. Turning by Yaa Gyasi—a sweeping multigenerational family saga in rural Ghana and the American South.

Each title invites discussion of identity, resilience, and social change—core themes that unite our community. We’ll open voting in December 2023 to finalize the list and publish detailed guides by January 2024.

Conclusion: Sustaining a Vibrant Literary Community

The Tidewater Women’s Book Club has grown into more than a reading group—it’s a catalyst for conversation, connection, and community action. By reflecting on our past favorites and the metrics that illuminated their impact, we gain clarity on how to curate selections and experiences that resonate deeply. As we embrace new titles and formats in 2024, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive, dynamic space where women in Tidewater can discover stories that challenge, inspire, and unite. If you haven’t yet joined us, visit www.tidewaterwomen.com/bookclub to register, access past recaps, and help choose our next reads. Here’s to many more pages turned and conversations sparked in the year ahead.