Date & Time
Every 3rd Thursday | @6pm

Location
Dragonfly Book Bar
625 State St, Bristol, VA 24201
(Food & Drink Available)

Hosted by
Elena Kollin & Ricki White

CONTACT

Book Club Focus

We focus on novels written about, or authored by, women and non-binary folks hailing from the Appalachian region. Genres include Non-fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Essays, and Fantasy. We aim for each book or collection to primarily explore Appalachian stories of community, organizing, matriarchal culture and family structure.

Meeting Structure

  • Meeting begins @6pm. We will allow a few minutes of grace time before beginning the official meeting. Please arrive earlier if you plan to order food and drinks.

  • Introductions. We will provide name tags.

  • We will prepare five questions. All are welcome to chime in.

  • General discussion.

  • Closing thoughts.

  • Discuss next month’s book.

Guidelines

  • All are welcome! Please come with an open-mind and a curious spirit.

  • We value folks from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities. We ask that all those who attend meetings speak and listen respectfully.

  • Better discussions are had if you have read at least part of the book, though we are happy to have you sit in even if you DNF.

  • We have chosen books for the first few months, but we are open to suggestions for future meetings.

  • Dragonfly Book Bar has graciously opened their shop for our monthly gatherings. Please treat the staff and the space with respect.

Meet your Hosts

Elena Kollin

Artist & Creator of Appalachian Matriarchs

Elena is originally from California and has lived in Appalachia for 6 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Italian Studies & English Language Literature from UC Santa Cruz. After attending art classes at VHCC, she won the Virginia Community Colleges Visual Arts Luminary Award.

Favorite Books: Contact by Carl Sagan, Just Kids by Patti Smith, Tuesdays with Morrie‍ by Mitch Albom, ‍Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Ricki White

ESL Teacher & Budding Author

Ricki is Appalachian born & raised from Bristol, VA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Mary Baldwin University, attended Oxford University, and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Feminist Literature. She has worked for the past six years in the non-profit industry and is transitioning to teaching ESL.

Favorite Books: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy, Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib