The Rainbow Readers Book Group is a welcoming, inclusive book group focused on LGBTQ+ stories and themes across all genres, including fiction, nonfiction, memoir, history, and poetry.
This group is open to LGBTQ+ community members, allies, and anyone interested in engaging thoughtfully with LGBTQ+ literature. Our goal is to create a respectful space for shared reading and conversation that values lived experience, diverse perspectives, and meaningful dialogue.
Book selections will primarily highlight works by LGBTQ+ authors, while also occasionally including titles that thoughtfully explore LGBTQ+ lives and experiences from other perspectives. Discussions are guided by care, respect, and a commitment to centering LGBTQ+ voices in the conversation.
📅 Meets: 4th Wednesday of every month
💻 Where: Zoom
📧 To join: Email cgrove@rockportlibrary.org to sign up
Everyone is welcome. All participants are asked to approach the group with openness, respect, and consideration for the LGBTQ+ community
To join the group mailing list and stay updated on upcoming reads and meetings, email cgrove@rockportlibrary.org.
January Selection: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
For January, the Rainbow Readers Book Group will read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, a widely acclaimed novel that reimagines the Greek epic through a deeply human and emotionally resonant love story between Achilles and Patroclus.
This book was chosen for its thoughtful, respectful portrayal of a same-sex relationship and its exploration of love, identity, loyalty, and grief—core themes that continue to resonate within LGBTQ+ literature and community conversations. While the author does not identify as LGBTQ+, the novel has been embraced by many Queer readers for its care, sensitivity, and meaningful engagement with Queer themes.
As the Rainbow Readers Book Group moves forward, selections will primarily highlight works by LGBTQ+ authors, while also occasionally including titles like this one that have had a significant impact on Queer readers and cultural conversations. The goal is to foster inclusive, respectful discussion that centers LGBTQ+ experiences and perspectives.
Copies are available at the main desk.
February Selection: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
For February, the Rainbow Readers Book Group will read Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, an award-winning novel that centers queer identity, community, and self-discovery within a rich historical context.
This book was chosen because it is written by an LGBTQ+ author, foregrounds Queer lived experience, and offers layered themes around belonging, visibility, and chosen community—making it especially well-suited for thoughtful group discussion.
The novel’s setting in 1950s San Francisco also provides meaningful historical grounding, highlighting how LGBTQ+ communities have long existed, resisted, and supported one another, even in times of exclusion.
As the Rainbow Readers Book Group continues, selections will primarily highlight LGBTQ+ authors and voices, while remaining open to a range of genres and perspectives. Community input is welcome as the group evolves.
Books we have read:
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