The Banister Book Group meets at the Library Annex at 18 Common St. (next to the library) on the last Wednesday of every month, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Each month, copies of the chosen title are available for pickup at the library.
New members always welcome!
October
The Lioness of Boston
by Emily Franklin
Discussion: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
A deeply evocative novel of the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a daring visionary who created an inimitable legacy in American art and transformed the city of Boston itself. The Lioness of Boston is a portrait of what society expected a woman’s life to be, shattered by a courageous soul who rebelled and was determined to live on her own terms.
"An engaging portrait of a bold yet vulnerable woman....A perennial tale of a woman fighting for her place in a man's world." -- Kirkus
November
The Phoenix Crown
by Kate Quinn
Discussion: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
A thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles.
"Quinn and Chang have teamed up to write a powerful and surprising triumph of historical fiction. Lushly detailed, richly imagined, and utterly satisfying, The Phoenix Crown will entrance readers." -- Booklist