If it is first time, then prepare a short introduction for yourself. Most likely you will be asked to say something about yourself - 2-3 sentences, including who your favorite author is.

Second - you are not obligated to actively participate. First time in a group, it is always good to just observe and feel the vibe.

What happens in a book club - The organizer gives people a list of books to pick from, the group votes on it, and the designated book is chosen. Then you are supposed to read it and come for the next meeting where it will be discussed. Different book clubs may have variations of this procedure with differences.

The classics are not always boring or less representational.

I read Carmilla, a lesbian vampire story (which is older than Dracula) and it was short novella with a pretty quick read. A lot of gothic books are like this.

I also like the mystery genre, and loved reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. This is considered a proto-mystery book older than sherlock holmes, and has very good rep of women and anti-colonial narrative, and also having an easy accessible prose style.

Song of Achiles is a modern take on the classical Greek story, and this one has lgbt+ protagonists. I have other criticisms of the book, but if you like intense romantic slow-burn fanfiction, you can go for this and also, in the process, learn about the classical greek story.

Yeah, this is my problem with him. His magic doesn't have the mystical quality to it. It feels super-logical and gamified to the point of just coming across as "technology" and not "magic".

Love his writing-related lectures on youtube though. Super useful advice on plotting, characterizations etc.

Not the same person but here's my take.

Self-help books are good if they address a very specific problem you are personally struggling with.

Like as an introvert, Susan Cain's "Quiet" helped me a lot. Or I had organizing problems at my job, and Marie Kondo's "Joy at Work" helped me a lot.

But if it is a random generic book like - 10 Habits of Rich People, or How to hack your mind and max your success, etc., they are either scams, or, they are a retelling of already well-known advice and not useful.

> Patroclus is such a flat character

Agree. Patroclus felt very much like a "self-insert / reader-insert" character very similar to Bella from Twilight, where she keeps going on and on about how she is plain, simple and clumsy, and how she doesn't get why someone as handsome as Edward is into her. And I got the same vibe between Patroclus and Achilies.

Props to the book for exploring the romantic nature of the relationship which other modern retellings avoided / simply said they were "cousins / best friends" etc. So good for lgbt+ representation.

My overall experience of the book is positive. Loved the sea-goddess mother giving fierce MIL vibes. Loved the realism of war, loved the vivid description of palaces, islands and the seas, etc.

But the main character-dynamic between Achilles and Patrocles, where one person is clearly more important, and the other person's whole existence is just being a devoted supporter and having little value beyond that, personally, just did not jibe with me. The relationship felt highly unequal.

I would have preferred if Patrocles was more empowered and heroic in his own way.