🔥 The Bonfire Story Club

The 5-Hour Book Club - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

A haunting read, a world you won't forget.

🌊 What if the strangest place you've ever been made more sense than the one you left behind?

Read the novel on your own then join us for The 5-Hour Book Club — the Inland Empire's short-form book club for sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fans — as we discuss Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, a haunting, beautiful story about memory, identity, and a man who lives alone in an infinite, tide-swept House of endless halls and fallen statues.

Perfect for first-time book club attendees:
✨ A puzzle-box story that rewards close reading and great conversation
✨ Thought-provoking without feeling like homework
✨ A strange, gentle, unforgettable world unlike anything else you've read
✨ Haven't finished it? Come anyway — we'd still love to have you

📍 We'll be meeting at Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe so grab a bite or drink and join us as we dive in!

Read less. Discover more.
📖 ~245 pages | ~5 hours

==============================
📖 What is The 5-Hour Book Club?
Read the best sci-fi, fantasy, horror & graphic novels — in five hours or less.

You want to read great books, but don't have the time. We fixed that.

A short-form book club for the Inland Empire's readers - every two weeks, we pick one must-read, acclaimed book or graphic novel — the kind of stories that win or are nominated for Hugos, Nebulas, and Eisners — and make sure it's short enough to finish over a weekend, a few evenings, or even during a few lunch breaks.

Here's the deal:
⏱️ 5 hours or less to read (usually way less)
🙅 Didn't finish the book? Come anyway.
🎭 We rotate the vibe — hopeful sci-fi, gothic horror, mythic fantasy, and gorgeous graphic novels
📚 One book every two weeks — alternating prose and graphic novels.

It's The 5-Hour Book Club: the book club for the discerning (and busy) reader.

Have a book you've been meaning to start? A book you've been slowly working through? Or maybe you're stuck in a reading slump?

Join us for a Silent Reading meetup at a local coffee shop! This is a relaxed opportunity to set aside some dedicated time to read, catch up on a book, or finally start the one that's been sitting on your shelf.

Reading can help us reduce stress, improve focus and concentration, support mental well-being, and give us a chance to step away from the constant distractions of everyday life. Sometimes, all we need is a little accountability and a comfortable space to make time for it.

How it works
☕ Grab your favorite coffee or drink
📚 Bring whatever you're currently reading—or start something new
🤫 Spend most of the meetup in quiet reading time
💬 We'll have a short time at the beginning/end to check in on our reading goals, share recommendations, and talk about what we're reading

No assigned book. No pressure to finish a certain number of pages. Just bring a book and enjoy some uninterrupted reading time with others.

Come late, leave early, or stay for the whole time—whatever works for you! The goal is simply to make time for reading and hopefully leave feeling a little more motivated to keep going. 💛

Bring your book, grab a drink, and let's get some reading done together! 📖✨

📖 The 5-Hour Book Club: Everything Dead and Dying written by Tate Brombal & illustrated by Jacob Phillips

What if the end of the world isn't the end of the story?

Read the graphic novel on your own, then join us as we explore a story that blends horror, emotional drama, and striking artwork into a deeply human story about what happens when everything familiar is falling apart.

Never read a graphic novel as part of a book club? Great, come join us.

Perfect for fans of:
✨ Thought-provoking horror
✨ Atmospheric graphic novels
✨ Stories about grief, survival, and human connection

📍 We'll be meeting at Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe so grab a bite or drink and join us as we dive in!

Read Less. Discover More.

======================
📖 What is The 5-Hour Book Club?
Read the best sci-fi, fantasy, horror & graphic novels — in five hours or less.

You want to read great books, but don't have the time. We fixed that.

Here's the deal:
⏱️ 5 hours or less to read (usually way less)
🙅 Didn't finish the book? Come anyway.
🎭 We rotate the vibe — hopeful sci-fi, gothic horror, mythic fantasy, and gorgeous graphic novels
📚 One book every two weeks — alternating prose and graphic novels.

It's The 5-Hour Book Club: the book club for the discerning (and busy) reader.