Citizens & Sovereigns
Join Citizens & Sovereigns this month as we read When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. In this powerful memoir, Le Ly Hayslip talks about her childhood in Vietnam during the war and how she went from being in conflict and having to leave her home to being able to come back and make peace with the situation. It's a really personal story about war, survival, and searching for peace, showing the human cost of war.
Versed Fox
This May, Versed Fox will explore the poetry of Wallace Stevens. Considered one of the most important 20th-century poets, Stevens is renowned for his vivid imagination and philosophical approach to poetry. He explored how we shape the world through language. Join us for a relaxed, thoughtful discussion of his work and ideas.
What the Fox?
Join What the Fox?! for a discussion of If We Were Villains, M. L. Rio’s dark, theatrical novel set in an elite Shakespearean conservatory where ambition blurs into obsession and performance slips into reality.
As rivalries intensify and roles take on a life of their own, nothing is as it seems. It is a haunting, exploration of identity, illusion, and the strange ways we inhabit our roles, both onstage and off.
Old Fox Bibliophiles
Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for a discussion of The Spoiled Heart, Sunjeev Sahota’s powerful novel of love, loss, and loyalty within a working-class community. As one man’s past and political ambitions collide, long-held beliefs and buried secrets begin to unravel. A timely exploration of identity, community, and the consequences of what we leave unsaid.
SHE
Join SHE for a discussion of Women Without Men, Shahrnush Parsipur’s subversive novel that was once banned for its portrayal of female freedom. Blending magic, myth, and modern Iranian history, the novel follows five women whose paths converge in a lush garden outside Tehran. Women Without Men explores themes of autonomy, solidarity, and the possibilities of life beyond societal constraints.
What the Fox?!
Join What the Fox?! for a discussion of Darkwater, W.E.B. Du Bois's bold, genre-defying work blending essays, poetry, prayers, and speculative fiction. Du Bois moves between forms and ideas as he explores race, justice, and the possibility of a more humane and collective future. Darkwater is as radical as it is unexpected. It challenges conventions and invites readers into a powerful, multifaceted vision of social change.
Citizens & Sovereigns
Join Citizens & Sovereigns for a discussion of Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum, Antonia Hylton's powerful and deeply researched account of one of the last segregated asylums in the United States. Blending personal narrative with archival research, Hylton shines a light on the experiences of Black patients and families that have long been overlooked. Both illuminating and heartbreaking, Madness examines the intersection of race, mental health and systemic inequality, and asks the enduring question of who is seen, heard and cared for.
Versed Fox
For our April gathering, Versed Fox welcomes poet Erin O’Luanaigh, who will read from her debut book, Avail. The event will be followed by an open mic. Erin is a former jazz singer who earned an MFA in Poetry from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Yale Review, AGNI, The Southern Review, and more. She is currently a Steffensen Cannon Fellow at the University of Utah. Join us for an evening of poetry, listening, and sharing.
Versed Fox
In July, Versed Fox will be reading the works of Emily Dickinson. A unique voice in American poetry, Dickinson is renowned for her brief yet powerful poems that delve into themes such as death, nature, love, and the inner life with wit and intensity. Her work is both intimate and expansive, inviting readers to experience moments of quiet reflection and startling insight.
Versed Fox
Join Versed Fox in August as we read the works of Czesław Miłosz. A Nobel Prize–winning poet, Miłosz is known for his profound reflections on history, morality, and the human condition. His work grapples with war, exile, and memory while searching for meaning and beauty in a fractured world.
Versed Fox
In September, Versed Fox will be reading works by Omar Khayyám. Khayyam is best known for The Rubáiyát, in which his verses blend philosophy, skepticism, and a celebration of life’s fleeting pleasures. His poetry is both contemplative and lyrical, inviting readers to reflect on time, fate, and the mysteries of existence.
Versed Fox
For our October meeting, Versed Fox will be reading John Milton. Considered a towering figure of English literature, Milton is best known for Paradise Lost, an epic poem that explores themes of rebellion, free will, and the nature of good and evil. His rich, powerful verse continues to challenge and inspire readers centuries later.
Versed Fox
Join us for December’s Versed Fox gathering as we share our favorite poems with one another. Bring a poem you love or one you’ve written. We’ll spend the evening and end the year celebrating the words that mean something to us.
SHE
Join SHE for a discussion of Bluets, Maggie Nelson’s lyrical meditation on love, loss, and the color blue. Through the lens of personal experience, Nelson explores desire, suffering, and the limits of vision, offering a powerful reflection on the inner life of a woman navigating the complexities of the world she inhabits. A modern classic of the lyric essay, Bluets invites reflection on the beauty and melancholy of everyday life.
Author Event: Dr. John P. Cordle
Join Old Fox Books for a special signing with retired Navy Captain and author Dr. John P. Cordle. Drawing on over 30 years of military service and a career shaped by leadership, Cordle brings a thoughtful and candid perspective to personal and professional growth. Dr. Cordle will be signing copies of his book Letters to Myself, a collection of reflections and lessons drawn from a lifetime of experience. Both practical and deeply personal, the book offers insight, encouragement, and guidance for readers navigating their own paths.
Old Fox Bibliophiles
Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for a discussion of Reunion, Fred Uhlman’s haunting novella about friendship and its unraveling in pre-war Germany. Set in 1932, it follows the bond between two young men as the rise of Nazism quietly reshapes their world. A powerful reflection on loyalty, identity, and loss.
Citizens & Sovereigns
This month, Citizens & Sovereigns is exploring Language City by Ross Perlin. In his book, Perlin explores New York as the most linguistically diverse place on Earth. He follows speakers of endangered languages who are working to preserve their mother tongues. Join us as we discuss language, identity, and the communities fighting to preserve these voices.
Versed Fox
This April, Versed Fox features Grace Cavalieri, an American poet and playwright who is the longtime host of the Library of Congress radio program The Poet and the Poem. She is also the tenth Poet Laureate of Maryland. Grace will read poems from her collection, What I Would Do for Love: Poems in the Voice of Mary Wollstonecraft. She will then present select scenes from the play with readers. Join us for an engaging evening of poetry, performance, and conversation.
What the Fox?
Join What the Fox? for the April reading of Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Other Stories by Karen Russell. This imaginative, haunting collection explores transforming bodies, communities on the brink of revolt, childhood cruelty, and enduring love. It takes readers from a Japanese silk factory to a sunlit lemon grove, where two vampires confront hunger, devotion, and time itself.
SHE
Join SHE for a discussion of Claire Keegan’s So Late in the Day, a striking collection of three short stories that quietly reveal the complex relationships between men and women. These stories span Keegan's career and offer a rich opportunity to discuss relationships, power, and the subtle forces that influence how we treat one another.
Old Fox Bibliophiles
Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for our March reading of Holy Boy by Lee Heejoo, translated by Joheun Lee. The story follows four women who become consumed by Yosep, a young K-pop idol known as “the boy.” What begins as fandom spirals into obsession, captivity, and a chilling battle for possession in this psychological horror novel that probes desire, power, and the perilous cost of love.
Old Fox Bibliophiles (Rescheduled)
In a plot twist worthy of a good book, this week’s book club has been moved to next Wednesday. Same story, new date—we’ll see you then!
Versed Fox
For our March meeting, Versed Fox will be reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A key voice of the Romantic Movement, Coleridge is known for his imaginative, dreamlike poems and love of the strange and supernatural. His work invites readers into worlds that are eerie, emotional, and unforgettable. Join us for a thoughtful and cozy discussion.
Citizens & Sovereigns
Citizens & Sovereigns will be reading Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin. In this reimagining of The Aeneid, Le Guin gives voice to Lavinia as she navigates prophecy, war, and the founding myths of Rome. Set in half-wild ancient Italy, the novel explores power, fate, and how stories shape empires. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of myth, history, and which voices are remembered.
What the Fox?
Join What the Fox? as we explore Ray Nayler’s near-future thriller, The Mountain in the Sea. Follow marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen as she studies a newly discovered species of octopus that may have its own language and culture. This gripping exploration of consciousness, communication, and humanity’s impact on the natural world collides with corporate intrigue and ethical dilemmas, as well as the world’s first android.
Author Event: Patricia Henley
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 1. Author Patricia Henley will stop by Old Fox Books to meet readers and sign copies of her new book. Set in Appalachia, Apple & Palm is a collection of interrelated stories that explore memory, desire, and the subtle ways lives change. Join us to chat about books, say hello, and pick up a signed copy. We hope to see you there!
SHE
This month SHE will be reading Elita, a literary Nordic noir novel set in the Pacific Northwest in the winter of 1951. The novel follows a scholar who becomes entangled in the mystery of a silent, feral girl found near a secluded prison island. As she uncovers secrets that challenge her notions of freedom, identity, and societal expectations, she is forced to confront her own preconceptions. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of this suspenseful novel.
Old Fox Bibliophiles
The Old Fox Bibliophiles will be reading Apple & Palm by Patricia Henley. Set in the Appalachian town of Whistle Pig, this collection of linked stories explores aging, memory, desire, and the subtle ways lives change, even in places that seem frozen in time. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of this richly observed, deeply human book.
Versed Fox
Versed Fox meets this February to read the works of Pablo Neruda. Neruda is known for his passionate and vivid poetry. He writes about love, longing, nature, and politics in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. Join us for an engaging conversation about one of the most beloved 20th-century poets.
Citizens & Sovereigns
Citizens & Sovereigns will be reading Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Told through the fierce and unsettling voice of an unnamed narrator who has withdrawn from society, the novel challenges ideas of alienation, social reform, and human freedom. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of this provocative and enduring work.
What the Fox?
January came and went. We’ll see you in March instead of February—thanks for rolling with it!
SHE
Join SHE in January as we discuss Factory Girls, Michelle Gallen's sharp, funny, and emotionally powerful coming-of-age novel set in 1990s Northern Ireland. The story follows Maeve Murray, a quick-witted teenager determined to escape her small town during the Troubles. First, though, she must survive her summer job at a local shirt factory, where rising sectarian tensions, suspicious activity, and the demands of adulthood collide. Full of humor, grit, and heart, Gallen’s novel explores how young women support one another, push against the limits placed on them, and forge a path forward, even in turbulent times.
SHE (Rescheduled)
With snow in the forecast and everyone stocking up on essentials, we're rescheduling this week's book club to next Thursday. We apologize for the change, but we hope it gives everyone time to stay cozy and safe. We'll see you then!
Old Fox Bibliophiles
We’re taking a little winter break while we start the year on the right page. We’ll be back in February—see you then!
Versed Fox
Versed Fox meets this January to read the works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, one of the most well-known poets of the Victorian era. Tennyson is known for his rich language, emotional depth, and enduring poems that explore love, loss, faith, and the passage of time. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of poetry that has echoed for generations.
Citizens & Sovereigns
Join Citizens & Sovereigns this month as we read Athol Fugard’s Master Harold … and the Boys. First produced in 1982, this modern classic explores themes of injustice, racism, friendship, and forgiveness with unflinching honesty. Its themes still resonate today, prompting reflection and discussion long after the final page is turned.
Closed for Annual Inventory
Old Fox Books will be closed Monday, January 5 through Thursday, January 8 so our team can tackle annual inventory and get all our shelves in order. Back to regular hours on Friday.
Special Hours
Old Fox Books will close early at 2 PM this Wednesday so our team can head home to ring in the New Year, turn a few pages, and toast to fresh beginnings.
Wishing you a peaceful and joyful New Year. We’ll be back tomorrow!
Closed for Christmas
Merry Christmas! We’ll be back on Friday, December 26th for more stories and holiday cheer. Until then, stay cozy and keep reading. See you soon, book lovers.
Special Hours ~ Christmas Eve
Old Fox Books will close early at 2 PM this Wednesday so our team can head home to deck the halls, wrap a few pages—er, presents—and begin the Christmas cheer.
Wishing you a very merry and happy Christmas. We’ll be back on December 26th!
WTF? & Old Fox Bibliophiles
WTF and Old Fox Bibliophiles have teamed up to bring you a wonderfully eerie holiday read: The Twelve Even Stranger Days of Christmas by Syd Moore. As the nights grow darker, dive into thirteen tales filled with odd happenings, lurking spirits, and festive strangeness. Expect a mix of spooky, quirky, and delightful stories. It's perfect for readers who like their holidays with a supernatural twist.