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Experimental book subscription promoting marginalised voices marks two years
A Bristol-based book subscription service is celebrating its second anniversary with new offerings in the lead-up to Christmas.
Founded in St George, Good Book Club has spent the past two years amplifying voices often overlooked by mainstream publishers.
As an independent service, the club has become an important platform for promoting works by women, non-gender-conforming individuals, and queer authors – groups whose literature has historically been marginalised by the broader publishing industry.
The founder, Catriona “Cat” Dickie, took a calculated risk when launching this experimental book subscription service, choosing to feature only women, non-gender-conforming, and queer writers, rather than mainstream works relying on major publishing houses.
Good Book Club has become an important platform for promoting works by women, non-gender-conforming individuals, and queer authors photo: Jo Hounsome
For Cat, promoting books is more than just a business – it’s a passion. The idea for the subscription service stemmed from her own monthly book club, which she still hosts.
With a background in sales and advertising, Cat is a self-professed book fanatic. She found her metier when, along with her friend Carla Diogo, opened Two Six Four on Church Road, a store that housed both Cat’s bookshop and Carla’s women’s clothing store.
Despite strong sales in its first year, Two Six Four faced challenges with day-to-day operations, a common struggle for many independent shops. However, the closure of Two Six Four led to a more concerted approach on Good Book Club, which has flourished against the odds.
In an interview with Bristol24/7, Cat explained: “It was completely experimental. It just came from a place of, ‘There’s no book subscription out there that suits my needs.’ I thought, maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s super niche, but I’m really happy it’s paying off.”
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Good Book Club’s distinctive approach caught the attention of The Guardian, resulting in national exposure and a 73 per cent increase in sales. Cat expressed her surprise and gratitude: “Something that really surprised me was when Good Book Club was featured in The Guardian. We saw a huge uptick in subscriptions that day.”
She also praised Bristol’s progressive outlook, which “always tries to do things differently”. Despite the rise of large corporate retailers that offer lower prices, Cat has been encouraged by the continued success of independent bookstores in Bristol, such as Bookhaus and Max Minerva’s.
Since its launch in 2022, Good Book Club has grown into a trusted community for readers seeking fresh literary perspectives.
The club offers a space for engaging with stories from marginalised voices, with each monthly selection providing an opportunity to discover new and underrepresented authors.
One recent selection, The Simple Art of Killing a Woman by Brazilian author Patrícia Melo, introduced Cat to the underreported societal malady of femicide in South America.
As a bookseller, Cat believes in the latent potential of books to challenge and shape perceptions of readers that leads to an optimal intersection of radical thinking and activism.
As the curator of the book list, Cat likens her role to that of a DJ crafting a playlist: “The books should complement one another. I mix it up, sending a variety. I see it as creating a tracklist for the year.”
Good Book Club’s approach to book selection is defined by three core principles: promoting feminist and diverse literature, celebrating authors from all backgrounds, and exclusively featuring books from independent publishers.
The club carefully selects books that might not be found on mainstream “Top-10” lists but often go on to receive critical acclaim and prestigious awards.
Cat explained, “The books are always feminist. They’re often in translation, and we really work hard to curate. I try to send books that vary in setting and narrative structure.”
Subscribing to Good Book Club gives members early access to books, often months before their public release. This unique experience has become a defining feature of the service, with readers eagerly anticipating their monthly selections.
“As readers, we naturally seek to explore the stories of others,” Cat said. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to build a community of people eager to step off the beaten path and discover new perspectives.”
To celebrate its second anniversary, Good Book Club is offering a special holiday gift subscription. Available for three, six, or twelve months, it is the ideal gift for any book lover.
Each month, a carefully chosen title is delivered directly to the recipient’s door, providing a thoughtful and continuous surprise.
Cat noted, “During the holiday season, we receive a lot of gift subscription orders. It’s like playing Secret Santa, wrapping up surprise books that we know will delight our readers.”
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Cat cites the need for greater diversity in publishing. She points to a research from WordsRated.com that reveals that between 1950 and 2018, 95 per cent of American fiction books were written by white authors. While representation has improved in recent years, the industry still faces significant imbalances.
Additionally, research from womenintranslation.org highlights that less than 31 per cent of books translated into English are written by women.
Cat believes Good Book Club is helping to address these disparities by connecting readers with voices often overlooked by larger publishers. The club’s growing membership reflects the increasing demand for literature that mirrors the diversity of society.
To celebrate its second anniversary, Good Book Club is offering a special holiday gift subscription – photo: Jo Hounsome
Aina Marti, managing director of Heloise Press, an independent publisher whose works have been featured by Good Book Club, commended: “Catriona is passionate about discovering and promoting exceptional works from indie presses.
“Her dedication to elevating female authors, in particular, has had a profound impact on our visibility and reach.”
To learn more about Good Book Club, visit www.goodbookclub.co.uk
Main photo: Good Book Club
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