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2026: Closely Reading book club
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By
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Haley Larsen
Welcome to another year of Closely Reading! You can shop my full list of 2026 reading recommendations here: bookshop.org/lists/2026-closely-reading-book-club-reads
Sections
3
 
The Books
 
For deeper reading
 
For annotating

The Books

The four books we're reading — different editions are available, just make sure you don't get anything “abridged.”

 
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Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Wuthering Heights
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McTeague by Frank Norris
McTeague: A Story of San Francisco
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The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath
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The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
The House of Mirth: A Norton Critical Edition
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For deeper reading

Take your reading experience even deeper with supplementary texts, scholarly anthologies, and companion works.

 
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Get to know the Brontë sisters through an academic lens.
The Cambridge Companion to the Brontes
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Understanding Gothic fiction
The Cambridge Companion to Gothic Fiction
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Take your reading of Norris and Wharton even deeper…
The Cambridge Companion to American Realism and Naturalism: From Howells to London
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Critical context for Steinbeck's Dust Bowl novel
Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath
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Learn what scholars have to say about Edith Wharton
The Cambridge Companion to Edith Wharton
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Everything you need for a deep, self-led study on the Gothic.
The Handbook to Gothic Literature | Paperback
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A pedagogical guide to teaching Victorian literature
Teaching Victorian Literature in the Twenty-First Century
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A biography of Emily Brontë
This Dark Night: Emily Bronte, A Life | Hardcover
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I didn't know Emily wrote poetry. Looking into this immediately!
The Complete Poems by Emily Brontë, Paperback
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Gothic, but make it modern. Continue your understanding of the genre.
The Cambridge Companion to the Modern Gothic | Paperback
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For annotating

Getting good at writing in your books is an art. Here are the supplies I am always recommending! 

 
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Use it as a bookmark + to underline your favorite scenes!
6-inch rulers. Plastic. set of 5!
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Make your own tabs with colored washi!
set of 39 washi tapes, gorgeous colors
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My favorite page tabs!
Transparent sticky tabs you can easily write on
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This is the best design! I go through rolls in my reading journal like crazy.
Burgundy, bookish washi tape
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“closely reading” mug to match your books!
closely reading mug (11 oz) coffee mug
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My favorite notebooks of all time!
Leuchtturm Sage Dotted Page Hardcover Medium Notebook
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Such a gorgeous color for a reading log!
Leuchtturm1917 Powder Medium Plain Journal
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We love a hat for reading days at the cafe!
Brontë Sad Girls Society Hat | Embroidered Corduroy Cap
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A pen loop is a perfect touch to your reading journal, planner, or Filofax!
Leuchtturm Pen loop, sage
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This is SO CUTE.
BLUE CORNFLOWERS Corning Corelle Inspired Washi Tape | 70's inspired design
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I love these vintage hues for more subtle highlighting.
Mildliner, in vintage hues
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I designed this cute cup that proudly proclaims: “Professional book annotator!"
16-ounce coffee mug with straw
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Book-themed washi tape for marking important pages
Book Themed Washi Tape
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Lover bookish tote
Romeo and Juliet Heart Tote Bag
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A capital-R Romantic sticker for your reading journal!
Whatever Our Souls Are Made Of | Wuthering Heights Quote Sticker
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stay cozy while reading…
Wuthering Heights Pillow Cover
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Stay so warm and cozy while reading!
Ultra Gloss Plum Plush Blanket
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