Bridge Book Club presents ‘Black Bottom Saints’ on Feb. 2

Bridge Book Club has returned  and this time we’re having a bookish happy hour with our friends and partners at BridgeDetroit.

The vote was close but Bridge members surveyed chose “Black Bottom Saints” by Alice Randall as January’s book club pick. We’re thrilled that Randall, a native Detroiter, has agreed to join our discussion on Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2. To be invited to participate in this discussion, please complete this form and we’ll email you a link to join.

The novel “Black Bottom Saints” plays tribute to Detroit’s legendary Black Bottom neighborhood, a mecca for blues, jazz, sports and politics in the 1930s to ‘50s.

The narrator,  Joseph “Ziggy” Johnson, a Michigan Chronicle gossip columnist,  is just one of  the more than  50 saints — artists, doctors, sports figures, activists and behind-the-scenes movers and shakers — in the novel.

Randall’s  novel has plenty of cocktail recipes to help the more difficult stories go down a bit easier.  Sign up for our event and get some recipes to make your own.

We’re looking forward to discussing the book with you.

Related:

• Miss Bridge Michigan's 'Arc of Justice' book club chat? Here's the video
• Missed ‘Fannie Davis’ book club discussion? Watch the video

How to get the book

For Bridge Club members, we will provide an e-version of the selected book as a membership benefit. If you’re not already a member, join today for as little as $1 and support our nonprofit newsroom. Members will be sent a link via email from Membership Director Amber DeLind to redeem their free book.

For those who are not Bridge Club members, would like to borrow the book, or would prefer a physical copy, you have other options. You can order “Black Bottom Saints” directly from the publisher, or download it from a Michigan library system to an e-reader or smartphone via Overdrive or Libby. The book may also be available for order from local bookstores, some of whom are offering curbside pickup. Call your local bookstore to inquire.

How to take part in the online discussion

To participate throughout the month in our weekly discussions, please join our closed Facebook group by clicking here. Bridge’s social media team will approve your membership in this closed group. 

Each week in January, we will post several discussion questions about a section of chapters and group members will be invited to interact with our team and with one another.

Participation in these weekly discussions is not required to participate in the Zoom discussion.