To help others discover the work of black women writers, Glory Edim started her bookclub Well-Read Black Girl, a safe space for honest discussions about literature and beyond.

Marta Bausells speaks to Glory in the autumn issue of Oh Comely: “There isn’t a lot of room for black women to really see themselves in a very honest and pure way,” she told us, “and when you enter the book club you know it’s a safe space. You know it’s other people that look like you and appreciate you and aren’t judging you. […] You don’t have to pander to anyone, or posture – you’re just yourself. I think “ that’s what makes it unique.”

The group has become a support system where its members can just be, without judgement or comparing themselves to anyone else. She adds: “In this group we’re setting the standard – that these are our books, our inspirations, our suffering, whatever it is – we can all read it on the page and experience it in real life, too.” 

We asked Glory to share some of her favourite Well-Read Black Girl bookclub picks: 

• What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons
• What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
• Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
• Whatever Happened to Interracial Love? by Kathleen Collins
• Swing Time by Zadie Smith
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (our #ohcobookclub pick in Oh Comely issue 36)
• The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson
• The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
• Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

Pick up a copy of our autumn issue of Oh Comely to read the full interview with Glory, or you can go to wellreadblackgirl.com to sign up for Glory’s newsletter, and follow her on Instagram @wellreadblackgirl.