Book Club · Chicago

Horror Book Club: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson

Name: Horror Book Club: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson
Start: 2026-10-21T19:30:00-05:00
Location: Unabridged Bookstore

Unabridged Bookstore

3251 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657

directions(773) 883-9119website

Coming up

Wed, Oct 21 · 7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Get a reminder before it starts

Get the app

About

Shirley Jackson's gothic masterpiece gets the deep dive it deserves. This month the Horror Book Club tackles We Have Always Lived in the Castle—a deliciously unsettling novel about isolation, dark secrets, and a family that may or may not have committed murder. Come ready to discuss the neurosis, the atmosphere, and what makes Jackson's writing so enduringly creepy. Fair warning: the books chosen for this group aren't for the faint of heart, but if you're here, you're ready.

Save this event in the Gathry app

Get reminders and never miss LGBTQ+ events near you.

More Events at Unabridged Bookstore

Showing 4 upcoming events

Book Club

Reading is Resistance Book Club: "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia E. Butler

Tuesday, October 20th, 2026

7:30 PM

The Reading is Resistance Book Club digs into Octavia E. Butler's "Parable of the Sower," a prescient sci-fi novel about survival, hyperempathy, and the birth of new faith in a fractured world. Butler's lean prose and unflinching social observations feel more relevant than ever. Come ready to discuss a book that refuses easy answers.

Book Club

Horror Book Club: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson

Thursday, October 22nd, 2026

7:30 PM

Shirley Jackson's gothic masterpiece gets the deep dive it deserves. The Horror Book Club is diving into We Have Always Lived in the Castle—a deliciously unsettling novel about a peculiar family, dark secrets, and the chaos that erupts when an unwelcome cousin arrives. Come ready to discuss the neurosis, the isolation, and the question that haunts the whole thing: what really happened? Respectful but unflinching conversation about why Jackson's work still gets under your skin.

Book Club

Queer Book Club: "Her Body and Other Parties: Stories" by Carmen Maria Machado

Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

7:30 PM

The Queer Book Club meets monthly to explore literature through a queer lens, alternating between classics of gay fiction and contemporary voices. This October, they're diving into Carmen Maria Machado's genre-bending debut—a collection of startling stories that map women's lives and desires across psychological realism, science fiction, horror, and fabulism. Come ready to discuss how Machado demolishes the boundaries between genres and what her work reveals about queer experience.

Book Club

Queer Book Club: "Her Body and Other Parties: Stories" by Carmen Maria Machado

Wednesday, October 28th, 2026

7:30 PM

The Queer Book Club digs into Carmen Maria Machado's genre-bending debut—a collection of stories that map women's lives and desires through psychological realism, science fiction, horror, and fabulism. This month's discussion explores how Machado demolishes the boundaries between genres to create narratives that are earthy, otherworldly, comic, and deadly serious. Monthly gathering for readers exploring queer experience across literary genres and eras.

More LGBTQ+ Events in Chicago

Discover more events happening around Chicago

Drag Brunch

American Horror Bottomless Drag Brunch

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

11:00 AM

Kit Kat Club

The Kit Kat Divas bring the horror-themed heat to this legendary drag brunch — think choreographed shows, fabulous costumes, and two hours of bottomless mimosas, Bellinis, sangria, and margaritas with your two-course prix fixe brunch. It's the kind of high-energy, personal-interaction-with-the-divas experience that keeps Chicago coming back for more.

Art Gallery

Affirmative Art Initiative

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

11:00 AM

LGBTQ+ Center Lake County

Saturday morning art sessions where you can create, connect, and decompress with other adults in the community. No experience needed—all supplies are provided. Just show up, make something, and enjoy the company of people who get it.

dog-friendly

Doggy Days

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

12:00 PM

The SoFo Tap

A weekly dog-friendly hangout at The SoFo Tap where pups and their people gather for easy vibes, cheap drinks, and free treats for the dogs. From noon to 3pm every Saturday, this neighborhood bar's patio fills up with a relaxed, welcoming crowd that knows the best company comes with fur and a tail. No pretense, just good drinks and genuine community.

Video Bar

Post Brunch Fun

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

1:00 PM

Sidetrack

The Saturday afternoon shift at Sidetrack — when brunch hangs on and the dance floor starts calling. Grab a drink, catch up with friends, and ease into the weekend vibe before things really heat up. It's that sweet spot between lazy brunch energy and full-on nightlife, with good music, good people, and a rooftop if you need air.

Gaming Community

Pokémon Raid Social

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

2:00 PM

Meeting House Tavern

Free monthly Pokémon GO hangout at Meeting House Tavern where trainers team up for raids, trade Pokémon, and meet fellow players. Hosted by Flops, this laid-back Saturday afternoon combines gaming, drinks, and community energy — perfect for longtime players, competitive trainers, and newcomers alike.

fetish

BearUnion Play Party

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

3:00 PM

Cell Block Chicago

BearUnion Play Party is a Saturday afternoon play party in the back bar at Cell Block Chicago, the kinky side of Boystown. Tickets are required for the backroom and can be bought online or at the door. Everyone entering must be 21+ with valid ID, and it runs 3:00 to 7:30 p.m.