Maryland Hall Monthly Book Club (November Edition)

Maryland Hall’s November Book Club invites readers to discuss Lydia Kiesling’s *The Golden State*, a debut novel about motherhood, isolation, cultural and class divisions, and the struggle to find stability in a fractured world. The club is hosted by author Kate Myers and welcomes book lovers interested in thoughtful conversation and community.

The novel follows Daphne, a young mother who leaves San Francisco with her toddler, Honey, for a mobile home in the California high desert. Her Turkish husband cannot return to the United States because of a processing error, leaving Daphne to cope largely on her own. Over ten anxious, lonely days, she drinks too much, wanders the town, and forms uneasy connections with Cindy, a neighbor involved in a secessionist movement, and Alice, an elderly woman nearing the end of her life. As these relationships lead to a dangerous confrontation, Daphne is forced to examine the gap between her personal story and the deeply divided reality around her. The book explores the worry, monotony, and powerful love of motherhood alongside attempts to bridge cultural and generational differences.

When: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Showtime: 6:00 PM

Venue: Maryland Hall

Location: Park Books Collective Cafe, 1st Floor

Book: *The Golden State* by Lydia Kiesling

Host: Author Kate Myers

Tickets: Free

Format: Monthly book-club discussion

Note: The page does not specify a run time, age guidance, accessibility information, or registration requirements.