ABS Virtual Book Club

Winter 2025

The ABS is pleased to announce the return of our members-only virtual book club in Spring 2025, hosted by Carrie Tipton. The Spring 2025 book club pick is Rethinking Bach, a collection of essays edited by Dr. Bettina Varwig. The book club will meet twice this spring via Zoom: once with Dr. Varwig, a conversation that will include pre-screened questions from book club members, and once on our own to wrap up our discussion of the book. Our Zoom meeting with Dr. Varwig will be Friday March 28 at noon Central. Zoom links will be sent later this spring, along with the date and time for Meeting #2; if you are interested but have not yet signed up for the book club, email tipton@americanbachsociety.org.

There are several ways you can obtain the book:

Borrowing

  • University libraries will likely have it, can purchase it, or can get it for you on InterLibrary Loan.
  • If you don’t have university library access, check with your public library, which may partner with local universities to allow public library patrons to check out university-owned books.
  • Check your public library catalogue; if it’s not there, ask your librarian about a purchase request or getting the book on InterLibrary Loan.

    • Buying

    • Order from Oxford University Press
    • Order Barnes & Noble or Amazon
    • Order from your local independent bookstore
    • Check online used bookstores (Ebay, Abebooks)

    Fall 2024

    The ABS is pleased to announce the launch of a members-only virtual book club in Fall 2024, hosted by Carrie Tipton. Our first book club pick is David Schulenberg’s recent Bach biography for Oxford University Press, enriched by its companion website. The book club will meet twice late this fall via Zoom: once with Dr. Schulenberg, a conversation that will include pre-screened questions from book club members, and once on our own to wrap up our discussion of the book. Both meetings will be hosted/moderated by Carrie Tipton. Our first Zoom meeting, with Dr. Schulenberg, will be Friday October 25 at 1 pm Eastern. Zoom meeting links will be sent later this fall, along with the date and time for our second meeting; to get these updates and to let us know you want to participate in the book club, email tipton@americanbachsociety.org.

    There are several ways you can obtain the book if you don’t own it (it was sent as an ABS membership gift last year):

    Borrowing

    • University libraries will likely have it.
    • If you don’t have university library access, check with your public library, which may partner with local universities to allow public library patrons to check out university-owned books.
    • Check your public library catalogue; if it’s not there, ask your librarian about making a purchase request or getting the book on InterLibrary Loan from another library.

    Buying

      Order hardback from Oxford University Press (link)

      Order hardback or e-book from Barnes & Noble (link)

      Order hardback or Kindle version from Amazon (link)

      Check with your local bookseller

      Check online used booksellers (Ebay, Abebooks)

    Although not necessary for book club participation, you might consider getting a copy of Robert and Traute Marshall’s Exploring the World of J. S. Bach: A Traveler’s Guide to see images of places where Bach lived, worked, and visited while reading Schulenberg’s biography. You can use the means suggested above for obtaining this book as well.