The Armchair Travelers Book Group meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. at the Walteria Library ~ 3815 W. 242nd St. Torrance, CA 90505 ~ 310-375-8418

The Storied Life of A.J. Filkry by Gabrielle Zevin
Wednesday, October 8,  2025, at 11:00 a.m.

A.J. Fikry, a grieving and disillusioned bookstore owner on Alice Island, has isolated himself from the world after the death of his wife and the theft of his rare Poe collection. His bookstore is failing, and even books no longer bring him joy. But everything changes when a mysterious package arrives, offering him an unexpected chance to rebuild his life. As A.J. reconnects with his community—especially the persistent sales rep Amelia—he begins to rediscover love, purpose, and the power of stories. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a heartwarming novel about transformation, connection, and the redemptive magic of books.

There, There by Tommy Orange
Wednesday, November 12,  2025, at 11:00 a.m.

This powerful novel follows twelve Native American characters, all headed to the Big Oakland Powwow, unknowingly bound by shared histories and connections. Central figures include Jacquie Red Feather, a woman striving for redemption and reconnection with her family, and Dene Oxendene, who is healing from personal loss while documenting Native stories. Orvil Red Feather, just fourteen, is preparing to dance in public for the first time, seeking identity and tradition. The novel explores the lives of urban Native Americans as they navigate generational trauma, cultural dislocation, resilience, and spiritual legacy. With its multi-voiced narrative, There, There offers a moving, contemporary portrayal of Indigenous experience in America.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse O. Sutanto
Wednesday, December 10,  2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing…Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective? Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet). But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer. Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.