A Game-Changing Book Club
Sep 8 2023
The sporting industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but generations of athletes and fans have worked to transform the field.One of those trailblazers is the legendary tennis player Billie Jean King, who spent six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, winning twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and finally defeating Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes.” In her memoir, King recounts how the women’s movement, the anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement helped shape her world-changing impact on the world of sports.
Celebrate King’s legacy by reading her memoir with The GIST, one of Fable’s most inspiring book clubs!
Reading books to shake up the male-dominated sports industry
The GIST is “a multimedia destination that’s made by and for sports fans who don’t fit (or maybe don’t want to fit) the traditional avid sports fan mold.” They hope to change the conversation around sports in general, providing equal coverage to women’s and men’s sports. They explore sports through many channels: a newsletter, podcast, social posts, and a book club on Fable!We caught up with The GIST team to find out more. “At The GIST, we make sports content by women for all fans,” they explained. “Specifically, those who feel left out of the traditional sports conversation.” The club has already read some great books, and they are chosen to reflect The GIST’s unique vision:"When we select titles for our book club, we pick books that represent every facet of sports fandom. We love books about women changing the game, sports-themed romance novels, biographies from LGBTQ2S+ athletes, and titles that tackle darker themes in sports."
You subscribe to The GIST’s newsletter and follow them on TikTok and Instagram.What books will you read in the book club?
The GIST club has already read various titles, choosing books for every kind of reader. “Sports should be for everyone,” The GIST’s team explained."We know there are many fans and athletes not being represented in the industry, and we want to shift the focus to them. The more stories published by diverse writers (from on and off the field), the more readers can see how they belong, and the more we can challenge the notion that sports will always be “a boys’ club.”
Recent club picks included these amazing books...One Life by Megan Rapinoe
This is a memoir from the Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup champion, revealing for the first time her life both on and off the field. Guided by her personal journey into social justice, brimming with humor, humanity, and joy, she urges all of us to ask ourselves, What will you do with your one life?Beartown by Fredrik Backman
This is a dazzling and profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true. By the lake in Beartown is an old ice rink, and in that ice rink Kevin, Amat, Benji, and the rest of the town’s junior ice hockey team are about to compete in the national semi-finals—and they have a shot at winning.Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. Nothing will stand in her way, not even the hockey team's captain, Nate Hawkins. As team captain, Nate focuses on keeping his team on the ice. This is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Despite it all, Carrie Soto is back for one epic final season.The GIST of It podcast
You can also listen to The GIST’s twice-weekly podcast about the sports world. “Our hosts (and childhood besties) Ellen Hyslop and Stephanie Rotz have open conversations about the intersection of sports, pop culture, and social issues,” explained the team. “Covering everything from major league season previews to sexism in the industry.”Here are a few podcast episodes to get you started, all recommended by the team at The GIST:Episode #289 - How do you say WTF in EspagnolEpisode #265 - Climate Change and the role of sports in a Global CrisisEpisode #251 - Exposing gender inequity in under-covered sportsEpisode #243 - Institutional failures to address abuse in sportsKeep reading on Fable!
According to the team at The GIST, club members can look forward to spicy sports romances, powerful autobiographies, and fiction picks for the rest of the year. You can also explore thousands of book lists on Fable, decoding your personal taste with our guided recommendations. It’s easy to make your own list as well!Make a great book list.
Just finished reading a book and have the urge to share your thoughts with the world? It’s time to write your review and highlight your favorite sentences! You can also import your Goodreads reviews to your Fable account!Rate and review your favorite books!
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