Local Reads Book Club

The Devil’s Castle delves into the forgotten history of eugenics and links it to present-day psychiatry to explain how we as a culture continue to get mind care so wrong

In The Devil’s Castle, Susanne Paola Antonetta weaves a haunting narrative that confronts the darkest chapters of psychiatric history while offering a bold vision for the future of mental health care. In 1939, the eugenics movement growing throughout the West did its worst in Nazi Germany. Through the Aktion T4 euthanasia program, five asylums and an abandoned jail were transformed into gas chambers. Tens of thousands of lives—predominantly adults with neuropsychiatric conditions—were extinguished in those structures, ultimately paving the way for the horrors of the Holocaust.

Interlacing her experiences of psychosis with the complex history of psychiatry, Antonetta sheds light on the intersections of madness and societal perceptions of mental difference. She brings to life the stories of Paul Schreber and Dorothea Buck, two historical figures who act as models for mind care and acceptance.

This gripping exploration traverses the spectrum of neurodiversity, from the devastating consequences of dehumanization to the transformative potential of understanding and acceptance. With The Devil’s Castle, Antonetta not only unearths the failures of our past, but also envisions a more compassionate, enlightened approach to consciousness and mental health care. This is a story of tragedy, resilience, and hope—a rallying cry for change that dares to challenge the limits of how we define and support the human mind. 

Discussion and Author Q&A with Author Susanne Paola Antonetta

Thursday, December 3rd at 6pm at The Battery Park Book Exchange

 Starting over is always easier among strangers. For Ford Carson, the process meant leaving behind the waves of South Florida, in order to forge a new life as a visual artist in the mountains of North Carolina. At the peak of his reinvention, he meets Grace Burnett-a young, wealthy Texas transplant in the midst of her own transformation. A mutual infatuation develops. But when Grace's estranged husband arrives complications ensue. Matters only worsen when Ford's own estranged son announces plans to visit for his eighteenth birthday. Thomas Calder's debut novel, THE WIND UNDER THE DOOR, explores the lasting impact of broken bonds and the unanticipated ways the past haunts those on the run. 

Discussion and Author Q&A with Author Thomas Calder

Thursday, February 4th at 6pm at The Battery Park Book Exchange

 From USA Today bestselling author Mazey Eddings comes a dazzling sapphic romance about fame, friendship, and falling for the one person you were never meant to.

Lost. Reckless. In love.

Cubby Clark is the heart of her band—loyal, earnest, and determined to make music that matters. But just as they’re about to break out, Connor, her on-again, off-again boyfriend walks away . . . and rockets to solo fame with a hit song tearing her down.

Left with a fractured band, a publicly adored and toxic ex, and relentless writer’s block, Cubby is barely holding it together.

The only thing keeping her steady are her friends and bandmates Darcy and Harry. Especially Darcy—bright, magnetic, and more guarded than she lets on. But, when a seemingly romantic photo of Cubby and Harry goes viral the same night Cubby and Darcy hook-up, the inseparable pair begin to fracture.

Thrust into a whirlwind tour, Cubby and Darcy are forced into close quarters. Now Cubby has one summer to decide what she’s willing to risk. Walking away would be easier. But staying might mean everything. 

Discussion and Author Q&A with Author Mazey Eddings

Thursday, March 4th at 6pm at The Battery Park Book Exchange