Shift Book Club by Kyle Knight

The Shift Digital Book Club has had many lives over the years! From in-person to virtual with groups in Laguna and at our HQ office location. Whether you prefer to listen to the audiobook while commuting to an in-person dealer visit or physically reading the book during some downtime throughout the day, all employees are welcomed and encouraged to participate. The club provides a platform for employees to connect monthly while working from home with colleagues they may not normally have the chance to collaborate with. The group currently has nearly 40 members including employees from all office locations and the field!

As the leader of book club, I feel motivated to not only read more often but provide additional resources for the group. These resources include personalized book recommendations based on the seasons or what might be going on during the month. It’s a fun way to stay connected between meetings. We even have a Microsoft Teams channel where members can post and share their own recommendations or share thoughts as they are reading the current book of the month.

My personal reading journey began years ago! I’ve always been interested in reading but was slow to finish books. I started to read more regularly in 2019. On a trip to Barnes & Noble, I asked my partner Shane to pick out a book for me to read. He chose Zoo by James Patterson. I finished the book in three days and realized how much I loved reading and how quickly I could finish a good book! Since then, I have collected over 200 books! (pictured below) I read all genres, but some of my favorite books are Historical Fiction & Fantasy.

The Book Club is kicking off 2022 with reading One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus for the January book of the month. Our 2021 book club lineup included The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, Verity by Colleen Hoover, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, The Maidens by Alex Michaelides, The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Allison Heller, Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney and Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Check out what some of our members had to say when asked about some of their favorite reads!

Sarah Anthony, Billing Coordinator

Favorite book you have read with the book club? The Maidens by Alex Michaelides 

First book that you remember reading? Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Favorite author? Colleen Hoover

Jordan Payne, Digital Field Consultant

Audiobook or physical book? Both but I listen to audiobooks more while traveling for my role!

Favorite book you have read with the book club? The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Allison Heller

Favorite book of all time? Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Jazmine Edmond, Customer Support Specialist

Favorite genre? Romance or suspense! 

First book that you remember reading? Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr.

Favorite author? Talia Hibbert 

Mikaila Bisson, QA Assistant

Audiobook or physical book? Both have their merits, but I love the feel and smell of a good physical book

Favorite book of all time? Little Women. Whenever I read and reread this book there are always new themes that are relevant to me. It sees and empowers women through every stage of life, which in turn empowers me 

First book that you remember reading? The Secret Garden with my mom and my twin sister when I was about 5 or 6. It was the first book I remember thinking that anything was possible, and it kickstarted my reading journey in the best way. I still reread it sometimes if I’m in a reading rut, just to remind myself of the magic that books can bring me

Ashley Krenzer, Digital Strategy Associate 

Favorite book? The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Kline. It’s AMAZING!

Favorite genre? I’m a sucker for a good romance novel

Kindle or physical book? Kindle 

Nicquelle Denney, Digital Field Consultant

Favorite book that you have read with book club? The Midnight Library by Matt Haig! Although I loved the discussion we had about Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Favorite book of all time? The Harry Potter series

Favorite genre? Thrillers or fantasy

Kyle's bookcase!