Book Discussion Scheme (BDS) is partnering with Narrative Muse to offer the Narrative Muse Book Club — a chance for readers to ​enjoy a year of social reading with books that celebrate Māori, Pasifika, Asian, Rainbow and Oceania stories.

BDS are New Zealand's only nationwide book group/club specialist. They are a non-profit organisation promoting the recreational, educational and social benefits of reading. Narrative Muse is a recommendation platform with a mission to bring representation in entertainment by championing titles by or about underrepresented audiences. 

The Narrative Muse Book Club hopes to highlight diverse voices in storytelling and give people who may be new to the concept of book club a chance to try it out for a special introductory price. "By seeing themselves in the books we've highlighted, we also hope to encourage participation among groups currently underrepresented in our membership," says Renee Blackburn, BDS Promotions. "As an organisation we have established a commitment to values of diversity and community, so it's great to be partnering with Narrative Muse around a shared outcome of representation."

There are also opportunities for participants to help shape the the content of both organisations, by volunteering to review books for the BDS catalogue and/or curate books, movies and television shows for the Narrative Muse platform. In particular, BDS would like more volunteers interested in reading and reviewing sci-fi and fantasy titles so they can increase the offering of these genres in their catalogue. 

More information about the Narrative Muse website, including how to register and/or become a reviewer can be found here on the BDS website.