We like talking about books and movies and music and podcasts and all other things culture. It’s our job to find the best new stuff, appreciate (and sometimes rank) the old stuff, and just talk about the weird stuff we’re into. But that’s previously been a one-way conversation—now we want to obsess over all this stuff with Outside readers, too.

So we’re trying something new: the Outside Beyond Books Club. It’s partly an actual book club (more on that below), but it’s also a place to explore outdoor culture and media. And that means whatever you want it to mean, whether it’s a deep discourse on Hot Dog... The Movie or correcting us on the classic adventure literature we left out of our canon. We’ll also be sharing our thoughts, bringing in writers and filmmakers and artists to answer your questions, and keeping you updated on what’s new and noteworthy.

It wouldn’t be a book club without a book, and we’ve got that covered. Our first pick: the small-press but much-buzzed-about Pure Land, by Annette McGivney. It’s the true story of a brutal murder in the Grand Canyon and the author’s personal revelations as she digs into the crime (read an excerpt here). We already wrote about how much we loved it, and we want to talk about it with you. (So does McGivney, who’ll drop in for a chat in the near future.) We’ll start discussing the book in December.

If you’re curious, join the private Beyond Books Club group on Facebook. The group will be labeled “closed,” but anyone who requests to join and answers a question will be approved. And pick up a copy of Pure Land. We’ll be suggesting some related reading/watching/listening over the next few weeks.

And, of course, tell us what you’re thinking about in the meantime. “Culture” is an amorphous idea to tackle, but that’s half the fun. And by definition, it’s something that all of us contribute to, so this group needs you.