Become a member of the most exclusive club at The Office’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch by reading these Finer Things Club books read by Pam Beesly, Oscar Martinez, and Toby Flenderson (and occasionally Jim Halpert, but never Andy Bernard).
The Office‘s Finer Things Club is considered the most exclusive club at Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. The members meet monthly in the break room to discuss books, art, and culture “in a very civilized way.” The rules, according to Pam are that: “There is no paper, no plastic, and no work talk allowed.”
Here, you’ll get the full TV-inspired book list to bask in the nostalgia of this fun storyline from Season 4, Episode 10 of The Office: “Branch Wars,” start your own Finer Things Club, and/or pair your reading with the show. Let’s get literary!
List of The Finer Things Club Books from The Office Season 4, Episode 10: “Branch Wars”
Watch a scene on YouTube:
The Finer Things Club on The Office read these four books:
- Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt: discussed at a meeting
- The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende: Toby holds it
- Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden: discussed at a meeting
- A Room with a View by E.M. Forester: discussed at a meeting
Optional: In a deleted scene from The Office season 5, episode 17, “Lecture Circuit Part 2,” Oscar and Toby discuss the book The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang.
My Reviews of The Finer Things Club Books With Quotes From The Office
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
“Angela’s Ashes. Top of the morning to it. Frankie’s prose is finer than a pot of gold, say I.”
-Jim Halpert
In the popular nonfiction book Angela’s Ashes, Irish author McCourt narrates a shocking life that spans from Depression-era Brooklyn to Limerick, Ireland. His mother, Angela, was poor since his father was an alcoholic.
Still, his father provides something invaluable: a story. His father tells of Cuchulain, who saved Ireland, and of the Angel on the Seventh Step, who brings his mother babies. Perhaps it is also a story that is responsible for Frank’s survival, amidst extreme poverty, near starvation, numerous family tragedies, and cruelty.
McCourt’s words feel so immediate and alive. The rich dialogue, which incorporates Catholic teachings, Irish colloquialisms, history, and songs, brings life to a grim story about the transcendent power of hearing another person’s story.
Pro Tip: The audiobook memoir narrated in the author’s own voice (and Irish brogue) is an especially immersive reading experience.
Related Post: Quotes from Angela’s Ashes
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Set, presumably, in Chile before World War I, the literary fiction novel The House of the Spirits narrates the epic triumphs and tragedies of three generations of the Trueba family. The patriarch, Esteban, is a volatile man pursuing political power, and his wife, Clara, has a mystical connection to the spirit world. When their daughter engages in a forbidden love affair, the result is Esteban’s granddaughter, a strong-willed girl who leads the family and her country into a revolution.
While it was a challenging read, it was not as complicated as I expected it to be at the same time. However, political context is definitely helpful for a more robust understanding of the plot, so use a digital guide as you read.
Billed as “magical realism,” this thought-provoking read feels more spiritual and fated than magical. It’s a great introduction to Allende, as it’s her debut novel.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
In Memoirs of a Geisha, Nitta Sayuri recounts her life as a geisha, beginning in 1929, in a poor fishing village, where she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a geisha house at the age of nine.
She transforms as she learns the arts of the geisha: dance and music, wearing a kimono, pouring sake to reveal only the inner wrist, and competing for men and their money.
This character-driven novel is romantic, but also very sad and suspenseful. You’re bound to get swept away and learn something new in this beloved book.
A Room With A View by E.M. Forster
I think it’s interesting how Forster uses Italy to represent sexuality and passion, and then also brought up themes of, you know, fate and coincidence. Lucy’s torn between these two things; she’s torn between passion and convention.
-Pam Beesly
In the classic short novel A Room with a View, a book set in Italy, Lucy travels to Florence with her cousin, assured they would get “a room with a view” of the River Arno. But, when they are given a room overlooking a courtyard, Mr. Emerson and his son George offer their room with a view.
This opening sequence thus begins the journey of young Lucy as she comes of age by navigating through the proprieties of society.
This classic romance novel offers lessons from the past and remains relatable in new ways today.
Related Posts: Books Set in Florence | Literary Florence
Finer Things Club Food and Book Club Ideas
If you’re pairing a Finer Things Club book club suggestion with a meeting, consider that which was seen on The Office: champagne and strawberries, tea (from Pam’s turquoise teapot, of course) and sandwiches, and art. Pam listens to The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. You can also watch Season 4, Episode 10 of The Office, titled “Branch Wars,” or the movie adaptation of the books.
What The Finer Things Club Would Read Today
These popular read-alikes are books with depth that would be perfect if you’re looking to expand your horizons beyond this reading challenge:
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For fans of: |
Read: |
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Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt |
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne: an Irish coming-of-age book of the year set against a sociopolitical backdrop |
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The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende |
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: a Nobel Prize winner involving Latin American magical realism, generational storytelling, and politics |
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Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden |
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: a National Book Award finalist that follows an Asian woman navigating societal constraints, family loyalty, and displacement |
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A Room with a View by E.M. Forester |
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan: a New York Times bestselling GMA Book Club pick that retells the story from a modern, Asian perspective |
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
So I only remember the Finer Things Club discussing “Room With a View” and “Angela’s Ashes.” How did you know about the other two books?
Take a close look at the episode – they are on there, albeit subtly!
Great thoughts. Even though I was a fan of The Office, I had never heard of the finer things club, but this was really cute. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Makes me want to re-read A Room with a View. And, I couldn’t agree more on Firefly Lane. I think that there is a lot of great content these days (Queen’s Gambit, Dickinson, Ted Lasso) and it is hard to compete. Thanks for the inspiration on this gray day in New England!
You’re welcome! I am reading A Room With a View this month myself.