Book Club Book Suggestions

I thought you all might find this interesting - it is a list of 10 somewhat lesser-known books that are suggested for book clubs, along with the reasons for reading them.

Check out the list here.

October is National Reading Group Month!

In honor of National Reading Group Month here are some links to check out:

• nine great group reads as chosen by the Women's National Book Association
• videos from the book club panel I moderated at the Baltimore Book Festival called "The Book Club Toolkit"
• Reading Group Guides' list of discussion questions for hundreds of different books
• Reading Group Choices' list of discussable books

This month our club is reading THE UNLIKELY DISCIPLE, by Kevin Roose. I'm looking forward to the discussion that will result from this unusual book!

Next Meeting: The Art of Racing in the Rain

Author Garth Stein has lots of fun things available to help promote his book THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN and I'm having a great time checking them all out. Go to this website to find iron-on decals for t-shirts, Enzo's song (!), and images of the book's cover in other countries. I've even been able to create a custom poster for our next meeting - I'll be emailing it shortly so watch your inboxes.

Our next meeting is Sunday, July 19 @ 3pm - hope to see many of you there!

When you haven't read the book ...

Thanks to Beth for sending me this hilarious article from THE NEW YORKER. I'm copying the text below - enjoy!

Book Club
by Ann Hodgman May 25, 2009

Discussion points for members who have not read this month’s book:

1. Studying the cover of this month’s selection may provide hints to the reasons that Margy MacDougal chose this book for your group. What does the metallic font used for the title convey—pretension, or insecurity? Although the cover art is minimal, what tensions does it suggest are lurking under the superficially glossy surface of Margy’s relationship with her husband, Eric?
   
   
2. In your opinion, is this book fiction or nonfiction? Support your view with examples taken from the jacket copy.
   
   
3. Last year, Margy was in Costa Rica when the group discussed the book she had chosen. Why did she get to pick two books this season? Why were both of them so grim? Is there a subtext related to Margy’s daughter’s deferral from Colgate? Could next month’s book maybe be more cheerful, for once?
   
   
4. Book-club members who have actually read this book have called its plot “depressing,” “disgusting,” and “too much about poor people.” Does this suggest that you, as a reader, have a moral obligation to say that you liked the book?
   
   
5. Early in the prologue, we learn that lab animals will be mistreated as the story progresses. In literature, why is it so much sadder when an animal dies than when a person does? Why does God choose us to read horrible things like this?
   
   
6. Open the book to page 47 and slide a bookmark under it. How well can you see the Borders logo through the page? Can the quality of a book’s paper be used as a guide to its “worth”? When or when not?
   
   
7. On page 2, the author refers to “supper.” In books, food is often used as a symbol. Try to think of a time when food, or a particular meal, has been important to you. Then keep it to yourself.
   
   
8. A book’s setting is crucial to establishing mood. If this book had been set in Darfur instead of in Glen Burnie, would you be more likely to have read the whole thing by now? Why or why not?
   
   
9. Is there a way that, by quickly flipping through the pages as if in search of a particular passage, you might be able to glean more of the plot in case Margy calls on you? Why not turn to the last page?
   
   
10. What is in those little sandwiches on the piano? Are peanut allergies real?
    
    
11. Will the powder room have one of those wick-diffuser things in a bottle, or a scented candle? If such items were described in the book, would they be presented as symbols of vulgarity?
    
    
12. What do you think will happen next?
    

Literary-Themed Inn Opens in Maryland!

I just read about this wonderful place, the Inn Boonsboro, that opened this week right here in Maryland. The owner is Nora Roberts, aka JD Robb, author of the "In Death" series.

What makes this place so special? Each room is named and designed after a famous literary couple who found their happy ending! Here's a list of the rooms:

• Marguerite & Percy - from The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
• Nick & Nora - from The Thin Man, by Dashiell Hammett
• Jane & Rochester - from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
• Elizabeth & Darcy - from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
• Titania and Oberon - from A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare
• Eve & Roarke - from the In Death novels, by JD Robb
• Westley & Buttercup - from The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
• and there is a Penthouse as well

You can learn more about the Inn Boonsboro at the website: www.innboonsboro.com.

Hmm, I wonder if there is any way to get our book club up there sometime ...

A bit of humor ...

Nancy sent me this today, and although I'm sure you've all seen it before, I thought it would be fun to post here. Enjoy!

One morning a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, his wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies (thinking to herself Isn't that obvious?)

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"For reading a book?" she replies.

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think .