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In today's post, regular contributor Heather Johnson (Storie delle Sorelle Book Club Blog) shares her book club's experience with another interesting book.  She makes the point that whether you like the book or not, some books just lend themselves to book club discussions.  Lots to talk about and analyze and respond to and I have to admit, the premise for this one

In today's guest post, author Jeane Westin talks about the relationship between Queen Elizabeith I and the Earl of Leicester and why she felt it had to be written about.  The idea that our communication has become so casual, so electronic, so instant and so impersonal makes this story even more compelling to me.

In today's guest post, Amy Bourret, author of MOTHERS AND OTHER LIARS talks about writing from the perspective of someone who is not you.  Is it valid?  Is it okay to do so?  Of course it is.  I say that from the perspective of a 70 year old retired steel worker living in a senior center in Florida.  But seriously - I'm with you Amy!  If the book is well written and makes you think what difference does it make that the writer has had a different life experience?  Some of the most amazing books

Rarely is a human being solely a hero or a villian. No matter how they are characterized in history, most are human and therefore complex. In today's guest post, author Sara Poole talks about her new book POISON and it's more in depth look at one of the most powerful and nefarious families of the Renaissance period.   If your book club loves historical fiction, I suspect there will be much to chat about with this one!

Lynn Shepherd, debut author and today's guest blogger talks about Austen, Christie and how they inspired her new book MURDER AT MANSFIELD PARK.  This is one of those books that certainly stands on it's own for book club, but would also be great to do either right after Austen's MANSFIELD PARK or even both the same month if you're group is game.  Yup... another one that I'm putting on my must read list. 

I had lunch yesterday with an author friend of mine who had his first novel published this year. He's still trying to figure things out in publishing world, so he was asking some questions about how and why things are the way they are. One of the things he wanted to know was why he should participate in signings and events at independents when they often didn't seem to draw as big a crowd or sell as many books as the chains.

When a book wins an award and has that lovely seal added to it's cover, do you automatically add it to your list?  Well how 'bout the nominees?  They've got to be pretty good too, right?  Well if you'll consider the nominees, you could have your book club reading list for the next year all set as the judges for the 2010 Man Booker Prize for fiction announced their longlist earlier this week.

Lauren Belfer, today's guest blogger and author of A FIERCE RADIANCE, is an amazing storyteller.  Just by talking about how she researched her book and sharing some of the real tidbits she uncovered she has completely drawn me in.   A FIERCE RADIANCE will definitley be on my "must read" list.

When we think of book clubs or reading groups, we automatically think books and then maybe wine or delicious snacks, but I think sometimes we forget what book clubs are really about. People.  People who share our love of reading whether they share our opinions or not.

In today's post, regular contributor Jamie Layton tells us what books are jumping off the shelves at Duck's Cottage on the Outer Banks.  From national and international favorites to works by local authors, Jamie gives us the booksellers view for Summer 2010.  Any local favorites in your area?