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ReadingGroupGuides.com Newsletter |
December 2005
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Wishing You Happy Holidaze!
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If you are like me, you are caught up in the holidaze. My lists have lists, but somehow this year is calmer than others. I don't think I am more prepared. I do think I have made a pact with myself to just enjoy the season and not get myself frenzied. So far, with two weeks to go, it's working. Each night I am making time for personal reading, which is something I usually forego as the pace ramps up going into the holiday. It really makes a difference to just give myself those few minutes of escape!
One of the true joys of ReadingGroupGuides.com is hearing from readers. This week we received this truly inspiring email from Debra of Biloxi, MS when we followed up with her about a prize. We knew that she had been affected by Hurricane Katrina, but we did not know the rest of her story.
"When we started our book club it was to share our enjoyment of reading and to introduce each other to different genres of books. Little did we know that down the road this reading group would also be a way to share our tragedies and joys. We only missed one week of meeting and now we meet at homes which are still standing and after each meeting of sharing our favorite book, we also share hammers, nails, and boards and help to work on the person's home. I have you to thank for you so much of this as it was your site which gave me the idea for a book club and if not for the club I think that the sadness which often overhangs on our heads, especially this time of year, would engulf us. So, thank you with all of my heart for everything you do and have done for all of us who love books and love sharing the books we treasure." Somehow this letter struck a real chord with us and made us all give pause to what really matters in life.
We know that for many groups coming together becomes about a lot more than just books and reading. At this time of year we wanted to take a moment to toast you all and thank you for sharing your stories with us. We love getting to know you this way; you do inspire us.
For those of you with gift buying still to be done, may we suggest you look at both the Holiday Basket of Cheer Contest and the What to Give/What to Get Guide on Bookreporter.com? We know the faster you get buying and wrapping, the faster you will be able to get back to reading!
Have a fabulous holiday and a wonderful New Year. We're already gearing up for 2006. I think you are going to love what we have in store for you.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Click here to register your reading group.
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THE MYTH OF YOU & ME by Leah Stewart
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Ten years after the incident that ended their friendship, Cameron receives an unexpected letter from Sonia, but she doesn't reply. When Cameron's boss --- noted historian Oliver Doucet --- passes away, she discovers that he has left her with one final task: to track down Sonia and hand-deliver a mysterious package to her. The Myth of You & Me, the story of Cameron and Sonia's friendship --- as intense as any love affair --- and its dramatic demise, captures the universal sense of loss and nostalgia that often lingers after the end of an important relationship. Searingly honest, beautiful, and full of fragile urgency, this novel is a celebration and portrait of a friendship that will appeal to anyone who still feels the absence of that first true friend.
One VERY lucky group will win 12 copies of The Myth of You & Me by Leah Stewart. Interested? Send your name and mailing address to [email protected] by January 2nd.
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Click here to read our guide for THE MYTH OF YOU & ME.
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Celebrating MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA --- The Book and The Movie
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Memoirs of a Geisha is an epic drama about the remote and shimmeringly exotic world of Sayuri, one of Japan's most celebrated geishas. The novel has been a beloved bestseller all over the world and is now set to become the major movie event of the year. In this literary tour de force, novelist Arthur Golden enters a remote and shimmeringly exotic world. For the protagonist of this peerlessly observant first novel is Sayuri, one of Japan's most celebrated geisha, a woman who is both performer and courtesan, slave and goddess.
To celebrate the release of the movie Memoirs of a Geisha, Newmarket Press has released a lavish visual companion --- Memoirs of a Geisha: A Portrait of the Film, by Peggy Mulloy and photographed by David James:
More about Memoirs of a Geisha: A Portrait of the Film:
An all-in-one, gorgeous volume including a 70-page portfolio of stunning photographs by one of the most accomplished movie photographers working today; a fascinating, exclusive, behind-the-scenes section on production design, make-up, choreography, costumes, casting, and the process of re-creating on film the period, people, and world of the celebrated novel; a brief history of the geisha culture; and introductory essays by director Rob Marshall and novelist Arthur Golden.
For film and book fans, this unique companion book captures a mysterious and exotic world that still casts a potent spell today.
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Click here to read our guide for MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.
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THE MEMOIRS OF HELEN OF TROY by Amanda Elyot
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In this lush, compelling novel of passion and loss, Helen of Troy, a true survivor, tells the truth about her life, her lovers, and the Trojan War. This is the memoir that she has written --- her legendary beauty still undimmed by age.
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Click here to read our guide for The Memoirs of Helen of Troy.
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THE LADY OF THE SEA by Rosalind Miles
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In the final thrilling chapter of the Tristan and Isolde trilogy, Isolde, heir to the throne of the queens, confronts deadly invaders who threaten Ireland's autonomy, even as she and Tristan plan an act of revolt that will win them their long-overdue freedom --- but may cost them their lives.
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Click here to read our guide for The Lady of the Sea.
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ORDINARY HEROES by Scott Turow
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Stewart Dubinsky knew his father had served in World War II. And he'd been told how David Dubin (as his father had Americanized the name that Stewart later reclaimed) had rescued Stewart's mother from the horror of the Balingen concentration camp. But when he discovers, after his father's death, a packet of wartime letters to a former fiancée, and learns of his father's court-martial and imprisonment, he is plunged into the mystery of his family's secret history and driven to uncover the truth about this enigmatic, distant man who'd always refused to talk about his war.
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Click here to read our guide for Ordinary Heroes.
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Announcing our Holiday Basket of Cheer Giveaway on Bookreporter.com
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The holiday season is upon us! At Bookreporter.com this means it's time for us to share the spirit of the season with you with our Holiday Basket of Cheer Contest.
Each week from November 4th through December 16th we will spotlight a different title, and readers will have the chance to win one of five holiday baskets filled with winter-themed items as well as two copies of the featured book. Why two? One is to keep, of course, and one is for someone on your holiday gift list. We will also include festive wrapping paper and a bow to make the gift-giving hassle-free.
Our featured titles include:
700 Sundays by Billy Crystal
There's Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere
Hot Flash Holidays by Nancy Thayer
S is for Silence/STRONG> by Sue Grafton
Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
This Christmas by Jane Green, Jennifer Coburn, & Liz Ireland
This week's featured title is S is for Silence by Sue Grafton. Don't miss out on your chance to enter to win this truly special Holiday gift.
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Click here to read all the details for our Holiday Basket of Cheer Giveaway.
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Announcing our Holiday What to Give/What to Get Guide!
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Bookreporter.com knows that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind we're offering a What to Give/What to Get Guide with "Reader Perfect" suggestions in 12 categories.
We have book ideas for everyone on your holiday list. And while you're looking for gifts for others, may we suggest you jot notes for the books YOU want?
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Click here to read our What to Give/What to Get Feature.
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Check It Out --- ReadingGroupGuides.com has Launched a Community Message Board
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We have launched a message board on ReadingGroupGuides.com where book club members can post messages for other book club members.
-Looking for new members for your group? Then post a listing.
-Looking for a new group to join? Post a listing.
-Tell us what your group is reading.
-Share how you choose books.
-Give us your tips for leading a discussion.
-Share your book club story.
-Tell us some fun and interesting ideas for book clubs.
-Post recipes and serving ideas.
Please Note: To post on the ReadingGroupGuides.com Message Board you will be asked to register a username and password. Simply follow the directions in the registration window that pops up the first time you post. After that you will be able to create new discussion topics and reply to others' discussions whenever you are logged in.
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Click here to go to the ReadingGroupGuides.com Message Board.
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Contest Winners
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Last month, ReadingGroupGuides.com offered an unprecedented FIVE special opportunities to Registered book clubs. We will be announcing the winners of all these giveaways in the next ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter for Registered Readers.
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Click here to register your group.
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This Month's Poll: Mother/Daughter Book Groups
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Are you in a Mother/Daughter book group, or do you know anyone in one of these groups? If you are in a Mother/Daughter book group, please send a note to [email protected] as we would like to ask you more about this.
Yes, I am in a mother/daughter book group.
I would love to be in a mother/daughter book group though I am not in one now.
No, I am not in a mother/daughter book group.
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Answer our poll here.
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Tip of the Month for January
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Make a resolution to read a book in a genre that you do not explore regularly.
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Do you like what you see here, and want to forward it to a friend? Then click our link on the bottom of the page to do just that!
Happy reading. We'll see you next month.
Don't forget to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: Bookreporter.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, FaithfulReader.com, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107 |
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