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ReadingGroupGuides.com Newsletter |
November 2007
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What's New and What's Coming on ReadingGroupGuides.com
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A few weeks ago we learned that the New York Times changed how they organized their paperback bestseller list. It is now broken up into trade (which is a format frequently read by book clubs) and mass market paperbacks, giving readers the ability to track a number of bestselling selections in each category. Earlier this week, as I was reading our list of the "Top Requested Guides," I realized that I wanted to make some changes there to give many more titles the chance to be spotlighted, as the appearance of some of the same guides each month was keeping us from sharing new trends with you. Beginning this month we now are featuring our "most read" guides in the following categories: New Favorites, which includes popular new guides; Ongoing Favorites, which includes guides that have been popular with reading clubs for an extended period of time; and Enduring Favorites, which includes discussion guides to the work of authors who have been read by book groups for years.
To make your search for guides more convenient, we have added a "Browse by Genre" option to our website. With 30 genres to choose from, this new feature is sure to be a valuable tool in your search for new and interesting reading guides. Early next year we are going to add a section called "Reading By Theme."
Also early next year we want to add a blog to this site. Instead of having one writer for this blog making daily entries, we would like to have a number of people contributing to it. Right now my plan is that there is a new entry each weekday. We are looking for booksellers, librarians, book club facilitators and readers to each write ONE column a month. If you are interested, send [email protected] a note and let him know what you would like to write about, as well as a short bio on you that includes who you are, where you live and how you are affiliated with a book club, as well as some of your favorite titles. (Please be sure to give us ALL of this information when you write). We will spend the next month or so developing this idea further, based upon the feedback we hear from you.
Speaking of feedback, last month's poll results hit yet another new high with 1,028 of you responding to share your thoughts about when your group meets. 64% of you meet evenings during the week, while 13% meet afternoons during the week. The rest of the results were scattered. You can see them all here. This month we ask how many of you eat during your meetings and also explore how many of you partake in alcoholic beverages during your meetings. Let us know by answering the poll here.
There are many readers over the years who have told me that Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth was their favorite book. This classic from 1989 finally has a sequel with World Without End, which released last month. Set in 14th century England, World Without End is the story of an extraordinary cast of characters who find themselves at a crossroad of new ideas about medicine, commerce, architecture and justice. It's a long book, but many of you already have availed yourselves of the discussion guide for it, which warms our page-loving hearts. Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco's Book Buyer, selected World Without End as this month's book pick. She said the book was “captivating as a stand-alone or doubly enjoyable when read with The Pillars of the Earth."
This month we are celebrating Doris Lessing's Nobel Prize win with a truly BIG contest. ReadingGroupGuides.com readers who enter here will be eligible to win a copy of 22 of Lessing's titles, which include Ben, In the World; The Grandmothers; The Golden Notebook; The Grass is Singing; The Sweetest Dream; Mara and Dann; The Cleft; Love, Again; The Story of General Dann and Mara’s Daughter, Griot and the Snow Dog; The Real Thing; Martha Quest; A Proper Marriage; A Ripple From the Storm; Landlocked; The Four-Gated City; African Laughter; Going Home; Time Bites; In Pursuit of the English; Prisons We Choose to Live Inside; Under My Skin; and Walking in the Shade. We look forward to announcing our winner in the December newsletter. Read on for details.
Last month I had a wonderful time at the Book Club Twister Mixer at Books & Books in Coral Gables. I marvel that there were at least 80 readers gathered to chat books at 11 in the morning on a Sunday! I learned so much from THEM! The Women's National Book Association event celebrating National Reading Group Month was another special event. Wally Lamb, Adriana Trigiani, Beverly Swerling, Matthew Sharpe and Laura Dave were wonderful guests, and their stories about their books and their readings kept the audience enthralled.
We love to hear from booksellers and librarians about what they are doing with book clubs. If you have a story to share, please drop Alex and me an email with details so we can share it with others in our next newsletter. Also, if readers want to share something happening with book clubs at your local store or library, please let us know.
I got to see a preview of The Kite Runner film last month. It will be in stores on December 14th. It's just brilliant ---- a wonderful adaptation of the book. You may want to schedule a trip to see it with your group. If you have not read and discussed it yet, you can find the guide here.
I spent some time yesterday morning at my older son's high school meeting with some of the administration about the school's summer reading list. As we chatted I found myself suggesting a school-sponsored book club, as well as a book club for the school's faculty. I just started the wheels turning on this, but I know it's the start of a really big idea. I keep mulling titles that could work here. I wondered if any of you have done this with the students or teachers at your schools. Drop me a line if you have done either of these projects.
Happy Thanksgiving to all...and here's to your getting a good start on your holiday shopping in the weeks to come.
Read on...
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Special Contest: Win a Set of 22(!) Select Titles from Nobel Prize Winner Doris Lessing
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In October Doris Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, and we’re celebrating this achievement with a special contest. One lucky reader will receive the complete set of HarperCollins’s Doris Lessing titles --- 22 books total --- including: Ben, In the World; The Grandmothers; The Golden Notebook; The Grass is Singing; The Sweetest Dream; Mara and Dann; The Cleft; Love, Again; The Story of General Dann and Mara’s Daughter, Griot and the Snow Dog; The Real Thing; Martha Quest; A Proper Marriage; A Ripple From the Storm; Landlocked; The Four-Gated City; African Laughter; Going Home; Time Bites; In Pursuit of the English; Prisons We Choose to Live Inside; Under My Skin; and Walking in the Shade.
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Click here to read all the contest details.
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New in Paperback: FAMILY TREE by Barbara Delinsky
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Dana never knew her father, and her mother died when she was young. She had always craved the stability of a home and family, and she made these dreams come true when she fell in love with Hugh. Unlike Dana, Hugh could trace his ancestors back to the Mayflower. But when their beautiful newborn child clearly has African ancestors, the couple must reexamine how to define family, how to view ancestry and whether racism still lurks in even the most open minds.
-Click here to learn more about Barbara Delinsky and Family Tree.
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Click here to read the guide for Family Tree.
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ON WINGS OF THE MORNING by Marie Bostwick
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In this touching follow-up to Fields of Gold, Morgan Glennon always dreamed of being a pilot like his father. Soon after he enlists as a Navy pilot, America goes to war. Watching his friends fall in battle robs Morgan of the joy he always felt in the air. It will take one very unusual woman to help him get it back.
-Click here to see our One to Watch feature for Marie Bostwick and On Wings of the Morning on Bookreporter.com. |
Click here to read the guide for On Wings of the Morning.
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THE GIANT'S HOUSE by Elizabeth McCracken
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The year is 1950, and in a small town on Cape Cod 26-year-old librarian Peggy Cort feels like love and life have stood her up. Until the day James Carlson Sweatt --- the “over-tall” 11-year-old boy who’s the talk of the town --- walks into her library and changes her life forever. Two misfits whose lonely paths cross at the circulation desk, Peggy and James are odd candidates for friendship, but nevertheless they soon find their lives entwined in ways that neither one could have predicted.
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Click here to read the guide for The Giant's House.
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MATING IN CAPTIVITY by Esther Perel
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Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a couples therapist, Esther Perel examines the complexities of sustaining desire. Through case studies and lively discussion, Perel demonstrates how more exciting, playful and even poetic sex is possible in long-term relationships. Wise, witty and as revelatory as it is straightforward, Mating in Captivity is a sensational book that will transform the way you live and love. |
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Click here to read the guide for Mating in Captivity.
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JEZEBEL by Lesley Hazleton
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Lesley Hazleton weaves together her knowledge of the Middle East, biblical scholarship, deft narrative skills and keen journalistic style to create a fascinating biography of Queen Jezebel --- possibly the most misunderstood figure in the Bible, if not world culture. Hazleton’s portrait of this biblical anti–heroine contains many themes perfect for discussion and debate. The questions below are designed to guide your reading group’s conversation about this rich, absorbing biography. |
Click here to read the guide for Jezebel.
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This Month's Book Club and Librarian Interviews
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We have the following new interviews with books clubs on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Two and a half years ago, Nancy Green and a group of retirees from the Oak Hammock retirement community at the University of Florida organized The Acorn Readers Book Club. In this interview, Nancy explains how she and her group members, many of whom are retired university professors, utilize their backgrounds in business and academia in their discussions. She also talks about how the university-affiliated community promotes the philosophy of “life fulfillment” by offering a variety of programs, such as the courses in Russian literature and Hawthorne and Melville short stories in session this fall.
Tisa M. Davis, who belongs to Book Crossing in Danville, IN, describes how her club establishes a light mood by finding ways to relate to the characters they read about. With people in the group ranging in age from 35 to 70, she believes that the generational differences allow for a variety of interpretations of the books they discuss.
Librarian Debbie Jack is in charge of the Main Library Adult Book Club at the Sussex County Main Library in Frankford Township, NJ. In this interview, Debbie discusses the formation of the group four years ago and how its members have bonded since then. They value their time together because it gives them the opportunity to read and discuss titles that they would not have experienced otherwise. She also describes the thrill of chatting with author Connie May Fowler about her book The Problem with Murmur Lee.
Kim Cantley is the facilitator of the Mysterious Mondays Book Club in Myrtle Beach, SC. The group, supported by the Friends of the Socastee Library organization, has been thriving since 2003. In this interview, Kim discusses the types of mystery and suspense novels her group enjoys --- and doesn’t enjoy. She stresses the importance of everyone participating in the discussion, especially the less vocal members, describes how her book club occasionally incorporates a screening of a film adaptation into their meetings and highlights some of their favorite book-into-movie discussions.
Cati Arcuri belongs to The Pikes Peak Readers in Colorado Springs, CO, which she describes as a group of “eclectic” individuals with varied tastes in genres. In this interview, Cati explains how a rotating schedule gives each member the opportunity to choose a book and lead a discussion while providing the club with a diverse selection of titles. With several writers as members, the group closely monitors newly-published works as well as nearby events and seminars. She also shares an interesting anecdote about how religious background factored into some of their discussions.
-Click here to see all our interviews with book clubs.
We also have the following new interview with a librarian:
MaryLu Phelan is a librarian at the Seaford Public Library in Seaford, NY and the facilitator of the local book group that meets there. In this interview, MaryLu explains that the most interesting discussions often occur when group members have mixed feelings about the book. She emphasizes how important it is for her to limit her input in the discussions and shares some anecdotes about how the group made meetings more enjoyable through the use of film and show-and-tell.
-Click here to see all our interviews with librarians.
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Don't Miss Our Holiday Basket of Cheer Contest 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 2nd through December 14th we are spotlighting a different title that is perfect for holiday gift giving, and five readers have the chance to win a holiday basket 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 also include festive wrapping paper and a ribbon to make the gift-giving hassle-free. Be sure to log onto Bookreporter.com each week to see our featured titles!
Our six featured titles are:
Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber
The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere
Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson
A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry
The Dangerous Book for Dogs by Joe Garden, Janet Ginsburg, Chris Pauls and Anita Serwacki
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Click here for all the contest details.
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Coming Soon: Our What to Give/What to Get Suggestions and Holiday Basket for Teens Promotions
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Have a teen in your life? Our Holiday Basket for Teens promotion kicks off next week on Teenreads.com. Five winners will each receive a basket that includes up to 10 books, along with holiday-themed items such as peppermint candies, holiday-scented candles, a kit to make a gingerbread house and more!
Stumped on what to get for all the people on your holiday list? Get a jump on holiday shopping with our What to Give/What to Get Holiday Gift Guide, which spotlights books in a host of popular categories such as cookbooks, humor, sports, games, stocking stuffers, fiction, mysteries and more. It will be live on Friday, November 16th. It also includes holiday gift ideas for kids and teens!
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Registered Book Club Offers
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For November we have two very special opportunities for Registered Book Groups. Our two featured titles this month are Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When?! by Charlene Ann Baumbich and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James. Groups who have registered with us by November 12th have the chance to win author chats and free books. If your group is not registered, click here to register.
Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When?! by Charlene Ann Baumbich --- Author Chat and Book Giveaway: 10-15 groups will have the opportunity to chat with Charlene Ann Baumbich and receive 12 copies of the book.
More about Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When?!:
The colorful characters of Partonville, Illinois, are back once again to delight Charlene Ann Baumbich’s ever-growing legion of fans. Dorothy is thrilled that her attorney son Jacob is moving back to their hometown and wonders if he might help Katie Durbin with more than legal matters. Meanwhile, Partonville’s mayoral elections have just heated up. Incumbent Gladys McKern is being challenged by Sam Vitner, owner of Swappin’ Sam’s, whose campaign slogan is “McKern’s had her turn! Time to SWAP! VITNER for Mayor!” And the contest to name Katie’s new mini-mall incites competition and a mad dash of entries. Through it all, Dorothy’s spirit and the Partonvillers’ antics will keep readers wanting to circle the town square again and again.
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James --- Author Chat and Book Giveaway: Five groups will have the opportunity to chat with Syrie James and receive 12 copies of the book.
More about The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.
Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.
Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen --- and to anyone who loves a great story.
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Click here to register your group.
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This Month's Poll and Tip
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Poll:
Does your group eat at your meetings?
All of the time
Some of the time
Never
Does your group have alcoholic beverages (wine, beer or cocktails) at your meetings?
All of the time
Some of the time
Never
Tip for November:
Share your favorite cookbook with your group and a recipe.
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Click here to answer the poll.
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This Month's Contest Book: HOME TO BIG STONE GAP by Adriana Trigiani
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Win a copy of Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani for your reading group!
To be a group to win 20 free copies of this book, all you have to do is sign up for the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter by December 1, 2007. If you are receiving this newsletter in your mailbox, you already are signed up!
More about Home to Big Stone Gap:
Nestled in the lush Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the town of Big Stone Gap has been home for Ave Maria Mulligan Machesney and her family for generations. She’s been married to her beloved Jack for nearly twenty years, raised one child and buried another, and run a business that binds her community together, all while holding her tight circle of family and friends close.
But with her daughter, Etta, having flown the nest to enchanting Italy, Ave Maria has reached a turning point. When a friend’s postcard arrives with the message “It’s time to live your life for you,” Ave Maria realizes that it’s time to go in search of brand-new dreams. But before she can put her foot on the path, her life is turned upside down.
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Click here to read contest details and rules.
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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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