National Reading Group Month October 2009

Celebrate October with National Reading Group Month. Begun by the Women's National Book Association in 2007,they promote reading groups, give suggestions for reading, and they select an annual best reads for book groups.

Selections for 2009 are:

Appassionata by Eva Hoffman
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë by Syrie James
The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey
Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz
While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
Cost by Roxana Robinson
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

Visit their site for descriptions and links to other sites with more in depth treatments of the books and questions for discussion.

Other great Reading Group Resources are:

Book Group Buzz from Booklist Magazine This is my favorite blog and guide for book group and reading information. They are updated daily, enthusiastic, creative, and a pleasure to read.

Reading Group Choices Advice on starting a group, lots of book suggestions with "conversation starters" and book background. They have a whole page of links to other reading group guides.

Check to see if your library system subscribes to Novelist. This database gives background on books and authors, lets you search for Read-alikes, Award Winners, and book discussion guides.

MinnPost's Book Club Club



Brand new this September from online site MinnPost is their Book Club Club which they mean to be a club made up of existing Minnesota book clubs—a community of engaged readers. Book clubs of all sizes, themes and types that meet anywhere in the state are welcome to join. Membership is free.

Here you will find articles about books and book discussion, a list of Twin Cities area bestsellers, a list of book groups in Minnesota (your group can be can be added to the list anytime). Comment on any of the ongoing topics, find a group to join. I think the overall hope is to have a single place for readers to talk about the books they love.