The leaves are rapidly changing color as we hit the midpoint of October. I think it’s fitting that one of my favorite months of the year also happens to be the month chosen as National Reading Group Month. Sponsored by the Women’s Book Association to ‘celebrate the joy of shared reading’, this month is the perfect time for book clubs to recognize the benefits that being a member of a book club bring. Sharing a good book with friends not only promotes literacy and reading, but the conversation can open a whole new world of ideas and knowledge. This year the National Reading Group committee has chosen nine discussible books for their Great Group Reads. The list has some well known book club choices, and a few of which you may not have heard.
Appassionata by Eva Hoffman is a literary novel that combines classical music and world affairs. An American pianist becomes romantically involved with an Eastern European rebel, forcing her to question her own beliefs about politics and art. The Unit, by first time Swedish novelist Ninni Holmqvist, takes place in a futuristic society where some individuals are considered ‘dispensable’. Syrie James, author of the The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, has now followed it with The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte. This novel blends fact and fiction to give us the story of author Charlotte Bronte, seemingly told in her own words.
The story of two friends told through the perspective of four different characters, is the basis for The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey. A good plot and great characters make this a perfect book club selection. Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz is the only nonfiction choice on the list. After her husband’s sudden death Ms. Metz discovers his infidelities and sets out to uncover the truth about their marriage and ultimately about herself. Laura Moriarty’s While I’m Falling is a realistic look at a mother – daughter relationship. Good characters, humor and honesty all combine to make it a worthwhile read.
Out Stealing Horses by Norwegian author Per Petterson is already a favorite of book clubs. Beautifully written, this is the story of boyhood friendship, tragedy and loss. Both Time magazine and the NY Times named it one of the best books of 2008. Cost by Roxana Robinson is a family saga that deals with the devastating effects of one family member’s drug addiction. This is a moving and compelling story. Kamila Shamsie, a Pakistani author, has written Burnt Shadows, an epic saga on the impact of war. It begins in Nagasaki, Japan and brings us up to post 9/11 and the conflict in Afghanistan. Fascinating and thought provoking, this will be a good one for discussion.
So celebrate National Reading Group Month and add one of these great books to your club’s list for a lively book club discussion. Let me know if you need a discussion guide or copies of any of these books for your club.
