I went to the local bookstore today. I'm trying to come up with an idea for my book choice for my discussion group. I've got a while to go until it is my turn, but I'm always thinking about it. I'd really like to highlight a book by one of my writer friends, but they are tough books to find locally.
Any suggestions? We have a couple of rules in our group: no book over 400 pages (we all enjoy books, but not all of us are what you'd call fast readers), nothing overly depressing or involving really horrific events, nothing that requires too much brain power. They were all afraid of reading the uber-thick biographies and Victorian literature I have on my shelves and read for fun. And sure, I'd love to introduce my friends to the beauty of Sons and Lovers or Anna Karenina or, my favorite, David Copperfield, but that's not fair to the rest of the group.
So I'm trying to decide . . . I have no qualms of buying a new book, but part of me would like to pick a book I've already read and liked and wanted to talk about. On Tuesday we're talking about The Shipping News. Next up is The Giver. The last book was Water for Elephants.
What to pick . . . what to pick . . .
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
If the group hasn't read "Kite Runner" or "Thousand Splendid Suns," both are stunning.
recent reads that I would recommend: Broken for You, by Stephanie Kallos; Old Filth by Jane Gardam; The Dive from Clausen's Pier, by Ann Packer; Before you know Kindness, by Chris Bhojalian; Our Lady of the Lost and Found, by Diane Schoemperlen. If you really want something that goes down easy but gives you something to think and talk about, anything by Jodi Picoult. Something more morally ambiguous but still a quick read: anything by Paulo Coelho. If you just want "goes down easy", anything by Anita Shreve. I think Sea Glass is my favorite Shreve.
Try to talk them into Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Ann Bronte.
I will be in precisely the same predicament next month. They havce already told me NO SHAKESPEARE or Russian novels. What else is there?
I'll be watching your comments closely.
I recently finished Atonement and The Other Boleyn Girl and both were good reads. Although TOBG was a bit smutty (perhaps that's why I liked it?).
Post a Comment