Here is a gander into the internal dialogue in my cranium on this subject. Do I:
A) pick a book that I've read in the past (I'm talking 10+ years ago) that I LOVED which is pretty mainstream historical fiction that they'll most likely love
B) pick a book that I've read in the past and LOVED but is of a genre that most people in the book club (I'm assuming) haven't tried yet (ie supernatural). I'm hoping to introduce a genre that many people (including myself several years ago) assumed they wouldn't like.
** I don't mind re-reading either book from A or B
C) pick a book that none of us have read but I've heard from reliable sources that it's an amazing 'hard to put down' read
Here are the books that I've been thinking of picking from the categories above:
A) "Stones from the River" by Ursula Hegi
B) "Bitten" by Kelley Armstrong (supernatural/Canadian)
C) "Still Missing" by Chevy Stevens
So, what do you think? Pick a tried and true or something new? Look, I'm a poet!!
I personally think you should pick The Hunger Games, it's my new personal favourite. If that is not what you are going for (too young, too over the top, not what this crowd would ever go for), then go with Room by Emma Donaghue. It's noew and you could get a review done at the same time, I want to know what you think of it before I buy it!
ReplyDeleteI have just read The Room and yes it's a great book for book clubs.Has a lot of layers and thier is a lot to talk about in the book.Some of it is dark stuff and it's not a easy subject to read about.That being said l loved Jack and yes l know he is not real as it was pointed out to me.The down side of it being new is the library wait lists are long and not everyone would want to buy the book.
ReplyDeleteAs for your book club pick why not just go with the first book that came to your mind when you knew would be choosing?I would be open to trying something new after all that is what book clubs are for finding new books and writers to talk about.
BTW it's coffeechick for some reason google will not let me sign in again with my gmail.
Speaking as someone who deals with a lot of frustrated book club members, please don't pick a new book. People don't want to pay for a book that they aren't sure they will like and are only frustrated and angry when a member of their book club picks a title that is unavailable due to huge waiting lists. Also, check your library's catalogue to make sure that there are lots of copies available. You should ask your librarian whether they have book club sets that can be checked out.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of your choices, here is my opinion. I would pick something that falls under category B. To me, the whole point of book clubs is to expand your reading horizons and to try new things that you normally wouldn't read. A huge percentage of the books that I have loved fall into this category. I would also try to pick a new book rather than one you have already read, or at least re-read the book. Let me know what you pick! :)
For our book club, I like books that none of us have read! Just find it more fun that way, as then we are all exploring together.
ReplyDeleteWe just read Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Pretty good read!
I've heard great things about Still Missing but haven't read it. . .
ReplyDeleteOk, just finished Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, it is like, Twilight only so much better written and really amazing. Supernatural, but a YA book, so it's cheaper to buy and the first in the series is in paperback, I paid like 13 bucks for it. YOU WILL LOVE IT!!
ReplyDeleteJanssen - Like you I've heard great things about "Still Missing" ... I'm just not sure it deals with a subject matter that I want to chat about with a group of my girlfriends.
ReplyDeleteAleisha - I looked up Shiver and it sounds right up my alley. I'll see if my libraries have it. Thanks for letting me know about it. I've never heard of that author before. LOVE finding new authors. Thanks.