I have great news. Check it out here, at my other blog.
Yesterday, I wrote to my book club.... And as you can tell by the tone and informality of my letter, these are good friends who know "me" well, but... I'm not so sure if I can count on them to help me choose a book to read for the book club. so...I'm leaving it up to some of you fellow bloggers.
I have two different book clubs that meet once a month.
I get to chose the books to read in March and April for the two clubs. I'm stuck!
I want to make them get out of their box a bit, but don't' want the choices to be too "out there" that they won't enjoy them. They tend to go with the more safe choices, and I feel it's time for a change.
Please help.
here are my notes to my bookclub friends...
1st note:
Dear Bookclub friends,
as you know, I get to choose April's book. (not April our bookclub friend, but the month of April. I get to choose what we read for the month of April)
How far out on a limb are you willing to go?
I mean "out of your box?" for a book?
I've narrowed it down to a few....
you can vote
The Time Travelers Wife
Shadow of the Wind
The Thirteenth Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
I have read only one of these....I won't tell you which one.
They are all.... books not based on (or in?) "realism". Not to say that they are all fantasy or (dare I say it) Science-Fiction, but there is a common thread of "magical, futuristic, satire, and just some stuff that isn't your everyday book" in these choices.
Don't google them.... just tell me....by the title, what sounds good to you?
And we'll meet at my house next Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
Book discussion for Wed: The Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
Feb book: The Madonnas of Leningrad
March book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society
April: YOUR ANSWER COULD GO HERE!!
Today I sent them another note and wrote this:
Hello Book Club girls!
I've added two more books to my list to pick from, and I've spent all morning searching YouTube for video clips to link to for book reviews.
I don't know what order these clips are in, but you should watch them and then let me know what interests you.
Because... if it were left to me, I would pick them all. ( I'm going to pick one of them--one that we don't choose now-- for my other book club).
I own all of these books except "The Eyre Affair", which I don't think any of you will choose anyway.... (open ended sentence. I'm not sure why.... do you have anything to add?)
Two of the books are movies now. I will get these from Netflix when/if we read them for MOVIE NIGHT which will take place AFTER our April bookclub meeting, same night but after book discussion. And of course I'll have popcorn and Milk Duds for the movie.... a chaser after our more healthy book club fare. (fair? faire?)
The books that have been made into movies are:
The Time Travelers Wife
The Handmaid's Tale
As I've mentioned, the only book that is "normal" is American Wife (one that wasn't on the list yesterday), it is a "current event" book based loosely and fictionally on Laura Bush.
I promise that I will not add anymore books to the list. I know this is quite unheard of, the chooser asking the readers their opinion but please please, just please give me your opinion. I like to take them into consideration (and then do what I want. LOL )
Sway me, if you will. I'm open for bribes too!!
Lisa has said that she's always wanted to read "The Time Traveler's Wife"
see...
from Lisa:
I always wanted to read the Time Travelers Wife..........I know that is the one you have read too!? right?
and
from Jean:
Wow, I love the sound of them all. But if I absolutely had to choose, it would be (drum roll, please) Shadow of the Wind.
and
from Shelly:
I’ve read “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and liked it but don’t remember much about it…I’m thinking maybe that’s the one you’ve read too. I REALLY wanted to look the other books up, but didn’t. So, for April I will say “The Handmaid’s Tale”.
I had a drum roll going in my head..did you? And yes, I've read TTW, and really loved it.
You guys can google now if you want just to see what the critics say. AFTER, you watch these clips.... (get a coke/cookie/or coffee first)
The Eyre Affair
The American Wife
The Shadow of the Wind
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Thirteenth Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
So, if you bloggers have any good ideas what a good book for a group would be....that might be a little out of the norm for book clubs, please comment and let me know.
Thanks.
Holiday Sunday
1 day ago
6 comments:
I vote for The Time Traveler's Wife!
I also vote for The Time Traveler's Wife...I haven't read it myself but I sure have heard good things about it! I know how difficult it is to choose sometimes!
I would vote for the Time Travelers Wife. I have heard really good things about it but haven't read it. I think...I have read the Handmaids Tale and the Thirteenth Tale (which I didn't really like).
It sounds like you have the same problem I did with my book club and reaching out is a good idea. I read Thirteenth Tale and loved it. It was very different and alot of twist and turns. I have not read Time Traveler's Wife. But my best friend that has the same tastes as me liked it too. I am looking forward to reading the other comments too. Because my book club doesn't like to go out of the box either. I am interested to see what the others have to say. Our book club is doing Madonna's of Leningrad in the fall of next year. I will tell you I loved the book. This is my two cents. Have you thought of People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. This is very different too. I am almost finished and loving it so far. That is very different it is a historical and added suspense to the flavor of the book.
It looks the The Time Travelers Wife is winning. I've read it and loved it.
Seaside Bookworm, I'll have to check into "People of the Book". I'm always on the lookout for new good books and authors.
Debbie -- I haven't been reading your blog long enough to know what books you have already read. But our new little book club has already read two books that I especially enjoyed -- Plain Truth and The Last Lecture. With all this talk about The Time Traveler's Wife, I'm definitely going to read it. In our club, you can't recommend a book unless you've read it!
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