Synopsis:

This unique manual shows you step-by-step how to build, improve, and maintain successful, engaging book discussion groups. Chapters answer the fundamental questions: How do you build membership? Choose the right titles? Schedule and arrange meetings? Develop questions? Get free or discounted books? Provide an inviting atmosphere and setting? Planning, publicity, facilitating discussions, programming techniques, and assessment are discussed in detail. Essential advice on programming includes 10 ready-to-use discussion guides; One Book-One City program ideas; online forums; title selection; and more. Any library starting or running book discussion groups will want this practical guide by their side.

Book Excerpt:

Part I: How to Launch a Successful Book Discussion Group Group
2: Recruiting Members
3: Choosing the Right Books
4: Planning When and Where to Meet
5: Generating Publicity

Part II: How to Run a Successful Book Discussion Group
6: Talking the Talk
7: Booking an Author and Planning an Event
8: Organizing an Online Library-Sponsored Book Discussion Group

Part III: Ten Guaranteed Great Book Discussions
September Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
October In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
November The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
December The Dead by James Joyce
January Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
February Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
March Charming Billy by Alice McDermott
April Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by Barbara Erenhardt
May Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
June In America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Part IV: Resources for Book Discussion Groups
Resource A: Annotated Bibliography of Books and Magazines for Book
Groups
Resource B: Online Tools for Choosing and Evaluating Books
Resource C: Professional Organizations /Subcommittees: Support for Librarians Who Run Book Groups.
Resource D: Partnership Strategies: Checklist for Getting Help for Bookstores, Schools and Community Groups
Index
About the Author

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Author Comment:

Readers have enjoyed the ready-made discussion guides which include plot summaries, author biographies, icebreaking activities, discussion questions, related books, music and films, and opportunities for further study. The discussions are based on a ten month calendar since many book groups do not meet during July and August. Each reading has a seasonal theme. For example in January the book is Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Dream, A Team by Buzz Bissinger. This nonfiction study of a high school football team in Odessa, Texas is our pick for Superbowl month. The February/Black History Month guide is for Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama and the March/St Patricks Day guide is for Charming Billy by Alice McDermott. The April/Tax Month selection is Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich and May/Mother's Day is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. In June/Father's Day we read the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and after a summer break we resume in September with Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck in which he recalls a road trip across America. The October/Halloween selection is In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. In November the selection isThe Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri-- a tie-in with Thanksgiving and what it means to be a new American. Our December/holiday reading is The Dead by James Joyce, a short story about Christmas in long ago Dublin.

Topics/Categories:

Book discussion groups, Librarians, Readers Circles

Genre:

Criticism

Type of Work:

Book

Publishers:

Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

Purchase From:

Neal-Schuman Publishers
Amazon.com

Original Publish Date:

May 1, 2006

Formats and associated ISBNs:

1-5570-542-1

Reading Guides:

http://www.little-heathens.com/more/index.html

Formats:

Soft cover

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