Reading Group Guides

I enjoyed this essay on the Reading Group guides found at the end of the book from last week's NYTBR.

It reminded me of many discussions about said guides over the years, particularly at Avon. Back then, I was the only one in a book group, and I remember explaining to the publisher (an individual with decided ideas and little tolerance for those of others unless they were rock stars he had admired growing up) that whether or not people actually use the guides, they are influenced by their presence when selecting books for their groups. He did not want to copy Ballantine's concept - perhaps admirable but shortsighted. It was not long before everyone was doing it.

I think if the publisher is really trying to grow the author it is likely they will pay for someone to create the questions (which, as seen in the article, may be incredibly obvious or absurd but may be thought provoking) so I was surprised to see that for a while author Julia Spencer-Fleming was somewhat plaintively asking readers on her website if they'd be willing to create one for her! It seemed odd to me that St. Martin's wasn't willing to organize this, and failing that, why couldn't she do it herself? I am a huge fan of her books, and even got distracted while studying for the bar exam when someone at B&N thoughtfully gave me one that was hot off the press. Knowing that JSP is a lawyer herself, I sent her an amusing letter thanking her for giving me a few hours of pleasure during a miserable three months; however, she did not reply, simply added me to her mailing list! Oh well, I am still a fan, and eagerly awaiting I Shall Not Want, coming in June, although I recommend that new readers begin with In the Bleak Midwinter.

Happy Third Birthday to my godson, Nicholas!

The Washington Post called all Book Groups:

See below for the description of the woman who reads passages aloud in a Masterpiece Theatre voice. It reminded me of a woman (sadly, now deceased) who would read aloud from that month's book, sigh loudly, and tell us she had gone to great lengths to find the book in French or Russian so she didn't miss anything in translation...

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Rachel Jacobsohn, who literally wrote the book on book clubs -- The Reading Group Handbook-- estimates there are now more than a million literary discussion groups meeting regularly in this country, from the oldest one in Chautauqua, N.Y., to the one your officemates started this morning. Given that you can't swing a library card without hitting somebody in a book club, the most surprising thing about "The Book Club Play" is that no one thought of it before. Karen Zacar¿as's new comedy, which runs through March 2 at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, should make every book lover laugh (and cringe) with recognition. Zacar¿as includes all the reading-group regulars: the aging jock who never reads the book, the mousy woman who's too shy to say what she really thinks, the African American who's invited because she's "full of diversity," the (barely closeted) snob who drones on about his literary insights, and especially the queen bee, who reads passages in her Masterpiece Theater accent and tries to control the group with ever more maniacal schemes. They're all here in this zany collection of staccato scenes that take place in various living rooms during the club's final, disastrous year.
As you might expect, area bibliophiles have been drawn to this play like bookworms to paper. Round House marketing and public relations manager Sarah Pressler says at least 60 book clubs have bought blocks of tickets to see the show.

It's a great reminder that the Washington area is packed with active reading groups. And we'd love to hear from you: Tell us about the book that sparked your group's best discussion. We'll make a list of the titles and post it on our Web site with your comments. Send your suggestions to bwletters@washpost.com. Put "My Book Club" in the subject field. Include your city and tell us how long your group has been meeting.
-- The Editors

Giving

Bill Clinton's new book is about giving and how individuals can change the world, and in that spirit Random House is sponsoring a sweepstakes for a book group to win 10 autographed copies of his new book:

Rules for Bill Clinton's Giving Sweepstakes
1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
2. This sweepstakes runs from November 29, 2007 through February 1, 2008. To be eligible to win, you must provide your name, email address, complete mailing address and age in your email entry to giving@randomhouse.com. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 1, 2008. Limited to one entry per person per email account.
3. One (1) entrant chosen at random from all eligible entries will receive a prize consisting of 10 signed hardcover copies of Bill Clinton's Giving (approximate retail value: $249.50 US). Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Ugh, I was just reminded of The Giving Tree, a book I dislike. Perhaps that is why I never became a fan of Shel Silverstein's other books.

Are you cheating?

People often ask me (I love how I am the arbiter of taste, sort of like a modern day Sir Philip Sidney - my friend Katie used to pose questions beginning, "Do you think it's appropriate...?") whether it's cheating if you listen to the audio book instead of physically reading the book, and today the New York Times addressed the issue. Does this also depend on whether you are reading the book as an assignment or for your book group vs. for yourself? It seems to be the other members of the book groups who are resentful that they are "grinding away" while others are lightheartedly listening. Yet if the reading is a chore (for them or you), why do it at all? While surely it is the exposure to the author's language and story that is essential, not whether you read or listen to it, I do admit I have a faint feeling that listening to an audio version is the easy way out.



What do you think?