Book Discussions Made Simple!

1. Book Discussions Made Simple! Presented by: Becky Siegel Spratford GSLIS 763 Fall 2011 bspratford@hotmail.com http://raforall.blogspot.com

2. Introduction • Books are meant to be talked about as much as they are to be read alone. • As library becomes more linked with leisure reading, it makes more sense to hold book discussions at the library. • Book Discussion is a dialog, guided, not led, by the facilitator • Leadership role is both challenging and rewarding.

3. Value of Providing Book Discussions • Two main values • Intellectual Pursuit • PR for the Library

4. Value: Intellectual Pursuit • Book Discussions are more fun than school. • Value in sharing opinions and hearing counter ones • Allow participants to learn more about parts they didn’t understand or just plain missed. • Participants will learn about authors and their books • Participants will meet people with shared interest in reading.

5. Value: Public Relations • Books Discussions draw on the library’s own resources- the entire collection! • They promote the use of library and the breadth of its holdings • Captive audience to advertise other library programming • Let outside groups meet at your library. • Book Club Kits for patrons • Web 2.0 opportunities: http://raforall.blogspot.com

6. Forming a Discussion Group • What type of group? • Survey of library users. • Sample questions to ask: • How often should group meet? • How long should meetings be? • When should meetings be held? • What type of books? • Fiction, nonfiction, or both • Contemporary, classics, or both • Well-known works, lesser-known, or both

7. Forming a Discussion Group • More Sample Questions: • Your favorite kind of book • Title of the last book you read • A list of specific titles you’d like to discuss • Your age • Your sex

8. General Planning Advice • Location • Date and duration • Frequency • Size of the group • Room setup • Providing books • Publicity • Scheduling • Budgeting

9. Selecting Books • How you select matters. • Always have at least the next two discussion book selected at all times. • General selection questions: • fiction or nonfiction • length • specific genre?

10. General Tips for ChoosingDiscussable Books • Well written • Explores basic human truths • 3-dimensional characters • Ambiguous endings • Media Sensations or Current Events • Proven winners

11. Titles That Worked • Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood • Atonement by Ian McEwan • Devil in the White City by Erik Larson • Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott • Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens • The Red Tent by Anita Diamant • The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee • The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore • The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd • 20 book annotated list from a display entitled, “Berwyn Public Library Book Club Favorites”

12. Titles That Flopped • The Dive From Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer • The Life of Pi by Yann Martel • Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf • The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason • The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger • The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

13. My Go-To Resources • BPL Favorite Book Discussion Resources • NoveList Book Discussion Guides • Lit Lovers • Book Group Buzz • Reading Group Guides • Book Movement’s Book Club Bestsellers List • Don’t forget print resources and other libraries • NYT Trade Paperback Fiction and Nonfiction Bestseller lists • Indie Bound and Other Literary Fiction Resources • Check Blackboard • And finally, always visit the author’s home page.

14. Preparing for the Discussion • Don’t over prepare! • Analyze the themes of the book • Get to know the characters • Notice the structure of the book • Make comparisons to other works by this author or other similar “read alikes”

15. Gathering Information • Get info about the book and author from traditional sources: • Interviews • Reviews (good and bad) • Author websites, newspapers, web based journals etc… • Check imdb.com or Early Word to see if book is or will be a movie. In this case, no. • Provide maps and information about setting or historical period if necessary

16. Gathering Questions • Best bet: Google title and “discussion guide”: Hotel on the Corner… • NoveList • When all else fails, general open ended questions such as these from Fiction-L: http://www.webrary.org/maillist/msg/2006/3/Re.discussionquestionssou.html

17. Leading the Discussion • Get in the room first • Begin with background about the book and author • Handout any charts, maps, and/or information if applicable • Make the first question easy • Go with the flow

18. Leading the Discussion • Look around at everyone when you talk • Encourage participation • Begin new line of discussion promptly as old one peters out • Handle disagreements calmly • Keep the balance between personal revelations and reactions to book • Take notes to use during discussion and after to compile a wrap-up for group

19. Closing the Discussion • Keep track of time • Give people a chance for last minute comments • Leave time to speculate on open endings • Summarize the important points and reactions brought out in discussion • Thank people for coming and for their participations • Briefly introduce the next book

20. Why Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet ? • A first novel with huge following and buzz; proven winner with book clubs • Rich and interesting characters • Multi-layered; interesting style (Henry’s voice) • Historical background: WWII from an unfamiliar angle • Universal issues: first love, family, belonging, identity, racial injustice • Resolved but open ending (key)