WHAT do you think we should read next?

As discussed at tonight's fabulous gathering, to help pick our next read you need to:

1. post your suggestion(s)*
2. vote on a yet to be set-up poll (on this blog) based on the suggestions
3. come next wednesday where we will vote between the top three or so novels

That would be 7.00 pm, October 21. This will be a quickie---without any pre-reading attached. Be excited.

*A note on suggestions: try to pick widely-likable books that we hopefully haven't read. And if you pick it, be ready to convince us to read it.

one last thought: Wow. Loved the discussion tonight--beautiful contributions and insights.

in a week

Hello All.

I saw Britt today in the HBLL and she has actually finished Book Thief. Which must mean that: (a) I'm.....behind.....in reading and (b) you probably are too and (c) our next successful gathering is approaching.

Final Discussion of Book Thief will be held 7 pm on Wednesday October 14th. (As always, location will be 732 N 800 E #33. And contrary to some book group members' beliefs, the fireplace in that location is fake, so won't be flickering). Anyone want to volunteer to lead our thoughts and musings? Bring a divine eatable?

AND. (What's been keeping everyone from sleeping at night): what book will house our next reading experience?

Here's how we're going to do this:

1. Think of a book you'd like us to read (remember our group, what you think would encourage spritely conversation, something that has some good sort of merit, something we haven't all read)
2. Voice your suggestion as a comment to this blog post. Include the book's title and author
3. We'll assemble the choices and the secret book-choosing committee of the Book Group will hopefully pare them down to 2 or 3 fantastic stand-outs.
4. We'll vote on Wednesday (secret ballots or blind voting or some such no doubt), and start the flow of excitement for our next book.

final thing I'll say: happy TUESDAY. and.......why aren't you all on the first floor of the hbll? it's basically THE place to be. if you're an accounting major.

Come. Tomorrow!

Oh, wow. It's time for a reminder.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30th--come to Wellington II #33 at 7:00 pm for BOOK GROUP, gathering 2.

I understand that Book Group is probably not your current prioritized reading. I believe in school, so I'd be worried if it was. We can still be friends and you can still be a book-group-member if you (a) didn't read the book at all, (b) read 23 pages, or (c) now think book group is the worst idea you've heard this week. If you've read the 303 pages, brilliant. If not, you're still invited to come and pretend to have read them and talk about the book. (Or not pretend...either way is acceptable.)

If you can't come this week, don't fret. Come when you can.

AND. lastly. I adore this book. I'm giddy with excitement to chit-chat about it with all of you.

Erm, that was a success, I'd say

Wednesday's gathering convinced me that decisions to start book groups are wise. We are going to have a lovely time filled with great people, good food, brilliant conversation, and some excellent reading.

As a reminder (and for those who couldn't make it to Meeting #1):

We'll be meeting every other week on Wednesdays at 7 pm. And we decided to always make it at Wellington II # 33, so that's where you should come. Next meeting...

• Wednesday September the 30th at 7 pm
• By then you should be to the end of Section 5 (page 303)*
• Chelsea and Britt are bringing some kind of delectable goodness to eat
• Katie's "facilitating" the discussion (I think that's the word that we decided best describes that role)
  

A couple of other things:

• A sign of good discussions to come: "I didn't know they thought about the Holocaust in Australia."If you want to read more about the author, Markus Zusak, check out his website.
• As you're reading, think about references to color. How do they affect the story? And also consider the narrator's voice: how is it different from other narrators' styles you've read? how does it influence your reading experience?
• And Hillary, what a chocolate pie that was.

*The page number is different than we had discussed. Because I can't do math, and no one corrected me at our gathering. Rebecca--our resident math minor--pointed out that half of 550 is not 250. So we're reading to the end of Section 5, which is closer to halfway. Page 303.