What Books Make Good Book Discussions Books?

As I mentioned in my last post, I am starting an online book discussion group. The group will consist of books that have been chosen and readers can post their comments, creating a blog/forum type feel.

I have a few books that I have already chosen to add to the reading list, but I am wondering what do people or groups look for when they are choosing books for their reading lists? Are there certain qualities that they look for in their choosing?

I really want this group to take off and I want to make it an enjoyable and enriching experience for all. Please give me your input. It will be greatly appreciated.

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realitycheck's picture

Choosing Books

I found this for you, it's from a large book group:
Good books for discussion will be those that are "literary" in the sense that the author’s purpose was above and beyond providing entertainment. Books that are plot-driven like mysteries or romances do not make good discussion books. They might be engrossing or suspenseful while you are reading them, but after you know the outcome, there is not much to discuss. Books that provide some ambiguity are good choices. Books that some people are likely to hate and some likely to love are good choices. It is helpful if at least one member has already read the book and can recommend it as a good choice. A good book choice should spark a few hours’ discussion of character development, writing style, and themes. If carefully chosen, non-fiction books such as biographies, autobiographies, and those dealing with history can also generate good discussions. As time goes on, you may choose to do poetry or short stories or plays.

Some groups like to read on a theme such as all Native American authors or all books by Women Authors or all Pulitzer Prize Winners. Using prize winners such as Pulitzer or Nobel or National Book Critics Circle Awards will give you the widest variety. The Great Books Foundation offers anthologies of writings already organized around a theme such as Love and Marriage, Living with the Past, and Identity and Self Respect. Take chances! Vary your selection. Try for a mix of classic and contemporary, well-known and lesser known, male and female authors, American and foreign-born authors, etc. Most members join book groups to discover books and authors that they would not be reading otherwise. Try to coordinate your reading with local visits by authors or with plays performed by local theater groups.

IN ADDITION, here's the link with more info if you wanna check it out:
http://www.penfieldlibrary.org/discussion_groups.htm

*BTW - Your site looks nice.

Thanks, RealityCheck

Thank you very much for the information. I really appreciate you looking that up for me. I know that we have had disagreements in the past, but I hope that you will participate once the group gets up and running. I'm sure that you will have some interesting items to contribute.

realitycheck's picture

Yea, Yea, Yea...

Yea, Yea, Yea...Just kidding. I just might take you up on your offer. I mean after all you and I are both "idiots" right? Two idiots are better than one! lol.

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