Wednesday, July 25, 2012 9:08 am
Booklist’s 2 library experts, Lucy Lockley and BGB’s own
Kaite Stover, have shared their notes with us, selections below.
From Lucy:
From Lucy:
- Once
you have chosen which title to use for a book discussion, the next step is
usually to find title-specific discussion questions.
Some places to check are: - Author
and publisher websites – either may have a prepared list of questions
which can be printed off and are ready to use
- Print
resources such as:
- The
Reader’s Choice: 200 Book Club Favorites
by Victoria Golden McMains (not owned
by SCLD, SPL owns-circ) has
older titles but ones which have been enjoyed by numerous book groups
- Read
‘Em Their Writes: a Handbook for Mystery and Crime Fiction Book
Discussions by Gary Warren Niebuhr (not owned
by SCLD, SPL owns-circ)
- Reading
Women: a Book Club Guide for Women’s Fiction
by Nanci Milone Hill (not owned by SCLD or SPL)
- Fellowship
in a Ring: a Guide for Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Groups
by Neil Hollands (not owned by SCLD or SPL)
- If
you can serve food during your discussions, you might be interested in:
- The Book Club Cookbook: Recipes and Food for Thought
from Your Book Club’s Favorite Books and Authors, 2nd edition by July Gelman and Vicky Levy Krupp (not owned by SCLD, SPL
owns-circ)
- To
add some appeal to you discussion or set the stage for the next book
title, leaders may want to set up a display with read-alikes or other
tools such as:
- Primary
Documents – for a discussion on the book The Autobiography of Mrs.
Tom Thumb, one discussion leader found newspaper articles and
pictures which were specific to the subject and the time period
- Props
– spruce up a display by using anything which might make it more
appealing; for example: for a display on the book Homer &
Langley (infamous hoarders) one discussion leader used stacks of
newspapers, an old lantern, a beat-up fan (from the 1940′s), old spoons –
things that might have been packed away in an attic
- Using
technology to enhance the discussion:
- Laptop
/ WiFi Access / Projector – these can expand a book discussion to reach
beyond the meeting local. For example: a recent book discussion on Born
to Run by Christopher McDougall (the book contains no map or
photos) used a laptop during the discussion to access the author website
to find pictures of the runners mentioned in the book, to search Google
for a map of the Sierra Madre mountains to ‘see’ where the Tarahumara
people live, and find the product website for Vibram Fivefingers or
barefoot shoes (one of the individuals discussed in the book is
“Barefoot” Ted, the ultrarunner who actually runs marathons barefoot!)
- Conference
Call – for a live interview with the author during your book discussion, contact
the publisher, author’s representative or the author to try and arrange
one for the date and time when your group will be discussing their book
- Video
Chat: use Skype or
Google Voice and Video Chat
to have a live, in-person (visual and audio) interview with the author or
with an expert on the topic of the discussion title
- Book
Trailers: use YouTube or BookRiot to find a video book trailer
for the upcoming discussion title or for some of the read-alikes. Many
publishers are now producing book trailers for their titles, especially
their book discussion suggestions so leaders wanting to try using book
trailers should check their websites.
- Do
your meetings keep going outside the current discussion topic? Members
want to talk about something else? You can offer a program for that! Let’s
Talk About It!: A News & Current Events Discussion Group is a
group we do in the St. Charles City-County Library District. It provides
the perfect forum for anyone who enjoys talking about current events and
headlines in the news.
From Kaite:
In this advanced technological age where we are all
bombarded with the news, current affairs, and issue of the moment 24/7, it’s no
wonder that our readers want to sort out the miasma of info in book groups.
Most book groups have a tendency to avoid these types of books because usually
one one title is being discussed and it’s important the library and the
programs is supports appear unbiased. But there’s a way to let readers explore
their own beliefs and opinions and keep the conversation on an even keel with
current events.
You may be wondering why would any book group choose to read
any of these pairings if conversation could turn into a shouting match. Readers
gravitate towards these types of books because they want more details and
understanding than the news can provide. They want to feel informed with sound
opinions. They want to understand why people and society behave the way they
do.
People want to feel in-the-know and on top of the news and
this is why they pay attention to the books of the moment. These are also the
books getting media attention so book group leaders need to be aware of them,
too.
What appeal elements should
selectors be looking for? Can’t escape the popularity of some
of these books, but you can look at them with a questioning eye. Most readers
will enjoy the learning aspect of books about current affairs. The tone and
story line adopted by the author with an air of expertise. The author’s intent
is also important. Is the author supporting or refuting an established
position. Is the author tracking the development of an issue, investigating,
persuading. Is the argument skewed? Reasoned? Merely explanatory? Is the author
looking to provide insight or just incite a reader? Writing style, amount of
detail and pacing will be working with the above concerns.
Balance the selections—opportunity
to offer two readings—confirm and explore. This gives readers the opportunity
to consider a differing viewpoint in the interest of understanding the
opposition to their own. Some readers may hold a viewpoint and need further
support or education. Don’t need to ask which is a readers preference, and in
some cases, it’s better for the conversation if readers are unaware of
participant’s particular stance on an issue.
Bring some background—If
time allows, have some additional background information on the topic at hand.
Recent accounts in the news, other books, a quick history of the topic with
facts. Having this info can be helpful if conversation gets a little heated.
Can use it as a “cooler” and then steer dialogue in another direction.
Managing the conversation—keep
it focused on the books and be ready for animated conversation from
participants who may usually be on the quiet side. Discussing these books, I
feel, requires a little more preparation from facilitators and more awareness
of the body language and moods of the readers around the table. The point is to
generate a good discussion and you don’t want to drive any reader away because
conversation became too heated or personal.
- For
understanding the appeals of nonfiction, particularly books about social,
political, economic, cultural issue, consult The Readers’ Advisory
Guide to Nonfiction by Neal Wyatt (Ref at SV and NS: 025.54 WYATT). Each chapter on a popular nonfiction subject
area comes with reading lists. Chapter 11 will be the most useful for book
groups looking to explore readings in current events.
- The
Real Story and The Inside Scoop,
both by Sarah Statz Cords (not owned by SCLD, SPL owns Real Story-circ),
an RA expert in nonfiction are treasures of discussable titles. Lists of
titles to start with, fiction readalikes, and solid essays on the
characteristics and elements that draw readers to a particular subject.
The Inside Scoop has a chapter devoted to political reporting and a
subsection on Hot Button Issues. Great resource for finding titles that
balance each other.
Controversial topics in a book group can generate a little
apprehension, but don’t let this stop you from introducing reading that could generate
a lively conversation. Your readers may surprise you with their discussion and
will welcome the chance to apply their own world view to their reading and share
it with others. Book groups an arena for public discourse. What a civilized
place to start!
