When times prevent us from sitting around with our book group in person, we have to get creative! From online chats to old-fashioned mail, options exist for staying in touch with your members and friends. Reading Group Choices offers these ways to stay connected to your group when you can’t meet in person! (And don’t forget to follow our Book a Day picks on Facebook, Twitter, and our blog to boost your reading morale.)

1. Swap a book

Each member chooses someone from the group, and then calls up a local bookstore to have a book sent to that person. (You can keep your selection a secret for greater fun…) The tangible benefits of receiving a book from a friend will do wonders for morale in a time when most everything is turning virtual.

2. Maintain your sessions

Keep those book group meetings on the calendar, but use Skype, Facetime, Zoom, or any of the dozens of screen-sharing options to hold your discussion online. Same time, same structure. You’ll be glad to keep up your regular meeting habit! If you don’t have access to those options, even just picking up the phone and talking to one of your book group members can be just as heartening.

3. Share a line

Send a favorite line from your current book to a group member or friend. Something inspirational, something surprising or beautifully written. A simple text or email once a day can make a huge difference in feeling connected.

4. Create a sacred space

Start a blog, website, or Facebook group for your members to share book recommendations and set goals for the week. Make it a news-free zone: only comments and questions about your reading.

5. Catch up on admin

Remember those tasks your group has been talking about organizing for a while? Now’s the time to get them done. Make a record of the books you’ve read, compile your top-ten favorites, solicit profiles of each member for a guide, or set up a master address list. Take advantage of the pause to get organized!

6. Look forward

Start voting on books for the coming year. Set up a poll with potential titles and send it by email with Survey Monkey. Or mail it to all of your members in hard copy and ask them to fill it out and mail it back. (If you can safely mail it from your residence!) Have fun revealing the results…

7. Meet authors online!

With in-person book tours cancelled, there’s no better time to connect directly with authors. Many are holding live chats and reaching a wide group of readers around the country (and world), including our line-up of author chats on Reading Group Choices! Make a date with group members to tune in, and pose a question.

8. Keep the conversation going

Something as simple as “I just read Emily St John Mandel’s new book and it’s amazing!” can be the start of a conversation or just a connection to people you’re feeling distant from. Pick up the phone or text and check in. Then, once you get back together in person you will have loads to talk about!

Looking for good reads? Our Book a Day program is in full swing. See our running list of recommended titles here!

The post Stay Connected With Your Book Group (When You Can’t Meet in Person) appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

1. Read a book with someone.

Challenge a friend to read a book with you. Whether you meet up to talk about the book after finishing it or you set aside time to read together, this resolution can grow your friendships and check a book or two off of your reading bucket list. Consider it a book group for two: share your insights and theories and come to a better understanding of the book together. Or even choose someone you know but would like to know better!

Also, if you have the goal of reading a long or difficult book, reading it with a friend can keep you on track. Don’t forget to celebrate your eventual triumph—you and your companion can buy each other the next new read!

2. Support local bookstores.

With online shopping making it easy for people to buy books with one click, many local businesses struggle to stay afloat. Make 2020 a year that local bookstores thrive because of your support! Buying a book locally protects the bookstore tradition, keeps tax dollars in the community, and reminds us of the beauty of the printed page—not to mention the fact that it preserves the experience of buying a book in person and being able to ask a seasoned bookseller for recommendations! This new year, on a break at work or during some downtime on the weekend, make it one of your reading resolutions to patronize your local bookstore and buy a new book. You won’t regret it!

3. Keep track of books you want to read.

Sometimes, when you have the time to sit down and read for a while, it can be hard to choose what to read. With so many great books out there, the possibilities can seem overwhelming. So, do yourself a favor this year and keep a list of books that you really want to read. When the opportunity to read arises, you won’t be at a loss. Our annual favorites lists and reading guides compile our top book picks for the year, if you ever need a suggestion!

4. If you don’t like a book, move on to something else.

Most readers have a shelf full of books ‘to be read.’ And many have, at one time or another, started to read one or more of these books without success—thick classics that weigh heavily on you, or something that a relative really wanted you to read. Somehow, the first few pages or chapters didn’t capture your attention, so you put the book back on the shelf, where it sits to this day. This New Year, allow yourself to leave behind books that just aren’t doing it for you. Free up your headspace—and shelf space—for something new that grabs your attention and reminds you why you love reading in the first place.

5. Diversify your reading choices—or zero in.

The New Year can be a fresh start, and for many readers, this means branching out into unfamiliar genres. If you mostly read fantasy, try some sci-fi. If memoirs are your go-to, try picking up some poetry. By expanding the horizons of your reading, you’ll learn new things about yourself (and discover a great new book).

However, if you find that one genre is your all-time favorite, maybe the New Year can be a time to focus in on that genre. Why not make 2020 the year of YA romances? Spending a lot of time reading one genre can open up new perspectives as well.

6. Socialize with your reading.

People often categorize reading as a solitary activity, but it doesn’t have to be. The new year can be a great opportunity to get social as you read. Attend an author’s book signing. Join a website forum or comment on someone’s blog. Follow a new BookTuber (i.e. a Youtuber who makes videos about books). Of course, joining a book group is a great way to go here, since reading is always more fun when you share the experience with other readers!

No matter what reading resolutions you put in place for the new year, and however long they last, enjoy some great books in 2020!

Not sure what to read? We’ve got lots of great book lists on our blog, and check out the Reading Group Choices 2020 guide for a selection of books from all genres!

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Starting a Revolution

Six celebrated authors of historical fiction—Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, E. Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Heather Webb—joined to create Ribbons of Scarlet, a timely story of the power of women to start a revolution and change the world.

In late eighteenth-century France, women did not have a place in politics. But as the tide of revolution rose, women from gilded salons to the streets of Paris decided otherwise—upending a world order that had long oppressed them.

The novel illuminates the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—seven unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.

This turbulent time did more than spark political change. It also had lasting consequences on that most important of French traditions: wine.

Ribbons of Scarlet gives book groups a perfect opportunity to celebrate like a revolutionary, philosopher or royalist with drink recipes paired to your reading!

The Power of Wine

Book clubs and wine are a perfect pairing, and as it happens, so is liquor and the French Revolution.

Nothing is more French than wine . . . At the time of the Revolution, wine was extremely popular across all levels of society—from champagne-sipping châteaux dwellers to the red-wine-favoring working class. By 1789, when Sophie de Grouchy visited Versailles, wine was a daily drink for a majority of Parisians, with approximately seventy-nine gallons consumed yearly per adult male in the capital. All that wine was a significant source of cash for the Ancien Régime. Taxes on alcoholic beverages entering Paris raised more money than consumption taxes on all other commodities combined, and the rate was steep. The price of a barrel of wine tripled as it passed through Paris’s tollgates.

And that, dear readers, is where alcoholic beverages and the French Revolution became partners . . . The good citizens were tired of the tax-inflated prices of their favorite beverage. While some stormed the Bastille, other Parisians made a four-day assault on the city’s tollgates. They destroyed seventy percent of them, and triumphantly rolled carts full of tax-free wine into the city. Some happy soul, doubtless after tapping into one of the celebratory barrels, actually scrawled: “finally we will drink wine at 3 sous, for too long we have been paying 12,” on the barrier de Neuilly.

“Empty All the Bottles…”

Striving for equality means material equality too . . . When the National Constituent Assembly debated how to reform the tax on wine, a number of legislators used the same Revolutionary rhetoric of fairness—insisting “equality be made material”—employed in more lofty Revolutionary discussions.  Ultimately the Assembly abolished the wine tax under tremendous pressure from the people of France. It officially ended on May 1, 1791 and, according to journalist Camille Desmoulins, over 400 wine-filled wagons entered Paris on the stroke of midnight. Later in the Revolution a parody of the La Marseillaise commemorated this victory in the following refrain: “To the table citizens, empty all the bottles: drink, drink a good pure wine which waters our lungs.”

As the Revolution progressed, a Frenchwoman’s (or Frenchman’s) choice of alcoholic beverage became increasingly political . . . In fact, as was true with what one wore, what one drank was seen as indicative of her/his political allegiance. Strident revolutionaries like the Jacobins and sans-culottes drank common red wine, while white wine and champagne remained associated with royalist-leaning aristos (a word fierce market-woman Louise Audu would certainly have pronounced with contempt). Princess Élisabeth, her brother the king, and her sister-in-law Marie Antoinette would certainly have initially enjoyed grands crus (luxury wines) even as they were held captive at the Tuileries . . . although those same wines were forbidden by the time Charlotte Corday arrived in Paris to assassinate Marat.

Drink Recipes for Book Groups!

Just as they are for many book clubs, wine and other spirits were at the center of many Revolutionary-era festivities . . .  During the course of the Revolution, citizens of France repeatedly shared wine at social and communal gatherings, toasting their newfound freedoms.  Let’s all raise a glass to that!

So much for the history . . . let’s get to the booze! Just answer one question and discover the perfect drink recipes to accompany Ribbons of Scarlet. Are you a Revolutionary, a philosopher, or an aristocrat?

A Revolutionary!

I long for my own bonnet rouge and would have marched in the streets with Louise Audu and Pauline Leon…

No multiple-ingredient, fancy mixing will be necessary. Just grab a wine glass and fill it with red (the cheaper the better).

A Philosopher!

I wield ideas not a pike, and I’d love to attend a salon with Sophie de Grouchy or Manon Roland.

What could be more perfect than a brandy-based cocktail to nurse as you mull over political nuances?

Recipe: The Philosophe

What you’ll need:

• A brandy snifter or cocktail glass of your choice (either works for a leather-armchair-idealist don’t you think?)
• 1 1/2 oz. cognac
• 1 oz. Bénédictine
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 3 oz. champagne (left out on the counter by the aristocrats, because that is the way the world works)
• Orange peel curl for garnish if you’re feeling fancy.

Put the cognac, Bénédictine and Cointreau into your glass, top with room temperature bubbly and give a quick stir. Settle into your chair for a long discussion of Ribbons of Scarlet or any philosophical point that tickles your fancy.

An Aristocrat!

Yes I may end up riding to the guillotine in a tumbrel but at least I’ll be in company with the likes of Madame Élisabeth and Emilie de Sainte-Amaranthe.

Nothing but a champagne based cocktail will do. And the touch of red shows your sangfroid even in the face of the Terror’s blade.

Recipe: The Aristo

What you’ll need:

• A champagne flute (the taller and more elegant the better)
• .75 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 1 oz. Chambord
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (fresh tastes best)
• A few fresh raspberries
• French Champagne (or your favorite sparkling wine)

Place a few fresh raspberries in the bottom of your flute. Add the St. Germain, Chambord and Lemon juice, then fill with chilled champagne. Toast the King and Ribbons of Scarlet.

[For citations and sources, please visit this article at our website www.history360presents.com ]

Looking for other creative ideas for your group? Check out literary-themed costumes, and take your group for a walk!

The post Santé! Drink Recipes for Book Groups Inspired by the French Revolution appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

And then there’s the matter of organizing your book collection, open to eternal debate. Genre, color, no scheme at all? Reading Group Choices understands, and we offer a few ideas to help readers arrange that growing home library!

Give Me Function!

When looking at your shelves or piles of books, first decide your goal: Are you frustrated because you can never find that title you’re looking for? If so, then take the functional approach and prioritize good organization.

There are different levels, from macro to micro, depending on your needs.

Conventional wisdom includes sorting into broad and then consecutively smaller groups. Start big with genres such as fiction on one wall or room (a sci-fi bedroom, anyone?), and then subdivide into mystery, historical, fantasy, or classics. Likewise with nonfiction and its sub-categories: biography, true crime, memoir, and others. Complete the taxonomy by alphabetizing by author last name or title within each smallest category. (And put those to-be-read titles at the beginning or end, if you wish!)

If you never want to (literally) lose track of a book, then zoom down to the macro level and be your own home librarian. Several apps can help you catalog your books, so that you have a trackable database of the titles you own, and the ones you’ve lent out.

And if the idea of classifying and sorting linearly doesn’t hold much interest, then consider a different approach…

Mix It Up!

Alternative ways of organizing your books have their advantages. They create interesting relationships between authors and titles (Harry Potter next to Jane Eyre next to The Poet X), and get you to think about them in new ways, like random roommates. It just may freshen up your shelves and energize your collection.

Sorting by color has been the rage (and the controversy) for a while. This method serves readers who have a strong visual memory for the book they want to find, or who just want something pleasing to the eye. Size is another choice: Level off those books and create one clean line with your spines. And for a bolder artistic statement, turning your spines inward has created a neutral look but a reader outrage.

For a twist, consider other large categories to sort by instead of genre, such as theme. Love or the law, coming-of-age or war. These topics can include all kinds of fiction and nonfiction, which you can sort into sub-categories and alphabetize as above. Or go geographic and make country or region the dominant principle, either based on the book’s setting or author’s homeland.

One novel idea is to organize books by when you read them, to create a chronological memory lane on your shelves. And save a place for the books you’ve read with your book group, so that you can revisit the discussions you had (and have a go-to spot when making recommendations for friends or family).

You can also make one grand, unified collection by alphabetizing all genres and types together by author, or by title. For some, there’s great satisfaction in seeing an author’s works all together. Or throw away any sense of organization and allow your books to exist randomly together: genres, themes, sizes, and authors mixed into one great readerly mélange.

However You Organize…

What matters is this: Ask yourself how you think about your books when looking for them, and make that your dominant organizing principle.

And when your tastes or needs change, have fun taking apart your collection and putting it back together a new way!

Have an out-of-control collection and need to weed? We’ve got tips for that as well!

The post How to Organize Your Books: A Guide appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

It’s often difficult, we know. But whether by choice or necessity, the process doesn’t have to be traumatic. Reading Group Choices shares these strategies for de-cluttering your collection: how to decide what to put aside, and then how to make the break with your books!

Ways to Weed

First, there’s the question of what to keep — and what to give away. Daunted by the idea? Consider these tips…

Identify your available space.

Decide how much room you actually have for your books. Is it three tall bookcases, two nightstands, and one desk? Then use that space as a guideline or limit for what to keep. This approach may give you a visual container to work from, instead of the opposite… a mass of books that won’t seem to fit into any space.

Invite a decision maker.

It can be scary to let go of books, but you don’t have to do it alone! A second opinion is valuable when weeding, especially when that person is not emotionally invested. You may own six copies of the first Little House volume (just in case…), but a trusted friend can help you see why three may be more than enough.

Divide and conquer.

Break down the collection into smaller categories, to make the task more manageable. Sci-fi, mystery. College texts, cookbooks. Focus on one genre at a time. Separate the to-be-read titles and determine how long they’ve been waiting: if more than one year, two, or three, and if they’re available at the library, then you’ll have the chance to find them again. Consider those gifts you received from well-meaning family and friends, the ones you never intended to keep. All are good candidates to begin the process.

And while you sort, remind yourself, as librarians do, that a book collection is a living organism.

Letting Books Go

Sorting is the first part, but making the physical break with your books is the second (and maybe harder) part. These approaches may help!

Out of sight, out of mind.

Fill a box or two of potential books to weed and then store them in a place you seldom use: a basement, a high closet shelf, offsite storage. And then forget about them, or set a date at least several months in the future and write it on the box. When you come across or open the boxes later, ask yourself if you missed any of the titles. The extra time and distance may help make the break and remove the immediate emotions that often accompany letting go of objects we think we can’t live without.

Throw a party!

Take the books you’re getting rid of and host a picnic or party with friends and book lovers. Wrap up bundles of “surprise” books, write clues on the packaging and have fun challenging others to guess the titles or authors. And then give them away as prizes! It’s an enjoyable way to send your books off in style. And the presence of trusted friends can make the process more relaxed.

Walk down the Street.

Fortunately there are excellent options for giving new life to your books. Walk that box down to the nearest Little Free Library, where you can be sure other eager readers will find them (and share their own extra tomes in turn). You can do this a few books at a time, to lessen the shock. Also, check with your library and local bookstore, which may accept books for fundraising sales, and know that your books are contributing to a good cause. Or participate in a garage sale and enjoy personally putting your books into the hands of others, like a bookseller for a day!

Old Books, New Books

Paring down doesn’t have to be painful. It can be an opportunity to revisit and reflect on the reading experiences you’ve had. And once you pare down, you’ll be able to invite new, wonderful books into your space. Ready to weed? Enjoy!

Looking for more tips for you and your book group? Browse our advice posts here!

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We wanted to find out why readers love their book groups!

Which is why we asked them to tell us in our 2018 RGC survey. The results are in, and they remind us how valuable reading groups are for connecting with others and expanding the way we think. Want to know what readers enjoy most about being in a group? Here are the top reasons, along with their own words…

1. Stretching Boundaries

“Reading books that I would not normally choose on my own.” This positive aspect of book groups appeared time and again in our survey responses. It’s natural to stick to genres, authors, and styles that you enjoy, but groups invite us to read outside of our comfort zone. Whether it’s a political young adult novel or a collection of essays by a science-fiction master — reading with others expands our boundaries.

“I love it when I discover a book I wouldn’t have picked up on my own. For example, our group just read The Astonishing Color of After. Never would have read it otherwise, and I’m glad I did! Plus, they’re my ‘people!'”

An unexpected pick may lead to your next favorite author. As one reader put it: “I love reading things I would normally never reach for and finding a gem!”

2. New Perspectives

Many readers told us that they love their book clubs not because members share their opinions, but instead challenge them and bring new perspectives. One reader enjoyed “learning the different perspectives each of us bring to the table. Our individual life experiences give each of us such a different view of every story.” And another valued “hearing divergent opinions on same book.”

A group offers the chance to hear a completely different take on a book, based on each member’s background and beliefs. “18 of us from extremely varied backgrounds and education levels. Lots of different ways to view the world,” as one reader said. “My favorite group has mostly millenials and it is interesting getting their take on the same book!” said another.

“I would say our groups motto is ‘Not everyone will like every book we read and that makes the discussion even better.'”

You may walk away from the discussion with a new understanding!

3. Coming Together

In addition to expanding frontiers and embracing differences, readers also expressed the desire to come together: “We are of different ages, interests, and have a variety of tastes and opinions. Our commonality—
love of books.”

There’s just no substitute, as the world gets busier and news never stops, for sharing a moment over a common interest. Some groups have bonded for a long time: “I have formed friendships since
beginning 15 years ago.” And some continue to discover new things about one another: “I learn a lot about topics but just as important, about other members.”

One word that came up multiple times when readers talked about their groups? “Camaraderie.”

4. Just Plain Fun

And of course, our readers simply love the company of other book lovers and having a good time!

“The women in my book club are diverse, thoughtful, fun, and clever readers (and people).”

Our respondents cited “being social with other readers” enjoying the “sisterhood among women,” and “just being part of a group who loves reading as much a me” as reasons for coming back to the book group table every month. The social aspect is key, when so much of reading is a solitary act.

In the end, more than one reader summed up what they love best about their groups: “Everything!” And we couldn’t agree more.

Explore our other 2018 survey results, including our most-read books from Reading Group Choices!

The post Why Readers Love Their Book Groups: 2018 Survey Results appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

There are lots of great lists and guides for which titles to choose (including right here on Bookmark, our blog!). But we want to focus on how books get chosen. Who does the choosing, and how are decisions made?

There’s no right or wrong way to do it. With book clubs run by a library or organization, it often makes sense for a librarian or other leader to choose the titles on their own. These groups may be open to the public, with members that change from month to month, and the organizers may have access to special resources.

But if your group is looking for ways to involve all members in the book selection process, read on! Reading Group Choices offers three models below, along with pros and cons, to help give everyone a voice.

But First: How Often?

Some groups set aside a special meeting to choose their books for the whole year. Others prefer to select a few months at a time. The whole year approach offers stability, with plenty of time for readers to plan ahead. All of the administrative work occurs up front, so that your group can instead focus on the reading and discussions.

Yet the same approach comes with less flexibility, in the case of schedule interruptions, changes in membership, or titles that appear later in the year. One compromise is to adopt a six-month approach, to balance stability and flexibility.

Talk to your group about what works best!

Model #1: Members Advocate

In this model, members choose a title and then advocate for it to the group during a special selection meeting. They may present a brief background, critical praise or reviews, and why they are enthusiastic to read it. All members take turns advocating for their book, and then the group votes for 3, 6, 12 — however many titles the group is planning in advance.

Pros: Each member has the chance to personally advocate for a title they’re excited to read. Members can indulge their personal tastes and genres, and the vote gives everyone a say in the process.

Possible Cons: After voting, some members may take a result personally if their title isn’t selected.

Model #2: Members Anonymous

This approach works the same way as #1 above, but suggestions are submitted in advance to a group leader. Members can still include background, praise, and other reasons for selecting a title. But the leader compiles and delivers a list, which is then put to a vote.

Pros: Since no one knows who suggested which title, votes won’t be taken personally if a member’s idea isn’t chosen.

Possible Cons: Individuals don’t have the opportunity to advocate for the books they love, and to express themselves directly.

Model #3: Members Guaranteed

With this approach, each member is guaranteed a choice. At a special selection meeting, each member comes prepared to present and advocate for 2-3 titles. The rest of the group then votes for one of the titles and assigns it to a particular month or session. The process is repeated with other members until all the months are filled.

Pros: Every member is guaranteed to have a book included for discussion, which encourages investment. Plus, the group still has a choice between 2-3 titles, so they retain their say.

Possible Cons: The group is limited to choosing titles that particular members want to read, even if a majority of the group isn’t interested.

The Bottom Line

Whatever your group’s strategy, the most important result is for all members to feel like a true part of the group when it comes to selecting books. That means feeling involved, empowered to make decisions, and respected for their personal contributions.

The best model is the one that works best for your group, so use the suggestions above to start a discussion!

Need help with ideas for titles? We’ve got plenty on our site, including our list of readers’ favorites. And don’t forget the Reading Group Choices annual print guide, with over 60 recommendations! Order your copy here.

The post How to Choose Books for Your Reading Group appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

There’s no single way to run a book group. And when the weather’s nice, it’s a perfect time to take a break from the kitchen table or community room and head outdoors. Walking book groups combine a bit of exercise with their discussion — before, after, or during their walk.

Consider the benefits:

* Fresh air and movement stimulate energy and can result in new ideas and insights into a book

* Walking naturally leads a group to pair off and recombine, giving everyone a chance to talk more intimately with different members

* Being mobile lets your group experience a book’s setting: a walk in a nature preserve to match an eco-themed read, or on city streets when reading a hard-boiled mystery

* Any form of exercise keeps your readers healthy!

Reading Group Choices presents a few walking book groups — two in the United States, two in the United Kingdom — who love to take their discussions outside. Use their approach to plan your own walking group session! Plus, we’ve added some outdoor-themed reads to complement your walk.

Happy trails!

Alpine Trails Book Group

The Alpine Trails Book Group combines their love of reading and the outdoors by organizing monthly hikes and discussions. They select nature-themed books to read, and explore the trails around Seattle, where the group is based. Their blog features reading lists and accounts of past meetings, including a special mushroom-hunting expedition. The group is geared toward women but accepts all who wish to join. Visit their site or Facebook page for more information.

Walking Book Group of Elgin

The Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Illinois sponsors this monthly walking group. First the members take a 45-minute walk along a track or a route along the Fox River, and then they return to the community center for a discussion. Recent reads include The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. Visit the library’s website to see the full calendar of selections. The group is free and open to all.

York Bike Belles: Walking Book Group

The York Bike Belles organization formed in 2014 in the city of York, England to promote cycling and healthy exercise. Their event offerings include a Walking Book Group, free and open to the public. Each month, the group selects a theme and provides recommended titles. (A recent theme was “Animals”.) Participants can choose a suggested title or read a book of their own choice on the theme. Everyone shares and discusses their book during a one-hour walk, followed by a visit to a café. Visit their website or Facebook page for more info.

Number Seven Dulverton: Walks & Talks

This walking book group turns six in 2019! The Number Seven bookshop in Dulverton, England hosts a quarterly walk and book discussion in the woods. Participants purchase the book from the store as a “ticket”, and walks last roughly two hours. Recent reads include Everything Under by Daisy Johnson and The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry. Visit the website to view the reading list from previous years.

Feeling the fresh air?

Now that your circulation and inspiration are picking up, here are a few books about walking and the outdoors to get you started!

Wanderlust

Rebecca Solnit

Drawing together many histories–of anatomical evolution and city design, of treadmills and labyrinths, of walking clubs and sexual mores–Rebecca Solnit creates a fascinating portrait of the range of possibilities presented by walking. Arguing that the history of walking includes walking for pleasure as well as for political, aesthetic, and social meaning, Solnit focuses on the walkers whose everyday and extreme acts have shaped our culture, from philosophers to poets to mountaineers. She argues for the necessity of preserving the time and space in which to walk in our ever more car-dependent and accelerated world.

Raising Wild: Dispatches from a Home in the Wilderness

Michael P. Branch

For over a decade Michael P. Branch has been writing about life in Nevada’s Great Basin Desert with an audacity, lyricism, and wit all his own. In Raising Wild, Branch offers an intimate exploration of the western high desert. Here we find the wild and extreme land of caliche and juniper, where pronghorn antelope run and mountain lions stalk, where wildfires and snowstorms threaten in equal measure, and where Branch, his wife, and their two curious little girls brazenly live among the packrats and ground squirrels, rattlesnakes and scorpions. In Branch’s hands, this exceedingly barren and stark landscape becomes a place teeming with energy, surprise, and an endless web of connections that ultimately includes his family and home.

H Is for Hawk

Helen MacDonald

When Helen Macdonald’s father died suddenly on a London street, she was devastated. An experienced falconer—Helen had been captivated by hawks since childhood—she’d never before been tempted to train one of the most vicious predators, the goshawk. But in her grief, she saw that the goshawk’s fierce and feral temperament mirrored her own. Resolving to purchase and raise the deadly creature as a means to cope with her loss, she adopted Mabel. Heart-wrenching and humorous, this book is an unflinching account of bereavement and a unique look at the magnetism of an extraordinary beast.

Thousand Miler

Melanie Radzicki McManus

In thirty-six thrilling days, Melanie Radzicki McManus hiked 1,100 miles around Wisconsin, landing her in the elite group of Ice Age Trail thru-hikers known as Thousand-Milers. In prose that is alternately harrowing and humorous, McManus takes you with her on an “into-the-wild” Ice Age experience through Wisconsin’s forests, prairies, wetlands, farms, and far-flung small towns. Follow along as she worries about wildlife encounters, wonders if her injured feet will ever recover, and searches for an elusive fellow hiker known as Papa Bear. Woven throughout her account are details of the history of the still-developing Ice Age Trail—one of just eleven National Scenic Trails—and helpful insights and strategies for undertaking a successful thru-hike.

Looking for more ways to add some variety to your discussions?

See our post about reading plays with your group! And if good weather gets you thinking about summer, see our recommendations for taking a seasonal approach to your reading.

The post Take Your Book Group for a Walk appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

It’s a tricky subject for book groups, and it all depends on your goals. Reading Group Choices offers these thoughts on when and how to decide if opening your group is the best next move.

Reasons for keeping a group closed:

• Space limitations
  Sometimes groups meet in restaurants, coffee shops, small apartments, and other spaces that restrict the number of members.
• Personal connection
  If your group is long established with friends or family, and if the discussions are enjoyable and provide a space for you to connect with the people you know best — then it’s natural to keep your current membership in place.

Reasons for opening up a group:

• New voices and perspectives
  Your group may be ready for fresh opinions and new reading tastes!
• Inconsistent or falling attendance
  Groups sometimes naturally drift apart as members become busy, and perhaps you find your core attendance becoming smaller and smaller.

Ask yourself what you fear:

When opening a group, consider these questions: Why are you or other members resistant to adding new readers? Why do you think it might disrupt the dynamic? Is all disruption bad?

There’s nothing wrong if your group shares the same opinion about your books, and has the same taste in genre. But it might be a welcome change to have someone at the table who doesn’t like a book, or who can offer a new genre to explore. Ask yourself if the change you resist is for personality reasons (perhaps this new person is known to be dominant or impolite), or because you want to stay comfortable.

And even a more argumentative person may challenge others to think about and defend their opinions more carefully!

How to open your group:

Changing or adding members can be difficult. What’s most important is communication. If certain members want to bring in new readers but others do not, the group may end up splitting apart. When an original group doesn’t want to grow or merge, it’s common for some members to start or join a second club. It’s important to have a discussion about what’s best for the group.

Consider meeting offsite for coffee, dinner, or a drink with the intention to discuss your group’s future. Picking a neutral location and a public atmosphere may allow people to share their feelings more openly. Start with a simple statement such as, “I would like to find a way to begin including new members.” Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of remaining closed or opening up.

This type of conversation may need someone to lead it. If your group has a coordinator or leader, then that person can act as a mediator. If not, consider creating that role for one of your members, or better still, have the position rotate among members, changing every six months. Constructive discussions about your group may happen more easily when someone is in charge.

Add some variety… without adding members!

If your group isn’t able or ready to open to new members, some alternatives exist.

Hold a special meeting twice a year where members can bring a friend. Call it a book club social: You can still hold a discussion, but perhaps relax the rules or choose a different location so that existing members can mingle with new faces. This will also allow potential members to meet each other, which may result in them forming a new group!

Hold a book group exchange. If you’re in more than one group, or have friends in other groups, pick a month to “exchange” a couple of members. This will give everyone a window into how other clubs operate. You might come away with new ideas!

If you have a large pool of members, with a rotating handful who come, consider adding a second, different meeting time and place each month. If you meet every third Thursday evening, add a Saturday morning session. Members will have a choice every month to fit their schedules, and the composition of the group will change without inflating your numbers.

What to do if you’re shut out:

It can be frustrating to be new to a community and turned away from a book club because it has a member limit. Sometimes bookstores offer groups that become very popular, with a long wait list. Consider starting with another, newer group, even if the genre is different from what you usually read. Or consider forming your own! Talk to your local independent bookstore or library and let them know you’re interested. They may have heard the same from others, and can likely connect you to a new group.

Take a look at our Book Group City Tours for places to get started with groups, and investigate your own city or town!

The bottom line:

Whether you keep your solid core of readers or open your membership to new attendees, the goal is the same. Your book group should ideally:

• Enjoy a stimulating discussion
• Exchange ideas and opinions
• Indulge a love of books and reading
• Connect with other readers

In the end, what matters is a rewarding experience and hours of good reading and discussion. Happy reading!

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We want to hear from you! Email us or write to us on Facebook with how you’ve handled opening your group, and we’ll feature your responses in an updated post!

The post Adding New Members to Your Book Group appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

Vacations, road trips, BBQs, camp for the kids, and long days of sun: Summer can be full. Schedules get thrown off, people leave town, and it’s not always easy to stick to a regular book club meeting. Also, our reading moods can change with the weather, leaving us to crave different types of books than we might read with our group. So what do to?

Reading Group Choices presents some alternative ways to read this summer. Here are six ways to find a balance between your seasonal moods (and calendars) while staying connected with your group!

#1. Have a reading party!

The idea here is not to discuss one book, but to gather your group and share what you’re reading individually. Each member talks about a title, why they chose it, and whether they recommend it. The meeting can be more casual and festive (see #4 below), and everyone can indulge their individual reading tastes. You can also incorporate a meeting like this at any time of year.

Variation: Get together simply to read with one another. Begin by sharing a little information about the book, and then spend an hour reading together. Find a park or porch, open lawn chairs or spread out blankets. It’s a way to share your love of reading with your group members — with less of the discussion.

And if the idea interests you more, check out silent reading clubs that exist in a number of cities across the country and the world. You can even start your own chapter!)

Variation: Plan this meeting for the end of the summer, when you can report back or choose your top read for the season. It will give all members the freedom to follow their personal interests, and something to look forward to after a break!

#2. Set a challenge

There are many creative lists out there challenging readers to choose titles that satisfy certain categories. For example, you might track down…

A book published posthumously

A book of true crime

A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)

A comic written and drawn by the same person

Circulate a list to your members and have everyone select a book that fits a different category, or assign them randomly. (Don’t worry about finding a match… the Reading Group Choices site offers lots of options!) And then plan a gathering at the end of summer to discuss how you did. It just might lead your group to a new favorite author or undiscovered genre.

You can also use a list as a personal challenge for your own reading.

#3. Read seasonally

Just like the farmers market! Summer brings cherries and peaches, and readers too can select books that fit the season. The time may not be suited to a dense, 800-page historical novel (though of course our tastes differ!). But how about something intended to be enjoyed in warm weather? A book where the pages turn a bit easier, like the breeze?

Maybe it’s the season to follow the fiery, drink-loving Auntie Poldi as she solves crime in Sicily.  Or head to the beaches of Florida for a Prohibition-era tale of love and betrayal…

#4. Take it outdoors

Book clubs are great around a living room or kitchen table, but with the long days and warm weather, now’s the perfect time to take advantage of spaces you normally can’t use. Give everyone in the group a break from cleaning up their house to host and instead choose a park or forest preserve—or just the patio of your favorite coffee shop. A new setting may add a new dynamic to your discussion!

#5. Catch up on a series

With maybe some extra plane or car time on your calendar (or just some afternoons in the shade), summer is a perfect time to catch up on a series. Perhaps your group read the first in a series, and you always meant to continue. Now’s the time!

Amy Stewart’s Kopp sisters series is a favorite, based on the true-to-life story of one of the nation’s first female crime-fighters. You can begin with the first book, Girl Waits With Gun. Or skip across the pond to follow forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway in Elly Griffiths’ series of mysteries, including The Crossing Places and  A Dying Fall.

You can even give your group the summer to read them together, and then reunite for a discussion of several books.

#6. Take a break!

Last but not least, there’s no reason not to indulge in a little personal reading time this summer. Attack your To-Be-Read pile, or catch up on the books that didn’t get selected for group discussion during the year. It will recharge your reading batteries for all of the great discussions you’ll have in the fall!

The post Summer: To Every Season There Is a Reader! appeared first on Reading Group Choices.