Good book for a book group?

Question

I am starting a book group. We are a group of 10 people who work together of mixed ages all with different jobs in an academic environment. Any suggestions on books to read and discuss to get us going? Challenging, not totally trashy, but not too heavy either - something that will amuse, make us think a little and get a good discussion going....??

Answer 1

'Thomas the Tank Engine'

Answer 2

My book group read The Book With No Name by Anonymous last year. It was an easy read but it divided the group completely down the middle. Most people loved it, but a few absolutely despised it which made for some interesting discussions.

Answer 3

I think "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" would be good for your book group - though it is quite a long book, so may take at least a couple of weeks to read.  The book is set in the 19th century, when magic returns to England, under the influence of the two magicians in the title.  It is written as a historical document, and is very good.

You can obtain reading group discussion questions here: http://www.jonathanstrange.com/copy.asp?... (if the link does not work, go to www.jonathanstrange.com and then to "Extras" and then to "Downloads" and scroll down!). There is also a summary of the story there for you too, so you can see if it might interest your group before you buy/borrow it.

Another book I can recommend is Gregory Maguire's Wicked, which is based on the Wizard of Oz and tells the story from the Witch's point of view. However, it is a lot deeper than the original children's book, and great for the academic minded. The edition of the book that I own has discussion questions in the back, but you can also obtain discussion notes from: http://www.gregorymaguire.com/books/wick...  As before, this page also includes a summary of the book.

Both books are interesting to study, easy to read but still academic, definitely not trashy, and I think would appeal to males and females, of any age.  

For further suggestions, and for general advice about book groups, this website might also come in handy: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/conten...

Good luck with the group!  

Answer 4

Anything by Irvine Welsh, although if you don;t fancy trawling through the someties harsh scottish 'The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs' is an awesome read.

You need some classics such as Women in Love, The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein.

Post Colonial books to read are ' The Color Purple ' (Alice Walker) & Beloved (Toni Morrison) & ' To Kill a Mocking Bird ( Harper Lee)

Also Dystopic Novels such as ' 1984 ' (Orwell) & ' Animal Farm ' ( Orwell Also) & ' Brave New World ' ( Aldous Huxley)

It would also be fun to struggle through some Chaucer and Shakespeare (a challenge is always welcome)

I would recommend that you all get a collective Amazon account, that way the website will recommend books to you that you have view before / Purchased.

Hope that Helps

Answer 5

Confessions of a Justified Sinner - Justin Hogg

1984 & Animal Farm - George Orwell

The Way the Dead Live - Will Self

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

An Instance of Fingerpost - Iain Pears

The Midwich Cuckoos & Day of the Triffids - John Wydham

The Restraint of Beasts - Magnus Mills

Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

The English Passengers - Matthew Kneale

Death & the Penguin - Andrey Kurkev

The Way we Live Now - Anthony Trollope

Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

The Brief & Frightening Reign of Phil - George Saunders

The Missing Piece - Shel Silverstein

Answer 6

i love james michener books, as far as just good stories.  

Answer 7

Hi there.

I would strongly recommend "The Time Travellers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger as a great book for discussion! If that works, then "The Mysterious Case of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon is another cracker for discussing.

Both of these are recent big hits in literary circles and well worth a look.

Enjoy, Steve.

Answer 8

Try books by John Le Carre

His recent titles include the Constant Gardener and The Mission Song, they explore some interesting themes about how the world views the African continent, historically and in the present. But the stories are good and beautifully written, not to heavy to read, but can provoke a lot of thinking and discussion.

My favourite still is Absolute Friends, in which he set down a modern day conspiracy- based in the war on terrorism and but with origins in the anarchy student movement of 1960s europe. Its a great read.

Answer 9

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

Song of the Sound by Adam Armstrong

No! I don't want to join a book club by Virgina Ironside - this one is really great!

Answer 10

My husband is in a book group at work. Water for Elephants seemed to be a good book to review. Having read it, I think it's a good book whether you're in a group or not.

Answer 11

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause.

Or The Secret Life of Bees, but I can't remember the author.

Both are written for the younger ages, but are very very good nevertheless.

Answer 12

I run a book group and so here are some of the titles that we all enjoyed this year!

Tenderness of Wolves   by Steff Penny

Cold Mountain      By Charles Frazier

Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

The kite Runner   by Khaled Hosseini

My sister's keeper by Jodi Picoult

Your local library should have a 'book chat list' and will get the books for you!

Good Luck!

Answer 13

Try Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins. Quite a big book but easy and can be widely discussed not mentioning the great information this book has. You can also ask your group members to search for information about the author and exchange what you've found out for extra fun and knowledge.

Answer 14

I've just finished reading 'The First Casualty' by Ben Elton.  Try that.

It's not too heavy, not too light either, just a good page turner and interesting to discuss.

It's the story of an imprisoned police inspector/conscientious objector who agrees to go to 1917 Belgium to investigate a murder and becomes embroiled in the carnage of the first world war while trying to catch his murderer

Answer 15

A few ideas:

Angela's Ashes

Frank McCourt

Cold Mountain

Charles Frazier

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

Mark Haddon

Girl with the Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

Life of Pi

Yann Martel

The Lovely Bones

Alice Sebold

Middlesex

Jeffrey Eugenides

Midwives

Chris Bohjalian

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

Alexander McCall Smith

Peace Like a River

Leif Enger

The Red Tent

Anita Diamant

The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd

The Shadow of the Wind

Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Lisa See

The Thirteenth Tale

Diane Setterfield

The Time Traveler's Wife

Audrey Niffenegger

It's important when choosing, not to get something that was just published.  It will be much easier for people to get things from the library if they are no longer on the bestseller lists (or much less expensive to purchase the paperback vs. hardcover).  

Answer 16

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah