1/4/07

Talking about books

If one of your new years resolutions was to read more, you might want to consider joining a book discussion group at your local library. Many libraries around the state have them and it is a great way to find out about books you might not come across otherwise. It can also be a wonderful opportunity to talk about what you have read and to get more out of a book by hearing other people's ideas about it. It can also help motivate you to finish a book if there is a deadline!

Here is a random sampling of some upcoming book discussions in NH public libraries:

Tucker Free Library in Henniker will disuss Lying Awake by Mark Salzman on January 10th and The Seal Wife by Kathyrn Harrison on February 14th as part of their TALK IT UP AT TUCKER FREE program.

The Monthly Book Discussion Group at Tracy Memorial Library in New London meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the library. They will be discussing Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood on February 6th.

At the Portsmouth Public Library upcoming Adult Book Discussions include The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (which I loved!) on January 8 & 9 and The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloane Wilson on February 12 & 13.

The Library Book Club at the Plaistow Public Library meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:15pm at the library. They several books set in NH coming up including Here at Eagle Pond by Donald Hall on February 7th and Trailerpark by Russell Banks on March 7th.

Manchester City Library's book group will be discussing The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century by Thomas L. Friedman on January 11th at 7pm. This nonfiction book explores how advances in technology and communications are increasing globalization and making our world 'flat'. On February 8th they will discuss My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

The Aaron Cutler Memorial Library in Litchfield has a couple of book groups: Their Light N' Lively group will be reading Driving Mr. Albert in January and All Booked Up will read Colors of the Mountain for February.

Visit your local public library to see what books they will be talking about!

1 comment:

Carol Eyman said...

Recently we tried a new twist in book discussions at the Nashua Public Library: a book discussion blog. During November we used a blog to discuss "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. You can have a look at it here: http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/readers/

We tried blogging a book discussion in the hope that it would draw in people who can't make it to the library for a discussion, whether it's because they have long commutes and can't get here by 7 p.m., or they have small children and find it hard to get a babysitter, or maybe they are elderly and homebound.

As the discussion leader, one thing I didn't like about blogging was that my posts are what you see first when you go to the blog. To see other participants' comments, you have to click on the "Comments" links. I would prefer to see posts and comments given equal screen real estate, if you will. But what do others think?