BOOK GROUPIE: 26 local book groups share favorite reads
Recently, local mover and shaker Donna Guthrie sent me an e-mail invitation to a party of sorts. The e-mail described the event as “an evening of wine, hors d’oeuvres and a conversation about books.”
Honestly, she probably would’ve gotten me with “an evening of water, corn chips, and a conversation about books,” but the wine and hors d’oeuvres provided an excuse to dress up.
I was excited when I arrived at the beautiful home of the evening’s hostess, Kathleen Ricker. There was magic in the air, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one feeling it.
About 130 women were at this first Colorado Springs Book Club Roundup. The women represented 26 area book clubs. Guthrie and her army of helpers organized the evening in order to establish a network of book clubs.
The hope is that the network can share book recommendations and promote future reading and author events.
Borders sponsored a large tent and chairs, and an anonymous donor supplied refreshments. A Pikes Peak Library District representative discussed the library’s book-bag program, through which book clubs can check out multiple copies of the same book. Professor Joan Klingel Ray, author of “Jane Austen for Dummies,” gave a brief, entertaining talk titled “Why Do We Still Read Jane Austen?”
Much of my evening was spent mingling with book club members. Each attendee had been asked to list three books she would recommend to others, and the lists were printed on everyone’s name tag. The titles made for lively discussion.
The top ten titles most often recommended by the group were:
1. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
2. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
3. “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
4. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
5. “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett
6. “The Millennium Trilogy” by Stieg Larsson
7. “The People of the Book” by Geraldine Brooks
8. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
9. “Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner
10. “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese
I’ve read most of these books, and I have to say Colorado Springs book clubs have very good taste.
If your book club would like to be invited to the next roundup, which is tentatively scheduled for January, contact Linda Nicholos at lnicholos@msn.com. Include the name of your book club coordinator, as well as a telephone number and e-mail address.
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Miller welcomes book
suggestions. Read her blog at
www.anitalaydonmiller.blogspot.com
or e-mail anita.l.miller@att.net.
