I have always loved books and books! ~ Sheila
Here are two hundred reader-tested answers to the question “What have you read that’s good?” The Readers’ Choice is the first book to feature titles based on the recommendations of numerous book clubs. Victoria McMains has collected two hundred favorites of more than seventy reading groups nationwide, ideal for book group members looking for a “good read,” busy people seeking enjoyable books outside the bestseller lists, or anyone who wants to read more but isn’t sure where to start.
Combining her skills as a book reveiwer and a veteran book group member, McMains provides brief, captivating profiles of a diverse mix of fiction and nonfiction. There are love stories and war stories, fantasy and political intrigue, biography and nature-and much more. Each profile highlights the unique traits of the book and ends with a few questions for group favorites as well as little-known gems that have been discovered and treasured. Indexes organize the entries by title and subject matter, helping readers find books that appeal to their interest. For anyone wanting to learn the easy essentials of starting a book club, check out McMains’s introduction.
In My Opinion:
In my reading room I have one shelf dedicated to books such as this one. They are books that recommend must reads before I die, book club companions, how to organize and run a successful book discussion…. the titles go on and on. I am thrilled to add this one to that shelf. The Readers’ Choice is 200 Book Club Favorites that have been the top picks from more than 70 reading groups nationwide.
I couldn’t wait to pop my head into this one and see what other groups are reading and recommending!
It opens to information on how to start a bookclub answering questions as to how often to meet, how big, will you serve food, how will you choose books… All of this I love to read as even though my group has been meeting wince August of 2001, I am always interested in ways to tweek our discussions so we can get more out of them, with 18 active members now in our group – that tweeking becomes more important.
Here are a few of the book suggestions that were made:
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom(I have to agree, while I didnt read this with my book club, I can see where it would be a greta one to discuss with a group!)
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood (this sounds good and uhhhh….. AWKWARD…. I havent read anything by this author yet!)
Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg (I have read Berg but not this particular book)
The Diary of Mattie Spencer by Sandra Dallas (Interesting… I have read this book and several others by this author and while I enjoy the reads, I would not have thought of this to be a top book club pick – it must be that this book reads like a fictional diary and the voice of our main character Mattie is done in a way that makes you want to believe it is non fiction…. )
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (On my shelf… still unread. A book about a soldier who decides to leave his hospital bed and walk home even as the war rages on…. )
Cleopatra’s Sister by Penelope Lively (Hmmm… I have read Cleopatra’s Dughter…. In The Readers’ Choice this recommendation comes with a warning that it is easy to become a Penelope Lively addict… her book Heat Wave is also in this list of top book club reads)
The English Patient by Michale Ondaatje (would you believe I have not read the book or seen the movie?)
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (Translated from German this is another one sitting on my shelf waiting on….me)
The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd (Oh! Yet another I have not read nor do I own…)
What I have put here in this review is only a tiny sampling of the recommended book club reads. While I have read probably a little more than a handful of the titles offered, sadly none of them were with my book club. As our group is so big we tend to stick to newer releases (unless it is classic month) so we are able to find enough copies for everyone without anyone having to work hard to find the book or pay a lot of money.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a gift to the reader in your life. As I read the book descriptions of the ones I was not too familiar with I was finding I wanted to read them, if not with my group then at least for me.
About The Author:
Combining her skills as a book reviewer and a veteran book group member, McMains provides brief, captivating profiles of a diverse mix of fiction and nonfiction. Since 1997, Victoria Golden McMains has chaired the Bay Area Book Reviewers Association (BABRA). Her popoular “Book Club Favorites” column is published monthly in the Press Democrat, the New York Times–owned daily newspaper serving northern California. Several of her short stories have been publihsed in literary magazines. She lives with her family in Healdsburg, California.
I received my review copy of this books from Harper Collins
Book Journey 
While I’ve seen books like this out there, it’s always interesting to see what each one contains. I mean you can ask a handful of people for suggestions in one palce and another in a different location and get totally different answers….definitely increasing the size of TBR piles everyone!
GMR, with this book when I seen they were taking suggestions from 70 bookclubs I was thinking the pool of suggestions was so small. There are so many groups out there! While I would say that I did not see any of my book club all time favorites on the list, I was able to pick up some new titles that may have missed me entierly if not for seeing them in this grouping. ANd yeah…. totally know about what you mean with the TBR monster pile! 🙂
Sounds like something every book club should have. My book club is nearly always looking for newer books and I think we might be missing some great ones. Maybe I’ll have to get this to help us look back as well as forward.
Yes Lisa – that is exactly what I was thinking! How many great older titles as I missing out on? I usually come up with a criteria for reads for the new year. I think I may add a month we can call Blast From The Past and the book we choose has to be at least 5 years old.
This sounds like a great resource for book clubs and takes the pressure off that one member who always seems to be the only one with new suggestions.
I agree Julie. We vote in my book club for the next read and everyone can bring suggestions. I like the fact that we can read the older titles the wonderful reads that I sometimes tend to miss as I am so busy with the new.
I LOVE books about books! I don’t know why. And I think it would be cool if Oprah or someone started a magazine about books. My favorite thing about People magazine is the page(s) where they highlight new books. Wouldn’t it be fun to read a whole magazine about them?
I do too Lynne… I always have. Throw the word book or book club in the title and I am on it. 🙂 I used to get a magazine about books and now I cant think what it was called. It was fun to read and I know the local book store carries it. I dont think it was about all the great new titles though…. there must be something out there! 🙂
Oh, and I saw the Reader movie but haven’t read the book. The latest book/movie I want to read/see is The Blindside I heard both were really good. I usually like the book better…
Hi Lynne, I want to see Blindside too. I have heard such good things about it. 🙂
I LOVE books about books! How fun.
Don’t feel bad – I have also never read an Atwood book (though I’d like to), have not read or seen the English Patient, either. The movie version of Cold Mountain was excellent, though. And The Reader was wonderful, both in print and on the screen.
Happy Reading!
Sue
Hi Sue, Atwood is on my list to be read and in 2010 I am reading her….. I am – I really am! 🙂
Do not laugh at me -I have never seen The English Patient-Why-do you remember the Seinfeld episode were Elaine calls it a snoozer-I know shameful.
A great read as good as The Help-Someone Knows My Name.
I loved the movie Cold Mountain and I have the book unread of course.
Hi Esme…. not laughing. Ok, maybe a little. 🙂 I think I need to read Cold Mountain.
I think this is a must have for any book lover!!
Great post!
I enjoyed it Vicki and I agree. I like to take books like this and put those little starts (like you got in grade school) by the titles I hope to some day read. 🙂
Like you, I have a whole shelf of books like this and keep buying more! Will put this one on my list, as I love books about what to read.
And you simply must read Margaret Atwood, as she’s awesome! 😀
I am going to read Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s tale is going on my wish list!
This sounds like a really great book! I’ve not heard of most of these authors. I guess I’m a little stuck in what I like to read! LOL Sadly, I’ve not read any of them but I have at least heard of Mitch Albom. I have a couple of his books on my shelves.
Happy Reading! 🙂
Me too Julie – so many of the books I havent read but would like to dabble a bit in some of them 🙂
Honestly, I am more of a mass paperback junkie. Books like that don’t usually make it in books like this. 😉
I have a lot of those too J Kaye…. they are not going to make any list! LOL
I’ve got to make a copy of this list. This is really wonderful. Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays to you Tea!
I’m not in a book club, but this is a great book. I had gotten it from my library earlier in the year.
I would love some suggestions on other books about books please.
Sheila, you had said you had a shelf of similar books, maybe you could email some names when you have time.
Happy Holidays to all.
sharon54220@gmail.com
You got it Sharon…. actually you got me thinking… maybe I will do a post on these type of books. They make wonderful gifts for book lovers.
I love books like this! Whenever I get one I always go overboard checking things out from the library though.