On Tuesday we had our June Bookies book club meeting.  Usually for July we have a “free read” month where we do not chose a book together but instead just read whatever and when we meet for our annual picnic/queen event in July just chat about whatever we read.

Amy P in out group heard of something a little different that we decided to try this year…

We were all to bring a wrapped up favorite book that we LOVED to let someone else experience.  The only rules were that it needed to be a book each of us truly enjoyed, not a book that we had all read together, and we were to put a post it note on the book saying why we wanted someone else to experience it and if the person who picked it could keep the book, or if the owner would like it back.

After we completed our June book review (Look Again by Lisa Scottoline), we each drew a number and in that order opened our books one at a time and the giver had a chance to say out loud to all of us why they enjoyed that book so much.

I brought a long time favorite of mine and a book that holds a special place in my heart:

The exchange was a lot of fun and the cool thing was, no one picked a book they had already read.

We are asked to now read the book we chose and talk about it next month at the Queen event. 

The books that people brought as the “best of the best” must read were (from top left and across)

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve

The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani

First Family by David Baldacci

The Mermaid’s Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

The Bonesetters Daughter by Amy Tan

Dance Upon The Air by Nora Roberts

The Crying Tree by Naseem Rahka

One Second After by William Forstchen

Wine And War by Donald Cladstrup

One of our Bookies who was unable to attend the meeting sent a book so she could be included in the drawing  When it was picked and opened the book was a Baby Names book and inside it the post it note said:

“I do need this book back because we are expecting our first baby!”
Kerri

How cool is that?  Congratulations Kerri!!!  A new Bookie Baby coming in 2013!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my book club and can not wait to read the book I drew – The Crying Tree.  And next months Queen event.… is the highlight of the year… and that is saying a lot! 

Have you read any of the books that were chosen as favorites above?  If so, which ones did you love?