Reading groups and books club have always known that discussing books allows thems to share their joy of reading and to discover what others think and feel about the book. The mere fact that everyone sees a different idea, theme, and/or personal relationship with the book, is the whole concept of getting together.

Ann Donald of Times Live hits the nail on the head about reading and then discussing books.

Donald wrote an excellent article about how literary criticism and different reading organizations can enhance a book group discussion and lend more thoughts on the values of the book. You don't have to agree with the critic but there is always thoughts the critic brings up that are creative and informed.

Another resource Donald included is  BBC World Book Club to help understand the ideas behind a book. Each show has an author interview and you can email questions to author before hand! Kiran Desai, John Boyd, James Ellroy, and Lionel Shriver have been some previous guest authors! These shows are recorded as podcasts so you don't have to listen live.

I find bookclubgirl to be a great resource to listen to authors and discover gems. Book groups can learn from all sources to enlight their discussion.

What's your favorite choice for finding more info about an author and their book?

I love historical fiction. Sara Houghteling’s sweeping debut novel, Pictures at an Exhibition, draws on the real-life stories of France’s pre-eminent art-dealing familes and the forgotten biography of the only French woman to work as a double agent inside the Nazis’ looted art stronghold. The novel tells the story of a son’s quest to recover his family’s lost masterpieces, looted by the Nazis during the occupation. Artists and their world, romance, secrets, betrayal, historical background -- sounds like a reading group/book club pick! 

Praise for Pictures at an Exhibition

“Houghteling’s vivid descriptions of paintings and their power add to the allure of this impressive debut novel.”–Michael Leber, Booklist

“Exciting . . . Houghteling has immersed herself in the history of the period, and her love of these paintings shines through.”–Kirkus Reviews

“Houghteling received a Fulbright to study paintings that went missing during the war, and the detail shines through in this first novel, which effectively depicts the new reality for Jews in postwar Europe.” –Amy Ford, Library Journal

Chapter One
First paragraph

"In the twilight of my life, I began to question if my childhood was a time of almost absurd languor, or if the violence that would strike us later had lurked there all along. I revisited certain of these memories, determined to find the hidden vein of savagery within them: the sticky hand, the scattered nuts, the gap- toothed girl grasping a firecracker, a cap floating on the Seine, flayed legs swinging between a pair of crutches, the tailor and his mouthful of pins. Some of these were immediately ominous, while others only later revealed themselves as such. However, whether or not another boy living my life would agree, I cannot say."

Now, that's a teaser! Paperback release, February 2010.

Do you like historical fiction? Can you pick a favorite?

Adriana Trigiana wins the RUSA Award for genre fiction in the women's fiction category at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. She wins and immediately calls her mother, a librarian. What a hoot!

There are lots of book challenges hosted by book bloggers. I read for work or I work to read or my work is to read -- whatever. So, I can't participate in very many of them, though I wish I could do all.

But I have to do this one --Typically British Challenge hosted by Book Chick City! Besides my immediate family, all of my relatives live in England -- my parents came across the pond in the 50s. Hey, I'm a first generation American!  

Here's the scoop on the Typically British Challenge 2010.

Timeline: 1st Jan 2010- 31st Dec 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.  

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. There are four levels for reading:

 • "Put The Kettle On" – 2 Typically British novels.
 • "Gordon Bennett" – 4 Typically British novels.
 • "Bob's Your Uncle" – 6 Typically British novels.
 • "Cream Crackered" – 8 Typically British novels.

3. Any book format counts. Must be fiction.

4. You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone!

5. The books you choose can crossover into other challenges.

6. If you decide to participate in this challenge please use the link I have set up below with the button to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun.

7. If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

8. There will be a place for you to link your reviews, but this is optional.

9. Obviously only British authors count! 

I'm trying to do "Bob's Your Uncle" level.

First title -- The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. heard this was a very fun story about the Queen becoming a voracious reader.

Put your cardigan on, have a cuppa, and start reading!