Answer to a Book Group’s Dilemma: Read this Next
Sometimes the biggest problem a book discussion group faces is finding a book that everyone wants to read. Here’s the solution: get a copy of Read this Next: 500 of the Best Books You’ll Ever Read, open it to a page at random, and read whatever book is discussed on that page. That won’t work if you open to a page with lists of books, so you might consider investing in darts or a blindfold (or both).
With a large dash of humor, authors Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark (How Not to Write a Novel) serve up 500 suggestions of books worthy of reading and discussing over tea and crumpets or wine and cheese. As for those book group discussions, the authors offer questions suitable for discussion—some serious, others humorous (there are even discussion questions for Read this Next).
I can’t say I’ve made a serious dent in the list of 500 books, but the books that I have read on the list were all excellent…except The Davinci Code. When I came across a listing for Dan Brown’s novel, I nearly choked. The authors redeem themselves, however, by stating “Now we’re just playing with you. Who seriously thought this book was good? Symbolology, LOL.”
Read this Next is arranged in thematic lists (such as “Love,” “Memoir,” “War”) and can be very helpful in selecting something to read, either for individuals or discussion groups. The listed books are briefly summarized and Newman and Mittelmark include reasons the books are relevant.
If the biggest problem facing your book group isn't what to read, but what kind of cookies to serve that everyone can eat, try The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur.
Bottom Line: Would I buy Read this Next? Yes, and I don’t even belong to a book group. After reading a particularly bad book, though, I do need to find one that is particularly good, and Read this Next offers 500 suggestions. I also enjoyed the authors’ contributions.
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