What to Read: The Essential Guide for Reading Group Members and Other Book Lovers

by Mickey Pearlman

In this revised edition of the classic guide for book clubs, Mickey Pearlman'editor, lecturer, and reading group expert—offers annotated, innovative book lists for every dedicated reader. Whether you've been in a reading group for years, are interested in forming or finding one, or you're a book lover looking for new ideas, What to Read is an indispensable resource, listing hundreds of contemporary and classic books organized by subject. By updating every list and adding many new ones, Pearlman now offers pages and pages of fresh ideas. Among the lists that have been revised are:

Stop Kidding Around (books for children and young adults)

On the Beach

Let's Talk About Me (memoirs by men and women)

New lists include:

What an Adventure!

Think About Health

Who's on First?

Keep it Short (short story collection) What to Read also includes tips on creating and maintaining your own reading group, organizing an E-mail book club, or joining on on-line. See sections called "How to Read," "When to Read," and "Where to Read" for more help!

Genres: Books About Books, Nonfiction, Reference

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Author Biography: Mickey Pearlman, Ph.D., is an editor and lecturer. She is the editor of A Few Thousand Words About Love, A Place Called Home, and Between Friends; the author of Listen to Their Voices; and the co-author of A Voice of One's Own.

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick list reference to books in various categories. Easy to skim through.

[Patrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this book is dated, it is compiled in an easy to read/understand format that meets its purpose. Helpful in giving some good ideas for future book club ideas and classics.

[Dana Arbelaez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My to-read-list just gained about 300 new titles, hahah.

[Christina]

Weeding my library. I think I bought this when I was in college. Judging by the multiple colors, on more than one occasion I’ve gone through and highlighted the books I’ve read. I just skimmed through, happily highlighting many more titles I’ve read (this time in orange) since the last tine I looked at this, and will now place it back on the shelf and probably forget about it for another five years or so as a lot of the books in here are on my To Read list; though there are probably more good ones I could add in here, I need to spend more time tackling the list and less tine building it.

Verdict: Keep

[Sherilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun, I read it in an evening. I have a long written list of what I want to read next, but am always looking for more to add to my list and this book provided that. I find it odd that other reviewers rate this book down because it was written in 1994. No good reads exist prior to 1994? Ridiculous! I added Of Human Bondage, As I Lay Dying, and Walden. Listed in categories such as "Questioning the Miraculous," "Save the Planet," and "African American Images and Ideas," (33 categories in all), I found it fascinating.

[mrs.hotzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh? This isn't really a book you read, or review. I like books like this, usually - list sort of books with recommendations. I had one as a little girl that I loved annotating and referring to. It seems a little oxymoronic to mark this book as "read" because I skimmed through the sections I found interesting, wrote down a few titles I found interesting, and called it "read."

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is comprised of "33 annotated book lists." Very satisfying to check off the books I've already read.

Published in 1994.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never been part of the book club crowd or understood its appeal, so this is quite probably an excellent resource for book clubs, either those trying to get started or trying to give themselves a fresh kick. Possibly because I'm not a book club person, I shouldn't have looked at a book list for book clubs and expected much, but I just thought a what-to-read list would be universal, whether intended for groups or individuals. I thought wrong. I found the whole book pretty banal. Half the stuff I had already read in high school or college (for class, independently, or at the behest of professors), and the other half isn't worth reading. The annotations aren't very compelling, either.

[David]

This is just a long, long, categorized list of books for book clubs to read. The book opens with some discussion and advice about book clubs in general, but I don't think that the book is enormously valuable or anything. It does have some sentimental value, though, because my buddy Jason gave it to me.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was published in 1994, at this point - 2012 - it seems so dated as to be essentially obsolete. I was trying to get ideas for how to spark interest in our library's book groups. I found almost nothing of value here.

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What to Read: The Essential Guide for Reading Group Members and Other Book Lovers by Mickey Pearlman, Ph.D. (1994)"

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, do I like book lists? Aha, even when I can think of many better books than recommended.

[Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather dated--published in 1994 so many books from 92 & 93 that didn't end up having staying power. Nancy Pearl's book suggestion books are much better.

[Jill Minor]

FALSE

[Mary Bronson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little outdated. I found this at my local library and decided to check it out. Found some titles interesting and wrote them down. Other than that it was okay.

[LInda L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably useful, but I would seldom have time to look for anything new.