Open Books’s Comments (group member since Jun 18, 2012)

Open Books’s comments from the Open Books Chicago group.

We will be sitting down to plan out the next 6-12 months of Open Book Club soon, and we'd love to hear what kind of books you are interested in discussing with us.

Please feel free to use this forum thread to recommend titles for our growing book club.

Just a couple of reminders:

1. We try to read books that are available in paperback at least a month before our book club meeting. This keeps things affordable for everyone and increases the chance that the titles will be donated to the store for purchase.

2. Try to keep your suggestions under 500 pages in length. We all have different schedules (reading or otherwise) and this keeps the books manageable for everyone (we've found 300-350 pg. books to be the sweet spot)

3. We want a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, genre, and age levels. So please suggest a wide array of titles for us to consider!

4. Snacks... Anyone want to volunteer to bring a treat to the next book club? I'm pretty sure Kevin can be convinced to bake something delicious for us!

So... What do you want to read??

Have questions? Ask them here. We might discuss them at Open Book Club!

Can't make it to Open Book Club? Share your thoughts in this thread.

Have questions? Ask them here. We might discuss them at Open Book Club!

Can't make it to Open Book Club? Share your thoughts in this thread.

Have questions? Ask them here. We might discuss them at Open Book Club!

Can't make it to Open Book Club? Share your thoughts in this thread.

Have questions? Ask them here. We might discuss them at Open Book Club!

Can't make it to Open Book Club? Share your thoughts in this thread.

Any books (new or old) that you are looking forward to getting lost in?

What are the 5 best books you read this year? We don't care if the book was published this year or 2000 years ago. If it was new to you, it counts!

We'd love to see your lists!

A compelling book when it was first released. Join us on Jan. 8th at 6PM in the store to discuss the recent news about the book's subject and discuss how your opinions may have changed!

Eerie, funny & clever short stories that take place in worlds not too distant from our own. For those with a bent toward magical realism and the surreal. Be sure to check out "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose," "Flying Lessons," and "The Girl Detective." (Open Books volunteer, Madeleine)

Use this discussion to talk about the book as you progress or discuss questions you'd like addressed at the book club!

And in this message board, I swear we are infinite!

:D

Hello all!

We have an update for our Growing Up With Harry Potter celebration! The publishers of The Casual Vacancy have called for a world-wide 6am on-sale time for the book, and so we have moved the date of the party to Thursday, Sept. 27th at 8PM. The evening will be filled with Harry Potter nostalgia and Casual Vacancy excitement, and we cannot wait. We'd love to hear your thoughts! Is there anything you'd particularly like to see at the party?

I am unproductive at work due to lack of sleep because I. Cannot. Stop. Reading. This. It is ASTOUNDING how the behavior of the Nazis was ignored for so long. Larson got his hands on some amazing journals and letters to write an incredibly descriptive account of an American family living through Hitler's rise to power. (Open Books Volunteer, Carrie)

A lovely look into political and familial consequences of the division of countries and the ceation of something new. Beautiful imagery and great character development. Very interesting book if you want to know more about Pakistan. (Open Books Volunteer, Joanna)

Lyrical, heartbreaking, and unexpected. Even if you've read umpteen WWII-era novels, this one will knock your (proverbial) socks off! (Open Books Volunteer, Jessica)

For those of you still thinking about this book, I found this post from former Open Books volunteer, Greg, very entertaining:

A "Riotous Debate on The Art of Fielding

The giraffe is more than the world's most beautifully exotic animal - he (or she) is a window into history, particularly (and possibly) French history. So for Francophiles and giraffe-ophiles alike, Zarafa is a definite must-read! (Open Books volunteeer, Melissa)

I love this book because it made me think. I'm a teacher and I was very interested in reading a book about a child with Asperger's syndrome. Picoult does a wonderful job of helping you to see what it is like to be a mother of a child with Asperger's . The ending allowed you room to decide what really happened. I like a book that leaves some parts unsolved for you to come up with the complete ending on your own. (Open Books Volunteer, Sue Lattea - via the microvolunteering page on our website)

Has everyone started reading the book?

Are there any issues or questions you want to see discussed at book club on August 14th?

We'd love to hear everyone's comments about last night's book club.

What was good? What was not so good? What would you like to see included in future book club discussions?

Thanks for coming, everyone! I'm looking forward to reading next month's title, The Night Circus

We just received this newly published book as a donation in the store with a handwritten note affixed. it read:

"Dear Staff at Open Books -

This is one of the most moving and deeply touching books I've ever read. It's just recently out in hardback and I'm hoping that you will put it on display as a new book for lots of people to see.

Thank you!"

Thank You, anonymous book reviewer! We hope to receive more handwritten recommendations like this one!