The Next Best Book Club discussion

CHRONIC TOWN (1982)
"Wolves, Lower" – read a book that centers on wolves or prominently features wild dogs , Simone Muench (Doesn't get any wolfier than this.)
"Gardening at Night" – read a book that takes place primarily at night
"Carnival of Sorts (boxcars)" – read a book about a carnival, or that features a circus
"1,000,000" – read a ‘doorstopper’ (a book that is more than 600 pages long) , Neil Gaiman (Gaiman writes in the afterword that the book "weighs over seven pounds" and that the main series in the collection "in hardback at least, could undoubtedly be used to stun a burglar; which has always been my definition of real art.")
"Stumble" – read a book that you just happened to 'stumble' upon

MURMUR (1983)
"Radio Free Europe" – read a book that takes place in Europe , Tana French
"Pilgrimage" - read a book about a character who goes on a long journey
"Laughing" – read a book that will make you laugh
"Talk About the Passion" – read an erotica book
"Moral Kiosk" – read a book in which one of the characters is struggling with their morality , Stephen King (Features a story called "Morality," but many of the others deal with moral quandaries as well. It is Stephen King, after all.)
"Perfect Circle" – read a book about a tight knit group of friends or family , Hanya Yanagihara
"Catapult" – read a book set in medieval times
"Sitting Still" – read a book in which nothing seems to happen
"9-9" – read a book with 9 in the title, or a book that has only 9 chapters
"Shaking Through" – read a scary book
"We Walk" – read a book about a protagonist, or group of characters, who’s main mode of transportation is walking
"West of the Fields" – read a book about someone who has gone away, or is gone from home too long

RECKONING (1984)
"Harborcoat" – read a book that is left open for interpretation, whose plot is ambiguous
"7 Chinese Brothers" – read a book about pain, loss, bereavement
"So. Central Rain" – read a book in which the character or characters are waiting for something
"Pretty Persuasion" – read a book that someone recommended to you , Lisa Olstein
Time After Time (AnnElise)" – read a book that spans a large period of time , Oliver Sacks (I suppose it depends on the definition of "a large period," but since it covers most of Sacks' life--70 years, at least, and rich and full years at that--it seems like a good fit.)
"Second Guessing – read a book that you’ve been hesitant to pick up
"Letter Never Sent" – read a book that is told primarily in letters or diary entries , Sarah A. Chavez (reread in Feb 2016)
"Camera" – read a book that centers on photography or on a particular photograph
"(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville" – read a book you promised yourself you would never revisit
"Little America" – read a book set in the western era

FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION (1985)
"Feeling Gravity’s Pull" – read a space opera or a book that takes place in outer space , Kim Stanley Robinson (I suppose it's not technically in space, since they colonize Mars and inhabit it, but close enough.)
"Maps and Legends" – read a book that contains its own map/legend
"Driver 8" – read a book that prominently features a train as the main mode of transportation, or features a protagonist who has to travel a long distance
"Life and How to Live it" – read a self-help book
"Old Man Kensey" – read a book that features an old man as the protagonist , Fredrik Backman (Ove's not that old--only 59--but acts like a stereotypical grumpy old man.)
"Can’t Get There From Here" – read a book that seems to go nowhere
"Green Grow the Rushes" – read a book that is set in summertime
"Kohoutek" – read a book that revolves around astronomy, or prominently features stars, a sun, or a moon. , Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon
"Auctioneer (Another Engine)" – read a book about wanderlust
"Good Advices" – read a book written by an author you’d never heard of before , L.S. Asekoff
"Wendell Gee" – read a book about a dream or in which dreams are prominently featured , Neil Gaiman (Not about a dream, but about Dream.)

LIFE’S RICH PAGEANT (1986)
"Begin the Begin" – read a book you’ve already read , Sara Pennington (reread February 2016)
"These Days" – read a book that takes place in present day
"Fall on Me" – read a book about oppression , Abdul Ali
"Cuyahoga" – read a book that takes place on or near a river, in which a river is prominently featured , Steve Scafidi (featuring the Shenandoah)
"Hyena" – read a book with an animal in the title
"Underneath the Bunker" – read a book about the end of the world
"The Flowers of Guatemala" -read a book that takes place in a foreign country , Tarfia Faizullah (a few poems are set in the U.S., but most focus on rape survivors in Bangladesh)
"I Believe" – read a book about fairy tales or a book that is a spin on a fairy tale
"What if We Give It Away" – read a book about giving up or giving something up
"Just a Touch" – read a book that uses multiple formats or gimmicks in which to tell its story
"Swan Swan H" – read a book with a word repeated in the title
"Superman" – read a book about a superhero

DEAD LETTER OFFICE (1987)
"Crazy" – read a book about a protagonist who goes crazy
"There She Goes Again" – read a book about a prostitute or that features prostitution , Sjohnna McCray
"Burning Down" – read a book that has the word burn or fire in the title
"Voice of Harold" – read a book that gives you goosebumps
"Burning Hell" – read a book that prominently features religion or a religious protagonist , Nadia Bolz-Weber
"Toys in the Attic" – read a book that exudes nostalgia
"Windout" – read a book with multiple twists and turns
"Ages of You" – read a book with the word You in the title , Megan Abbott
"Pale Blue Eyes" – read a book that gives you all the feels
"Bandwagon" – read a book that everyone else is reading
"Femme Fatale" – read a book that features a woman who plays hard to get
"Walter’s Theme" – read a book with a man’s name in the title , Rufi Thorpe (Yes, Fang is a man's name.)
"King of the Road" – read a book that takes place mostly on the road or prominently features a motel/hotel

DOCUMENT (1987)
"Finest Worksong" – read a book that revolves around music , Carrie Brownstein (I debated filing this under "Half a World Away," since it's also about Sleater-Kinney, but the book's more about the music than the band, I think.)
"Welcome to the Occupation" – read a book about a blue collar protagonist
"Exhuming McCarthy" – read a book about politics or that features politics in some way , Richard Wright
"Disturbance at the Heron House" – read a book about rioting or a world gone to chaos
"Strange" – read a “bizarro” or “experimental fiction” book
"It’s the End of the World as We Know It" – read a book that deals with some form of corruption
"The One I Love" – read a book that is an anti-love story
"Fireplace" – read a cozy mystery
"Lightnin’ Hopkins" – read a book that prominently features freakish weather
"King of Birds" – read a book that features birds, or has the name of a bird in the title , Helen Macdonald
"Oddfellows Local 151" – read a book about firemen or that features a firehouse/firemen

GREEN (1988)
"Pop Song 89" – read a book that is about another book , Ali Smith
"Get Up" – read a book that sounds boring
"You are the Everything" – read a book in which the protagonist is pining for someone
"Stand" – read a book that deals with direction (either literally or figuratively)
"World Leader Pretend" – read a book that revolves around war , Mary Roach
"The Wrong Child" – read a non-YA book in which the protagonist is a child
"Orange Crush" – read a book about a protagonist who is called away or forced to leave
"Turn You Inside Out" – read a book that hinges itself on dishonesty
"Hairshirt" – read a book with a weird title , Cynthia Marie Hoffman, reread February 2016)
"I Remember California" – read a book that takes place in California
"Untitled" – read a book that deals with protection in some way


OUT OF TIME (1991)
“Radio Song” – read a book that has to do with music, or prominently features a radio station
“Losing My Religion” – read a book that is considered an author’s “biggest” hit
“Low” – read a book about the morning after, or regrets
“Near Wild Heaven” – read a book that deals with the end of a relationship , Claudia Emerson
“Shiny Happy People” – read a book about a utopia, or the search for utopia
“Belong” – read a book that revolves around a child, but does not feature a child as the protagonist , Louise Erdrich (Not sure who I'd say the protagonist was in this, but I'd say it definitely wasn't LaRose.)
“Half a World Away” – read a book about a band
“Texarkana” – read a book in which the main character is searching for something
“Country Feedback” – read a book about heartbreak, about unrequited love , Suzanne Scanlon (About other things, too, but heartbreak is definitely a piece of it: "His suffering kept him from loving me as much as I needed to be loved, but also made me more deeply in love, such that I believed that I could feel how he suffered.")
“Me in Honey” – read a book with the word Sweet or Sweetness in the title

AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE (1992)
“Drive” – read a book that revolves around youth , Brenda Shaughnessy
“Try Not to Breathe” – read a book about giving up
“The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight” – read a book about a humorous love
“Everybody Hurts” – read a book about depression
“Sweetness Follows” – read a book about death, or that prominently features a funeral
“Monty Got a Raw Deal” – read a book in which one of the characters gets “a raw deal”.
“Ignoreland” – read a book that similarly features the word ‘land’ in its title
“Star Me Kitten” – read a book that features the F-word, either in title or in text, or uses asterisks in the title
“Man on the Moon” – read a book that is a tribute to someone or something else , Jeanette Winterson (A tribute to Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale)
“Nightswimming” – read a book on a dare (have someone dare you to read something)
“Find the River” – read a book with River in the title

MONSTER (1994)
“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth” – read a book that encapsulates Generation-X
“Crush with Eyeliner” – read a book about discovering identity
“King of Comedy” – read a book that makes you laugh , Kate Beaton
“I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” – read a fantasy book, as a distraction from real life
“Star 69” – read a book by an author you are crazy obsessed with
“Strange Currencies” – read a book that features a strange obsession, or OCD
“Tongue” – read a book with a body part in the title
“Bang and Blame” – read a book about a one night stand
“I Took Your Name” – read a book in which something is taken away
“Let Me In” – read a book that messes with your emotions
“Circus Envy” – read a book that revolves around jealousy
“You” – read a book written in second person

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI (1996)
“How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us” – read a book set in the wild west
“The Wake-Up Bomb” – read a book about drugs, or drug addiction
“New Test Leper” – read a book about a character who is struggling with a disease
“Undertow” – read a book that takes place primarily on or under the water/ocean , Margo Lanagan
“E Bow the Letter” – read a book that revolves around two best friends
“Leave” – read a book with the word leave or leaving in the title
“Departure” – read a book that is unlike the rest of a particular author’s bibliography
“Bittersweet Me” – read a book that features a bitter protagonist
“Be Mine” – read a collection of love poems
“Binky the Doormat” – read a book that is known for being strange or bizarre
“So Fast, So Numb” – read a book with a comma in the title , Kate Beaton
“Low Desert” – read a road-trip book
“Electrolite" – read a book that was written in the 20th century

UP (1998)
“Airportman” – read a book that takes place primarily in an airport or features a character who spends time in or around one
“Lotus” – read a book that is highly symbolic or allegorical
“Suspicion” – read a book you have been putting off , Damian Rogers
“Hope” – read a book with just one word in the title , Emily Abendroth (reread March 2016)
“At My Most Beautiful” – read a book about goofy, silly love
“The Apologist” – read a book with ‘ist’ in the title
“Sad Professor” – read a book that features a teacher as the protagonist
“You’re in the Air” – read a book with the words Your or You’re in the title
“Walk Unafraid” – read a book that others have found incredibly scary
“Why Not Smile” – read a book about a protagonist who is habitually unhappy
“Day Sleeper” – read a book that features a protagonist who works the grave yard shift
“Diminished” – read a collection of flash fiction or short stories , Bryn Chancellor
“Parakeet” – read a book that’s told from an animal’s POV
“Falls to Climb” – read a book that features a character who is viewed as a martyr

REVEAL (2001)
“The Lifting” – read a prequel
“I’ve Been High” – read a book that is told in past tense
“All the Way to Reno” – read a book that features a protagonist who is trying to get their big break
“She Just Wants to Be” – read a book written by a female author
“Disappear” – read a book that involves magic or a magician , Zen Cho
“Saturn Return” – read a book about a character who does what they want, who goes against the norm , Rainbow Rowell
“Beat a Drum” – read a book with an instrument in its title
“Imitation of Life” – read a book that revolves around art, or a specific piece of art
“Summer Turns to High” – read a book with Summer in the title
“Chorus and the Ring” – read a book about forgetting or denying
“I’ll Take the Rain” – read a book that takes place during a storm, or features a lot of rain , Katie Ford (features a number of poems about Hurricane Katrina and includes a section based on Ford's earlier chapbook, Storm)
“Beachball” – read a book that is typically referred to as a ‘beach read’

AROUND THE SUN (2004)
“Leaving New York” – read a book that takes place in New York , Elizabeth Strout (the present of the novel, anyway--the past is set elsewhere)
“Electron Blue “– read a book with a color in the title , Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon
“The Outsiders” – read a book that takes place primarily outside
“Make it All Ok” – read a book that makes you feel good , Ross Gay
“Final Straw” – read the last book in a series , Terry Pratchett (May Discworld live on in our imaginations.)
“I Wanted to Be Wrong” – read a book that you wish you could have changed the ending to
“Wanderlust” – read a book about a character who is running away from something
“The Boy in the Well” – read a non-YA book that features a young boy as the protagonist , Sherman Alexie
“Aftermath” – read a book about the survivors of an apocalypse
“High Speed Train” – read a book that has a mode of transportation in the title , Patti Smith
“The Worst Joke Ever “– read a book that others found funny but you did not
“The Ascent of Man” – read a book about books , Neil Gaiman (about other things, too, but certainly about a lot of books!)
“Around the Sun” – read a book that features space travel , Deborah Underwood

ACCELERATE (2008)
“Living Well is the Best Revenge” – read a book that has a great revenge scene
“Man Sized Wreath” – read a Christmas themed novel
“Supernatural Superserious” – read a book that takes place in a summer or day camp
“Hollow Man” – read a book that has failed to meet the hype that surrounded it
“Houston” – read a book that is set in a big city , Stuart Dybek (set in Chicago)
“Accelerate” – read a book that is less than 125 pages long , Davis McCombs
“Until the Day is Done” – read a book in one sitting
“Mr Richards” – read a book that prominently features a president
“Sing for the Submarine” – read a classic dystopian/apocalyptic novel , Ray Bradbury
“Horse to Water” – read a book that involves a fight of some sort , Gail Carriger (More fighting in this book than I had expected!)

Great start Jennifer!