Book Club Girl - Book Group Recommendations, Reading Group Guides, Audio Book Club Podcasts

Join Author Dorothea Benton Frank in a Facebook Chat Today, Monday May 6th, at 7pm

Dorothea Benton Frank, the New York Times bestselling author of Porch Lights, Folly Beach, and Lowcountry Summer (among others), is hosting a chat on her Facebook page tonight at 7 PM EST. Dorothea will be answering questions about Porch Lights, new in paperback, and also about her forthcoming The Last Original Wife (on sale June 11,2013). 

Read an excerpt of Porch Lights  and of The Last Original Wife to get a preview of Dorothea's hilarious stories set in on the beaches of the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry.

RSVP to the Facebook chat here, and swing back to Dorothea's page at 7 PM EST tonight to ask your questions and join in the conversation with other fans.

Daphne Kalotay's Russian Winter Is Now Available in Paperback and I'm Giving 5 Copies Away!

When it was published in hardcover last year, so many amazing things were said about Daphne Kalotay's novel Russian Winter. My colleague Nicole wrote an effusive post about how she couldn't put it down even while she should have been celebrating her first "married" New Year's Eve with her husband. When we publish books like this, that capture our attention and imagination so completely, we can't wait until they come out in paperback, so that book clubs can discover them and spread the word.

When Nina Revskaya puts her remarkable jewelry collection up for auction, the former Bolshoi Ballet star finds herself overwhelmed by memories of her homeland, and of the events, both glorious and heartbreaking, that changed her life half a century earlier. It was in Russia that she discovered the magic of dance and fell in love, and where, faced with Stalinist aggression, a terrible discovery incited a deadly act of betrayal—and an ingenious escape to the West.

Nina has kept her secrets for half a lifetime. But now Drew Brooks, an inquisitive associate at a Boston auction house, and Grigori Solodin, a professor who believes Nina's jewels hold the key to unlocking his past, begin to unravel her story—setting in motion a series of revelations that will have life-altering consequences for them all.

The Oregonian said of Russian Winter: “You will be awake until 4 a.m. reading Daphne Kalotay’s debut novel," and the Washington Post called it “A magnificent tale of love, loss, betrayal, and redemption.” 

Browse inside Russian Winter and check out the reading group guide. You can also visit Daphne Kalotay's website and find her on Facebook. In fact, for those of you on Facebook (and if you're not yet, get thee there immediately), we have a special promotion. I have 5 copies of Russian Winter to give away to 5 random people who become fans of Daphne's on Facebook between now and Monday, April 18th. Comment here that you've become a fan, and we'll pick the winners next week! If you happen to already be a fan, you can still win, just be sure to comment here as well.

 

There's Still Time to Sign up for the Maisie Dobbs Read-Along!

There's still time to sign up for the read-along of all the books in Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series which officially kicks off on January 1st! And you really have until Jan 14th which is the day I'll post questions for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs. I'm spending my vacation reading the second book, Birds of a Feather (if I don't stay ahead of the game, I fear what might happen to this schedule I've set for us all ;)) It's been nice to see names being added to the Mr. Linky throughout the holidays! Be sure to follow along here and on the Jacqueline Winspear Facebook page.

Excuse this Commercial Interruption, but I'm Getting My Facebook House in Order

And not just because I saw The Social Network this weekend (yes, it's true, I saw a movie on its opening weekend that did NOT involve any animation! Very exciting). But really, what I'm attempting is to somewhat separate my profile and my Book Club Girl page. So, if you want to make sure you get all the bookish news and author updates, please like my Book Club Girl page. Now I just have to figure out what to use for my profile pic.....We will now resume our regularly scheduled programming.

Joshua Henkin Perfects the Author Book Group Visit

Here is a great article from the Philadelphia Inquirer about Joshua Henkin's travels, whether by car or by phone, to book groups to talk with them about his acclaimed novel Matrimony. The story speaks to the growth of this trend among authors and how Henkin in particular has made it his mission to reach out to readers of Matrimony via sites like Good Reads and Facebook. I think it's great how Josh has made himself available to book clubs and I love the comments about how the discussion of the book with the author himself has enriched the reading experience for so many people. That's what I love about being in a reading group -- the discussion always adds to my appreciation of a book, making me think of something that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. I'll have to check out the other author mentioned in the piece, Kelly Simmons, and her book Standing Still.

Post a comment about whether or not your group has had an author attend, either by phone or in person, and what that was like and you'll be entered to win a New Year's Book Tote complete with:

• A Book Club Girl mousepad
• Coasters for Your Next Book Group Gathering
• Matrimony by Joshua Henkin
• First Darling of the Morning by Thrity Umrigar
• The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffrey Hantover
• Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble
• The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris