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

It's Top 10 Tuesday! Which Author is #4 in the Book Club Girl on Air Countdown?

I'm counting down our Top 10 Book Club Girl on Air shows every Tuesday this summer. These are the shows that have gotten the most live listens and subsequent downloads since they first aired!

We started it off at #10 with Mary Kay Andrews' show on which we discussed Deep Dish and then Thrity Umrigar came in at #9 for her show on The Space Between Us. Clocking in at #8 was Adriana Trigiani for her show on Very Valentine and at #7 was Debra Dean discussing The Madonnas of Leningrad. The 6th most popular show featured Elizabeth Noble discussing Things I Want My Daughters to Know and last week we announced that #5 in the countdown was Jessica Anya Blau discussing her newest novel, Drinking Closer to Home. Each week readers just need to give the show a listen and post a comment and they are entered to win that week's discussed book (US and Canadian entrants only please). To that end, I'm pleased to announce that the winner of Jessica's books, Drinking Closer to Home and The Summer of Naked Swim Parties, and a totebag is Diane! Thanks for entering and congratulations!

So which author's show comes in at #4 on the countdown? It's bestselling author Wally Lamb, who joined us to discuss The Hour I First Believed! Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about something you learned or liked from the show and you'll be entered to win a copy of The Hour I First Believed as well as his other book club favorite, I Know This Much is True, plus a totebag in which you can take them both to the beach!

Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about what you've learned or liked from it to be entered to win (US and Canada residents only). I'll pick one random winner from all comments posted by midnight, Friday August 12th.

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It's Top Ten Tuesday! Which Author Comes in at #5 on the Book Club Girl on Air Countdown?

I'm counting down our Top 10 Book Club Girl on Air shows every Tuesday this summer. These are the shows that have gotten the most live listens and subsequent downloads since they first aired!

We started it off at #10 with Mary Kay Andrews' show on which we discussed Deep Dish and then Thrity Umrigar came in at #9 for her show on The Space Between Us. Clocking in at #8 was Adriana Trigiani for her show on Very Valentine and at #7 was Debra Dean discussing The Madonnas of Leningrad. Last week we announced the 6th most popular show featuring Elizabeth Noble discussing Things I Want My Daughters to Know. Each week readers can give the show a listen and post a comment and they are entered to win that week's discussed book (US and Canadian entrants only please). To that end, I'm pleased to announce that the winner of Things I Want My Daughters to Know, The Reading Group and a totebag is Melissa C! Thanks for entering and congratulations!

So which author's show comes in at #5 on the countdown? It's an author who has published two successful paperback originals with Harper Perennial - Jessica Anya Blau who joined us to discuss her second novel, Drinking Closer to Home! Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about something you learned or liked from the show and you'll be entered to win a copy of Drinking Closer to Home as well as Jessica's first book, The Summer of Naked Swim Parties, plus a totebag in which you can take them both to the beach!

Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about what you've learned or liked from it to be entered to win (US and Canada residents only) (I'll pick one random winner from all comments posted by midnight, Friday August 5th), and be sure to check out Jessica Anya Blau's website. Jessica is also one of the authors in attendance at the Club Read weekend getaway for book clubs this October in Virginia - check out that site and perhaps you can meet her, and many others, there! 

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It's Top 10 Tuesday! Which Author is #6 in the Book Club Girl on Air Countdown?

I'm counting down our Top 10 Book Club Girl on Air shows every Tuesday this summer. These are the show that have gotten the most live listens and subsequent downloads since they first aired!

We started it off at #10 with Mary Kay Andrews' show on which we discussed Deep Dish and then Thrity Umrigar came in at #9 for her show on The Space Between Us. Clocking in at #8 was Adriana Trigiani for her show on Very Valentine and at #7 was Debra Dean discussing The Madonnas of Leningrad. Each week readers can give the show a listen and post a comment and they are entered to win that week's discussed book (US and Canadian entrants only please). To that end, I'm pleased to announce that the winner of The Madonnas of Leningrad, Confessions of a Falling Woman, and a totebag is Laura from the blog Book Snob! Thanks for entering and congratulations!

So which author's show comes in at #6 on the countdown? It's none other than the author of The Reading Group herself, Elizabeth Noble, who joined us to discuss her wonderful and heartfelt novel Things I Want My Daughters to Know. Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about something you learned or liked from the show and you'll be entered to win a copy of Things I Want My Daughters to Know as well as Noble's classic bestseller, The Reading Group, and a totebag in which you can take them both to the beach!

Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about what you've learned or liked from it to be entered to win (US and Canada residents only), and be sure to check out Elizabeth Noble's website as well.

Listen to internet radio with Book Club Girl on Blog Talk Radio

It's Top Ten Tuesday - Which Author is #7 in the Book Club Girl on Air Countdown?

I'm counting down our Top 10 Book Club Girl on Air shows every Tuesday this summer. These are the show that have gotten the most live listens and subsequent downloads.

We started it off at #10 two weeks ago with Mary Kay Andrews' show on which we discussed Deep Dish and then last week Thrity Umrigar came in at #9 for her show on The Space Between Us. Clocking in at #8 was Adriana Trigiani for her show on Very Valentine. Each week readers can give the show a listen and post a comment and they are entered to win that week's discussed book (US and Canada entrants only please). To that end, I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the Very Valentine, Brava Valentine, and a totebag is Katie from the blog Cakes, Tea and Dreams! Thanks for entering and congratulations!

So which show comes in at #7 on the countdown? It's one for a book that my book club enjoyed discussing very much -- The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean! Listen in to the show now and leave a comment about something you learned or liked from the show and you'll be entered to win a copy of The Madonnas of Leningrad, as well as Debra Dean's collection of stories, Confessions of a Falling Woman, and a totebag in which you can take them both to the beach!

Listen to internet radio with Book Club Girl on Blog Talk Radio

Be sure to visit Debra Dean's website as well as listen to the show. I'll pick 1 random comment from all those received by midnight Friday, July 22nd to be entered to win (US and Canada only please). Good luck!

Ann Patchett is the Next Guest Author on Book Club Girl on Air!

I'm so pleased to announce that my next Book Club on Air online radio show will feature New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Ann Patchett! I first came to know Patchett's works with the wonderful The Magician's Assistant and later with her PEN/Faulkner award-winning novel Bel Canto. Join me and Ann as we discuss her newest novel, Run, just out in paperback.

In Run, Patchett tells the story of the Doyle family. Since their mother's death, Tip and Teddy Doyle have been raised by their loving, possessive, and ambitious father. As the former mayor of Boston, Bernard Doyle wants to see his sons in politics, a dream the boys have never shared. But when an argument in a blinding New England snowstorm inadvertently causes an accident that involves a stranger and her child, all Bernard cares about is his ability to keep his children—all his children—safe. Browse inside Run here and the P.S. section exclusive to the paperback edition, in which Ann talks about writing a book about race and politics while the Obama campaign was just beginning. Check out the reading group guide here.

The first 15 people to comment that they'd like to participate in the discussion on September 24th at 7 pm EST, will receive a complimentary copy of Run. Set a reminder for the show here. And listen to my most recent reading group discussion with Debra Dean, about her novel The Madonnas of Leningrad, along with many other conversations with authors, on Authors on Air.

Listen to the Book Club Show with Debra Dean Now!

Thanks so much to everyone who sent in questions during tonight's conversation with Debra Dean about her novel The Madonnas of Leningrad. It was so interesting to hear about her inspiration for the book as well as the research that went into writing it. For those of you who listened and who want to see some of the paintings as well as the Hermitage museum itself, go here, click on Fun Stuff and scroll down to view her photo albums. And don't miss Debra's most recent book, Confessions of a Falling Woman--you can browse inside it here.

Click on the player below to hear the show now!

See Debra Dean Talk about the Hermitage and Her Novel Before Tonight's Discussion!

In preparation for tonight's book club chat with Debra about her novel The Madonnas of Leningrad, I encourage you to watch this wonderful video of her talking about the Hermitage museum and her inspiration for the novel, complete with video of several of the paintings and the museum as she describes it in the book. To watch the video, go here, and click on "See Debra Dean." And after that, go here, and scroll down to "photo albums" to view more art. Listen and participate in tonight's book club discussion here.

Reminder! Our Book Club Chat with Debra Dean is this Thursday 8/21 at 7 pm EST!

Just a reminder that this Thursday, August 21st at 7pm EST we are talking with Debra Dean about her novel The Madonnas of Leningrad on my online radio show, Book Club Girl on Air. I hope that you've all been enjoying the book, I've already heard from some of you who are looking forward to the talk. Check out the great review that Darlene has already posted on her blog Peeking Between the Pages!

The night of the show, you can listen live on your computer here at 7 pm EST. (You can also listen at that same link after the show). You can call in to the show to ask ask a question at this number: (347) 945-6149. As people call in, I'll identify them by the last four digits of their phone number. If I say your phone number, remember to turn down the volume on your computer when you ask your question. If you can't call in, but have questions for Debra, please put them in the comments to this post (before midday Thursday), or you can send in questions while you're listening to the show via the Chat function on the show's page. But if you plan to do this, I recommend you register on the site beforehand. Make sure you enter your questions via "Chat" and not "Comments" so that I'll see them during the live show.

If you're not sure what to ask, but want to participate, learn more about Debra Dean here, and check out the reading group guide, as well as the P.S. section in the back of the book. I hope to hear from some of you on Thursday night!

Announcing My Next Book Club Girl on Air Radio Show with Debra Dean!

I'm so pleased to announce that my next Book Club Girl On Air blog talk radio show will be with Debra Dean, author of The Madonnas of Leningrad. In Madonnas, Dean tells the story of Marina, who, years earlier, helped to pack up the treasures of the Hermitage as the Nazis approached Leningrad. Now an elderly woman living in America, as Alzheimers is ravaging her memory, Marina finds herself living more in the past, while the events of her current life, her children and grandchildren, slip from her grasp.

Since its publication in 2006, Madonnas has topped reading group lists everywhere. I'm so excited to have Dean on the show which is scheduled for Thursday, August 21st at 7 pm EST. The first 15 people to comment on this post that they would like to participate in the show will receive a complimentary copy of the book to read before the show. Set your reminder for the show here, and browse inside The Madonnas of Leningrad here.