What we’re reading in 2012: Common Grounds book group
Posted by: Kaite Stover
I don’t think I understood how much work goes into selecting discussion group titles until this year. I had to put together lists for three different book groups and do my best not to duplicate titles since some of the book group members like to drop in on all the book groups.
However, I do have to take my reading sanity into consideration and my book group members are very understanding. There’s very little overlap and when I do this, I schedule one book for all three groups in the same month. This is a benefit in a couple of ways. Book group members who miss one discussion will have two other opportunities to talk about it. I only have to read one book and not cram two or three. I receive a little extra time to become an expert on the title up for conversation.
This year Common Grounds, Kansas City Public Library’s bi-monthly Saturday morning group, will be reading the following titles. Common Grounds likes to stick to fiction and nonfiction by American authors with strong social themes and topics.
January: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. We’re reading this book in conjunction with the Kansas City Public Library’s Adult Winter Reading program, Destination: Anywhere!
March: The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian. Mr. Bohjalian has always been a favorite of this group and they wanted to tackle his latest.
May: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Award nominees are always of interest and the group asked for this title, too.
July: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. The National Book Award winner should provide great conversation. This is the book Women Who Dare and Downtowners will be reading during the summer, too.
September: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Why’d we pick this one? Because it appears all the local book groups have already discussed it. Now there are enough copies for us. 
November: Unwind by Neal Shusterman. This is a good time of year for books with speedy plots, lively characters, and intriguing issues. We also like to read as much young adult fiction as possible.
January 16th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Fantastic to see Shusterman’s Unwind on the list – a great crossover YA, sure to trigger parent-child conversations along with book group enthusiasm. He’s a marvelous speaker, too!