Guide to
Bookclubs
Avid’s Top 10 Tips for Bookclubs... 1. Moderate! Make sure someone is in charge and make sure everyone talks about the book. 2. Read the book before you choose it (so many tedious bookclub sessions have resulted from choosing a book you haven’t read). 3. Encourage debate - it’s great if you don’t agree. Reading is personal taste and discussions are more interesting with a wide range of opinions. 4. Do some research. We recommend including an author bio, a discussion of themes and some quotes from reviews. 5. It’s fun to give each book a star rating at the end of each session.
6. Start on time, finish on time. An hour is plenty, and make sure to declare when the meeting is at an end - people can stay and chat if they like. 7. Find some quotes from the book to raise discussion. It reminds people of parts they may have forgotten. 8. Shake it up every so often - choose a book that you know will divide the group. 9. Keep a list of things you have read so that you can go back over your choices at the end of the year. 10. Read around the world – don’t get stuck on books from Australia/America or England, the world is a wide and varied place.
Avid Reader’s Themed Bookclubs • Fiona’s Open Bookclub is divided into two groups. They meet the first Wednesday night (7pm) and first Thursday morning (9.30am) of each month. In September they will discuss “The Woman Upstairs” by Claire Messud • The Australian Bookclub meets the first Tuesday night of the month (7pm) and reads Australian fiction and non-fiction. In September they will discuss “Burial Rites” by Hannah Kent • It’s A Bloody Crime Bookclub reads crime fiction and meets the first Saturday of the month (2pm). In September they are discussing “The Innocence of Father Brown” by G K Chesterton • The Good Sex Award Bookclub read classic and new literary erotica and non-fiction books
about sexuality. They meet the first Wednesday of each month (7pm). In September they will discuss “What Purpose did I Serve in Your Life” by Marie Calloway. • The Young and the Restless Bookclub is for 18-35 year olds and they meet the first Thursday of the month (7pm). In September they are reading “Leaving the Atocha Station” by Ben Learner All Avid bookclubs are open to the public. To become a member of one of our bookclubs you must purchase the book from Avid Reader and there is a 10% discount on the bookclub book if you are attending the club.
Our Favourite Bookclub Books Fiona’s Open Bookclub votes for their book of the year – a book that generated the best discussion. 2010 Bookblub book of the year: “Jasper Jones” by Craig Silvey 2011 Bookclub book of the year: “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghesse
2012 Bookclub book of the year: “All That I Am” by Anna Funder
Our current recommended bookclub titles are:
“Sense of an Ending” By Julian Barnes The Sense of an Ending is the story of one man coming to terms with the mutable past. Laced with trademark precision, dexterity and insight, it is the work of one of the world’s most distinguished writers. Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2011.
“Burial Rites� By Hannah Kent In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men. Agnes is sent to wait out the time leading to her execution on the farm of District Officer Jon Jonsson, his wife and their two daughters.
“Foal’s Bread” By Gillian Mears Set in hardscrabble farming country and around the country show high-jumping circuit that prevailed in rural New South Wales prior to the Second World War, Foal’s Bread tells the story of two generations of the Nancarrow family and their fortunes as dictated by the vicissitudes of the land.
“Steeplechase” By Krissy Kneen Bec Reich is recovering from surgery when Emily calls, so naturally she thinks she is hallucinating. Emily, famous worldwide for her paintings, and also for her schizophrenia, lives in Beijing. But that’s not why she hasn’t spoken to Bec for so many years. And now she wants Bec to come to China for the opening of her new show. It would mean a risk of hurt; even damage. Or worse.
“Boy, Lost” By Kristina Olsson A beautiful heartbreaking memoir by the award-winning author of “The China Garden”, “Boy, Lost” tells the story of Yvonne, Kristina’s mother, who lost her infant son, Peter, when he was snatched from her arms as she boarded a train in 1950. Yvonne was young and frightened, trying to escape a brutal marriage, but despite the violence and cruelty she’d endured, she was not prepared to lose a son. She would not see him again for nearly forty years.
Avid Reader Bookstore For books that satisfy 193 Boundary Street West End QLD 4101 07 3846 3422 books@avidreader.com.au www.avidreader.com.au Sign up for our enewlestter follow us on facebook or twitter (@avidreader4101) Open seven days a week Mon-Fri – 8.30am – 8.30pm Saturday 8.30am – 6.00pm Sunday 8.30am – 5.00pm