Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

I have never been in  a book club so I will be kind of winging this.. These will be stand-alone novels, 200-400 pages, conversation starters, with somewhat wide appeal.

  1. The Lovely Bones: A devastating murder and what happens after to those involved. The murderers life, the victims take on an afterlife, and the after effects on her family and friends.
  2. The Bermudez Triangle: A fun and touching tale dealing with first love and GLBT issues.
  3. The Jungle: A classic that exposes the dirty underside of living and working as an immigrant in turn of the century Chicago.
  4. Awaken: When was the last time you looked someone in the eyes and felt comfortable? When was the last time you met someone new and hugged them because you hit it off so well? This digital age connects us in so many ways, but does it disconnect us in the most important ways?
  5. Smack: Two teenagers in love run away and get caught up in a dark drug filled world.
  6. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things: A story of never fitting in from the perspective of a narrator who is refreshingly blunt and witty.
  7. A Monster Calls: This novel goes through topics of strength in grief, the power of stories, the complicated nature of humans, and the importance of truth in our lives.  
  8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: This book has so much in so few pages... It's a story of growing up, of embracing life and of facing truth.
  9. Ella Minnow Pea: On a more fun note this is a story about the love of words. Would you be able to communicate effectively if letters of the alphabet were banned?
  10. Speak: girl is ostracized at school after calling the police at a party, but the real problem haunting her is the secret she's keeping, the reason she called the cops in the first place.   

Have you guys read these? What do you think? Do you agree with my choices? Would you join my bookclub?

    16 comments:

    1. I'd join that book club! I think you've got the hang of picking out books for discussion.

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      1. Thank you so much! I've always wanted to be in a book club but never found one that seemed to like the same kind of books I do.

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    2. Oh I love Speak!! And after you read it with your book club, you could watch the movie. They made one for Lifetime. It's pretty good. Kristen Stewart is in it, pre-Twilight. And, fun fact: the book's author makes a cameo as a lunch lady!

      I've been meaning to read the Bermudez Triangle. I've read most of Maureen Johnson's other books but just haven't gotten around to that one...

      Anyway, here's my list, if you're interested: http://julie999.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday-books-for-book-clubs.html

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    3. Speak is awesome...should be a must for any book club!

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    4. I'll have to check out some of those - they look great!
      My Tuesday Memes post

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    5. AGAIN someone recommends Speak! I have to read this! I feel out of the loop...

      I can't believe I didn't put The Lovely Bones on my list!

      My Top Ten

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      1. Yes! Speak is wonderful, and if you liked The Lovely Bones you will probably like Speak as well.

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    6. Ohh I put Bermudez Triangle on my list too! Have you read Maureen Johson's other stuff? She's one of my favourite authors out there.

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      1. I absolutely love Maureen Johnson, I have read most of her books. She is one of my favorites. In fact I just reviewed The Name of the Star last week (http://epiphanyrenee.blogspot.com/2012/01/name-of-star-by-maureen-johnson.html.

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    7. Speak would make such a great book! Can't believe I forgot about it. It was so sad to see her go through that. I'd love to see what others thought of it! Same with Perks of Being a Wallflower! It was so amazing! Need to reread that again...

      Great List!

      Here's my Top Ten

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    8. The Lovely Bones and Speak are great additions to a club reading list. I had not thought to add either of them. Great list!

      -FABR Steph@FiveAlarmBookReviews
      My Top Ten...

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    9. Ooh, amazing list, with some tough stuff: The Jungle, Speak, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I'd definitely be in your book club!

      I've got A Monster Calls on my list for a reading challenge this year; it sounds like it's got some great stuff, but I'm a little on the fence about it. Glad to hear more praise for it, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

      This is Bookzilla, btw. Neither Blogger nor Blogspot are letting me comment while logged in.

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      1. That happens to me sometimes, I have to sign out and unchecked the remember me button then sign back in...its weird but it works.

        As for A Monster Calls it is a great story and, if it helps, I'll be putting up a review this week, that is unless you start reading it before then.

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    10. Great list.
      The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things sounds interesting. I might have to check that one out.

      My TTT: http://sosimplesara.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday-4-january-31-202.html

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    11. Ooh, definitely some book club-worthy books on here! PERKS is one of my all-time favorite books and I first read it for a teen book club. I need to check out A MONSTER CALLS. I love that your list pulls from all different genres.
      Thanks for stopping by! New follower :)

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    12. I always Perks on many Most Banned Books lists. I found it to be a fascinating look into the life of a young person today. Bleak, though.

      Here is my Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks. And I hope you will sign up for my February Giveaway! Win All Kinds of Kisses or a $25 Amazon gift card!

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