ReadingGroupGuides.com is celebrating its 10th anniversary!
We appreciate all of you who have been loyal readers and contributors to the site. One of the best parts about watching ReadingGroupGuides.com flourish over the last decade has been the opportunity to be a part of book clubs in far-flung places. Imagine if we could celebrate with all of you in person --- what an event that would be! Since that’s not possible, we’ve come up with a way to celebrate with you: a special contest with $10,000 in prizes. Click here to read more.
We are celebrating the paperback release of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger --- a supernatural story of twin sisters and their inheritance from an aunt they hardly knew --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win one copy of the book, which is in stores now, for their group. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 4th at noon ET.
More about Her Fearful Symmetry:
Julia and Valentina Poole are 20-year-old sisters with an intense attachment to each other. One morning the mailman delivers a thick envelope to their house in the suburbs of Chicago. Their English aunt Elspeth Noblin has died of cancer and left them her London apartment. There are two conditions for this inheritance: that they live in the flat for a year before they sell it and that their parents not enter it.
Click here to read all the contest details. Click here for the reading group guide.
We are celebrating the paperback release of The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha --- a powerful story of family bonds, forgiveness and death row --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win one copy of The Crying Tree, which is in stores now, for their group. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 4th at noon ET.
More about The Crying Tree:
A Midwestern family relocates to the Pacific Northwest only to have their son murdered during a robbery. The culprit is sentenced to death, giving the Stanley family peace of mind that justice has been served. However, as the execution date nears, each family member begins examining their own thoughts and emotions. The Crying Tree is a wrenching portrait of a family and forgiveness.
Click here to read all the contest details. Click here for the reading group guide.
We are celebrating the upcoming film adaptation of Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin --- the bestselling memoir of a young boy’s journey from rural China to international ballet stardom --- with a special contest. 24 readers will have the opportunity to each win one paperback copy of Mao’s Last Dancer for their group. The movie tie-in edition will be available on July 27th, and the film will be released in select cities later this summer. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 4th at noon ET.
More about Mao's Last Dancer:
From a poor village in northeast China, at age 11, Li Cunxin was chosen by Madame Mao's cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home and brought to Beijing, where he would study ballet. In 1979, the young dancer arrived in Texas as part of a cultural exchange, only to fall in love with America --- and with an American woman. Two years later, through a series of events worthy of the most exciting cloak-and-dagger fiction, he defected to the United States, where he quickly became known as one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world.
One of the best-loved classics of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It has won the Pulitzer Prize, been translated into more than 40 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. It was also named the best novel of the 20th century by librarians across the country (Library Journal). HarperCollins is proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book's publication with this special hardcover edition. Learn more about the book and its historic anniversary here.
In this enchanting debut novel, Maggie Pouncey brings to life the unforgettable Flora Dempsey, the headstrong and quick-witted only child of Lewis Dempsey, a beloved former college president and famous literary critic in the league of Harold Bloom. At once comic and profound, Perfect Reader is a heady, uplifting story of loneliness and of the spur to growth that grief can be. Brimming with energy and with the elbow-patchy wisdom of her still-vivid father, Flora’s story will set her free to be the “perfect reader” --- not just of her father’s life but of her own as well.
Seventeen-year-old Wyatt Hillyer is suddenly orphaned when his parents, within hours of each other, jump off two different bridges --- the result of their separate involvements with the same compelling neighbor, a Halifax switchboard operator and aspiring actress. The suicides cause Wyatt to move to small-town Middle Economy to live with his uncle, aunt, and ravishing cousin Tilda.
In this poignant, evocative novel, bestselling author Holly Chamberlin sweeps you into the picturesque town of Ogunquit, Maine, where a family in flux explores their ties to a beautiful beach house, and to each other. Some houses have a personality of their own. Larchmere is that kind of place --- a splendid, sprawling home with breathtaking views that open to briny Atlantic air and seabirds’ calls. It’s the place where Tilda McQueen O’Connell grew up and now vacations each year, and where she and her three siblings have gathered to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their mother’s passing.
From the New York Times bestselling author of City of Light comes a compelling, richly detailed tale of passion and intrigue set in New York City during the tumultuous early days of World War II. In this highly anticipated follow-up, she deftly captures the uncertainty and spirit, the dreams and hopes, of a nation at war. A sweeping tale of love and betrayal, intrigue and idealism, A Fierce Radiance is an ambitious and deeply engaging novel from an author of immense talent.
Julie Orringer’s astonishing first novel, eagerly awaited since the publication of her heralded bestselling short-story collection, How to Breathe Underwater, is a grand love story set against the backdrop of Budapest and Paris, an epic tale of three brothers whose lives are ravaged by war, and the chronicle of one family’s struggle against the forces that threaten to annihilate it. Expertly crafted, magnificently written, emotionally haunting, and impossible to put down, The Invisible Bridge resoundingly confirms Julie Orringer’s place as one of today’s most vital and commanding young literary talents.
“I had been married three years when I fell in love,” begins Kate, a firecracker of a woman who thought she’d found the yin to her yang in Cary, her sensible and adoring husband. For their friend Luke --- a charismatic copywriter who loves women and attention in equal measure, and preferably together --- life has been more than sweet beside Cressida, the dutiful pediatric oncologist who stole his heart. But when a whimsical flirtation between Kate and Luke turns into something far more dangerous, the foursome will be irrevocably intertwined by more than just their shared history.
England, 1766: After a long voyage from the East Indies, a ship docks in Bristol, England, and a rumor quickly spreads about its unusual cargo. In the final two crates is a pair of young elephants, in poor health but alive. The Elephant Keeper is a captivating tale of love and loyalty between one man and the two exotic animals that change the lives of everyone who encounters them.
Eve has had it --- she's no "wicked stepmonster" in the making. She absolutely adores Ian, the new man in her life, and she's more than willing to open her heart to his kids. But nothing she does is right in their eyes, and she just can't take it anymore. You can choose your family --- but are you sure you want to? That’s the question Samantha Baker poses in The Other Mothers’ Club --- a fresh, funny and touching fictional look at stepmotherhood, an often-misrepresented aspect of female life.
One of the most acclaimed books of 2009, Lit is about getting drunk and getting sober; becoming a mother by letting go of a mother; learning to write by learning to live. Written with Karr's relentless honesty, unflinching self-scrutiny, and irreverent, lacerating humor, it is a truly electrifying story of how to grow up --- as only bestselling memoirist Mary Karr can tell it.
Broken by Travis Thrasher: Laila was living a charmed life as part of Chicago’s social elite until some bad decisions put her on the streets, and in the center of a murder investigation.
Fatal Loyalty by Sue Duffy: The daughter of a prominent political activist tries to escape his large shadow, but just as her life returns to normal, an old foe reappears.
Finding Jeena by Miralee Ferrell: Jeena Gregory thinks she has it all after landing her dream job until persistent rumors cast her new employer in an unfavorable light, followed by a mysterious disappearance.
The Homecoming by Dan Walsh: A war veteran is invited on a USO tour but would prefer to spend time at home, especially after meeting his son’s new nanny.
A Love of Her Own: Heart of the West, Book 3 by Maggie Brendan: April McBride heads to the untamed wilds of the Montana frontier for a wedding, only to find her own love in the rough-and-tumble crowd.
Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson: A new page-turning novel from an award-winning author Melanie Dobson is packed with a fast-paced plot that skillfully weaves together history and suspense.
For July we have a very special opportunity for Registered Book Groups. Our featured title this month is Broken by Travis Thrasher. Groups who have registered with us by Tuesday, July 20th have the chance to win author chats and/or free books. If your group is not registered, click here to register.
After the Fall by Kylie Ladd: In her page-turning fiction debut, neuropsychologist Kylie Ladd delivers a searing portrait of two marriages united and betrayed by friendship.
American Music by Jane Mendelsohn: An Iraq war veteran and his physical therapist are linked by mysterious, chilling visions in this unusual, creative love story.
Based Upon Availability by Alix Strauss: The lives of eight women patronizing Manhattan’s swank Four Seasons are chronicled as they grapple with life, death, sex and family.
The Blessings of the Animals by Katrina Kittle: From Katrina Kittle, the critically acclaimed author of The Kindness of Strangers, comes a wry, engrossing and moving story of a veterinarian’s journey through the aftermath of divorce amidst a motley crew of beasts.
Broken by Travis Thrasher: Laila was living a charmed life as part of Chicago’s social elite until some bad decisions put her on the streets, and in the center of a murder investigation.
Commuters by Emily Gray Tedrowe: Well into their 70s, Winnie McClelland and wealthy Jerry Trevis have fallen in love, causing consternation among their extended family when financial and estate issues begin to cloud their parents’ happiness.
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes: A writer returns home to confront the difficult past she left behind and the people left in its wake, including the father of her daughter.
The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha: Family members ponder forgiveness as the execution date for the man who murdered their son approaches.
The Devil Amongst the Lawyers by Sharyn McCrumb: McCrumb blends fact and fiction in this historical thriller about the media frenzy surrounding a murder in a small Appalachian town in 1935.
The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson: A poignant and magical story set in 18th-century England, The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson is the tale of two baby elephants and the young man who accidentally finds himself their guardian.
The Family Beach House by Holly Chamberlin: A quartet of siblings bickers over the family beach house after hearing the news that their father intends to remarry, and jeopardize their inheritance.
Fatal Loyalty by Sue Duffy: The daughter of a prominent political activist tries to escape his large shadow, but just as her life returns to normal, an old foe reappears.
A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer: Penicillin operates as the source of romance, murder and melodrama in Lauren Belfer's evocative, ambitious WWII-era novel that follows a journalist during the drug’s inception.
Finding Jeena by Miralee Ferrell: Jeena Gregory thinks she has it all after landing her dream job until persistent rumors cast her new employer in an unfavorable light, followed by a mysterious disappearance.
The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews: A high-powered public relations executive loses everything during a scandal, only to find a new meaning for her life while renovating an old country manor.
The German Woman by Paul Griner: An English widow and an American expatriate share a torrid affair during World War II, but as the war moves to its violent conclusion, their loyalties are tested.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson: The thrilling conclusion to Larsson’s international bestselling Millennium series finds Lisbeth Salander clinging to life as Mikael Blomqvist tries to exonerate her.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson: The worldwide bestseller introduces crusading journalist Mikael Blomqvist and hacker extraordinaire Lisbeth Salander in the first volume of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy.
The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone: Crackling with atmosphere and eccentric characters, The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors explores the magic of nature and the power of redemption in a novel as beautiful and unpredictable as lightning itself.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger: Following her breakout bestseller, The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger returns with a haunting tale about the complications of love, identity and sibling rivalry.
The Homecoming by Dan Walsh: A war veteran is invited on a USO tour but would prefer to spend time at home, especially after meeting his son’s new nanny.
Imperfect Endings: A Daughter’s Tale of Life and Death by Zoe FitzGerald Carter: A daughter experiences a range of emotions upon learning of her mother’s desire to “end things” after a long bout with a terminal illness.
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer: A Jewish architecture student is forced to return to his native Hungary along with his girlfriend at the beginning of World War II.
In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir by Neil White: The emotional, incredible true story of Neil White, a man who discovers the secret to happiness, leading a fulfilling life, and the importance of fatherhood in the most unlikely of places --- the last leper colony in the continental United States.
It Had to Be You: Weddings by Bella, Book 3 by Janice Thompson: Bella begins planning her aunt and uncle’s much-anticipated wedding, but it may prove too much to handle once extended family from Italy begins arriving.
The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri: A struggling young fashion designer journeys to Ireland to mend a broken heart, and helps a group of local lace makers change their lives --- and her own.
Labor Day by Joyce Maynard: The unforgettable story of a mother and son forever changed during a long summer weekend when a mysterious man comes into their lives.
The Last War by Ana Menéndez: From the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq to the strange, shimmering streets of Istanbul, The Last War is a “seductive meditation” (O, The Oprah Magazine) on cruelty and violence, love and identity from Pushcart Prize-winning author Ana Menéndez.
The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain: Chamberlain’s latest is an extraordinarily touching new novel about the devastating secrets that test the inconstant yet unbreakable bond between sisters --- bonds forged by love, loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness.
Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr: Written with bestselling memoirist Mary Karr's relentless honesty, unflinching self-scrutiny, and irreverent, lacerating humor, Lit is a truly electrifying story of how to grow up.
A Love of Her Own: Heart of the West, Book 3 by Maggie Brendan: April McBride heads to the untamed wilds of the Montana frontier for a wedding, only to find her own love in the rough-and-tumble crowd.
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin: Li Cunxin was taken from his home in rural China at a young age by the Chinese government and became an international ballet star before defecting to America.
A Maze of Grace: A Memoir of Second Chances by Trish Ryan: Ryan reflects on her first five years of marriage, including proud moments and pitfalls on her way to spiritual and romantic enlightenment.
Mozart’s Blood by Louise Marley: A talented musician goes to great lengths to conceal her romantic and spiritual ties to the legendary composer.
Miss You Most of All by Elizabeth Bass: Two sisters enjoy the success of their resort ranch until an unwelcome guest from their past arrives, desperate for help.
The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin: A doctor and a bride-to-be fight for survival in the Rockies during a blizzard after their plane crashes, leaving them stranded, injured and questioning their destinies.
The Other Mothers’ Club by Samantha Baker: You can choose your family --- but are you sure you want to? That’s the question Samantha Baker poses in The Other Mothers’ Club --- a fresh, funny and touching fictional look at stepmotherhood, an often-misrepresented aspect of female life.
Outside the Ordinary World by Dori Ostermiller: This debut is the story of the powerful, sometimes disturbing bond between mothers and daughters, and the shimmering line between self-revelation and self-destruction.
Perfect Reader by Maggie Pouncey: Flora Dempsey returns home to handle her father’s literary estate only to discover a cache of love poems to a mystery woman with her own sights on the estate.
Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson: A new page-turning novel from an award-winning author Melanie Dobson is packed with a fast-paced plot that skillfully weaves together history and suspense.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives is a perceptive, funny and eye-opening debut novel of polygamy in modern-day Nigeria, perfect for fans of Half of a Yellow Sun or The 19th Wife.
So Cold the River by Michael Koryta: A struggling filmmaker accepts an offer to make a documentary of a wealthy industrialist in a small Indiana town that harbors many secrets.
Some Girls: My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren: In this explosive memoir, Lauren recounts her route from NYU undergrad to concubine in the royal court of Brunei.
The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum: Twins are forced to confront a violent secret from their past in Jenna Blum’s first novel since her runaway bestseller, Those Who Save Us.
This Fine Life by Eva Marie Everson: A recent graduate struggles with life decisions until her future unfolds before her one day in her father’s factory.
The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen: Just as Delilah’s father falls further and further into Alzheimer’s, she discovers that he’s been harboring a horrible secret for over 15 years, but he no longer remembers the motivations behind his deception…or the consequences.
To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition by Harper Lee: This special edition celebrates Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic of race, class and justice in a small Southern town.
Villa Mirabella by Peter Pezzelli: A trio of siblings struggle to put aside their differences to save the family’s bed and breakfast from foreclosure.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan: The pasts of an aging record executive and his beautiful assistant intertwine during a 50-year span across rock history.
What is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman: A teenager moves in with his aunt, uncle and ravishing cousin after his parents commit suicide just hours apart following separate encounters with a neighbor.
Whether your book club is just a few months old or has been around for a while, you might be in need of a Book Club Makeover from ReadingGroupGuides.com. After reading your emails --- and talking to book clubs across the country --- we see that book groups often can fall into a routine and need a bit of livening up. It’s ReadingGroupGuides.com to the rescue! We’ll select groups each month for makeovers, review the problems, and make suggestions. Interested in a Book Club Makeover for your group? Click here for details.
Contest
Win Copies for your Book Group
This month's prize: To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition
by Harper Lee
Click here for more
Win a Paperback Copy of HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY by Audrey Niffenegger for Your Group
Win a Paperback Copy of THE CRYING TREE by Naseem Rakha for Your Group
Win a Paperback Copy of MAO’S LAST DANCER by Li Cunxin for Your Group
