THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY GUIDE TO READING GROUPS by Rollene Saal Pages: 196 Format: Paperback Genre: Nonfiction ISBN: 0517883570 Publisher: Crown

Drawing on the collected experience of The New York Public Library, which has run hundreds of reading groups over the years, Rollene Saal has written a comprehensive and thorough guide to running a reading group. Covering the basics in the chapter "Getting Started, " from finding members to running the first meeting, Saal helps the beginner lay down the rules in a no-nonsense style that lets folks know you're serious about your book club.

This guide to reading groups is exceptional for its insight into reading and discussion. Saal concentrates on choosing the books and how to find good books for your reading club. She also offers advice on how to read a book, what to look for in the books you read to get the most out of them, and then on the discussion itself: asking thought-provoking questions, dealing with members such as "The Book Hog" and "Shy Tillie," and building the discussion.

Appropriately, Saal champions local libraries as a reading group's best friend. She offers suggestions for using the library as a resource for book lists, meeting spaces, and an invaluable tool for background information. Saal also gives insight into how some specific reading groups around the country run their groups. She looks at what they're reading, the logistics of their meetings, the nature of their discussions.

Finally, Saal ends with reading lists. Over 70 pages of annotated lists cover almost every possible literary topic. Saal's lists tend to be fairly traditional, without any exceptionally off-beat or cutting-edge titles, but she still runs the gamut from "Books for Booklovers" to "From the Hip at Heart." Interesting topics include "Theater," "Some Science Books," "Ghosts and Ghouls," "Reflections" and "Green Books." There's a little something here for every reader. While The New York Public Library Guide to Reading Groups has solid advice on setting up a group, its strength is as a resource on choosing books, reading the book selections carefully, and on how to carry on a meaningful discussion.

   --- Reviewed by Liz Keuffer


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