Book Discussion Resources Balcom, Ted. Book Discussions For Adults: A Leader's Guide. Chicago: ALA, 1992. This short, 62 page book gives all the practical information anyone would need to lead a book discussion. Selecting titles, researching the book, preparing questions, handling the group dynamics and more is presented in a clear, direct style. There's also an annotated list of 29 recommended novels to get you started. (025.5277/BAL) Davis, Barbara Kerr. Read All Your Life: A Subject Guide to Fiction. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 1989. This resource appeals to the leaders who would like to create a series of book discussions around a subject. Chicago novels, Books Written in the '20's, and Books by John Steinbeck are examples of this type of book discussion. Davis goes a step further with this book. She presents various themes such as Old Age, Utopia, and Return to Love, defines discussion points within the theme and lists novels that relate to the theme. (Reader Services Reference/809.3/DAV) Dodson, Shireen. The Mother-Daughter Book Club: How Ten Busy Mothers and Daughters Came Together to Talk, Laugh and Learn Their Love of Reading. New York: HarperPerennial, 1996. This title is specifically for mother-daughter book groups. It contains book lists and activities for mothers and daughters to share. It emphasizes ways to use books and discussion to better communicate and bond with each other. There is also an extensive list of suggested books from the children's and young adult sections of the Library suitable for this type of group and three sample book discussion guides. (Reader Services Reference/372.4162/DOD) Jacobsohn, Rachel W. The Reading Group Handbook: Everything You Need to Know To Start Your Own Book Club. New York: Hyperion, 1998. This handbook is written for the patron who would like to establish a book group with her friends and neighbors - some of the advice is not germane to a Library book discussion, such as the chapter on food (including hors d'oeuvre recipes). But there's lots of practical information on choosing titles, working around disruptive group members, formulating questions and more. The appendix contains pages and pages of book ideas arranged by topics - banned books, regional titles, political novels and many more. (Reader Services Reference/374.22/JAC) Pearlman, Mickey. What to Read: The Essential Guide For Reading Group Members and Other Book Lovers. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Lists of annotated books arranged by subjects compiled to give book discussion leaders a "lifetime supply" of titles. From Asian Shores, Fairy Tales For Grown-Ups, Politics As Usual? and Evil Lurks are among the spirited array of lists. (011.7/PEA) Saal, Rollene. The New York Public Library Guide to Reading Groups. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1995. The author gives a very personal slant to running a book discussion in her home. She gives good tips on leading the discussion, handling "book hogs," preparing questions, etc. This book also includes 35 annotated lists of book discussion books arranged by interests - magic realism, Native American heritage, novels with strong themes, etc. (Reader Services Reference/374.22/SAA) Slezak, Ellen. The Book Group: A Thoughtful Guide to Forming and Enjoying a Stimulating Book Discussion Group. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 1993. Thirty leaders provide their personal experiences running book discussions. There's a wealth of "do's and don't's," giving insight and inspiration to those tempted to start a group of their own. Each essayist contributes a list of successful titles- some also list books that didn't work and why! (Reader Services Reference/374.22/BOO)