My book club meets this Thursday to select our books for the year. There are about 15 members who regularly attend and we each get to pitch two titles to the group.
One of the requirements, is that the book is available in paperback. I hate this requirement because it sort of prevents us from exploring newer titles, but if it’s slightly new and will be available in PB later this year, then that would be okay.
The other thing is that they frown if the page length is too long. By too long, I’d say anything over 500 pages would have to be deemed fabulous before it made the list.
I’m not really into pitching books that everyone will like. I am more interested in pitching a title that will prompt discussion, be it good or bad. If we can talk about it, then I consider it good. If they happen to enjoy it too, then that’s a win-win.
Of course, the aim is to blow their minds but it doesn’t always work that way.
Here are some of the titles that came to mind:
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
As you can see, these don’t necessarily fit the criteria I laid out above but I’ve been wanting to read them and might pitch one of them anyway.
I was also thinking about this one:
The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha
If you have feedback on any of these titles or want to toss another title into the hat, please do so.
I try to add titles to my Goodreads list as I see them, but I know that there are a few out there that I meant to add, but missed.Â
If you have a title you want to recommend, just let me know in comments and if possible, include a sentence or two on why you are recommending it.Â
I’ll post an update post later in the month to let you know which ones I pitched and which ones made the list.
Book Chatter 
I am the same way… I’d rather pick a book that is going to make for good conversation rather than one that everyone will like. When it was my turn to pick a book for our book club, I chose Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward. It’s not long, it’s been out for awhile and comes in paperback and everyone will definitely have an opinion about it.
Here is the link to my review of it: http://wp.me/pYPJS-h2 (sorry to put a link in your comments section.. I don’t mean to advertise, just wanted you to be able to see it).
I heard that Unbroken was good. Of course, I haven’t finished a book in forever but now that I am on a blogging break, maybe I will get some read:)
Mel, you could always download some to your iPod Touch and listen to them on the treadmill.
I have not read any of the ones you listed, but I have a few suggestions for you:
The Slap – By Christos Tsiolkas – I did not like this book, but if you want to have a discussion to end all discussions – this is the book.
The Book Thief – By Markus Zusak
Still Alice – By Lisa Genova
Sarah’s Key – By Tatiana de Rosnay
The Road – By Cormac McCarthy
and
Princess – By Jean Sasson – I just finished this one for my book club – again – this will be a great discussion night.
That is hard! I would second The Book Thief, but haven’t you already read that? Room made for good discussion, but I don’t know whether it is in paperback yet or not. Loved Let the Great World Spin, but I think you’ve read that one too. How about a good Sarah Waters read? Like Fingersmith?
My club read The Book Thief last year. I just finished Room but I think another member is pitching it. Most have already read Fingersmith and I pitched The Little Stranger last year and it bombed and didn’t get picked. So many of us read on the side too so it’s hard to get a book that lots haven’t read already.
We just picked also. Our January read was Cutting for Stone, which everyone liked even though it was a chunkster. Some of our other picks are Cleopatra, Lake of Dreams, Room and another chunky The Agony and the Ecstasy.
I pitched Cutting for Stone last year and it didn’t fly. Can you believe that?
I know I just finished reading it today, so it is fresh in my mind, but These Is My Words by Nancy Turner is fabulous! I have read such glowing reviews from other bloggers – it has only been on my TBR pile for almost a decade! This is going on my favorites list!
GARDENS OF WATER by Alan Drew is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s trade paper and just the right size. It is also perfect for discussion!
THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer comes out today in trade paper. Is the best book I’ve read this year by far.
Ohhhh. Good ones. I just printed them off.
I’ve only read “The Crying Tree” out of your list above, but it would start one heck of a discussion!
I finished Left Neglected last week and there is a lot to discuss, escpecially if your group has working mom’s. It’s also a easy read… although this doesn’t seem to be your criteria 🙂
Lipstick in Afghanistan is also discussion worthy (so much to talk about in this book, current events, afghanistan, women, is the job what she expected)
These are both paperbacks but if I’m honest… I see them as titles you would pick (maybe a little to ‘fluff’ for your taste). Too bad you have the paperback criteria, The Uncoupling looks good too.
Can’t wait to see your list.
I meant I don’t see them as titles… (last paragraph).
The Book Thief and The Forgotten Garden were the two book my book club loved the most and the ones we had the most discussion on. Not sure if they fit your criteria though. I am having a hard time thinking of a paperback book!
I know. I hate the paperback requirement. We read The Book Thief last year and The Forgotten Garden has been read by many, just not myself. Thanks for the recommendation though.
They sound great…I want to read Unbroken and Matterhorn..can I join? 😀 I want to be back in the California weather right now!!
have fun on Thursday making your final choices!
Jeez .. that is kind of restrictive. It was the book selection process that was the downfall of the one book club I was in. It got NASTY!
No feedback, sorry, but I can tell you which were the books which created the best discussions in my bookclub last year. We also have similar standards, except that in the summer we don’t meet in August, so we we’re allowed a big one: Gone with the wind (summer), Suite Francaise, The Help, The Mitford Girls (summer), King Leopold’s Ghost.
I loved The Help and pitched it last year but they didn’t want to read it. Maybe someone will pitch it this year and we can do the movie tie-in.
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks is interesting and would spark conversation – it is about women in Islam and very well done. What about the Postmistress or The Piano Teacher?
And this is what I get for being behind on my reader–The Crying Tree would make an excellent book club selection, much to discuss, although it’s certainly a story that a lot of people won’t enjoy. So what did you pick?
I pitched The Quickening Maze and Wench and both were chosen. I am going to post the entire list in the next couple of days.