Background on "The Age of Innocence"

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is part of the National Endowment for the Arts program called THE BIG READ. The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture.

To read more about the novel The Big Read discussion Guide has a introduction, historical context, author information and more.

One Book New Jersey 2010 Winners

The following titles have been selected for OBNJ 2010. Look for the kickoff and library programs in the new year.

Adult: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Teen: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Middle Grades: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Di Camillo

Read to Me: Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Still time to vote for One Book New Jersey

We are hoping our Book Discussion Groups will participate in this year's One Book New Jersey.

The first step is to help choose the book. From now through Sunday, November 15, readers of all ages are encouraged to vote for the titles best suited to be One Book New Jersey (OBNJ) selections! You can only vote for one title per category, but you can place a vote in all four categories: Adult, Teen, Middle Grade, and Read to Me.

Cast your vote now at www.onebooknewjersey.org Winning selections will be announced on November 16, 2009.

Once titles have been selected the library will invite all Cranbury book groups and individuals to read the book. The library will supply books, reviews, and discussion guides. We will also offer several different programs that relate to the book. Remember, other NJ libraries will also be reading the OBNJ selection and offering programs as well.

Let's become part of a large community of readers and join in One Book New Jersey!

Next Daytime Discussion

The next discussion is on Wednesday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m. We will be discussing Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Summary: Seven- year old Rachel is forcibly removed from her family's 1890s Honolulu home when she contracts leprosy and is placed in a settlement. There she loses a series of new friends before new medical discoveries enable her to reenter the world.

For December the group decided to read something from Edith Wharton. Some titles are The Age of Innocence, House of Mirth, and Ethan Frome. We will choose the exact title at the next meeting. Come prepared with book ideas for 2010.

The library is working with local authors and hoping to have them come to speak in 2010. The group may choose to read one of their books in the new year. One is Shobhan Bantwal. She has 3 books; The Dowry Bride, The Forbidden Daughter and the Sari Shop Widow.

Another possible author is Rachel Levy Lesser and her book Shopping for Love.

What to Read next?

Come to the Book Discussion with ideas of what to read for December and the new year. Any ideas for "One Book Cranbury"?

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Evening Book Discussion Mtg on 7/21

In case you did not receive an email from me, I will be unable to lead the 7/21 evening book discussion due to a death in the family. You may either feel free to meet as a group here at the library without me and discuss (your more than welcome) or I can touch base with everyone late next week and we can reschedule the discussion''

I am perfectly fine with either and apologize for the short notice

-Doug

Book Thief Interview with the author

Click on this link to listen to an interview with Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief. (He has a lovely Australian accent too.) Once on his site click on Book Club to read more of the author's ideas.

A Blogger comments on The BookThief.

Another interview with the author about writing The Book Thief and writing in general.

A book talk to interest readers. Do a YouTube search and you will find lots of interesting videos.

Daytime Book Discussion

The next daytime book discussion is Wednesday, July 15. The book we are reading is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The library has copies ready to be picked up.

The Last Chinese Chef

The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones is the title of the next daytime book discussion on Wednesday, June 10 at 1:30 in the Senior Community Center.

Be thinking about what books the group will read next and come to the meeting with ideas.

Or post comments with book suggestions!

Lace Reader Discussion tomorrow

Here is a link to the NY Times review of The Lace Reader.  The review is careful not to reveal too much so no 'spoiler alert' is needed.

You might like to check out www.lacereader.com.  There you will find a link to a short documentary with an interview with the author.  Or look at Brunonia's Blog the Bru- HaHa.  On the right are links to NPR interviews with the author.

April 15th is the next Daytime Book Discussion

Due to Spring Break the book discussion will be the 3rd Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Senior Center.  Next month's book is My Antonia by Willa Cather.  Please be think about books to read and discuss in the following months.

May Evening Book Discussion Suggestions

After last night's meeting, I wanted to add this post to our blog so that you all can have the opportunity to suggest titles for our May meeting by using the comments feature. Hopefully in this way we can bounce around some ideas and get a title in place before the April meeting so Beth Anne can get us those hot titles we crave.

So comment away and lets see what we come up with

Open Book Club

This resource came up on one of the library blogs I read and I thought you all might be interested in it. Its one version of an online book group called Open Book Club. It contained monthly video episodes hosted by two women who interview authors and have special guests giving insight on books they discuss each month. There is also an online forum where you can comment and read others comments about these different books.

Beside having our discussion group, I would like to when I can offer alternative resources for book discussion and exploration as well (especially techie stuff which holds my interest)

Take a look and see what you think (use the link below)

http://www.openbookclub.tv/

Daytime Book Discussion - Monday 3/16

The Daytime book discussion has been moved to Monday 3/16 at 1:30 at the Senior Center.

Next Daytime Book Discussion

It has come to my attention that many of our group will not be able to make the March 11 discussion.  I think we should change the date to accommodate as many group members as possible.  

I can do any day in the next 2 weeks at 1:30 except for Monday the 9th.  If we choose a Thursday we would have to meet in the library as there is another program in the Senior Center.  Please post your preference in the comments.

Daytime Book Discussion Date Change

The discussion of The Zookeeper's Wife will be moved to Wednesday, February 18th at 1:30 p.m. in the Senior Center.

Daytime Book Disscussion - Book for 2/11

The Daytime Book Disscussion is reading the Zookeeper's Wife.  

Books will be available through Inter-library Loan at the library by next 

week.  The library will be open for limited services (such as 

Inter-library loan) during the reconfiguration.

A Viewing of Notes on a Scandal

I wanted to find out from the evening group if there was any interest in having a viewing of the film for our book discussion at the library between now (1/6) and the discussion meeting on the 13th. If you are interested please let me know by email (baldwin@cranburypubliclibrary.org) ASAP so that if there is enough interest, I could try and get a date and time that would work.

If not, that is fine too!

-Doug