"What is the What" by Dave Eggers

The Free Library of Philadelphia had this title as One Book Philadelphia in 2008 and published a fantastic Resource Guide. Besides the discussion questions, I found the Timeline: A Recent History of Sudan and the map on pages 6-8 especially of interest. You may also like to check the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation website. Here you will find information on the book and Sudan as well as the Foundation.

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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