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Exciting literature after supper is not the best digestive.
--Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1935)
What's New?
 The home page features Muse Notes Plus on Ford Maddox Ford's 1915 masterpiece, The Good Soldier: A Tale of Passion, soon to be a reading group staple. The Hunter is our second feature, Australian Julia Leigh's mesmerizing first novel. Also on the home page you'll find Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher, for middle school-age readers on up. You may want to read this one aloud since parents will love the intrigues of the Sultan's palace as much as children.
At your request we've added more prize lists to the literary prizewinners section in resources, including two Canadian Awards, the Giller and Governor General's, the British Smarties Prize for children's literature, and the American National Book Critics' Circle Award winners. So many good books. . . .
BookMuse has a new site sponsor, premium quality Arc-Vision reading glasses. Are you over forty and in denial? Click on the Arc-Vision banner ad on any page to buy those long-denied glasses. Imagine how much more reading you'll be able to do.
 Coming
Up
Every book group should read our next feature, A. S. Byatt's Possession, winner of the 1990 Booker Prize and soon to appear as a movie. The Muse Notes Plus on this challenging novel say it best: "Take a bit of esoteric literary theory, add a dash of gender politics, mix in some mystery, travel, hints of the supernatural, and plenty of romance, and you'll still have only a small portion of A. S. Byatt's Possession."
In the spirit of offering great books in many forms, we'll feature Muse Notes Plus on Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem later in March. This genre-bending detective novel is narrated by Lionel Essrog, a Sam Spade wannabe with Tourette's Syndrome. Funny, edgy and thought-provoking.
Coming soon for older kids is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, a 1999 National Book Award finalist. A teen-aged girl is unable to talk about what is causing her immense pain. This powerful book is a great discussion waiting to happen. Our readers have told us they want more books for the youngest of readers, so we'll feature Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes later in March. This one is irresistible, AND has a good story for discussion: a young mouse looks forward to kindergarten until she is teased by classmates for her overly long name.
Book Group Tip by Kristine
A couple of times I've mentioned my preference for themes in book groups. Here's one of my book lists that was particularly successful, with an introductory explanation:
Modern novels often draw on older stories for their inspiration. Thus, I have my book groups read combinations of great new and older books and explore the connections between them. I have listed the older book first, then the modern novel.
- Great Expectations, Charles Dickens; Jack Maggs, Peter Carey
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare; The Black Prince, Iris Murdoch
- Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf; The Hours, Michael Cunningham
- Anecdotes of Destiny (incl. Babbette's Feast), Isak Dinesen; Chocolat, Joanne Harris
- Eugene Onegin, Alexander Pushkin Golden Gate, Vikram Seth.
Mickey Pearlman's book What to Read: The Essential Guide for Reading Group Members and Other Book Lovers, also gives you dozens of book recommendations by theme. (See her Author's Own page.)
Readers' Queries
Q--My book group is trying to focus and reorganize. I am going to my next meeting equipped with your notes for book groups and lots of prize lists. I am very interested in two of your lists--banned books and books that should have won awards but did not. Are your lists ever available?
A-- A: Sure. Starting this month, we'll be publishing recommended book lists periodically in the newsletter. Great idea.
Q--I am a teacher at a small, Christian, elementary school that is in desperate need of stocking the library. Do you have access to any books that could be sent to us as a donation? Do you know anyone who does? Here's the name and address of the school:
Cumberland Christian Academy
17 Hurt Road, SE
Smyrna, GA 30082
Caron Lumpkin, email: lumpkin2000@mediaone.net
A--You might try contacting your local church to see if they could mention your need in a meeting or newsletter. Try other community organizations like your library or post a wish list at your local independent bookstore.
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