National Reading Group Month and Booklist

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The Portola Valley Library's branch manager leads the afternoon book group discussion San Mateo County Library

Booklist, the American Library Association’s review source, is proud to have been selected again as a partner for the Women’s National Book Association’s National Reading Group Month in October.

The popular Booklist blog Book Group Buzz, offering helpful and entertaining information to reading groups both in and outside libraries, is again the official partner blog for National Reading Group Month. Book Group Buzz includes informative, wise, witty and salutary posts by expert contributors from around the country, plus links to a wide range of free book group-related guides, tips and other resources. “This online destination for reading groups is the ideal blog for National Reading Group Month,” said NRGM Chair, Jill Tardiff. “We are delighted to partner with ALA’s Booklist and to make Book Group Buzz a visible part of the program. We’re impressed by the scope of this one-stop resource for reading groups.”

“Great Group Reads Selections” are a key element of National Reading Group Month and this year 13 Great Group Reads have been selected on the basis of their appeal to reading groups, covering timely and provocative topics and including under-represented gems from small presses and lesser-known mid-list releases from larger houses. All are books with strong narratives peopled by fully realized characters; books which perhaps have flown under the radar of reading groups overwhelmed by the number of new releases each year.

Booklist is making reviews of the Great Group Reads available free to non-subscribers at Booklist Online. Booklist Online is also a vibrant resource for book groups throughout the year, with wide-ranging free content from e-newsletters to featured reviews of the day.

National Reading Group Month celebrates shared reading by promoting reading groups. “People are reading less and less for pleasure, yet month in and month out, thousands of groups nationwide gather to discuss the latest and to revisit older titles,” observed Tardiff.

To learn more and find scheduled events, visit the National Reading Group Month website. Events featuring reading group favorite authors are planned nationwide in the association’s nine chapter cities, with partners from libraries and all areas of the book industry supporting the initiative.