Inspired by Reading Book Club...

Last year, I had tossed around the idea of doing a book club.  Allegory Gallery shares a space with a bookstore (Second Chapter Books) and I always liked hearing about their book club.  Not only did it encourage people to read more, but it also was a way for people to compare notes and share their experiences while reading.  Everyone brings a different perspective to the table.

Nancy Schindler of Round Rabbit did a book club a few years ago.  But she took it one step further.  In addition to discussing their thoughts on the book, participants were asked to create something after they finished reading that was inspired by the book and share it in a blog hop.

I thought that was a fabulous idea and sent some feelers out to see if anyone would be game for a challenge.  It seemed to be met with a favorable response.  So, I figured that this would be as good of a time as any to dust off those books in the "to read" piles and start up a dialogue!

The name of the new group is:  Inspired by Reading Book Club

To participate, all you have to do is read the book selected for that month and create something (artwork, jewelry, components... etc.) inspired by what you've read.  At the end of each month, there will be an opportunity to share what you've made via a blog hop.  You can also share your work in the Facebook Group.  (I'll post the dates of the reveals here and on the Facebook Group.)  CLICK HERE to join the Facebook Goup.  We are also talking about setting up a chat room at the end of each month, so that members of the book club can discuss their thoughts on the book.

Here's the list for the next thirteen months.  Since some of the books are longer, I wanted people to have ample time to read.  This way, it's possible to read ahead and get a jumpstart on the list.

April 2013 -  "Paris to the Moon", Adam Gopnik

May 2013 -  "A Rumor of Gems", Ellen Steiber
June 2013 -  "The Bucolic Plague", Josh Kilmer-Purcell
July 2013 -  "The Cookbook Collector", Allegra Goodman
August 2013 -  "The Infinities", John Banville
September 2013 -  "Dogeaters", Jessica Hagedorn
October 2013 -  "My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me", edited by Kate Bernheimer
November 2013 -  "Bridge of Birds", Barry Hughart
December 2013 -  "The Journey to the East", Hermann Hesse
January 2014-  "The Enchantress of Florence", Salman Rushdie
February 2014 -  "Difficult Loves", Italo Calvino
March 2014 -  "An Irish Country Doctor", Patrick Taylor
April 2014 -  "Interpreter of Maladies", Jhumpa Lahiri

I did a check and all of the books should be readily available.  All of them are in paperback and should be very affordable (especially if you pick up a used copy).  Please consider supporting your local independent bookstore.  Sharing our space with a bookstore, we've come to realize just how challenging it can be to run a small business like this with the rise of the eReaders.  With that said, you can order books from Laurie at Second Chapter Books.  CLICK HERE to visit their Facebook page and message her with the titles that you're interested in.  She'll follow up with your total and shipping costs.

And don't forget, you can always see if your local library carries these titles.  If they're not available, many of them can special order them for you to borrow.

This is supposed to be fun and inspiring and I hope everyone who participates has a good time.  If you have any questions, you can always email me: ardenttie@yahoo.com