Fiction_L Archives discussion questions Dates: 2/6/02,2:54 PM  through  3/6/02,2:20 PM  (14 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to February 2002 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Gail Firestone <[removed]@mail.clarke.public.lib.ga.us>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 2:54 PM

Has anyone seen a set of discussion questions for the book: Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks? I sure could use them! Thanks!

Gail Firestone
Assistant Director for Youth Services
Athens Regional Library System
2025 Baxter St.
Athens, Georgia 30606

[removed]@gcpl.net
706-613-3650 ext. 307

FROM: Theyer Hillary <[removed]@TORRNET.COM>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 10:57 AM

I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I also
go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't like
the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to me.
For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
like the father? What place did he have in the story?"

I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
what other people have said, etc.

Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has anyone
out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them when
they are there and ready.

Thanks for any and all opinions!
Hillary Theyer
Torrance Public Library (CA)
[removed]@torrnet.com

FROM: Viccy Kemp <[removed]@cityofcarrollton.com>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 11:08 AM

No, I think what you're doing is exactly right. I do the same thing with
those reading group questions. They seem too erudite for my group of ladies
(and one or two men). I might ask the question, but then temper it with
something evocative for me about how I related to the question and that sort
of gives the group a direction to go.
I also write page numbers down with significant points on them. This allows
me to also remember memorable pieces of writing that I want to point out to
the group. I use several different literature databases, too. We are
fortunate to have easy online access to Gale Literature thanks to the Texas
State Library.
HTH
Viccy Kemp
The opinions are my own; the library wouldn't want 'em!

-----Original Message-----
From: Theyer Hillary [[removed]@TORRNET.COM]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:44 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Discussion questions


I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I also
go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't like
the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to me.
For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
like the father? What place did he have in the story?"

I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
what other people have said, etc.

Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has anyone
out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them when
they are there and ready.

Thanks for any and all opinions!
Hillary Theyer
Torrance Public Library (CA)
[removed]@torrnet.com

FROM: Kim Rutter <[removed]@lvdl.org>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:13 PM

I use the publishers' questions as a jumping-off point and feel more secure
that I haven't missed something big as a discussion point, but I also do the
post-it note/scribbling idea thing. My discussions are informal and my
group prefers not to be too bookish, so the formal questions are just to
re-generate the discussion. I've never needed more than 10 for any book
we've done.

Just my opinion--Kim

Kim Uden Rutter
Head, Technical Services
Lake Villa District Library
Lake Villa, IL

"If I went west, I think I would go to Kansas."--Abraham Lincoln


-----Original Message-----
From: Theyer Hillary [[removed]@TORRNET.COM]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:44 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Discussion questions


I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I also
go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't like
the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to me.
For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
like the father? What place did he have in the story?"

I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
what other people have said, etc.

Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has anyone
out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them when
they are there and ready.

Thanks for any and all opinions!
Hillary Theyer
Torrance Public Library (CA)
[removed]@torrnet.com

FROM: "Diane Giarrusso" <[removed]@mailserv.mvlc.lib.ma.us>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:13 PM

As far as I'm concerned there is nothing wrong with the way you prepare for
book discussions--I do the same thing. As for spending too much time...
Well, I'm the facilitator and I need to be almost more knowledgeable about
the book than the participants, and keeping notes makes it easier for me to
remember little details like plot, character names, etc...LOL!

I wish more participants would read the books actively and jot notes, etc.
I think the discussions are much richer that way. MHO,

Diane H.C. Giarrusso
Coordinator of Community Planning
Pollard Memorial Library
33 Middle St.
Lowell, MA 01852
978-970-4120
978-970-4117 fax
[removed]@mailserv.mvlc.lib.ma.us

----- Original Message -----
From: "Theyer Hillary" <[removed]@TORRNET.COM>
To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:44 AM
Subject: Discussion questions


> I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
> seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I
also
> go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
> of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't
like
> the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to
me.
> For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
> Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
> like the father? What place did he have in the story?"
>
> I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
> read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
> scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
> Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
> opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
> the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
> when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
> what other people have said, etc.
>
> Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
> points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has
anyone
> out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
> successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them
when
> they are there and ready.
>
> Thanks for any and all opinions!
> Hillary Theyer
> Torrance Public Library (CA)
> [removed]@torrnet.com
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: Viccy Kemp <[removed]@cityofcarrollton.com>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:23 PM

Yes, I have two participants who show up every month with their list of
questions and you can tell they have really thought about what they are
reading.
Viccy Kemp
The opinions are my own; the library wouldn't want 'em!

-----Original Message-----
From: Diane Giarrusso [[removed]@mailserv.mvlc.lib.ma.us]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 1:02 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Discussion questions


As far as I'm concerned there is nothing wrong with the way you prepare for
book discussions--I do the same thing. As for spending too much time...
Well, I'm the facilitator and I need to be almost more knowledgeable about
the book than the participants, and keeping notes makes it easier for me to
remember little details like plot, character names, etc...LOL!

I wish more participants would read the books actively and jot notes, etc.
I think the discussions are much richer that way. MHO,

Diane H.C. Giarrusso
Coordinator of Community Planning
Pollard Memorial Library
33 Middle St.
Lowell, MA 01852
978-970-4120
978-970-4117 fax
[removed]@mailserv.mvlc.lib.ma.us

----- Original Message -----
From: "Theyer Hillary" <[removed]@TORRNET.COM>
To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:44 AM
Subject: Discussion questions


> I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
> seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I
also
> go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
> of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't
like
> the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to
me.
> For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
> Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
> like the father? What place did he have in the story?"
>
> I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
> read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
> scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
> Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
> opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
> the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
> when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
> what other people have said, etc.
>
> Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
> points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has
anyone
> out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
> successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them
when
> they are there and ready.
>
> Thanks for any and all opinions!
> Hillary Theyer
> Torrance Public Library (CA)
> [removed]@torrnet.com
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: Hedy Hustedde <[removed]@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:23 PM

Hey, Hillary, you're not doing too much work on discussion research if
you're enjoying it. What you described is what I do too--and I find it
quite satisfying and even exhilarating because it makes the discussion and
the reading itself so much richer. Can you get by with less? By all
means, you can. I often don't get around to points I really wanted to
make, but ran out of time for. Because we do a round robin sort of
discussion, everybody gets a turn. I'm more of a facilitator than a
leader in that sense, and like you, I'm over-prepared. But I personally
wouldn't have it any other way. The participants in your discussion group
will appreciate you mightily for it too.

SOMETIMES, the publishers' discussion questions seem so obscure, so
nebulous, and hard for the average reader to answer and are
not really want the group wants to talk about. Sometimes they just need
re-phrasing. They could work just fine, but I always feel "original"
questions (and comments) have more immediacy and pertinence to a
particular discussion group.


*************************************************************************
Hedy N.R. Hustedde (daisy) tel: 563-344-4175
Information Librarian fax: 563-344-4185
Bettendorf Public Library email: [removed]@libby.rbls.lib.il.us
2950 Learning Campus Drive website:http://www.bettendorflibrary.com
Bettendorf, IA 52722 Alles Gute!

FROM: "Nora M. Armstrong" <[removed]@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:34 PM

I run a Great Books discussion group, and rare it is that we stick to the
questions provided for our readings. They're often a starting-off point
for us; often just the general opener "So, what did you think of the
reading?" is enough of a prompt for us to get the ball rolling.

Do whatever works for your group. If everyone's more comfortable with the
"homemade" questions, then use those. Have you thought about asking one of
the group members to come up with some questions once in a while? Some
participants may appreciate this sort of invitation...just a thought...

Cordially,
Nora

Nora Armstrong
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
Fayetteville, NC
(910)483-7878, FAX (910)486-6661
[removed]@cumberland.lib.nc.us

FROM: "Carrier, Karen" <[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:34 PM

I prepare in very much the same way you do. I like to use quotes that I
lift from the text for discussion, and I also have certain specific points
that I want to ask about if it does not naturally occur in their
discussion. I also need to go back through the book as a whole to refresh
myself on major and minor plot points as well as the various aspects of
"interpretation" of the book. It all depends on how much preparation you
are comfortable with. I prefer being over prepared. Karen Carrier [removed]@
Rolling Meadows Library

-----Original Message-----
From: Theyer Hillary [[removed]@TORRNET.COM]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 12:09 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Discussion questions

I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I
also
go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't
like
the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to me.
For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
like the father? What place did he have in the story?"

I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
what other people have said, etc.

Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has
anyone
out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them
when
they are there and ready.

Thanks for any and all opinions!
Hillary Theyer
Torrance Public Library (CA)
[removed]@torrnet.com

FROM: Vicki Novak - LIBRARYX <[removed]@MAIL.MARICOPA.GOV>
REC'D: 3/4/02, 12:44 PM

I always look at the questions and usually use some of them for our
discussions. However, I often change them if I don't like them. For
instance, usually there will be several parts to the question - I will often
simplify it and paraphrase some literary terms. In a typical group, not
everyone has a literature background and they may not be really familiar
with academic terms. I realized this when I asked about the theme of a
book, and someone asked me what I meant by "theme".

As an example, here is one question from the discussion guide about The
Poisonwood Bible:
"2. How does Kingsolver differentiate among the Price sisters, particularly
in terms of their voices? What does each sister reveal about herself and the
other three, their relationships, their mother and father, and their lives
in Africa? What is the effect of our learning about events and people
through the sisters' eyes?"

There is too much here! I would decide to focus on one part of the question,
because if you read this whole thing to the group, they will probably ask
you to repeat the question or will wonder which question you are really
asking.

Besides the discussion guides, I also make up questions and I use some
generic questions like, "What was the most revealing scene?" or "How would
you characterize the relationship between ____ and ____?"


So, my advice would be to look at the discussion guides to get ideas for
your discussions. You can use what you like and discard the rest. Their
questions might remind you about things you wanted to ask. Try to ask
open-ended questions, not yes-or-no questions. You can start your
discussion with some simple questions that are easy to answer and then
progress to the deeper, more complicated questions. Don't ask a question
from a discussion guide that has a too obvious answer or one that you can't
imagine answering yourself.


Vicki Novak
[removed]@mail.maricopa.gov

Adult Services
North Central Regional Library
Maricopa County Library District
17811 N. 32nd St.
Phoenix, AZ 85032-1201

http://mcld.maricopa.gov

FROM: "Kay Mahoney" <[removed]@tolland.org>
REC'D: 3/5/02, 11:10 AM

I use whatever I can find. If there are book discussion questions out
there, I use them but I never stick to them. Usually a leading question
provides discussion and then I build from there. It is a lot of work:
finding information about the author and developing the questions.
Sometimes I get more input from the group and that makes it easier than
trying to carry it by myself. Kay Mahoney

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Carrier, Karen
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 1:31 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: Discussion questions


I prepare in very much the same way you do. I like to use quotes that I
lift from the text for discussion, and I also have certain specific points
that I want to ask about if it does not naturally occur in their
discussion. I also need to go back through the book as a whole to refresh
myself on major and minor plot points as well as the various aspects of
"interpretation" of the book. It all depends on how much preparation you
are comfortable with. I prefer being over prepared. Karen Carrier [removed]@
Rolling Meadows Library

-----Original Message-----
From: Theyer Hillary [[removed]@TORRNET.COM]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 12:09 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Discussion questions

I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I
also
go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't
like
the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to me.
For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
like the father? What place did he have in the story?"

I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
what other people have said, etc.

Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has
anyone
out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them
when
they are there and ready.

Thanks for any and all opinions!
Hillary Theyer
Torrance Public Library (CA)
[removed]@torrnet.com

FROM: "Ganyard, Margaret E." <[removed]@SLPL.LIB.MO.US>
REC'D: 3/5/02, 2:40 PM

I don't use the questions I find either; they are too hard to understand and
too
"high-browish". My group wants to have fun, and we do. I certainly don't
want to torture them with these unintelligble questions.

Margaret E. Ganyard, Manager
Popular Library
St. Louis Public Library
1301 Olive
St. Louis, Mo. 63103
(314) 539-0396
[removed]@slpl.lib.mo.us

FROM: Carrie Herrmann <[removed]@bcpl.org>
REC'D: 3/6/02, 11:16 AM

I lead book discussions and I also present workshops on leading book
discussions. I generally include some of the information from the publisher's
web site, but I usually follow your method. I read with a hiliter in one hand
and a pen and post-it-notes in the other. This is the best method I have
found.

Carrie A. Herrmann
Access Services Coordinator
Boone County Public Library

>===== Original Message From "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
=====
>Fiction_L Digest #2116 - Tuesday, March 5, 2002
>
> RE: Readalikes for John Lescroart?
> by "BookBitch" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
> Re: "big girls big hair display"
> by "McKnight, Katie" <[removed]@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au>
> Re: bad girls with big hair...
> by "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
> Re: bad girls with big hair...
> by "BookBitch" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
> re: bad girls with bad hair
> by "Susan T. Byra" <[removed]@emrl.lib.ms.us>
> RE: bad girls with big hair...
> by "Julie Roberts" <[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us>
> Thanks - Book search: diamonds in a doll's head
> by "Danielle Pilon" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
> RE: Discussion questions
> by "Kay Mahoney" <[removed]@tolland.org>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: RE: Readalikes for John Lescroart?
>From: "BookBitch" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
>Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 21:41:56 -0500
>
>A couple of newer authors of the legal thriller genre:
>Sheldon Siegel
>David Ellis (just nominated for an Edgar for best first novel)
>
>Stacy Alesi
>Southwest County Regional Library
>Palm Beach County Library System
>
>I am the BookBitch
>www.bookbitch.com
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get your free [removed]@yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: Re: "big girls big hair display"
>From: "McKnight, Katie" <[removed]@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au>
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 15:54:16 +1100
>
>Just a comment regarding Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer for the 'big
>girls bad hair' display. I would suggest not including it, it is clearly a
>knock off of Evanovich and isn't the slightest bit entertaining.
>Cheers, Katie
>Katie McKnight
>Home Library Services Librarian
>Willoughby City Library
>407 Victoria Ave
>Chatswood NSW 2067
>Ph.02 9777 7900
>Fax.02 94132038
[removed]@willoughby.nsw.gov.au
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: Re: bad girls with big hair...
>From: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
>Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 13:24:00 +0000
>
>Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone, perhaps?
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
>http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: Re: bad girls with big hair...
>From: "BookBitch" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 06:16:04 -0800 (PST)
>
>I just wanted to comment on the Sarah Strohmeyer
>book with Bubbles Yablonsky, BUBBLES UNBOUND. I
>didn't love it either, it was such an Evanovich
>clone but she does mention that Evanovich was her
>mentor in her acknowledgements. The book itself
>was cute and had some laughs in it, and the
>homegrown beauty recipes appealed to some people.
> I have offered it to several patrons too
>impatient to wait for the next Stephanie Plum and
>to be honest, they all liked it more than I did.
>I'm hopeful that she will find her own voice
>eventually.
>
>But either way, IMHO I don't feel it's right to
>keep a book that so obviously fits off a display
>because of one person's opinion. One man's trash
>is another man's treasure...
>
>Stacy Alesi
>Southwest County Regional Library
>Palm Beach County Library System
>
>
>
>=====
>I am the BookBitch
> www.bookbitch.com
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email!
>http://mail.yahoo.com/
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: re: bad girls with bad hair
>From: "Susan T. Byra" <[removed]@emrl.lib.ms.us>
>Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 08:52:57 -0600
>
>How about "Bad girls + bad attitude = good read"?
>
>--
>Susan T. Byra, MLS
>Director, East Miss. Regional Library
>
>Now I believe that there are unicorns - William Shakespeare
>
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: RE: bad girls with big hair...
>From: "Julie Roberts" <[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us>
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 10:00:22 -0600
>
>Hello all. I don't understand or like the "bad girls with big hair" thing.
> What do you mean "big hair"? What about "bad girls with attitude" or
>"(strong) women with attitude"? That sounds better to me.
>I just went to the Fiction-L readalikes area for Janet Evanovich. Here are
>some good ones--Jan Burke, Jennifer Crusie, Jane Heller, Susan Isaacs,
>Marne Davis Kellogg, Lindsey Maracotta, Sharyn McCrumb, Gillian Roberts to
>name a few. Julie A. Roberts [removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Carla Hutchens [[removed]@oplin.lib.oh.us]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 9:45 AM
>To: Fiction_L
>Subject: Re: bad girls with big hair...
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Martha Garbison" <[removed]@denver.lib.co.us>
>To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 1:56 PM
>Subject: bad girls with big hair...
>
>
>>
>> I have someone who is working on a display/bibliography and would like
>> more suggestions for the theme, other than "bad girls with big hair...".
>> Authors that are to be included in the bib are Janet Evanovich, Lauren
>> Henderson, Sparkle Hayter, Linda Barnes, etc... Suggestions for an
>> appropriate theme and more author names would be ideal...
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Martha Garbison, Senior Librarian
>> Virginia Village Branch
>> Denver Public Library
>>
>> ......................................................................
>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>>
>
>
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>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: Thanks - Book search: diamonds in a doll's head
>From: "Danielle Pilon" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 08:02:33 -0800 (PST)
>
>Thanks for all your suggestions, I've passed them on
>to the patron. She's very interested in reading the
>Ginny book, even if it's not the specific title she
>was thinking of.
>
>Danielle Pilon, MLIS
>Assistant Librarian
>Selkirk & St. Andrews Regional Library
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email!
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>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Subject: RE: Discussion questions
>From: "Kay Mahoney" <[removed]@tolland.org>
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 11:46:34 -0500
>
>I use whatever I can find. If there are book discussion questions out
>there, I use them but I never stick to them. Usually a leading question
>provides discussion and then I build from there. It is a lot of work:
>finding information about the author and developing the questions.
>Sometimes I get more input from the group and that makes it easier than
>trying to carry it by myself. Kay Mahoney
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
>[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Carrier, Karen
>Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 1:31 PM
>To: Fiction_L
>Subject: RE: Discussion questions
>
>
>I prepare in very much the same way you do. I like to use quotes that I
>lift from the text for discussion, and I also have certain specific points
>that I want to ask about if it does not naturally occur in their
>discussion. I also need to go back through the book as a whole to refresh
>myself on major and minor plot points as well as the various aspects of
>"interpretation" of the book. It all depends on how much preparation you
>are comfortable with. I prefer being over prepared. Karen Carrier [removed]@
>Rolling Meadows Library
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Theyer Hillary [[removed]@TORRNET.COM]
>Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 12:09 PM
>To: Fiction_L
>Subject: Discussion questions
>
>I have a question for everyone who leads a book discussion group. I have
>seen requests for questions on these discussion lists many times, and I
>also
>go to the internet or the reading group guides by the publishers in search
>of discussion questions, but I almost never end up using them. I don't
>like
>the questions, by and large, and they seem to "high school essayish" to me.
>For example, the "Discuss the theme of the father/son relationships in The
>Chosen" seems too vague, and I always end up asking thinks like "Did you
>like the father? What place did he have in the story?"
>
>I tend to write all my own questions, dozens of them for some books, as I
>read. I stick many large post-it notes in the front of the book and
>scribble page numbers and ideas as I go. For example, I am prepping A
>Prayer for Owen Meany right now, and my little note "p, 104-Grandmother's
>opinion on joining the priesthood" will be turned in to a question. I do
>the author background research, find reviews of how critics saw the book
>when it came out, how it is seen now (if it has been around long enough),
>what other people have said, etc.
>
>Here is my worry, am I doing way too much work here? Are the 9 or 10 big
>points on the publisher's web site enough for a book discussion? Has
>anyone
>out there come to lead a discussion with just those questions and been
>successful? I am wondering what is wrong with me that I don't use them
>when
>they are there and ready.
>
>Thanks for any and all opinions!
>Hillary Theyer
>Torrance Public Library (CA)
[removed]@torrnet.com
>
>......................................................................
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FROM: Sandy Westbrook <[removed]@crlc.org>
REC'D: 3/6/02, 2:20 PM

I also wonder whether I am "doing it right" when I see requests for
discussion questions. At the beginning of each discussion, I give author
information and criticism from Contemporary Authors or Amazon, wherever I
can find it. I also pass around a sign-in sheet at the beginning (that way
I know how many came for our statistics count) and we check off whether we
would recommend the book or not. (I type up an end of the year flyer with
all our picks and pans to hand out at the circ desk.) That way I know right
away whether people liked the book or not and I can make sure those that
are in the minority (either way) get a chance to present their point of
view.
The last time we had this discussion someone sent in a list of generic
book discussion questions which I saved. I don't use "literary" questions;
I think people come to book discussion groups to socialize and have fun
while talking about something they have in common. If the discussion
starts to lag, I throw in one of the generic questions. I don't usually
have a problem getting my group to speak - our nickname is "The Happy
Bookers"!

Sandy Westbrook
Adult Services Librarian
South Windsor Public Library
South Windsor, CT 06074
Ph 860-644-1541
Fax 860-644-7645
[removed]@crlc.org

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