Tracking down new books that you and the rest of your reading group will love can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be so hard! We share five great books that are interesting, thought-provoking, lovable and sure to inspire debate.
Three Cups of Tea
Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin’s novel Three Cups of Tea recounts Mortenson’s journey from mountain climber to humanitarian. Mortenson was the co-founder of the non-profit organization Central Asia Institute (CAI), which builds schools for kids in need. The novel’s focus on the importance of educating young girls is inspiring and thought-provoking. You can also get into some of the drama and discussion surrounding the book if you choose.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time can be read in many different ways, making it ideal for a book club read. The story is told through the first-person narrative of a 15-year-old boy who sees the world in a unique way. Although the words “Asperger’s” or “autistic savant” are never used, Christopher Boone is a young man who experiences life differently and feels like an outsider. His discovery of a neighbour’s murdered dog and the ensuing investigation is a fascinatingly told tale. You will undoubtedly have plenty to discuss when your meeting day comes.
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
The memoir of a thirtysomething woman dealing with divorce doesn’t sound like the premise for a fascinating read , but in the hands of Elizabeth Gilbert, the tale is nothing short of extroardinary. In Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert recounts how she spent a year travelling the world after ending her marriage. She heads to Italy to eat and live in the moment, then to India to pray and better understand herself and finally to Indonesia, where she seeks out balance but ultimately falls in love. Gilbert tells her story with a passion and wit that will keep you captivated from beginning to end. And one woman’s journey to find herself will certainly inspire some great discussion among your book club members.
The Kite Runner
When a book spends five years on the New York Times bestseller list, it’s safe to assume it’s worth its salt. Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is both emotionally captivating and thought-provoking. It will take only a few pages for you to start asking yourself what loyalty, family and betrayal mean to you. You’ll be questioning notions such as fate, class and wealth in no time.
Handle with Care
Truth be told, any book by Jodi Picoult is great for a book club. She tackles real-world issues in a relatable way. In Handle with Care, Picoult addresses such complex topics as medical ethics and individual morality through the story of a family coping with a daughter born with a severe bone disease. The girl’s mother, Charlotte, is forced to grapple with the idea that she may have to sue her OB/GYN — who happens to be her best friend — to be able to afford to care for her daughter, Willow. The situation is made additionally complex by the fact that doing so would mean claiming that if her OB/GYN had told her of WIllow’s condition in advance, Charlotte would have aborted the pregnancy. The only problem with selecting this book is your meeting may wind up going hours overtime, as there is so much to discuss!
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