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Christina Katz Global Book Club: First Book Choice Is (Drumroll!) “Wild” By Cheryl Strayed

I have toyed with the idea of starting an online book club before. But I was so busy that I did not feel like I could commit to reading one book per month. (How sad is that?)

I feel like I write enough quality books, but I don’t feel like I read enough quality books.

So, if nothing else, this book club will help accomplish the goal of reading more high-quality books.

Who would like to join me?

You should know before you jump in, that I tend to favor essay collections and memoir, so this book club is likely to be heavy in those genres. I’m sure some fiction will sneak in here and there.

I think we should work within the rhythm of the months, so let’s say that Wild is the discussion book for April 2012.

I have not yet decided how I want to handle the discussion. If it will be a one-time thing or a several times a month thing or an all-month thing. But I am excited about the possibilities we have at our fingertips thanks to technology.

I think we can let that part evolve. I’m leaning towards an open Facebook group for ongoing discussion (and maybe an audio or video chat with the authors if we can talk them into it).

You should probably also know that I’m only interested in the best of traditionally published books, right now, so I know that anyone who wants to participate will be able to get their eyeballs on a book quickly. (So this is not a self-promotion opportunity for writers. I offer those from time to time, but this is not one.)

And I can pick books at least a month ahead of time going forward. So it won’t be so last minute like this.

But for now, since I am doing this kind of off the cuff, let’s call Wild by Cheryl Strayed the first book for the month of April.

Yay! I’m so excited!

Let’s all try to get our hands on the book in whatever format you like from whatever bookseller you like as soon as you can and then we’ll launch the Facebook group on April 1st.

The group is open to anyone. This is not only a mom’s or women’s group. Anyone, anywhere can participate. The only requirement is that you must read the book.

Full disclosure: I know Cheryl (hopefully this increases the chance that we can talk her into some kind of orchestrated interaction). And today is the publication day of her book.

So it’s no coincidence that I am starting the book club today. But like I said, it’s an idea I’ve toyed with for years. And apparently, it’s an idea whose time has come. 🙂

I could not help noticing that Wild is very low on the Amazon bestseller list today. (Low is good, high is bad.)

Currently the book is at #58 of all books (that’s amazing, in case you didn’t know). So I can’t help wonder if, using our new book club enthusiasm, if we couldn’t help drive the book to number one.

What do you think? Wanna try?

Then go ahead and order Wild by Cheryl Strayed by the end of the day, Wednesday March 21st (or as soon as you reasonably can) and join us for our book discussion starting April 1st.

This gives you a chance to purchase the book at Cheryl’s book launch event at Powell’s Books tomorrow at 7:30 pm in Portland, Oregon.

I look forward to discussing the book with you!

I decided to go ahead and start the Facebook discussion group. Find it here and join up!

Order now!

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Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Rebecca Einstein Schorr March 20, 2012, 7:04 am

    What a great idea!!! Count me in!

  • Mariam Kobras March 20, 2012, 2:12 pm

    Count me in! This is exciting.

  • Marguerite Scott March 20, 2012, 7:20 am

    I am SO in!  Just Tickled to think about it.  Have never felt the impulse to join a book club before, but this really speaks to me.  Yay!

  • Cynthia March 20, 2012, 7:47 am

    How does one officially sign up to participate?  I love the idea.

  • Judy March 20, 2012, 8:03 am

    I’m in ! 🙂

  • sugarjones March 20, 2012, 8:21 am

    Great idea! I am sooo in!!

  • christinakatz March 20, 2012, 8:41 am

    Hi ladies,

    All you need to do at this point is get the book, in whatever format you
    like, and read it. Then on April 1st I’ll launch the discussion. I am
    thinking to have the discussion go for the first week of the month (for
    maximum participation) and I’m thinking of announcing the next book at the beginning
    of the discussion. This gives folks a chance to obtain the next book
    while we are still talking about the current one.

    But I agree that doing it all online is so much easier than doing it in real live 3d. If it were live, I’m sure that I wouldn’t do it.

    Once we have a Facebook group, it will be easier to let members suggest titles etc. But I don’t want to jump the gun. First book. Then read book. Then first discussion.

    Fun?

    🙂 C

  • Mary Drew March 20, 2012, 9:34 am

    You are brilliant, Ms. Christina. Happy to join, and already got the book. Starting reading tonight.  Thanks!  This will be fun.

  • christinakatz March 20, 2012, 9:55 am

    Okay, folks. I decided to go ahead and get the Facebook Group started. https://www.facebook.com/groups/257596150995443/

  • Michele Thornton March 20, 2012, 10:55 am

    Perfect! I tend to read mostly fiction, so this will give me a new perspective. Just downloaded the book and I’ll start reading it tonight! I miss being in a book club, but the weekly/monthly get togethers never seemed to fit into my schedule. This is perfect.

  • christinakatz March 20, 2012, 7:02 pm

     Here is a link to the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257596150995443/

  • christinakatz March 20, 2012, 7:03 pm

     Yay! Glad you can do it. Beats space and time, right?

  • V Stevens March 20, 2012, 9:52 pm

    Glad to join, thanks! 

  • Raymond Aughe Sr. March 21, 2012, 12:53 am

    Busy?  You bet!  But I’m on track and chuggin’ up hill, looking to the summit for anything and everything that will engage my mind in productive thinking and productive work.  I think this will not only help achieve that goal, but be enormous fun!  Thanks, Christina!

  • Lynda Hill Schuessler March 21, 2012, 1:48 am

    I loved your invitation – how beautiful to look at what you do in the world as “making good things happen”. Finishing my first novel is my focus right now so I won’t be joining but wanted to let you know that I appreciate your point of view. 

  • Nathalie March 21, 2012, 4:30 am

    I’m so in! 

  • Jennifer Roland March 21, 2012, 11:47 pm

    I’m afraid to commit, but I know that I need to read more books, too. I miss reading as much as I used to… Count me in.