The wind that makes music in November corn is in a hurry.  The stalks hum, the loose husks whisk skyward in half-playing swirls, and the wind hurries on.... A tree tries to argue, bare limbs waving, but there is no detaining the wind. — Aldo Leopold

The wind is kicking up a storm as I write this. Boats are being pulled up for the winter, the geese are flying south, and the temperature is dropping fast. I have one or two weeks of raking! Ugh! Raking is my least favorite thing to do. The best part of this dreaded task is jumping in the leaf pile after is done! For me, this is the time to sit down with a good book and a blanket, for soon the holiday season will be upon us.

I just read Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides. Wow! You won’t know it is nonfiction. The book is filled with interesting characters, sense of place, and great narrative – what a discussible and fascinating read. The story of the West is told without the boring textbook material. Giddup and read it – you won’t be disappointed.

Congratulations and kudos to Kiran Desai and her book, The Inheritance of Loss, on winning The Man Booker Prize last month. Please read this extraordinary and beautiful book.  There are so many topics to discuss for reading groups. I feel quite honored to have The Inheritance of Loss as a selection in Reading Group Choices 2007.

Are you stumped for the little but great gift for your reading group? Reading Group Choices 2007 is the best Stocking Stuffer for your reading group’s members.  Each member will receive a feast of guides including When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, For One More Day by Mitch Albom, Cottage for Sale, Must Be Moved by Kate Whouley, and The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.  Fifty more fascinating guides are in Reading Group Choices 2007 to last throughout 2007 or beyond. Please go to Reading Group Choices Store and get the Stocker Stuffer Special pricing. Ring in the New Year with Reading Group Choices 2007.

Next month begins the scheduling of the Author/Group Discussion Contest! Willing authors have an icon next to the "Topics for Discussion" in their book's Profile in the print and online editions of Reading Group Choices. For a chance to win, email us with your name, the name of your group, the number of folks in your group, the time (and time zone) and three dates for your meetings, your speakerphone number, and one to three authors whom you'd like to invite. We'll do our best to make the connection. Discussions begin in January. Good luck!

What should I do – raking or reading? I know my choice!

As always, thanks for keeping the joy of reading alive.

Barbara
bmead@readinggroupchoices.com