Ellen Moore, Kira Stevens, Good Books Lately: The One-Stop Resource for Book Groups and Other Greedy Readers Review

Overall Rating

Good Books Lately: The One-Stop Resource for Book Groups and Other Greedy Readers
Ellen Moore, Kira Stevens
St. Martin's Press, Mar 2004, $13.95, 348 pp.
ISBN: 0312309619

I don't know if book groups existed as far back as Gutenberg (religious book groups?), but I can testify that they have been around since at least the 1960s as this reviewer joined an existing one during the Summer of Love (love to me was a novel). The authors do provide some historical perspective as Regency readers know of the reading groups formed in that era, etc. However, in recent years perhaps promulgated by Oprah, book groups have flourished making it more complex with so many choices to choose the right one for a reader. Ellen Moore and Kira Stevens are experts on forming book groups, how to stir the debate on a particular book, and troubleshooting especially when the group seems stagnant among other topics. In GOOD BOOKS LATELY: THE ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR BOOK GROUPS AND OTHER GREEDY READERS, the authors provide advice as they have done with their consulting firm.

This self help book is easy and fun to follow as it offers practical guidance on forming and maintaining a quality book group whether it is generalists or genre specific. Anyone who wants to start or improve a group will find this reference book offers solid tips to make a successful go. Most of all Ms. Moore and Ms. Stevens encourage people to keep on reading even if you are a group of one, but will appreciate a vigorous debate with others.

Harriet Klausner