Many, many thanks to the thousands of you who told us about your book club experiences and favorites in the Favorite Discussible Books of 2010 survey!  Your responses are fascinating and chock full of tips and good ideas about the book group experience and how to make your discussions lively, stimulating and enjoyable.  We will be sharing many of your comments in upcoming newsletters and on the Reading Group Choices website.

But what about your favorite discussible books of 2010?  There was one run-away favorite of hundreds of book groups, and it was - the envelope, please! - The Help by Kathryn Stockett!  It seems that a great many book group members could relate their personal experiences to the characters', whether they were from the South or elsewhere.  In fact, it seems that discussions of The Help were especially lively if the members originated from different areas of the Country. "We are a group of women with very diverse backgrounds, and each brought the feelings of the time described in the book at that time of our lives.  Perhaps the most enlightening meeting in a long time," says Barb of The Read 'Em and Eat Book Club (Egg Harbor Township, NJ).  "We have a mixture of 'Southerners and Northerners' who are part of our group, and it was wonderful talking from each of the gal's perspectives based on where they lived," echos Carmilia of The Mission Swamp Book Group (Murrells Inlet, SC).

Still, 42% of the book groups who chose The Help as their favorite live in the South. "We're in the South, and it hit home," says Maureen of the Whisperwood Book Club (Cary, NC). When asked why they chose The Help, Cindy of Butterbeans and Fudge (Mount Olive, MS) said simply, "We are proud Mississippians!"

Of course, the author's portrayal of the characters really added to the book's appeal, too. As an example, read what Phyllis' Read Between the Wines (Hopewell Junction, NY) book group thought: "The story was so real, the characters so strong and brave.  We have a woman in our group who grew up in the south and could talk about what it was like in the 60's through her personal experience.  As a group we all felt outraged about how these women were treated and felt such compassion for them."

Congratulations to Kathryn Stockett for winning the #1 spot!
 

Mother's Day is coming next month, so why not choose a discussible about mothers for your May discussion. Here are a few suggestions.

 Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin tells the story of Tessa and Valerie, mothers in the same Boston suburbs, strangers to each but each possessed a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes Tessa and Valerie's lives to intersect in ways no one could have imagined. Heart of the Matter is a provocative novel about marriage and motherhood, love and forgiveness. The Washington Post reviews Heart of the Matter, writing, "Giffin displays her trademark ability to capture the complexities of human emotions while telling a rip-roaring tale."

Brunonia Barry's new novel, The Map of True Places, reveals past and present effects of a mother's suicide. Overwhelmed by her new role as caregiver to her ailing father, Zee must destroy the existing map of her life and chart a new course-one that will guide her not only into her future but into her past as well. "The meditations on American history, assisted suicide, reincarnation and celestial navigation are informative and even endearing...the voice behind the plot turns is both likable and engaging," writes Carolyn See of The Washington Post.

 Secret Daughter, a first novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, explores the emotional terrain of motherhood through the experiences of two families-one Indian, one American-and the child that binds them together. Library Journal reports, "First novelist Gowda offers especially vivid descriptions of the contrasts and contradictions of modern India... Rife with themes that lend themselves to discussion, such as cultural identity, adoption, and women's roles, this will appeal to the book club crowd."

Claudia Sternbach, author of Reading Lips: A Memoir of Kisses takes a unique platform to tell her story. Kisses -- a father's kiss, first love kiss, best friend kiss -- tell the tale about small, and sometimes big, moments in one's life. This book is Claudia's life in her kisses. "Sternbach has carefully considered how to make a life story interesting through unusual yet approachable formatting, and she throws humor, sarcasm and self-deprecation into the mix....A memorable, laugh-out-loud, cry-out-loud essay collection for both genders and all ages," states Kirkus Reviews.

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See Claudia's guest blog post

Jubie Watts, a thirteen-year old girl, comes of age in the tumultuous 1950s South in Anna Jean Mayhew's strong debut, The Dry Grass of August. On a scorching day in August 1954, thirteen-year-old Jubie Watts leaves Charlotte, North Carolina, with her family for a Florida vacation, crammed into the Packard along with Jubie are her three siblings, her mother, and the family's black maid, Mary Luther. The novel reveals the intensity of a changing time and a tragedy that will foster Jubie's courage and independence to question the rules of that time. "...Jubie's story thrums with a provocative authenticity, and even the most stolid reader is sure to respond to this heartbreaking tale of lost innocence. Although revisiting such a fraught yet recent moment in U.S. history produces moments of discomfort and pain, the power, bravery and beauty of Mayhew's narrative is beyond contestation and well-deserving of a wide readership," writes Stephenie Harrison on BookPage.

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Dorothea Benton Frank revisits Tall Pines Plantation and some of her most unforgettable characters in Lowcountry Summer. To fill the large shoes of her late larger-than-life mother, Caroline must deal with her brother's romantic affairs, her son Eric's girlfriend, and other family catastrophes. Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, reports, "Seriously hilarious, Lowcountry Summer is also an incredibly poignant story of the relationship between a brother and sister. As only she can, Dorothea Benton Frank shows how we can survive loss and explores the strong emotions home and family inspire. Get ready to laugh and cry."