Book Group Registry

Every novel does not sing, but Susan Edlerkin's The Voices vibrates with a deep and long resonance. Set in the isolated Australian bush, Elderkin has conjured characters that whisper, tumble, and wing their way across the pages. Elderkin tells us of thirteen-year-old Billy Saint who was born both cursed and blessed with the ability to remember more than he should of a land that is not solely his. This novel brings up plenty of questions worth discussing in your next Book Club meeting-here are just a few that grabbed me: Can the legacy of the land we are born in influence and unconsciously create our version of memory? Is there ever a time when violence seems "acceptable" if it is the only way to make a message heard? Are our children born to be inheritors of our past and carry it on, or, ideally, do we want them to inherit nothing and start anew? For anyone that was a fan or The Bone People or Rabbit Proof Fence, this is the book that you have been waiting for. This is a haunting exploration of a land and people who refuse to be forgotten and makes an ideal Reader's Group choice that is bound to be a favorite. -SMC

On the surface, it seems like a book about a school shooting. But it's so much more than that. It's about bullying, what it means to be different, who has the right to judge someone else, and the secrets we keep in order to appear "normal." And with the twist ending, book clubs will find much to discuss with this novel. Like, how do you feel about revenge, and are YOU really who you appear to be? -Clytia

This is an amazing book! A magistrate ruling on the outskirts of a frontier settlement has his peaceful life shattered by the appearance of barbarians brought in as hostages. His experience with one left-behind female hostage forces him to re-evaluate the crazy ideas of who belongs where and why some are rulers and others are sub-servants. I was amazed at how the idea of humanity versus the ruling class is still extremely relevant today. Perfect for discussion groups, perfect for everyone. -Adrienne

I love good Arthurian tales and I love strong female characters; this book combines the two and throws in a gigantic power struggle in spiritual realm. The conflict between Druidism and Christianity for the hearts of the people, the contests between siblings for control of the kingdom, and the internal tensions between duty and desire all provide great contrast/compare opportunities. And it's a completely spellbinding read. -Nici

A brilliant writer, Woolf is not always fruitful material for a casual book group. But this book, companioned with the work by Michael Cunningham below proved one of our most successful ventures ever. As one member said, I could read Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours in a sort of continuous loop. We loved this story of a day in the life of a British woman of a certain class. After reading Cunningham's book, which sheds such a reflective light back on it, we loved it all the more. -Seana