The Buzz...About Books

Girls Fall Down Online Discussion

Girls Fall Down by Maggie Helwig was chosen as this year's One Book Community Read.  If you've read the book and want to discuss it with other readers, please join us on Book Buzz, Toronto Public Library's online book club.

It's easy to become a member.  All you need to do is go to our registration page and select a user name.  Lurkers are also welcome to read the discussion, but if you want to have your say about the book, you need to sign up. 

We also have an Open Discussion where we have conversations about anything related to books.  It's a wonderful place to get (and make) book recommendations.

Maggie Helwig will be joining us for an online chat on Monday April 16 at 7 pm.  This is a terrific opportunity to meet and talk to an author, all from the comfort of your own home.  Visit our chat page to sign up for an email reminder.

If you would like to meet the author in person, she is also appearing at:

Agincourt Branch, Tuesday April 10, 2 pm.

St Clair/Silverthorn, Tuesday April 10, 7 pm.

 

 

 

Book Buzz reads...Half-Blood Blues

Esi Edugyan's Half-Blood Blues is one of the most celebrated books of the year.  It was the winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award, and Man Booker Prize.  Just this week, it was nominated for two more awards--The Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and The Orange Prize.

Certainly, it is a book people are talking about.  If you'd like to have your say about the novel, join us this month on Book Buzz, Toronto Public Library's virtual book club.  The great thing about an online book club is that you can join the discussion any time and participate when it's convenient for you.

Become a member at our registration page.  All you need to do is pick a user name.  Guest users are also welcome.

Book Buzz reads Little Bee

Book Buzz is Toronto Public Library's online book club.  Each month we concentrate on a specific book for discussion.  This month we're reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave--originally published under the title The Other Hand.

The novel tells the story of two women who are forever linked by an act of violence.

When Little Bee is released after spending two years in a British immigration detention centre she is uncertain how to build a future in Britain and she is still tormented by memories of her life in Nigeria.  She turns to the only English citizens she knows for help--Sarah and Andrew O'Rourke.

While vacationing in Nigeria, Sarah and Andrew encounter Little Bee and her sister Nkiruka as the girls flee from the soldiers who have destroyed their village.  Although Sarah and Andrew negotiate with the soldiers in an attempt to save the girls' lives, they leave Nigeria uncertain whether they have been successful.  The experience haunts the couple and is particularly traumatic for Andrew whose self-image has been shattered.

Inspired by author Chris Cleave's experience working in a refugee detention centre, the novel is compelling and heart-breaking.

Also this month:

Enter our Winter Contest for a chance to win one of our book prize packages!

What literary character would you like to have been?

Tell us and you may be a winner.

Contest closes February 29.

 

Join Book Buzz and join the discussion.

Related Posts:

Win Books from Book Buzz!

The Many Book Clubs of Taylor Memorial Branch

Taylor Memorial Branch is a book lovers’ paradise with three book discussion groups.  

The Tuesday Afternoon Book Club was founded over 30 years ago.  Several members have attended for 25 years or more. The club features stimulating literary discussions and visits from authors like José Latour, Wayson Choy and Anthony De Sa.  Earlier this year the book club hosted author Kwai-yun Li who read from her book The Palm Leaf Fan: & Other Stories, and also enjoyed a luncheon of Hakka Chinese Food with the members.  During summer the meetings sometimes move onto the library patio. 

The next meeting will be on January 3 at 2 PM, featuring a discussion of Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith.

The Thursday Evening Book Club was founded in 1991.  Its next meeting is on January 5 at 7 PM with a discussion of the international bestseller The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Two years ago it became clear that one evening book club simply wasn’t enough to meet the needs of the community and The Tuesday Evening Book Club was created.  The next meeting will take place on January 3 at 7 PM.  The book discussed will be The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks.

Taylor Memorial Branch is located at 1440 Kingston Rd.

For more information call the branch at 416-396-8939. 

Criminally Entertaining Book Club

Colonel Mustard in the Library is the perfect book club for mystery lovers or for readers who just want to try something new.

Located at the Mount Pleasant branch, it runs Sep to June (except December) on the last Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Usually there is a book or a series of books for discussion, but sometimes we have special speakers or events.  On January 31 Detective Constable Wade Knapp, Training Officer for the Forensic Identification Services will share information about techniques used to solve real life crimes.

Colonel Mustard is intended to introduce you to authors and titles you might not have heard of before, and a great opportunity for that is our Tea and Murder session in March. The members of the book club will present reviews of mysteries they've enjoyed and you'll be able to borrow them right away to try them for yourself.

Check Mount Pleasant's program listings for the events planned for other months.

Brown Bag Book Club at City Hall

What could be better than a lunch time book club?

In September 2011, City Hall Branch held its first meeting of the Brown Bag Book Club.  Designed to attract those who work in the area around City Hall, the group meets during the lunch hour between 1:05-2:00 PM.  Members are encouraged to bring their lunch to the meetings.

So far the club has read and discussed To Kill a Mockingbird, The Kite Runner and Peony in Love.

The next meeting is Thursday December 15 when the group will discuss The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. 

New members are always welcome!  For more details phone the branch at: 416-393-7650.

There are book clubs of all shapes and sizes in Toronto Public Library branches.  Find one that's right for you in our list of Book Clubs & Writer's Groups.

Book Clubbing at Bendale

Bendale Branch has run an Adult Afternoon Book Club for as long as anyone can remember.  It was in the inspired hands of Branch Head Sylvia Simpson until her retirement in January 2009, when staffer Hanna Malek took over.  Hanna brings wide book knowledge, spark and sparkle to the proceedings.  This dedicated group of amateur literary critics meet at 2:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month, fueled by refreshments and conversation.


On Tuesday October 18, at 2:00 p.m., author Julie Kirkpatrick will present her new book The Camino Letters to the group.  This Ontario lawyer reduced her workload and set out on El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage with her teenaged daughter.  Her book is the intensely personal and honest account of this journey.

In response to the call for a book club held outside regular working hours, Hanna began the Adult Evening Book Club this fall.  This group meets the second Thursday of the month, from 6:30-8:00 p.m..  The first order of business was to select titles to discuss for the coming months.  This was done democratically, by secret ballot.  Attendance has been strong, but there is still lots of room for new members.

Please contact Bendale Branch at 416-396-8910 for information.

--thanks to Sandra and Hanna

The Buzz on Facebook

Book Buzz is Toronto Public Library's virtual book club.  Like face to face book clubs, a new book is read and discussed each month.  The difference is that members can participate when it's convenient for them. 

Throughout October we're discussing Benevolence by Cynthia Holz.

Beginning this month you can also join the conversation on Facebook.  I've started by asking a general question about altruism, so you can comment even if you haven't had a chance to read the book yet.

You can also use the Facebook page to ask for book recommendations, post book suggestions or just let us know what you're reading today.

Join us on Facebook and make contact with other booklovers in Toronto and around the world.

Related Information
Book Buzz Facebook Page
Book of the Month: Benevolence by Cynthia Holz

What's Next on Book Buzz?

Join Toronto Public Library's virtual book club Book Buzz!  It's perfect for those busy summer months.  Participate when it's convenient for you from the comfort of your own home, or cottage, or local coffee shop.  All you need is an internet connection and a love of books.

Each month a single book is featured for discussion but we also have an open discussion for anything book related.  Share reviews, get suggestions and meet other readers. 

These are our featured books for the next several months:

August

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
When a reclusive author hires biographer Margaret Lea to write her life story, both women must confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets.

• Audiobook
• Large Print

 

 

September

The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis
Although speech writer Daniel Addison wants to escape Canadian politics, he finds himself responsible for finding a Liberal candidate and running his campaign in a traditionally Conservative riding.  This novel was named the "most essential Canadian novel of the past decade" in this year's Canada Reads competition.  Winner of the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.

 

 

October

 

Benevolence by Cynthia Holz
Ben Wasserman, an organ transplant psychiatrist and Renata Moon, a psychologist find that their marriage is crumbling from a lack of time, effort and an inability to communicate effectively.

 

 

 

November

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was an African-American mother with cervical cancer.  Without her knowledge or consent, tissue was removed and used to create the first "immortal" cell line.  Skloot describes the profound impact of her life, death and immortal cells.

Audiobook
Large Print
eAudiobook
eBook

 

The Last "Ah-Ha"

The last Oprah show has aired - after 25 years on television, the woman behind this daytime institution is moving on. Reading was one of the many areas to which the mighty Oprah lent her considerable power and influence. Whatever one thought of her choices, the Oprah Book Club had an immense effect on readers, publishers, and authors.  Fall on Your Knees, by Canadian author, Anne-Marie MacDonald gained a huge audience through Oprah's endorsement.  James Frey's reputation was blasted into a million little pieces after crossing her; Jonathan Franzen realized the error of his ways after snubbing her.  Watch him come crawling back. 

Crain's New York Business describes the effect Oprah had on the publishing world.  Oprah has hinted that she might keep her book club going in some capacity. The media speculates on the state of reading A.O. (After Oprah). 

At the library, requests for "Oprah Books" have been so frequent over the years, that we consider them an honorary sub-genre. If you haven't read everything on Her list, check out some of these notable titles.