Monday, October 26, 2009

Book Club Exchange: Cindy Hudson & Huge Giveaway!

I am extremely excited to welcome Cindy Hudson, author of the new book BOOK BY BOOK: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO CREATING MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUBS to Booking Mama's Book Club Exchange. I have been a regular follower of Cindy's blog for quite awhile, and I also enjoy visiting her website Mother Daughter Book Club.com. Both sites are incredibly valuable resources for mother-daughter book clubs, and I recommend checking them out if you aren't already familiar with them.

When Cindy contacted me last year and told me that she was writing a book geared towards mother-daughter book clubs, I had a feeling that it was going to be a fantastic resource! I'm happy to say that I just finished reading it, and I was very impressed -- I will post my review in a few days as part of my Mother-Daughter Book Club Festival. BOOK BY BOOK is an absolute must-read for anyone considering starting a mother-daughter book club (or really anyone who is currently in one.) I absolutely loved it -- of course, it didn't hurt that I was quoted a few times in it!

I especially love Cindy's guest post because I think it is one that most members of a book club can relate to -- selecting the right book. It is always difficult to pick a book that's ideal for everyone in your group especially when it crosses generations like it does in mother-daughter book clubs. As you'll see in her essay, Cindy offers some wonderful (and practical) advice.

You would think that choosing books for my book clubs would be easy for me. After all, I’m in two long-running mother-daughter book clubs—one that’s been meeting for eight years and the other for five—and I blog about books at motherdaughterbookclub.wordpress.com. Yet deciding what everyone else is going to read for the next book club selection can sometimes be paralyzing. I want to find the perfect book, the one that will appeal to both the moms and girls in my group. The one my daughter will want to read as much as I do. The one we’ll call our favorite for years to come.

That’s a pretty tall order. Especially when you’re choosing books that will appeal to two generations. The good news is that there are a lot of books out there that are good reads for both the older and the younger set. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you search for them.

Give both your daughter and yourself veto power. Do either of you believe a book will be of no interest to your peers? It probably isn’t a good choice.

The best books for widely varying age groups will have layers. By this I mean the girls will be able to grasp themes that resonate with them based on their ages, while the moms may be able to pick up deeper themes at work.

Timeless themes can be attractive for everyone from ages four to 94. Friendship, family relationships, honor, self-reliance, moral dilemmas, and love are some of the issues most of us deal with at some point in our lives. It can be helpful to see how characters in a book deal with those same issues.

Books that you take “guilty pleasure” in reading are probably not good choices for a reading group. These tend to be pop-culture books that are fun to read but don’t offer much to talk about.

Find a good professional to rely on. Children’s librarians both at school and your local library are good sources of book recommendations. Use them often and they will get to know which titles are successful with your group.

It’s okay if you don’t love the book you or others pick. There have been few books my clubs have read over the years that everyone liked. You can learn to appreciate elements of a story that doesn’t appeal to you when you know it will resonate with others in your group.

Here are a few recommendations for successful intergenerational titles culled from my clubs’ book lists and from other clubs who write in to me at my blog. Other books by these authors are a good bet too.

7 and 8 year olds

Charlotte’s Web—E. B. White
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing—Judy Blume
The Year of Miss Agnes—Kirkpatrick Hill

9 and 10 year olds

Because of Winn-Dixie—Kate DiCamillo
Matilda—Roald Dahl
The Hermit Thrush Sings—Susan Butler

11 through 13 year olds

Al Capone Does My Shirts—Gennifer Choldenko
A Year Down Yonder—Richard Peck
Framed—Frank Cottrell Boyce

14+ year olds

A Northern Light—Jennifer Donnelly
The Book Thief—Markus Zusak
Stargirl—Jerry Spinelli

*****

Cindy Hudson is the author of
BOOK BY BOOK: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO CREATING MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUBS (Seal Press, October 2009). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two daughters. Visit her online at www.MotherDaughterBookClub.com and www.MotherDaughterBookClub.wordpress.com.

And now for the Mother-Daughter Book Club Festival giveaway!!!!

Cindy has graciously offered to giveaway two copies of her new book BOOK BY BOOK to two lucky winners. And remember how much I enjoyed
THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB by Heather Vogel Frederick (you can read my review here)? Well, Heather has offered up ten sets of THE MOTHER DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB series (THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB, MUCH ADO ABOUT ANNE, and DEAR PEN PAL) to two lucky winners -- that's five sets of three books each. That means that two of you will win five sets of THE MOTHER DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB series plus a copy of BOOK BY BOOK. What a fantastic opportunity for someone who is currently in a mother-daughter book club or thinking about starting one!

To enter this fabulous giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment after this post with your e-mail address. To double or triple your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about the giveaway with a link back to this post. This contest is open until Monday, November 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winners the following day! This contest is open to those of you in the United States or Canada only. Good luck!

69 comments:

Pam said...

What a generous giveaway! I haven't yet read many of the books on the list of suggestions; perhaps I'll have to read those with my daughter one day...

melacan at hotmail dot com

bermudaonion said...

I think selecting a book for a book club is difficult no matter what age its members are. No need to enter me since I don't have a daughter to read with. :(

lag123 said...

How awesome! I tweeted.
@lag32583

lag110@mchsi.com

Chrisbookarama said...

What a giveaway! Maybe it will prompt me to start one too.

chrisbookarama at gmail dot com

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I read books with my little cousin and it is a dilemma trying to take her interests into account and to choose things which she is emotionally ready to read. I have found that you can't always go be the age categories, which tend to be broad and miss the nuances. I agree with Kathy though, picking books at any age is difficult.

Beth F said...

Great guest post. I think it'd be very difficult to pick a book, month after month, that appealed to two generations and all the members of the club!

No need to enter me in the drawing.

Unknown said...

What a great opportunity to not only help develop your daughters mind but to develop a closer relationship with your daughter.

Aik said...

I'd love to read this book. Thanks!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Meg Anastasi said...

I am considering starting a Mom and Me bookclub at my library. I have several tweens asking for one. Please sign me up for the drawing!

Thanks!!

meg.anastasi [at] gmail.com

Aik said...

I tweeted.

http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/5172890674

aikychien at yahoo dot com

V and P Sobotta said...

Love it Booking Mama and whether we win the give-away or not, we (Mom and Daughter!) are getting these books!

Raspberry said...

This looks like an absolutely fabulous book.
I also posted this on my sidebar at twoandahalfbooklovers.blogspot.com
Thanks!
rae_sunshine4(at)yahoo.com

Deb said...

How awesome! aswewalk at comcast dot net.
Deb

Deb said...

I shared it on facebook for you, too :)

KiraR said...

Count me in please!

kiris089[at]gmail[dot]com

Susan said...

Count me in for the giveaway. Such fun!

Stephanie said...

I REALLY want a copy of Book by Book, so include me! I'll be sure to tweet also!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, my friend. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book.

GirlwiththeBraids said...

That's so awesome! I've picked up the Mother-Daughter Book Club books at our local Barnes and Noble but as much as I'd like to buy them, I've been saving my money. That's why contests like these are just the perfect opportunity! Thanks so much. :)

-ReadingToMyself(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marietta said...

I'm running to the library right now to check out The Mother Daughter Bookclub series by Heather Frederick.(Unfortunately, I'm the mother of three boys.No mother/daughter book bonding for me!) I'd love to get some new books for our school library. Please enter me in your drawing.

Marietta said...

Sorry--forget to leave email address for above post:
mccullough1251@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win a set of these books

readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered. I think a mother daughter book club would be so great to be involved in.

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

Kristen said...

Thanks for these links Julie. I just sent out an e-mail to our neighborhood to start a mother daughter bookclub. I've got about 5 mother/daughter combos interested so I'm hoping it comes off.

whitreidsmama at yahoo dot com

Petula said...

This sounds wonderful. I wish I had come across this when my teenage daughter was at home. She's off to college now and hasn't had time to read for pleasure in quite a few months now. However, this is still something I would love to win.

One day, when my two other daughters are older I hope to share books with them like I did with their sister. Somehow I'll have to fit my one son in on it too. :)

petulawrites@yahoo.com

Linda Henderson said...

What a great giveaway. I have grandchildren ranging in age from 7 months to 14 years so this would come in very handy for me.

seriousreader at live dot com

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

how awesome!

emmalee44 at hotmail dot com

holdenj said...

What a fabulous giveaway! I read the first Mother Daughter book club book and really enjoyed it! Selecting books, even finding them for gifts can be tough sometimes, sounds like she has a great book on her hands!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Stacie said...

Awesome giveaway, Julie! Thanks for the giveaway! Staciele(at)netins(dot)net

katsrus said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I have read some of those books on your list. There are really good ones there. Please enter me too.
katsrus@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

This is an absolutely awesome giveaway. Thanks for the possibility!

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Gerbera Daisy Diaries said...

I'm so excited about our new mother/daughter book club! We met for the 1st time last week -- but my daughter missed it because she had 103 fever! Can you believe it?? The timing of your give-a-way couldn’t be better! Here is my link:
http://gerberadaisydiaries.blogspot.com/2009/10/perfect-motherdaughter-give-way.html

Dawn Prochovnic said...

This is such a generous giveaway! I was just at the Oregon Book Awards and mentioned that Heather's first Mother Daughter Book Club book was a fast favorite of my daughter's. My daughter loved it so much and wanted me to read it, so she packed it in my suitcase when I left for a long awaited getaway with my hubby to Hawaii. She insisted that I bring it with me and read it on the beach. So I did! We are looking at starting a mother daughter book club with our girl scout troop.

Dawnp at smalltalklearning dot com

Shawnee said...

I am seriously contemplating starting a mother-daughter book club with my 10 year old. What a marvelous prize. THANK YOU!! My fingers and toes are crossed!!!

shawneeh at yahoo.com
http://shawneett.blogspot.com

Shawnee said...

I just shared this contest on Facebook.

shawnee

Jaime said...

This is a great giveaway and something the girls would love to do.
Please enter us
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Melissa Taylor said...

I would love to read this book - it sounds inspiring. We started one in my neighborhood but could always use some suggestions!

Thanks,

Melissa
meltay at comcast.net

Marie said...

I would love to be entered. I hope to do a mother-daughter book club with my daughter someday soon!

marielay@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway! My daughter and I have a longstanding book club, and have benefited from Cindy's website many times----I can't wait to read her book!

Unknown said...

What a great give away! My daughter just started reading some of these books and is very excited to start her own mother/daughter book club!

Serena said...

No need to enter me I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the guest post.

sheila said...

What a wonderful sounding book, and a great giveaway! My 7 year old daughter and her best friend have been jealous of the moms for years because of our book clubs, and really want one of their own. Having one we could all enjoy would be ideal.

sheilaATstaggandsheilaDOTcom

Perrin said...

Very exciting! I am getting lots of ideas for our club.

perrinstephens@msn.com

Camilla said...

Our mother-daughter book club was fortunate to get to meet with Heather Frederick, and it was definitely a highlight for us after reading her first book! I love that our group is now in its 4th year.

Kearsten said...

The book sounds great - can't wait to check it out!

Unknown said...

I've always wanted to do a mother-daughter book club!

brainlair AT gmail DOT com

cqueen2 said...

wow thanks sounds wonderful

wadesherry@hotmail dot com

Winning Readings said...

Wow - I love the club idea!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

We posted about this at Winning Readings:

http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/10/mother-daughter-book-club-series.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Annette W. said...

We're still too young for a book club, but it just may be in our future!
derekannette at gmail dot com

wmmahaney said...

This is an awesome giveaway. Would love to win. wmmahaney@att.net

Kim said...

I have 10 and 8 year old daughters and I would love to start a book club with them. I think it would be a great opportunity to get them to read books that are just a little challenging for them or different from what they normally read. Please enter me in your very generous giveaway. Thanks.
cleanbooksgal(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I own CoolCanucks.ca, which is a Canadian Contest and Freebie site. This giveaway is shared here:

http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/27504-booking-mama-book-book-book-giveaway-nov2-canada

roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

Anonymous said...

I tweeted!!

http://twitter.com/coolcanucks/status/5314676895

roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

AStarrA said...

Wow great giveaway thanks for the chance!
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

AStarrA said...

http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5315974556
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

Karry said...

Reading is so important. I have tried to instill my passion for reading to my children. My daughter loves to read as well
karryknisley76 at hotmail dot com

plb8156 said...

This sounds wonderful...please enter me in this amazing giveaway
plb8156@aol.com

Belinda M said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/5339940496

Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

AStarrA said...

http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5349171109
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

Julie said...

Great giveaway-I have a daughter who I can enjoy doing this with

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Cindy said...

I've homeschooled my younger children for many years, and reading together is my favorite 'perk.' Some of our best loved books have been "Ginger Pye" by Eleanor Estes and "Understood Betsy" by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. I would enjoy reading about mother-daughter book clubs. Thanks for the opportunity!
cindy4books@ameritech.net

flowerchild said...

what a fantastic giveaway..please count me in
thanks

flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com

AStarrA said...

http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5368158754
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

g.g. said...

I would love to win this really generous giveaway....wow!
thanks for a chance

anjamie4 AT gmail (dot) com

cherdon said...

This is such a wonderful giveaway. Please enter me. Thanks

cherdon@sympatico.ca

cherdon said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/iamcherdon/status/5383567731

cherdon@sympatico.ca

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for this giveaway I'd love to read these wonderful books
tanyainjville@yahoo.com

Bleuette said...

Sounds good.
tirachii@yahoo.com