Habich says the online site offers numerous possibilities, such as providing study guides, excerpts from authors' other writings, and information that private book clubs can adapt. For instance, he said Simpson provided the site with two pages of her manuscript as it changed through four revisions. To catch its breath, the club board decided to skip a month after the Holm selection, picking Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter , published in February by Putnam, as last month's pick. According to Myers, Talking Volumes may continue on a bimonthly schedule due to the intense arrangements required to schedule author visits and discussions. So far, the three organizations have donated staff time and marketing time, and the authors' publishers have been willing to pick up the tab for their travel to the Twin Cities.
All public events are free.
We're all interested in the next generation of readers. But more important, it's good for the community. We hope growing discussions and summer reading plans will include children's literature and make this book club a family activity, appealing to all kinds of people across generations. Other future plans include an outdoor book fair, called the Summer Reading Kickoff, that would herald the summer's reading list, plus the launch of a club-sponsored literacy program.