Sellout Follow-up & Richard Russo on Deck

Wow! What a great evening and conversation for The Sellout on Wednesday night.  I admit to being a little nervous, given the subject and inflammatory style of the book, but I personally learned a lot during the discussion and really appreciate the differing views on the book and personal anecdotes, as well.


The next Book Group meeting is set for Wednesday June 22nd at 7pm.  We'll be reading Nobody's Fool,  Richard Russo's "slyly funny and moving novel follows the unexpected operation of grace in a deadbeat town in upstate New York and in the life of one of its unluckiest citizens, Sully, who has been doing the wrong thing triumphantly for fifty years."

I'm excited about this selection for a number of reasons.  It's a great story filled with memorable characters. As reported recently, this was the top rated book by the Man Book Club.  Richard Russo will be in our store this coming Wednesday (with Jennifer Haigh) to talk Everybody's Fool, written 20 years later but a follow up to this book.  The event is sold out, but you can order a personalized copy, if you are interested.  Lastly, Russo was recently named that ABA's Indie Champion, awarded annually the author who goes out all out to support independent bookstores. 

Hope you can be there!

Manly Book Clubs

Many of you wrote me about an article on all male book clubs that looks to be published in tomorrow's NY Times.  It's well worth a read and many comparison opportunities with other men's reading groups, including a Top 100 Books for Every Man list from the subtly titled International Ultra Manly Book Club.  The website and blog for the iUMBC are quite impressive, although it does look like they've only recently discovered The Sisters Brothers.

Men Have Book Clubs, Too www.nytimes.com An all-male book club in California has a rule: “No books by women about women.”

Overall, the article left me wondering if I would have right stuff to become a member.  For instance, The Man Book Club lists its lowest scoring book ever (yes Parker, other groups seem to have score keepers as well) as Oscar & Lucinda by Peter Carey - one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors.  The only reason I haven't previously suggested it is its overwhelming length.  However, their highest scoring book is Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo which intrigues me enough to pick for our next book group meeting in mid-June.  Coincidentally, Richard Russo and Jennifer Haigh are in the store for an event on Wednesday, May 25th.  Russo will be discussing his new book, Everybody's Fool, an obvious follow up to the former title with the same characters and small town upstate New York location.  I understand the event is close to sold out, so come in soon if you are interested and want to get  your book signed.


Also, many of you had previously expressed an interest in attending an event with Nathaniel Philbrick, the National Book Award winning author of In the Heart of the Sea. Wellesley Books is hosting him on Saturday, May 14th at 4pm, at the Wellesley Community Center on Washington Street.  He will discuss his new book, Valient Ambition, an account of George Washington and Benedict Arnold during the middle years of the American Revolution. Again, I suggest you get your ticket early for this great event.

Hope you are all deeply engrossed in The Sellout, looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks.