Since I don't know what you like, I'm going to take a stab at this. For mysteries, check out anything by Stephen Booth. If you can get a copy of "Black Dog", i suggest you start there as it gives you more insight into his characters (by the way, it's not about a dog). Any of his books are very good and have a lot of twists, making it almost impossible to guess the outcome.

For comedy and strangeness, have you read any of Christopher Moore's books? They are very entertaining.

Happy reading and I hope this helps a little. Jeanne L.

I have been in a book club since 1997 and we have read a little bit of everything. This year's list includes: The Loop by Nicholas Evans, Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, The Girls by Lori Lansens, Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakaur, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. We haven't chosen books for September to the end of the year yet. I think we are going to do one by Willa Cather and we may do The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

We all take turns choosing books and moderating the discussions. It has been a wonderful experience. I have read books I never would have ever picked up.

Good luck choosing titles! It's not easy because there is so much to choose from! So many books and so little time!

Jill

My book group loved The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.  These are great classics that not everyone has read.  We also did Life is so Good and Left to Tell.  These are both true stories and were extremely inspirational.

Jill:  If the club is just getting underway, maybe Lorna Lanvik's Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons might be a nice choice.  It's about a group of Minnesota women who form a neighborhood book club, and it turns out to be a very good "prop" for the various members, down through the years.  There's one man member of the club, too.  A theme of the book (I think) is how long-term friendships among the group help when troubles come along for any one in the circle.  Lanvik tells what books the group reads for its monthly meetings, and why those books were selected.

Like Water For Elephants

The best discussions are from books that not everyone enjoyed...or books that have a lot of meaty things to talk about, IMHO.  I would suggest:

The Last American Man, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult

Me and Emma, by Elizabeth Flock

Montana 1948, by Larry Watson

Comfort and The Knitting Circle, both by Ann Hood  (Comfort is very short, so it would be easy to read both)

How about Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time?

I agree with Vicky Jo-a controversial book or one that some people dislike for various reasons are always cause for a good discussion.

Since 9-11, the books by Tom Clancy have again become popular due to the parallel story lines and some of the events that have happened or are happening right now in the world. Try PATRIOT GAMES and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER for starters. Clancy is a great author with tremendous knowledge and you don't have to be a military buff to enjoy his novels. You will be shocked at how accurate some of his plots have become.

Larry McMurty is another author that can create a great discussion. Try CADILLAC JACK or THE DESERT ROSE or THE LATE CHILD. There are things to get you thinking in all of his books and readers can't help but take sides. I just finished DUANNE'S DEPRESSED and that would be anther good book for a reading club.

One author that has some great books out there is Fanny Flagg. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE is a must read. CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO HEAVEN is another good book of hers.

I prefer books with in depth character development. And, I want a book that makes me think on various levels. But, foremost, it must be entertaining-because if you don't like reading it-why bother!