Bethany Books Talk

Bethany Books Talk welcomes everyone for a morning of good books. For the past six years, speakers have presented a group of books, sometimes with a theme and sometimes not. These informal presentations allow for good conversation as well. The Bethany Books Talk group meets every Friday morning, beginning at 10:30 A.M., unless otherwise noted. Approximately 10-20 regular attendees.

Date	Program Description
September 3, 2010	A Life of Crime -- Join Erin as she delves into the world of con artists and thieves.
September 10, 2010	Dog Training and Drawing -- Marcy will bring some books about a few of her favorite subjects.
September 17, 2010	An Assortment of Authors -- Come hear Layne share some of the books he's been reading lately.
September 24, 2010	The Good Life -- Meredith from the Heritage Room will shine the spotlight on more great Nebraska authors.
October 1, 2010	One Book - One Lincoln -- Join us for a discussion of the One Book everyone in town is buzzing about.
October 8, 2010	Fall Into a Good Book -- Charlotte from Bennett Martin Public Library will bring some of the books she's enjoyed recently.
October 15, 2010	Rayma's Recent Reads -- Join Rayma to hear about some of the books she's been reading lately.
October 22, 2010	A Bushel of Books -- Drop by to hear Jim talk about some of the great books he's enjoyed recently.
October 29, 2010	The Librarian's Bookbag -- Shannon from Walt will bring some of her favorite books.
November 5, 2010	The Killer Got Their Just Desserts...Book Group! -- Scott C., from the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, discusses some of the mystery novels the Just Desserts Mystery Discussion Group has read over the past 4 years of meetings downtown and at South Branch.
November 12, 2010	ALA Notable Books -- Pat L., our library director, will bring a selection of titles from the American Library Association's Notable Books List.
November 19, 2010	Susan's Selections -- It's always a great time when Susan presents. You won't want to miss it!
November 26, 2010	[Library closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.]
December 3, 2010	Who Knew? -- Learn something new with Sandy as she shares some of her favorite non-fiction titles.
December 10, 2010	Give the Gift of Books -- Vicki will share some books that would make great gifts this holiday season.
December 17, 2010	Warm Up With a Good Book! -- Karrie and Stephanie will wrap up the year with some of their favorite books of 2010.

Courtyard Book Chats...in the Garden!

Courtyard Book Chat presentations were held in the Lincoln Foundation Garden, directly across "N" Street from the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown. Every Tuesday, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., throughout June, July and August of 2009, interested readers were encouraged to bring their sack lunches and join us for a mixture of short themed presentations, personal favorites and Book Sharing opportunities. Although we don't have any Courtyard Book Chats regularly scheduled for the summer of 2010, we are exploring other book talk possibilities downtown. If you have questions about our Courtyard Book Chats, you can e-mail us at: the BookGuide e-mail address.

Our Courtyard Book Chats...in the Garden! took a hiatus in 2010 -- Check out some of the booklists and podcasts from last year's Courtyard Book Chats below!

Gere Books Talk

Everyone is welcome at Gere's Books Talk book discussion group! Each week during our Fall/Winter and Spring sessions, we hear about some great reading material from our featured presenter. Popular topics include mysteries, biographies, classic literature worth rereading, time travel books and romance fiction. Our presenters range from Lincoln City Libraries staff, to local authors, to members of the public with special interests to share. Several times a year, we participate in a book-share session, with each participant bringing several titles to talk about with the group. There's no need to sign up in advance-we're casual, friendly and always happy to see a new face, so join us, on Monday afternoons from 2:30-4:00 p.m., and broaden your reading horizons. Approximately 5-10 regular attendees.

Date	Program Description
September 13, 2010	Welcome back! -- Jim, from Gere Branch, gets the group started with some all-time hits. Also, bring some your personal favorites to share with the group!
September 20, 2010	One Book - One Lincoln -- Join Shannon from Walt Branch as she discusses One Book - One Lincoln.
September 27, 2010	Food, Glorious Food! -- Pam B. serves up a delicious selection of some of her favorites.
October 4, 2010	Tales From the Heritage Room -- From the Heritage Room: More about Nebraska authors.
October 11, 2010	2011 Nebraska Poets Calendar -- Sarah, editor of Black Star Press, discusses the 2011 Nebraska Poets Calendar.
October 18, 2010	-- Dog training and Drawing: Books about Marcy's favorite topics.
October 25, 2010	Social Networking -- Want to learn more about online social networking? Rebecca from Walt Branch is here to show you!
November 1, 2010	My Life of Crime -- Join Erin from the Anderson and Bethany Branches as she delves into the dark work of art theft and recovery.
November 8, 2010	The Murderer Got Their Just Desserts...Book Group! -- Scott C., from the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, discusses some of the mystery novels the Just Desserts Mystery Discussion Group has read over the past 4 years of meetings downtown and at South Branch.
November 15, 2010	Susan's Selections -- Susan is here from Eiseley Branch to entertain us with much ado about everything. A fun time is guaranteed for all.
November 22, 2010	-- Shannon from Walt Branch has some wonderful surprises in store-don't miss!
November 29, 2010	Good Books to Give as Gifts -- Vicki from Bennett Martin shares some wonderful selections.
December 6, 2010	Everything Neil -- Sarah from Gere Branch sums matters up succinctly with books by Neil Gaiman.

Just Desserts

The Just Desserts discussion group, focusing exclusively on Mystery Fiction, meets monthly at the South Branch Library. This group meets the last Thursday evening each month, January through October, 6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. A specific mystery novel is selected in advance for discussion during each meeting, although general discussion about mystery fiction may follow the discussion of the selected title. Since our theme is "Death and Desserts," (i.e. The murderer got their "just desserts."), any and all participants are encouraged to bring a dessert (cookies, cake, pie, tarts, brownies, cream puffs, etc.) to share with the other group members. [Coffee and juice will be provided.]

To see a list of the mysteries discussed by the Just Desserts group in the past, visit our Just Desserts archives page...or you can print out a list of the first 35 titles discussed. If you missed one of our past meetings and would like to contribute your own opinion about one of the books we discussed, visit the Just Desserts Blog, and leave a comment on one of the book entries!

Date/Book	Program Description
	<<<<< Our Next Discussion!! Thursday, September 30, 2010 -- 6:45-7:45 p.m. In September, Just Desserts goes a little lighter, with the first volume in Lisa Lutz's popular Spellman family series, The Spellman Files. Here's a description: "Meet Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, private investigator. This twenty-eight-year-old may have a checkered past littered with romantic mistakes, excessive drinking, and creative vandalism; she may be addicted toGet Smartreruns and prefer entering homes through windows rather than doors -- but the upshot is she's good at her job as a licensed private investigator with her family's firm, Spellman Investigations. Invading people's privacy comes naturally to Izzy. In fact, it comes naturally to all the Spellmans. If only they could leave their work at the office. To be a Spellman is to snoop on a Spellman; tail a Spellman; dig up dirt on, blackmail, and wiretap a Spellman.Part Nancy Drew, part Dirty Harry, Izzy walks an indistinguishable line between Spellman family member and Spellman employee. Duties include: completing assignments from the bosses, aka Mom and Dad (preferably without scrutiny); appeasing her chronically perfect lawyer brother (often under duress); setting an example for her fourteen-year-old sister, Rae (who's become addicted to "recreational surveillance"); and tracking down her uncle (who randomly disappears on benders dubbed "Lost Weekends"). But when Izzy's parents hire Rae to follow her (for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of Izzy's new boyfriend), Izzy snaps and decides that the only way she will ever be normal is if she gets out of the family business. But there's a hitch: she must take one last job before they'll let her go -- a fifteen-year-old, ice-cold missing person case. She accepts, only to experience a disappearance far closer to home, which becomes the most important case of her life." The Spellman Files is available in the following formats: Hardback
	Thursday, October 28, 2010 -- 6:45-7:45 p.m. To wrap up our year of mystery reading, the Just Desserts group will be reading and discussing one of the better-reviewed volumes in Sue Grafton's popular alphabet mystery series, M is for Malice, featuring sleuth Kinsey Milhone. Here's a description: "'M' is for money. Lots of it. 'M' is for Malek Construction, the $40 million company that grew out of modest soil to become one of the big three in California construction, one of the few still in family hands. 'M' is for the Malek family: four sons now nearing middle age who stand to inherit a fortune -- four men with very different outlooks, temperaments, and needs, linked only by blood and money. Eighteen years ago, one of them -- angry, troubled, and in trouble -- went missing. 'M' is for Millhone, hired to trace that missing black sheep brother. 'M' is for memories, none of them happy. The bitter memories of an embattled family. This prodigal son will find no welcome at his family's table. 'M' is for malice. And in brutal consequence, 'M' is for murder, the all-too-common outcome of familial hatreds. 'M' is for malice...and malice kills..." M is for Malice is available in the following formats: Hardback | Book on CD | Book on Tape

Great Books Reading and Discussion Group

The Great Books Reading and Discussion Group is not a class. It is open to everyone interested in talking about some of the classics of the written word. This group meets twice-monthly at the Gere Branch library. Copies of the texts may be borrowed from the library (call number 808.8 Gre2) or you may purchase the three-volume set of readings by calling The Great Books Foundation at 1-800-222-5870 and requesting "Great Books, 2nd Series."

For information call the Discussion leaders (484-7254 or 797-2144), e-mail at GreatBooksLincoln@gmail.com, or visit the Great Books Lincoln web site.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 7:45 PM, at Gere Branch Library.

The 2010-2011 Great Books Reading and Discussion Group season begins this fall; check out the list of readings/discussions for 2009-2010 below!

Date	Title Being Discussed
2010 MEETING DATES
Sep 9, 2010	The Bible: Ecclesiastes
Sep 23, 2010	Sophocles: Oedipus: The King (complete)
Oct 14, 2010	Freud: On Dreams
Oct 28, 2010	Kafka: The Metamorphosis (complete)
Nov 11, 2010	Goethe: Faust, Part One
Dec 9, 2010	Kant: First Principles of Morals
2011 MEETING DATES
Jan. 13, 2011	Flaubert: A Simple Heart (complete)
Jan. 27, 2011	Hume: Of Personal Identity
Feb. 10, 2011	Nietzsche: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Feb. 24, 2011	Dante: The Inferno
Mar. 10, 2011	Burke: Reflections on the Revolution in France
Mar. 24, 2011	Adams: The Education of Henry Adams
Apr. 14, 2011	Shakespeare: King Lear (complete)
Apr. 28, 2011	Aristotle: On Tragedy
May 12, 2011	Plato: The Republic
May 26, 2011	(Make-up, if needed)

This Program is Co-sponsored by Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln, Nebraska

Try out our On-Line Book Clubs! You can join any of eleven new e-mail book clubs in the following reading categories: Non-Fiction; Business; Fiction; Good News; Mystery; Science Fiction; Horror; Romance; Teen; Pre-Publication and Audio Books.

Reading and Writing Nebraska [R 028.9 Kru]

Reading and Writing Nebraska, by Mel Krutz (for The Nebraska Center for the Book) is available for public use in the reference room at the Bennett Martin Public Library (14th & "N" St.), as well as the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors. This newly-compiled 2004 volume lists over 60 additional book discussion groups in the Lincoln area, with address, telephone and e-mail contact information for each group. Many listings also give a description of the types of materials dicussed by each group, and their meeting frequency.

If you've got a book group that's open to the general public, free-of-charge, and you'd like to be included in our list of local Book Discussion Groups here, please visit our Book Groups Survey page and fill out a brief form giving us some information about your group.

Circle 4 Book Discussion Group

Where We Meet:	First-Plymouth Congregational Church UCC 2000 "D" St.
When We Meet:	Monthly -- 11:30 a.m. -- usually the third Tuesday, Calvert Parlor
Group Contact:	Amy Tuttle, 435-5454
We Discuss:	A mixture of Fiction and Non-Fiction. Some examples of past books we've read include: David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars; Kent Haruf's Plainsong; Marcus Borg's Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time; and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Group Description:	Lively, open-minded women with an appreciation for interrelations among characters, and consequences of action, as demonstrated in good fiction.
Other Notes:	Our 2005-2006 reading list: June 21, 2005 – Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner*; July 19 – Kent Haruf: Eventide; August 16 – Yann Martel: The Life of Pi*; September 20 – Tim O’Brien: The Things They Carried*; October 18 – Stephen King: The Green Mile*; November 15 - James Agee: A Death in the Family; December 13 - NOTE DATE - Karen Armstrong: The Spiral Staircase; January 17, 2006: - Marilynne Robinson: Gilead; 15 copies February 21 - Marly Swick: Evening News; March 21 – John Steinbeck: Tortilla Flat; April 18 - Barbara Kingsolver: Pigs in Heaven; May 16 – Willa Cather: My Antonia; June 20 – Chaim Potok: The Chosen. * One Book -- One Lincoln semifinalist. We have already read Ted Kooser’s Local Wonders.

Indigo Bridge Books

Indigo Bridge Books, in the Creamery Building in the heart of Lincoln's downtown Haymarket District, sponsors several regularly scheduled bookclubs, with specific themes. Most of these clubs focus on discussing a specific, pre-selected book at each meeting, as identified below. To see the specifics, including titles scheduled for upcoming discussions, please visit the Indigo Bridge Books Web site, and click on Book Clubs.
The Social Justice Handbook Group
no schedule yet	The Indigo Bridge Books staff are still the process of starting a group to work through the Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World by Mae Else Cannon. If you are interested, please contact the store for information about scheduling for this group.
Spanish Book Club for Young Adults
last Friday of each month 6:00 P.M.	A book club for fluent, young Spanish speakers (ages 15-22). Meetings are the last Friday of each month and consist of discussions of novels & short stories in Spanish.
Mystery Monday Book Club
2nd Mondays 7:30 P.M.	This mystery fiction discussion group -- which formerly met at the now-defunct Lee Booksellers -- meets on the second Monday evening of each month, starting at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Anne at 402-768-6162 or e-mail at cb40006(at)windstream.net Approximately 5-10 regular attendees.
We Discuss:	Titles for discussion: (Apr 12) Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn; (May 10) Exposed by Alex Kava; (Jun 14) Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin; (Jul 12) Starvation Lake by Brian Gruley; and (Aug 9) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Graphic Novel Book Club
Wednesdays 7:00 P.M.	A book club for discussing Graphic Novels. Check the Indigo Bridge Books web site for specific dates and titles.
We Discuss:	Titles for discussion: (Mar 31) The Losers by Andy Diggle; and (Apr 14) Kiss Ass by Mark Miller

Lee Booksellers

Lee Booksellers, at the Edgewood shopping center in Lincoln, sponsors several monthly bookclubs, with specific themes. Most of these clubs focus on discussing a specific, pre-selected book at each meeting, as identified below. To see the specifics, including titles scheduled for upcoming discussions, please visit the Lee Booksellers Web site, and click on Store Events. Lee Booksellers has closed, effective late January 2010. The book groups listed here are trying to find new homes. Those that have relocated are identified with updated information below!
Crazy Ladies Book Club
3rd Mondays 7:30 P.M.	This general fiction and non-fiction discussion group continues to meet on the third Monday of each month, at 7:30 P.M. The Crazy Ladies Book Club is now meeting at Braeda Fresh Cafe, 33rd and Pioneers. For more information, contact Anita at lilschott2(at)windstream.net
Mystery Monday Book Club
2nd Mondays 7:30 P.M.	The mystery fiction discussion group continues to meet on the second Monday evening of each month, starting at 7:30 p.m. Approximately 5-10 regular attendees. The Mystery Monday Book Club is now meeting at Indigo Bridge Bookstore, 701 "P" St. (see entry above). For more information, contact Anne at 402-768-6162 or e-mail at cb40006(at)windstream.net
Sisters in Crime
2nd Thursdays 7:30 P.M.	Not specifically a Lee Booksellers group, this is the bi-monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Sisters in Crime women mystery writers organization: Authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians supporting women who write mysteries. Public welcome. The Lincoln chapter of Sisters in Crime is now meeting on the 2nd Thursday, every other month (starting January 2010) at the Southpointe location of Barnes & Noble Bookstore. For more information, contact Julie at jagerber(at)neb.rr.com
Third Tuesday Mystery Book Club
3rd Tuesdays 7:00 P.M.	As the name implies, this book group continues to meet on the third Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., to discuss a mystery title. Approximately 10-15 regular attendees. The Third Tuesdays Book Club is now meeting at Braeda Fresh Cafe, 48th and "O" St. For more information, contact Barbara by e-mail at rixstine(at)yahoo.com
We Discuss:	Titles for discussion include -- August: The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo; September: Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi; October: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick; November: The Killing Way by Tony Hays.; and December: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Check out this group's Facebook Page for additional updated information!
The Cooks' Book Club
3rd Thursdays 7:30 P.M.	This general fiction discussion group met on the third Thursday evening of each month, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Something Different Book Club
1st Thursday 9:30 A.M.	This general fiction discussion group met on the first Thursday morning of each month, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday Evening Book Club
2nd Tuesdays 7:00 P.M.	This group met on the second Tuesday evening of each month, starting at 7:00 p.m. Approximately 5-10 regular attendees

The Lincoln Book Club

Where We Meet:	Join the group at Facebook.com for additional information (formerly on Meetup.com)
When and Where We Meet:	Monthly -- 3:00 p.m. -- the first Sunday of every month -- at locations to be determined -- check the Facebook page for the most up-to-date information
Group Contact:	The organizers can be contacted at the Facebook group page or can be reached by e-mail at LincolnNEBookClub@gmail.com
We Discuss:	Titles for discussion (June 6): A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan. Some examples of past books this group has read and discussed include: Sayers' Murder Must Advertise, Jarvis' The Necklace, Fowles' The Magus; Bauby's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly; Shaffer's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Strout's Olive Kitteridge; and Dillard's The Maytrees.
Group Description:	Formed via online meeting organization site Meetup.com in September 2009, The Lincoln Book Club is open to anyone who'd like to join the group. Visit the site (via links above) for additional information

Star Base Andromeda

Where We Meet:	The Coffee House 1324 "P" St.
When We Meet:	6:30 P.M. every Tuesday night (Book Discussions approximately once every six weeks)
Group Contact:	Scott Clark, 325-0246
We Discuss:	Titles for Discussion (September 28): Time and Again by Jack Finney We exclusively discuss Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. We alternate between established "classics" of these genres, and works by prominent contemporary authors.
Group Description:	This general-interest Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror club meets weekly Tuesday night meetings, and occasional Sunday afternoon events. We have a Book Discussion night approximately every six weeks. Membership in the club is not necessary to participate in Book Discussions, and guests are always welcome. Books we've recently discussed in recent years include: Mary Gentle's Rats and Gargoyles, Andre Norton's The Crossroads of Time, Clive Barker's The Thief of Always, H. Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy, Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, David Gerrold's The Man Who Folded Himself, Jane Yolen's collection Sister Emily's Lightship and Other Stories, Leigh Brackett's classic The Long Tomorrow, the anthology Beyond Singularity, Fritz Leiber's The Big Time, Kage Baker's In the Garden of Iden, Philip K. Dick's Eye in the Sky, Elizabeth Moon's Nebula-winning The Speed of Dark, Jack Williamson's The Humanoids, Charles Stross' Accelerando, Theodore Sturgeon's More Than Human, John Ringo's There Will Be Dragons, The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison, "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates (the story which became the film The Day the Earth Stood Still), Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson, Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr. (Alice Sheldon), Fledgling by Octavia Butler, Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys, Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Paul of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Hunter's Run by George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham, Minority Report by Philip K. Dick, Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg, Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, Voyage of the Space Beagle by A.E. van Vogt, Undertow by Elizabeth Bear, What Mad Universe by Fredric Brown, Declare by Tim Powers, The Best of Cordwainer Smith by Cordwainer Smith, The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth and Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.
Other Notes:	Our format is that everyone participating in the discussion should have read the pre-selected book before the meeting. We try to have at least 3 to 4 books selected in advance. Please see Star Base Andromeda Web site for the current reading/discussion schedule, or our Book Discussions page for information about our past, present and upcoming selections. Approximately 5-10 regular attendees.

Wednesday Morning Book Discussion Group

Where We Meet:	St. Paul United Methodist Church 1144 "M" St.
When We Meet:	9:30 A.M. the 4th Wednesday of each month (except July, August, November and December)
Group Contact:	Ethel Dedering, 488-7922
We Discuss:	A mixture of Fiction and Non-Fiction. We try to read a Nebraska author each year (i.e. Willa Cather, etc) and also try to read at least one "classic," (i.e. Cry the Beloved Country). These is My Words by Nancy Turner was recently a big hit.
Group Description:	We are a very enthusiastic small group, who love reading and discussing books with each other. Although we are sponsored by the church, we do not read only religious books (in fact very few) and our membership is not limited to church members. In fact, several are not, and I'm sure anyone would feel comfortable there.
Other Notes:	Members select books for the upcoming year at the June meeting. Members come with lists of books they're interested in, and the group selects from among those. Coffee and cookies are served at each meeting, and a little social and get acquainted time is allowed.