Contemporary Books Discussion Group
The contemporary group reads both classic and current popular fiction and nonfiction titles which are chosen by a vote of the entire group at the end of each discussion year. The leaders are volunteers from the group who are given supplemental material (author biographies, book reviews, etc.) by the Library liaison. The Library provides the books, which are loaned to the participants. This group offers both afternoon and evening sessions. For a list of previously discussed books, click here.

CONTEMPORARY BOOKS DISCUSSIONS 2007-2008
Meeting the Wednesdays Sept.-May
1-2:30 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.
Malmros Conference Room

19 September
Afternoon: Never in a Hurry by Naomi Shihab Nye
Evening: American Islam by Paul Barrett

17 October
Afternoon: American Islam by Paul Barrett
Evening: Never in a Hurry by Naomi Shihab Nye

14 November
Afternoon: Splendid Solution by Jeffrey Kluger
Evening: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

19 December
Afternoon: A Madman Dream of Turing Machines by Janna Levin
Evening: Splendid Solution by Jeffrey Kluger

16 January
Afternoon: This I Believe edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman
Evening: A Madman Dream of Turing Machines by Janna Levin

20 February
Afternoon: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Evening: This I Believe edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman

19 March
Afternoon: Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow
Evening: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

16 April
Afternoon: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Evening: Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow

21 May
Afternoon: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Evening: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it.
-Wendell Berry

Mystery Book Discussion Group
The mystery group is lead by the Library liaison. The mysteries to be discussed are chosen for the year based on a theme upon which the group votes. The books may be literary criticism, biographies, or true crime as well as fictional mysteries. The Library provides the books, which are loaned to the participants. For a list of previously discussed books, click here.

MYSTERY BOOKS DISCUSSION
September 2007 to May 2008
Sponsored by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library
Saturdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Malmros Conference Room

8 September
Blacklist
by Sara Paretsky

6 October
My Name Is Red
by Orhan Pamuk

Theme:
World Mystery Convention
(BoucherCon) Authors

3 November
Death of a Gossip
by M.C. Beaton

1 December
The Thin Woman
by Dorothy Cannell

5 January
Tilt-a-Whirl
by Chris Grabenstein

2 February
Haunted Ground
by Erin Hart

1 March
Iron Lake
by William Kent Krueger

5 April (Program Room)
The Bootlegger's Daughter
by Margaret Maron

3 May
Garnethill
by Denise Mina

"[The group] leads me to books I'd never choose by myself. There have been books I haven't liked. But each has offered something.... I read it all. Then I go to book group waiting to see what it is I missed, what the others saw, and where inside was the pleasure."-Janet Tripp, "A Conversation Among Friends,"
The Book Group Book, 374.22 BO