Best for Book Clubs

Suggest books your group has read that led to a lively discussion, whether people loved or hated them.
1898

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4.03 avg rating — 50,290 ratings
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1898

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4.30 avg rating — 636 ratings
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1903

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4.14 avg rating — 116,537 ratings
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1903

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3.78 avg rating — 400,513 ratings
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1905

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3.82 avg rating — 164,024 ratings
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1905

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4.29 avg rating — 667,006 ratings
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1905

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4.01 avg rating — 71 ratings
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1905

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4.34 avg rating — 4,874 ratings
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1909

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4.06 avg rating — 32 ratings
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1910

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3.94 avg rating — 570,877 ratings
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1911

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4.59 avg rating — 46 ratings
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1912

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4.06 avg rating — 152,617 ratings
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1912

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4.33 avg rating — 406 ratings
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1914

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4.21 avg rating — 339,133 ratings
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1914

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4.42 avg rating — 580,407 ratings
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1914

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3.80 avg rating — 189,532 ratings
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1917

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4.02 avg rating — 109,177 ratings
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1918

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4.04 avg rating — 121,882 ratings
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1919

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3.84 avg rating — 493,110 ratings
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1919

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3.85 avg rating — 442,889 ratings
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1919

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4.29 avg rating — 703 ratings
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1922

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3.84 avg rating — 44,573 ratings
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1922

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4.32 avg rating — 1,131,513 ratings
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1922

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4.12 avg rating — 67,489 ratings
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1925

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3.90 avg rating — 107,898 ratings
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1926

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4.01 avg rating — 167,844 ratings
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1926

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4.12 avg rating — 91,441 ratings
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1928

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4.40 avg rating — 3,907,313 ratings
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1928

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3.98 avg rating — 123,572 ratings
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1930

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3.87 avg rating — 38,134 ratings
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1931

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4.39 avg rating — 588,687 ratings
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1932

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4.33 avg rating — 1,083 ratings
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1933

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4.13 avg rating — 4,074 ratings
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1934

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4.10 avg rating — 355,733 ratings
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1934

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3.93 avg rating — 47,075 ratings
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1934

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4.65 avg rating — 1,385 ratings
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1937

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3.98 avg rating — 48,595 ratings
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1937

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4.15 avg rating — 48,327 ratings
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1939

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3.97 avg rating — 67,768 ratings
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1939

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4.26 avg rating — 332,554 ratings
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1939

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4.01 avg rating — 366,016 ratings
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1939

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4.13 avg rating — 437,828 ratings
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1939

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4.39 avg rating — 271 ratings
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1944

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4.30 avg rating — 168,785 ratings
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1944

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4.40 avg rating — 201,270 ratings
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1944

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3.94 avg rating — 166,265 ratings
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1947

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3.99 avg rating — 382,798 ratings
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1947

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4.15 avg rating — 21,679 ratings
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1949

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4.39 avg rating — 323,227 ratings
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1950

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4.18 avg rating — 124,231 ratings
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1950

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3.44 avg rating — 77,012 ratings
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1950

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3.91 avg rating — 149,200 ratings
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1953

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3.97 avg rating — 63,316 ratings
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1953

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4.37 avg rating — 19,021 ratings
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1953

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4.08 avg rating — 23,015 ratings
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1956

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4.03 avg rating — 548 ratings
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1957

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3.67 avg rating — 2,821,204 ratings
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1957

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3.91 avg rating — 327,111 ratings
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1957

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4.07 avg rating — 49,814 ratings
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1960

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3.94 avg rating — 47,675 ratings
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1961

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3.89 avg rating — 631,583 ratings
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1961

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3.64 avg rating — 175,838 ratings
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1961

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3.80 avg rating — 157,067 ratings
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1964

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3.81 avg rating — 57,724 ratings
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1964

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4.49 avg rating — 100,843 ratings
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1966

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3.87 avg rating — 175,823 ratings
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1966

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4.27 avg rating — 5,937 ratings
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1968

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3.74 avg rating — 412,420 ratings
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1968

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4.04 avg rating — 365,268 ratings
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1968

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4.34 avg rating — 248 ratings
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1971

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3.74 avg rating — 189,422 ratings
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1972

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 130,574 ratings
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1972

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4.29 avg rating — 189,426 ratings
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1972

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4.37 avg rating — 272 ratings
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1975

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4.01 avg rating — 89,814 ratings
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1976

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3.94 avg rating — 350,313 ratings
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1976

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3.96 avg rating — 112,502 ratings
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1978

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4.22 avg rating — 667,303 ratings
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1979

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4.23 avg rating — 55,103 ratings
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1980

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4.10 avg rating — 113,084 ratings
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1980

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4.17 avg rating — 372,816 ratings
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1980

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4.07 avg rating — 44,846 ratings
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1983

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3.78 avg rating — 8,770 ratings
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1984

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3.59 avg rating — 23,316 ratings
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1984

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3.64 avg rating — 76,304 ratings
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1986

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4.28 avg rating — 745 ratings
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1987

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3.85 avg rating — 65,055 ratings
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1987

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4.16 avg rating — 215,991 ratings
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1989

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4.04 avg rating — 419,905 ratings
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1989

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3.86 avg rating — 713 ratings
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1991

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3.93 avg rating — 121,321 ratings
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1991

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4.12 avg rating — 71,372 ratings
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1993

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4.03 avg rating — 148,404 ratings
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1993

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4.02 avg rating — 105,057 ratings
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1995

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4.32 avg rating — 52,503 ratings
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1995

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3.81 avg rating — 370,530 ratings
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1995

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3.44 avg rating — 16,988 ratings
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1998

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4.02 avg rating — 637,557 ratings
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1999

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4.11 avg rating — 985,078 ratings
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1999

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4.10 avg rating — 28,621 ratings
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14,377 books · 18,188 voters · list created June 13th, 2008 by Jessica Haider (votes) .
1484 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Jessica 9839 books
1459 friends
Jardley 629 books
22 friends
Olive 480 books
56 friends
Colleen 19 books
0 friends
Brandy 1099 books
62 friends
Donna 1663 books
141 friends
M 1462 books
0 friends
Lindsey 1336 books
67 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-43 of 43 (43 new)

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message 1: by Jen (new)

Jen The author combines a love story, history and a gorgeous unusual setting to create a powerful novel that really makes you think and want to talk about.


message 2: by Deb (new)

Deb Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver


message 3: by Marla (new)

 Marla Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve and Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier were all big hits with our BBC Book Club. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus and Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross were also favorites with excellent discussions.


message 4: by Travis (new)

Travis The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte is a great one for book clubs. She's the little known Bronte sister, compared to her far more famous siblings. Comparing her work to that of her sisters brought about quite a discussion in our group.


message 5: by Cat (new)

Cat Riley Home Repair by Liz Rosenberg and Open House by Elizabeth Berg were tops for my book club group. Excellent discussions ensued. We realized we all like books that make us laugh and cry. Laurie Colwin is up soon, and so is the Guernsey Literary Potato Pie book.


message 6: by Kono (new)

Kono Grant Cat-- your choices sound great! Recommend you also consider Dan Chaon's new novel after Home Repair and Open House when you are ready for something a bit darker. He's a great writer. Can't go wrong with jane Austen.


message 7: by Darienbo (last edited Oct 24, 2009 11:24AM) (new)

Darienbo Had a great book discussion of HOME REPAIR with the author in Philly. So inspiring I had to pass it along. We all agreed it's good to have a book that makes you want to write, too, and has enough characters you can love.

I love the book about friendship Ann Patchett (sp?) wrote and think it would make a great discussion book. Also, to me Dostoevsky scares too many people away and should not. There is so much there to talk about!


message 8: by Shelby (new)

Shelby Harper The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell


message 9: by Gerrie (new)

Gerrie Finger Prodigal Summer, yes.


message 10: by Sheryl (new)

Sheryl The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke


message 11: by Danna (new)

Danna A very good list, all my favs in one place :)


message 12: by Katie (new)

Katie I've just discovered this list. Is there anyway to search this very extensive list? I would love to be able to look at it in alphabetical order. Or is it solely based on votes. There is no way to go through so many pages and vote with any kind of rationality! Just wondering.


message 13: by Darbi (new)

Darbi Simmons This is just a random list of books that are featured in PEOPLE magazine! this is the worst list ever! No one put any thought into it at all.


message 14: by Tammy (new)

Tammy Corbett A great book to add to this list is The Sixth Extinction by d. leonard freeston. Couldn't put it down!


message 15: by Carla (new)

Carla Foft "Addressing Spirits" by Carla Foft would be a good choice for a book club. It's by a new author, so it has some really different perspectives. It's short, so the club can finish it quickly and get down to discussing it faster. Carla Foft discusses Spirits' Rights on her website and it has started some lively discussions. The book is fun and has received great reviews.


message 16: by Jim (new)

Jim Finished "Rare & Endangered Species" by Richard Bausch 1994. Every short story in this collection is top-drawer and insightful into the human condition. The characters and their thoughts/actions ring true and signify life's lessons. Writing this great should not go out of style


message 17: by Kim (new)

Kim There are so many books that I want to read! Time to prioritize!


message 18: by Leanne (new)

Leanne Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. Lots of issues...great book!


message 19: by Paula (new)

Paula Darbi wrote: "This is just a random list of books that are featured in PEOPLE magazine! this is the worst list ever! No one put any thought into it at all."

Maybe your taste is different. It fits into my interests quite well.


message 20: by Paula (new)

Paula Leanne wrote: "Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. Lots of issues...great book!"

Her bks were big about 12 yrs ago here. I liked them. Poisonwood had to be restarted due to the negative pic of missionaries, but there have been many like that and there is improvment these days.
Issues in Animal Dreams? Been a long time.


message 21: by Teri (new)

Teri Thomas The Sparrow The first book our Book Club ever read; outstanding writing and moral issues that beg great discussion.


message 22: by Andre (new)

Andre Io Deceneus Journal of a Time Traveler by Florian Armas
This book will give a lot of things to argue about: a living universe, quit a strange way of time traveling and a lot of controversies related to cultural, politic, social, and finace phenomena.


message 23: by Marla (last edited Jan 29, 2013 12:38PM) (new)

 Marla Why are That Girl Started Her Own Country and The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club in the top 55 on this list?! I think someone is padding their votes to get them high on this list.

I use this list as a reference for our book club and this isn't the platform for authors' self promotion. Argh!


message 24: by Jack (new)

Jack Hi everyone,

I have created a new group called Goodreads All Sorts and I'd love for people to join it or just even just give it a look. It's a group that discusses anything and everything. There will be monthly group reads, movies, and music. There is a folder for everything you could think of. I'd really like if people could spread the word because I'd love for the group to be a success. Here is the link to the group:

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/9...

Thanks very much,
Jack :-)


message 25: by Bakagh (new)

Bakagh Mark


message 26: by Shilpa (new)

Shilpa Kotian very good list..


message 27: by Helen (new)

Helen Deb wrote: "Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver"

LOVE that book!


message 28: by Bessie (new)

Bessie Unless I have missed it I do not see Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Once you read this you will be sold on this author....


message 29: by Pam (new)

Pam Darbi wrote: "This is just a random list of books that are featured in PEOPLE magazine! this is the worst list ever! No one put any thought into it at all."

Where is your list?


message 30: by Pam (new)

Pam Darbi wrote: "This is just a random list of books that are featured in PEOPLE magazine! this is the worst list ever! No one put any thought into it at all."

Where is your list?


message 31: by Betty (new)

Betty to darbi many people make up this earth please respect others we would all be happy to see your recommendations betty


message 32: by Brigitte (new)

Brigitte "Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver" is surely in my all time fav list!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brigitte, trainee @ http://www.darwintsun.com


message 33: by ConnieFleming (new)

ConnieFleming Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally?

I am glad to search out so many useful information here within thee put up, we want work out extra strategies oon this regard, thank yyou for sharing.

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message 34: by willa (new)

willa A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord
Lemons by Melissa Savage
The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz


anthony & carol measham Excellent book club list, many of which I have read.


anthony & carol measham Excellent book club list.


message 38: by John (new)

John John


message 39: by Fiona (last edited Jun 04, 2021 07:59AM) (new)

Fiona Hurley Everyone has their own criteria for what is best for book clubs, but here were mine:

- Really well written
- Provide good talking points, maybe even controversy
- Less than 500 pages
- Not YA (unless its a teenage group)
- Not super bestsellers (I disqualified any book with >1 million ratings)
- Not typical school assignments (underrated classics are fine)


message 40: by Lanelle (new)

Lanelle Currently, #1359 is Kindle Paperwhite User's Guide!!! And 7 people have voted for it!!!


message 41: by Louise (new)

Louise https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Louise Morrish, Operation Moonlight


message 42: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Johnson Great book ideas from this list, but The Secret History by Donna Tartt at #361? Really??


message 43: by Margot (new)

Margot Portal Babar and Dr. Seuss are the "best" books for the kindergarden book club.


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