Reading-Group Guides Complement Books

Sun., Nov. 17, 1996

By Susan English susane@spokesman.com

It had to happen.

In response to the proliferation of reading groups, some major publishers are printing reading group guides to their major releases.

They resemble Cliffs Notes in that they summarize the plot, offer discussion questions and provide historical background helpful in more fully understanding the book.

At the recent Northwest Bookfest in Seattle, tables at each of the major publishing companies’ booths were littered with reading guides.

Reading groups can even call to order a set of guides for Vintage-published books like “Snow Falling on Cedars” by Bainbridge Island author David Guterson - (800) 793-BOOK.

Some reading guides, such as Robertson Davies’ “The Cunning Man” or Tim O’Brien’s “In the Lake of the Woods,” are available at some major bookstores.

The guides all offer related reading lists.

Which all begs the question: Will some members of your reading group just skip the book and read the guide?

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