Chapel Hill, N.C.-based Algonquin Books, a division of independent publisher Workman Publishing, has launched the Algonquin Book Club, which will feature four book selections each year as well as literary events related to each selection. The events will be held around the country and simultaneously webcast on the Algonquin Books' website.
The book selections for 2011 are "In the Time of the Butterflies," by Julia Alvarez; "Water for Elephants," by Sara Gruen; "The Girl Who Fell from the Sky," by Heidi Durrow; and "A Reliable Wife," by Robert Goolrick.
The first related book-club event will feature Alvarez being interviewed by Edwidge Danticat, author of "Brother, I'm Dying." The event will be held March 21 at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Those who log on to the live webcast will be able to chat with others who also are logged on to the event.
Subsequent book-club events will feature Gruen being interviewed by "The Help" author Kathryn Stockett April 26; Durrow being interviewed by author Terry McMillan Aug. 18; and Goolrick being interviewd by author Patricia Cornwell Oct. 20. Already scheduled for March 2012, "A Friend of the Family" author Lauren Grodstein will be interviewed by Stephen King.
The Algonquin Book Club website offers visitors additional content related to the book-club selections. Currently, it features an original essay by Alvarez about "In the Time of the Butterflies," along with a description of the book, author bios for Alvarez and Danticat, a reading group guide, book-club tips and ideas, and wine and recipe pairings centered around the book—including recipes from Alvarez, as well as some that were favorites of the three Mirabal sisters, the main characters portrayed in the book.
Algonquin also is giving away autographed copies of "In the Time of the Butterflies" and Algonquin Book Club tote bags over the next few weeks. Winners will be selected from those who leave comments on Algonquin Book Club blog posts, tweet about it on Twitter using the hash tag #AlgBookClub, or leave comments in the Discussion section on Alguonquin's Facebook page.