How does the Odyssey Bookshop Support Community Book Groups?

Book Group Discounts
The Odyssey offers 20% off book group selections, if you order five or more per title at least two weeks in advance of the date you need them, to be picked up by one person. To participate in this discount program, you must register your group with the Odyssey. Click here for a simple online registration form. The best way to place a book group discount order is using our online request. You may also call the store with the necessary information. When the books come in, we’ll call the contact person and place the books behind the counter to be picked up. Please give us plenty of time, so we can have the books available – most groups like to have the books in hand a full month before the meeting at which they’ll be discussed. 

Meet the Author
Would your group like to invite a favorite author to visit your book group, in person or by telephone? Or having dinner together after a reading?  These events can sometimes be arranged, especially when authors live locally, or are visiting the area on book tour. They can add a wonderful personal context to the book discussion.   

June Book Group Gathering
Every June, the Odyssey Bookshop hosts a Book Group Gathering for all book groups in the Pioneer Valley. This includes recommendations from Odyssey staff and publishers’ representatives, short readings from local authors, refreshments, and a chance to talk informally about the joys of reading together. We hope you’ll join us in June 2008.  

Save this date: the  Book Group Gathering is 
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The joy of book groups:
A message from Elli

Hello! My name is Elli Meeropol and I’m the book group coordinator at the Odyssey Bookshop.

Gathering in small groups to talk about books draws us together in very powerful ways. We learn to understand books from the rich perspective of other readers.  And book groups are so much fun. 

My job is help your group  – with discounted books, resources, book selection ideas, or inviting an author to meet with your group. 

We try to maintain an up-to-date list of book groups in the Valley (which is sort of like herding cats). In response to your telephone calls and emails asking for help in locating book groups in the area that welcome new members, Book Group Central  will open soon at this web site.  If you would like your book group contact information to be listed here, please contact me at the email address below.

Since so many readers also write of fiction, the Odyssey now offers writing workshops. The first three sessions have been very satisfying and we will probably start with new groups in the fall. If you are interested in being contacted when the next workshop forms, please email me.

Elli Meeropol
odysseybookgrp@gmail.com

Is your book group looking for ideas for thoughtful and insightful books to generate wonderful discussions? Check out the Odyssey Bookshop recommendations for book club selections here.