Reading need not be an isolated activity. At Luath we want to promote reading as a shared experience. Through interacting with others there is no doubt that the pleasure of reading can be enhanced.

We are encouraging readers to form book groups across the country. And what better way to start this campaign with than a book in which communication is one of the main themes, The Blue Moon Book by Anne MacLeod.

If you wish to start a book group please let us know and we'll offer this book to your group at a discounted rate. Email sales@luath.co.uk or call Suzanne Kennedy on 0131 225 4326. All we ask from you is your feedback!

• Decide where you can hold your book group, when, how regularly (monthly suggested), and for how long (2 hours at least).
• Decide if there should be a host - this could alternate between members, and consider making an evening of it with refreshments and snacks.
• Consider whether your group should have a leader, and what his/her role should be. It may simply be someone to keep the discussion going if it falls silent.
• Work out a format - does one person create questions for the book, or will each person think of a few points or questions each meeting?
• Everyone in the group must read the book for the group to have any purpose.
• Allow everyone to have a say, and listen to what they have to say. Opinions are neither right nor wrong. Keep an open mind, and remember it is good to disagree - it stimulates discussion.
• Will your group keep to a specific genre?
• Do you intend on having a serious, academic style discussion, or a light-hearted social one?
• It need not necessarily be close friends you have to stick to in forming your book group. Consider strangers, or people you don't know so well - you will get to know them if the group meets regularly. Consider putting up a small notice in your local library, etc.
• Who will decide on book titles for your group? Once you've got your group started, if you choose to discuss further Luath books, you can contact us for author information, recommendations, discounts, and discussion topics. It may even be possible to involve the author and we will let you know of any events involving our authors.
• Above all, enjoy it and have fun.

Below are some suggestions for discussion for our featured book this winter.

• Does the book work? Why or why not?
• Characters - how real, how close do we feel to them, did they enhance the story etc. The Blue Moon Book focuses very much on people's emotions. Were these portrayed realistically? Do we feel how we should about certain characters? For example, should we like or hate Dan? Do we really find out who Jess is?
• Did the book inspire you? Particularly with the topic of the Picts - did this book make you want to delve more into this area of history? Or the profession of speech therapy, for example?
• Storyline - good/bad? Clever? Too complicated?
• How did you respond to the story? Did personal experiences affect how you responded to the book?
• What are the social implications of the story?
• Symbolism is very important in this story. How effective is this?
• Was the ending what you expected? Was it a good ending?
• How does the book stand as actual literature?
• Is it similar to other books you've read?
• Discuss the themes eg. memory, love, loss...
• Did you like the style?
• How authentic was the setting?
• Its place in medical fiction (read Anne MacLeod's article 'Word Power' in Book Banter Issue One)

Once you've read the book, you will no doubt have many questions and thoughts of your own you will want to share with your group.

Let us know how your group got on with The Blue Moon Book. When you're ready to start a new book, you can choose any from our catalogue, or ask us for suggestions. Coming soon is a new translation of Jules Verne's The Underground City, and also a new collection of short stories by Dilys Rose, called Lord of Illusions.