Introducing the Algonquin Book Club! Live events & live webcasts with notable writers

Welcome to the Algonquin Book Club! Each year we’ll be featuring four Algonquin Book Club selections at literary events held around the country and simultaneously webcast on our site. For each event, an Algonquin author will be interviewed by a notable writer. The line-up for 2011 includes:

3/21: Julia Alvarez (In the Time of the Butterflies) interviewed by Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, I’m Dying

4/26: Sara Gruen (Water for Elephants) interviewed by Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help

8/18: Heidi Durrow (The Girl Who Fell from the Sky) interviewed by Terry McMillan, author of Getting to Happy

10/20: Robert Goolrick (A Reliable Wife) interviewed by Patricia Cornwell, author of Port Mortuary

And already scheduled for March 2012: Lauren Grodstein (A Friend of the Family) interviewed by Stephen King, author of Full Dark, No Stars

For our first event, on March 21, 7:00pm  EST, Algonquin author Julia Alvarez will be interviewed about her beloved classic, In the Time of the Butterflies, by the critically acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat. You can tune in to the live webcast here. And the best part? At the same time you can also chat with others who are tuned in to the webcast. And if you live in Miami, you can catch the event live at Books & Books in Coral Gables.

Have you already read In the Time of the Butterflies? We’d love to hear what you think. Or is this your first time being introduced to the book? If so, pick up a copy and read along with us!

Be sure to check out our Algonquin Book Club site, which currently features an original essay from Julia Alvarez about the novel, along with a description of the book, author bios for Julia and Edwidge Danticat, a reading group guide, book club tips and ideas, and wine and recipe pairings centered around the book–including some recipes from Julia herself, as well as some recipes that were favorites of the three Mirabal Sisters, the main characters portrayed in the book.

We’ll be giving away autographed copies of In the Time of the Butterflies and Algonquin Book Club tote bags over the next three weeks. To be entered to win them all you have to do is leave a comment on our Algonquin Book Club blog posts, or tweet about it on Twitter using #AlgBookClub, or tell us your thoughts in the Discussion section on our Facebook page.

And most importantly, if you have any questions for Julia Alvarez, post them in any of the aforementioned places and we’ll submit them to the moderator to potentially be asked at the live event.

Happy reading!

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47 comments on “Introducing the Algonquin Book Club! Live events & live webcasts with notable writers

  1. I’m so excited about this!

  2. I’m so excited about this!

  3. I am really looking forward to this. I need to go pick up the book.

  4. Thanks for finding a way to include readers from all over!

  5. Thanks for finding a way to include readers from all over!

  6. This sounds great – I’m letting our bookclub know so we can tune in!

  7. This sounds great – I’m letting our bookclub know so we can tune in!

  8. This is a book I’d really love to read!

  9. My bookclub is always looking for interesting books which appeal to a wide audience. In the Time of the Butterflies seems to fit that bill.

  10. My bookclub is always looking for interesting books which appeal to a wide audience. In the Time of the Butterflies seems to fit that bill.

  11. Pretty amazing lineup! I’m so impressed at all this hard work.

  12. Pretty amazing lineup! I’m so impressed at all this hard work.

  13. I’ve read three of two books and loved them. I will be reading In The Time of Butterflies.

  14. I’ve read three of two books and loved them. I will be reading In The Time of Butterflies.

  15. Thanks for featuring this memorable novel which appeals to me greatly.

  16. I can’t wait, I’m really excited about this.

  17. I can’t wait, I’m really excited about this.

  18. This sounds great! Looking forward to hearing more.

  19. This sounds great! Looking forward to hearing more.

  20. How amazing! I’d love to win a copy, but I’m just grateful for this amazing idea!

  21. How amazing! I’d love to win a copy, but I’m just grateful for this amazing idea!

  22. I just moderated a literary discussion group book for the Town and Gown book club series at the Dobbs Ferry library. It was an exciting exchange of ideas and had a big turnout, and this was the book we explored in depth. I look forward to all your webcasts and will be sharing this site with my daughter, who lives in London, my friends and other members of Town and Gown.

  23. I just moderated a literary discussion group book for the Town and Gown book club series at the Dobbs Ferry library. It was an exciting exchange of ideas and had a big turnout, and this was the book we explored in depth. I look forward to all your webcasts and will be sharing this site with my daughter, who lives in London, my friends and other members of Town and Gown.

  24. I read In the Time of the Butterflies when it was initially released. Ina Stern of Algonquin told me that it was a book that I must not miss. Indeed, she was right! I have thought of the Mariposas several times through the years, especially when the news relates events occurring in countries where human rights are not honored. Thank you, Julia, for bringing these characters so vividly to life and increasing my social awareness.

  25. Time of the Butterflies sounds like a wonderful book for my bookclub. I look forward to the interview.

  26. Time of the Butterflies sounds like a wonderful book for my bookclub. I look forward to the interview.

  27. Terrific idea – will be glad to share with my readers when I open for the season in late May – Love these two authors, and also the upcoming talks – great!
    Would love to get the book and share (have some of their other books in the store) –

    Kathleen

  28. Terrific idea – will be glad to share with my readers when I open for the season in late May – Love these two authors, and also the upcoming talks – great!
    Would love to get the book and share (have some of their other books in the store) –

    Kathleen

  29. I am an English Language Arts teacher in MA. Currently my World Literature classes are reading In the Time of Butterflies and we are all pretty excited about the news that Julia Alvarez is the featured speaker. I have been collecting questions from my students and we have two we would like to be considered:

    1. Many students had some difficulty understanding the flow of information in the opening Dede chapter but once Minerva’s chapter came they were off and flying. Several students wanted to know why Ms. Alvarez began with Dede’s chapter and not Minerva’s?

    2. On the back of the title page it indicates that this is a work of fiction but based on real events. The character of Sinita Perozo was of particular interest to some other students. We were curious if Sinita was based on a “real” person, and if so, what happened to her after the incident with Trujillo and his son, Ramfis?

    Thank you again for offering this great opportunity.

  30. I am an English Language Arts teacher in MA. Currently my World Literature classes are reading In the Time of Butterflies and we are all pretty excited about the news that Julia Alvarez is the featured speaker. I have been collecting questions from my students and we have two we would like to be considered:

    1. Many students had some difficulty understanding the flow of information in the opening Dede chapter but once Minerva’s chapter came they were off and flying. Several students wanted to know why Ms. Alvarez began with Dede’s chapter and not Minerva’s?

    2. On the back of the title page it indicates that this is a work of fiction but based on real events. The character of Sinita Perozo was of particular interest to some other students. We were curious if Sinita was based on a “real” person, and if so, what happened to her after the incident with Trujillo and his son, Ramfis?

    Thank you again for offering this great opportunity.

  31. Bookseller for over 12 yrs., & head of a newly formed book club. I am looking forward to reading & sharing & request a copy. Love your blog & author interviews give so much more depth to reading & sharing. Thanks much, hope to hear from you.

  32. Bookseller for over 12 yrs., & head of a newly formed book club. I am looking forward to reading & sharing & request a copy. Love your blog & author interviews give so much more depth to reading & sharing. Thanks much, hope to hear from you.

  33. So excited to hear about the launch! Can’t wait to participate… and what a fantastic schedule of events! Congrats!

  34. So excited to hear about the launch! Can’t wait to participate… and what a fantastic schedule of events! Congrats!

  35. Looking forward to the launch of The Algonquin Book Club! I see quite a few titles that I have read or want to read. This is a wonderful idea!

  36. Looking forward to the launch of The Algonquin Book Club! I see quite a few titles that I have read or want to read. This is a wonderful idea!

  37. I would love to win a copy of this! Can’t wait for the interview.
    Laura

  38. I would love to win a copy of this! Can’t wait for the interview.
    Laura

  39. The most touching thing about Julia Alvarez, the author of “In The Time of Butterflies” is how steadily she’s held onto her gratitude for the life that she and her family were able to escape from – a gift the Mirabal sisters were not fortunate enough to receive. And through writing this book, she’s furthering that hope and that gratitude that change can take place, in any form, in this world.

    I am extremely grateful to Algonquin Books for assembling this Book Club, and for providing this wonderful opportunity for readers/reviewers to participate in it. I am really looking forward to the discussion with Julia Alvarez on March 21st. Thank you very much.

  40. Really looking forward to these webcasts. Great idea!

  41. Really looking forward to these webcasts. Great idea!

  42. As a newly retired public librarian I find my favorite publisher has hatched a brilliant idea – what better way to start off my next decades of reading! Of course the authors make the publisher and these are very interesting combinations. The first event is definitely on my calendar.

  43. As a newly retired public librarian I find my favorite publisher has hatched a brilliant idea – what better way to start off my next decades of reading! Of course the authors make the publisher and these are very interesting combinations. The first event is definitely on my calendar.

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