A few months ago I finished reading an advance reading copy of The Divide by Nicholas Evans. Many of you may know Evans from his first book, The Horse Whisperer. I finished this book and immediately wanted to talk about it. I gave a copy to a friend for his birthday and soon we were trading e-mails about the story --- and what it says about the relationships between men and women, as well as those between parents and their children. I have had the opportunity to hear Evans speak about The Divide twice now, as well as reading and watching interviews with him. This is a book that has stayed with me. There is a passion and sincerity in the writing. I know it would make a great book club discussion, which is why we are making it our contest book this month.

This newsletter is reaching you later than usual this month as the Labor Day holiday and a week of vacation slowed our world down. Nonetheless it, and the website this month, are filled with a number of features and discussion guides that will grab your attention.

This summer I have vowed to read some books that everyone has been talking about --- and I have missed. Last weekend with this in mind I read THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME. I can see why so many readers are talking about this book in their groups. I loved the strong voice of Christopher John Francis Boone and the way the plot unfolded. This month's ReadingGroupGuides.com poll takes a look at some of the most popular book club selections and asks if your group has read them, or plans to read them. Be sure to weigh in. Next up for me this month --- THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY and THE KITE RUNNER.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Chicago for the American Library Association Conference. It was a terrific opportunity to meet with librarians and think about ways that we can work better with them with ReadingGroupGuides.com. The librarians I met were enthusiastic about their readers and I felt I was talking to kindred spirits when we met in the aisles and on the convention busses. While some were aware of our websites, many were not. May I ask you to print a copy of this newsletter and share it with your local librarians?