Adios and Best Wishes

Just a quick note to let you all know that I’m stepping down as the Co-Chair of the Betty’s List Book Club. It’s been a terrific two years. I have enjoyed getting to know all of you, and you’ve been an inspiration for my own reading! I encourage you to keep an eye on the Betty’s List Home Page for new developments, and please let Betty know if you want to help out with the book groups or the speaker’s series. I’m sure I’ll see you all around. Happy Reading.
Cynthia K

Can't Fail Rocks

Just got this super list of books from Can't Fail. Keep up the good work!
Cynthia K.


03/07: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
04/07: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
05/07: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
06/07: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
07/07: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Linda See
08/07: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
09/07: Picture Palace by Paul Theroux
10/07: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
11/07: Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
12/07-01/08: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
02/08: The Collected Stories of Grace Paley
03/08: Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
04/08: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
05/08: The New Earth by Eckhart Tolles
06/08: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
07-08/08: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Discovery Group 2 Also Rocks!

Here is their reading list for 2008. Great ideas for all of us!

Rebel Readers Rock!

The Rebel Readers just did a review of all they have accomplished since we began almost two years ago. I'd love to have a similar list from the other groups. Lots of good ideas for the next printing of Book Savvy. So many books, so little time!

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer and enjoying "hot august nights."

02/07: Little Black Book of Stories by A.S. Byatt
03/07: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
04/07: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murikami
05/07: American Woman by Susan Choi
06/07: The Camel Club by David Baldacci
07/07: The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro
08/07: The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens
09-10/07: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
11/07: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
12/07: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
01/08: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
02/08: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
03/08: The Famished Road by Ben Okri
04/08: March by Geraldine Brooks
05/08: The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
06/08: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
07/08: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
08/08: Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates
09/08: Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth

Cynthia K

Kit Kennedy Poetry Night Returns August 20, 2008

I'm just back from Santa Fe, and sorry I missed you at the last reading, but hoping you will mark your calendar for the popular Kit Kennedy Poetry night on August 20, 2008 at the terrific Duboce Park Cafe. 6:30 sharp!
Cynthia K

August/September Book Club Calendar

Here's what I know so far about the August/September Calendar. As soon as the facilitators send me the details of their meetings, I will post them here.

Enjoy your reading, and the glorious summer weather.
Cynthia K


Rebel Readers
Next book is Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates
August 27 at 6:30 at a Member's House
Next book is Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth
Meeting September 24 at a Members House.
This group is complete


Tuesday Evening Book Nuts
Next book is Inheritance by Lan Samantha Chang
August 27 at 6:30 at a Members house.
Next book is Self-Made Man by Norah Vincent
September 24 at 6:30 at a place to be determined
This group is complete

Can't Fail Group
Next book is Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
August 3 at 1pm at Max's Opera Cafe
This group is complete

Discovery Group 1
Next book is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
September 4 meeting at 6:30 at a Members House
Following book is People of the Book
This group is complete

Discovery Group 2
Next book is Babyji y Abha Dawesar
September 10 meeting at 6:30 at Member's House
October 15 Book is Shogun by James Clavell
November 12 Book is The Book of Salt by Monique Troung
This group is looking for 1 or 2 more members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Book Goddesses
August book is The Skin Beneath by Nairne Holtz
This group is looking for one or two new members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Not Your Mother's Book Club
Next book is Pillars of the Earth
Not meeting in July/August because of Summer Scheduling conflicts.
Contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to be in this new group.

Buddhist Reading Group NEW!!!
This SF group is just starting. Be a charter member.
If you are interested contact me at BookSavvy@att.net. I am starting a list.

Happy 4th of July.

July 16, 2008 Featured Speaker! Karin Kallmaker

Please join us for our exciting speaker, Karin Kallmaker, on July 16, 2008 at the Duboce Park Cafe at 6:30pm.

July Book Club Calendar

Here's what I know so far about the July Calendar. As soon as the facilitators send me the details of their meetings, I will post them here.

Enjoy your reading, and the glorious summer weather.
Cynthia K


Rebel Readers
Next book is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
July 30 at 6:30 at a Member's House
Next book is The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
This group is complete

Tuesday Evening Book Nuts
Next book is The Center will Not Hold by Ellen Saks
June 11 at 6:30 at Members House
Next book is A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
July 23 at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is complete

Can't Fail Group
Next book is Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
August 3 at 1pm at Max's Opera Cafe
This group is complete

Discovery Group 1
Next book is Castro Street: A Love Story
July 15 meeting at 6:30 at a Members House
Following book is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides On Sept. 4
This group is complete

Discovery Group 2
Next book is A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain
July 30 meeting at 6:30 at a Yacht Club
September Book is Babyji by Abha Dawesar
This group is looking for 1 or 2 more members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Book Goddesses
Next Book is American Eve by Paula Uruburu
July 6 meeting at 4 pm at a member's house
August book is The Skin Beneath by Nairne Holtz
This group is looking for one or two new members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Not Your Mother's Book Club
Next book is Pillars of the Earth
June 17 meeting is at 6:30 at Mimi's
Contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to be in this new group.

Buddhist Reading Group NEW!!!
This SF group is just starting. Be a charter member.
If you are interested contact me at BookSavvy@alo.com. I am starting a list.

Summer Reading Ideas...BookSavvyOnline.com

Hi everyone:
Wondering about what to read for summer? Check out the Book Club Reading Group calendars below to see what is popular right now with our seven book groups! Or go to BookSavvyOnline.com to read free chapters of my roadmap to good reading: Book Savvy. Enjoy the sun, and your reading! Cynthia K

June 18 Katherine V. Forrest Featured Speaker!

Please join us for our exciting speaker, Katherine V. Forrest, on June 18, 2008 at the Duboce Park Cafe at 6:30pm.

June/July Book Club Calendar

Here's what I know so far about the June/July Calendar. As soon as the facilitators send me the details of their meetings, I will post them here.

Enjoy your reading, and the glorious summer weather.
Cynthia K


Rebel Readers
Next book is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
June 11 at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is complete

Tuesday Evening Book Nuts
Next book is The Center will Not Hold by Ellen Saks
June 11 at 6:30 at Members House
Next book is A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
July 23 at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is complete

Can't Fail Group
Next book is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
May 20 at 7pm at Central Perk
June book is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This group is complete

Discovery Group 1
Next book is Freshwater by Denise Nicholas
June 19 meeting at 6:30 at a Members House
This group is complete

Discovery Group 2
Next book is The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
June 11 meeting at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is looking for 1 or 2 more members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Book Goddesses
Next Book is American Eve by Paula Uruburu
July 6 meeting at 4 pm at a member's house
August book is The Skin Beneath by Nairne Holtz
This group is looking for one or two new members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Not Your Mother's Book Club
April book is In The Company Of The Courtesan by Sarah Dunat
April meeting is at 6:30 at a Members house
Contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to be in this new group.

Huge Thanks to Misha Cohen....Wonderful Reading!

A huge thanks to Misha Cohen for her terrific reading from her new book on Chinese Medicine. And thanks to the members of the Betty's List Book Club for the great turnout. Rachel Herbert and her wonderful Duboce Park Cafe staff take such superb care of us!


Speaker Misha Cohen of Chicken Soup Chinese Medicine


Betty's Book List readers.


Nancy, Leigh and Renee weigh Dr. Cohen's words.


Misha reads to the Betty's List Book Club


Our handsome Duboce Park Cafe barista.


Lauren, Michelle and Chris listen intently.


Author/Speaker Misha Cohen and Cynthia Lee Katona, author of Book Savvy, and Co-chair of the Betty's List Book Club.

May/June Calendar

Here's what I know so far about the May Calendar. As soon as the facilitators send me the details of their meetings, I will post them here.

Enjoy your reading. Cynthia K


Rebel Readers
Next book is Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
May 14 at 6:30 at a Member's House
June book is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
This group is complete

Tuesday Evening Book Nuts
Next book is The Center will Not Hold by Ellen Saks
June 11 at 6:30 at Members House
Next book is A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
July 23 at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is complete

Can't Fail Group
Next book is A new Earth by Eckhart Tolle
May 20 at 7pm at Central Perk
June book is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This group is complete

Discovery Group 1
Next book is The Volcano Lover by Susan Sontag
May 27 meeting at 6:30 at a Members House
This group is complete

Discovery Group 2
Next book is The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
June 11 meeting at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is looking for 1 or 2 more members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Book Goddesses
Next Book is The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
June 1 meeting at 4 pm at a member's house
This group is complete

Not Your Mother's Book Club
April book is In The Company Of The Courtesan by Sarah Dunat
April meeting is at 6:30 at a Members house
Contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to be in this new group.

Misha Cohen May 21, 2008 Speaker!

Please join us for our exciting speaker, Misha Cohen, on May 21, 2008 at the Duboce Park Cafe at 6:30pm.

Huge Thanks to Sylvia Brownrigg....Wonderful Reading!

A huge thanks to Sylvia Brownrigg for her terrific reading from her new book Morality Tale. And thanks to the members of the Betty's List Book Club for the great turnout. Rachel Herbert and her wonderful staff take such superb care of us!


Leigh McClellan introduces her friend Sylvia Brownrigg.


Our Speaker: Sylvia Brownrigg


Seajay and friends are amused by Ms. Brownrigg's Reading.


Nancy and Betty's Book Club members watch Sylvia Brownrigg reading from Moralilty Tale.


Sylvia Brownrigg reads from her book Pages for You.


The audience asks Ms. Brownrigg intriguing questions.


Sylvia Brownrigg, author of Morality Tale, and Cynthia Lee Katona, author of Book Savvy and Co-chair of the Betty's List Book Club.

April Calendar

Here's what I know so far about the April Calendar. As soon as the facilitators send me the details of their meetings, I will post them here.

Enjoy your reading. Cynthia K


Rebel Readers
Next book is March by Geraldine Brooks
March 16 at 6:30 at a Member's House
This group is complete

Tuesday Evening Book Nuts
Next book is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
May 7 at 6:30 at Duboce Park Cafe
This group welcomes new members...just read the book and turn up!

Can't Fail Group
Next book is Lolita in Tehran
April 20 at noon at a member's house
May book is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
This group is complete

Discovery Group
Next book is Senator's Wife by Sue Miller
April 17 meeting at 7:00 at a Members House
This group is complete

Discovery Group 2
Next book is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
April 9 meeting at 6:30 at a Member's House
May book is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
This group is looking for 1 or 2 more members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Book Goddesses
Next Book is The Bean Trees
April 27 meeting at 4 pm at a member's house
This group is complete

Not Your Mother's Book Club
April book is In The Company Of The Courtesan by Sarah Dunat
April meeting is at 6:30 at a Members house
Contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to be in this new group.

Welcome April 16, 2008 Speaker Sylvia Brownrigg!

Sylvia Brownrigg is the author of five acclaimed works of fiction. Her newest novel, Morality Tale, will be published in May 2008 by Counterpoint Press in the US and by Picador in the UK.

Sylvia’s recent novel, The Delivery Room, received widespread praise in the British press. The London Observer called The Delivery Room “one of the most outstanding and properly adult novels of recent years… For once, the word ‘unforgettable’ is justified.” Counterpoint will publish The Delivery Room in the US in Winter 2009.

Learn more about Sylvia’s other novels, including Pages for You and The Metaphysical Touch, and her book of stories, Ten Women Who Shook the World. You can also read some of her reviews and essays, and learn more about a writer the critic James Wood has called “obviously one of the most exciting new writers of her generation” at http://www.sylviabrownrigg.com/

March 19 Meeting. A big welcome to Kit Kennedy and her open mic experience.

Betty's List Bookclub is very excited to once again have Kit Kennedy and her stable of outstanding readers organizing an open mic night experience for us. If you are a writer, please feel free to bring a short excerpt of your novel, or a compelling poem, or a bit of memoir to share.

See you there!
Cynthia K

March/April Calendar

Here's what I know so far about the March/April Calendar. As soon as the facilitators send me the details of their meetings, I will post them here.

Enjoy your reading. Cynthia K


Rebel Readers
Next book is The Famished Road by Ben Okri
March 19 at 6:30 at a Member's House
April Book is March by Geraldine Brooks
This group is complete

Tuesday Evening Book Nuts
Next book is The Tea House Fire by Ellis Avery
April 1 at 6:30 at Duboce Park Cafe
This group welcomes new members...just read the book and turn up!

Can't Fail Group
Next book is Lolita in Tehran
April 20 at noon at a member's house
May book is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
This group is complete

Discovery Group
Next book is Senator's Wife by Sue Miller
April 17 meeting at 7:00 at a Members House
This group is complete

Discovery Group 2
Next book is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
April 9 meeting at 6:30 at a Member's House
May book is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
This group is looking for 1 or 2 more members (contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to join)

Book Goddesses
Next Book is More Like Wrestling by Danyel Smith
March 30 meeting at 4 pm at a member's house
April Book is The Bean Treas by Barbara Kingsolver

New East Bay Group
Next Book is Tall Grass by Sandra Dallas
March 18 meeting is at 6:30 at a Members house
Contact me at BookSavvy@aol.com if you would like to be in this new group.

Huge Thanks to Lucy Bledsoe....Great Reading!

A huge thanks to Lucy Bledsoe for her terrific reading from her new book Apple. And thanks to the members of the Betty's List Book Club for the great turnout. Rachel Herbert and her wonderful staff take such superb care of us!


Lucy Bledsoe reads from her novel Apple.


Lucy Bledsoe enjoying Betty Sullivan's Introduction.



Dr. Betty Sullivan among the daffodils.


Full house at the Duboce Park Cafe.


Jen and Heather enjoy Lucy's reading.


Lucy Bledsoe reads for the Betty's List Book Club


Lucy's friend from High School~


Guess which one is the Birthday Girl?


Lucy Bledsoe, author of Apple, with Betty's List Book Club Co-chair, and author of Book Savvy, Cynthia Lee Katona.

Valentine's Day Febraury 14 The Perfect Gift

Happy Valentine's Day to all my favorite readers. Give the gift of books and passionate conversation this Valentine's day...I'll be delighted to inscribe something sexy in a copy of Book Savvy for your favorite reader. Enjoy.
Cynthia K

February 20 Featured Speaker Lucy Jane Bledsoe

Lucy Jane Bledsoe is a novelist and science writer. When she's not writing, she's sea kayaking in Alaska, backpacking in the Rockies, or backcountry skiing in the Sierras. When she's not kayaking, hiking, or skiing, she's reading.

Bledsoe's newest novel, BITING THE APPLE, came out in Fall 2007. She is the author of three other novels: SWEAT: STORIES AND A NOVELLA, WORKING PARTS, and THIS WILD SILENCE. She is also the author of five novels for children: THE BIG BIKE RACE, TRACKS IN THE SNOW (winner of the Parents Choice Gold Award), COUGAR CANYON, HOOP GIRLZ (one of BOOKLIST'S "Top Ten Youth Sports Books" for 2002), and THE ANTARCTIC SCOOP. Her novels have been translated into Japanese, Spanish, and German, and her stories into Dutch and Chinese.

Her fiction has won a California Arts Council Individual Fellowship in Literature, an American Library Association Award for Literature, and has been a three-time finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. She's also won a PEN Syndicated Fiction Award, a National Endowment for the Humanities Youthgrant, a Barbara Deming Memorial Money for Women grant, a Puffin Foundation grant, and two National Science Foundation Artists & Writers in Antarctica Fellowships.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Duboce Park Cafe at 6:30 sharp on February 20!
Cynthia K