Sometimes life gets in the way of our best blogging intentions, and thus we’re running a little behind schedule with the book club again this month. But that does not mean we’ve forgotten! In fact, we’ve been working hard and even have a little surprise for you this month! But first, our selection…

As you may know, we put out a call for your help in choosing the October Book Club Book, and while the response was not exactly overwhelming, we did get a few great suggestions. (Thank-you!) As a result, this month’s book will be The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which was suggested by Kay of Kay’s Bookshelf.

Here’s a little bit about the book:

Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken to live in Germany with a foster family who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book – although she has not yet learned how to read – and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when she is roused by nightmares. Across the ensuing years, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward.

Now, because we’re so behind this month we’ll only have a little over a week to read the book, but hopefully everyone is up for the task! We’ll put up the post for discussion the week of October 26.

And now for our surprise… as a special treat this month, everyone who participates in the October Book Club, will be entered to win our November book Fablehaven by Brandon Mull!!

Fablehaven is the first book in a YA fantasy series, and both Rae and I really enjoyed it. Now we’d like to share the love with you, by offering up a copy just for joining us in the book club.

If you’d like to know a little bit more about Fablehaven, have a look around the official website.