Welcome to the June 2015 edition of the Christian Fiction Book Club Connection. Thanks for stopping by! Whether you’re a pastor or ministry leader thinking of forming a book discussion group at your church, a current member of a book club, or simply a fan of Christian fiction hoping to connect with other readers, you’re in the right place. Please consider subscribing to my blog so you won’t miss future posts.
Today I’m providing information on Christian fiction discussions scheduled to take place around the web this month. I’m also featuring a handful of recently released Christian fiction titles for which a discussion guide is available, either included in the book itself or on the author’s or publisher’s web site. Then I’ll wrap up the post with a discussion question I’d like you to chime in on.
*Since June is Audiobook Month, watch for asterisks throughout this post to see which of the titles mentioned are also available in audiobook format. 
Online Discussions Coming Up This Month
The ACFW Book Club‘s June selection is The Whistle Walk by Stephenia McGee, with discussion scheduled for June 22-27. You can subscribe to the group’s e-mail list now, by following the instructions on their Web site, to be sure not to miss any announcements or discussion questions.
For June, the Christian Fiction Devourers group on Goodreads is discussing Forsaken Dreams by MaryLu Tyndall AND When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren. Grab your copies and head on over to the discussion forum to check in with others who are in the midst of reading these books.
The Fans of Christian Romance Goodreads group is reading The Amish Nanny by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould for its June discussion.
For fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, Jamie of the Books and Beverages blog hosts a monthly Inklings discussion series. Sometimes fiction, sometimes non-fiction, the title for the month of June is The Horse and His Boy*. Discussion is scheduled to begin on June 17th.
The #HedlundChallenge2015 features discussion of one of author Jody Hedlund’s historical fiction novels each month. The discussion is hosted in alternating months by Jamie of Books and Beverages and Cassie of Bookshelves and Windows. For June, participants will be discussing Hearts Made Whole at Jamie’s blog beginning June 23rd (discussion details here and here).
Recent Releases Featuring Discussion Guides
The Choosing* by Rachelle Dekker (May 2015, Tyndale House, YA Dystopian)
Maggie Bright by Tracy Groot (April 2015, Tyndale House, Historical Fiction)
Whenever You Come Around* by Robin Lee Hatcher (May 2015, Thomas Nelson, Contemporary Romance)
Let’s Chat!
Since June is Audiobook Month (yes, I’m getting as much mileage out of this as I can), let’s talk audiobooks and book groups. What do you think? For discussion purposes, is listening to a book the same as reading it? Can you think of any benefits or drawbacks? I hope you’ll share your thoughts. Meanwhile, happy reading and/or listening! (And please check back for more audio themed posts this month.)
My book club’s May selection was To Kill A Mockingbird. Two of us chose to listen to the audio version (Sissy Spacek reading!). I had not read the book before, but Darlene had, although in middle school. She said that she wasn’t sure if it was because she was older or if it was the audiobook, but she enjoyed the second reading of TKAM much more. I loved the nuances that I may not have had by reading it.
Another of our members regularly uses audiobooks borrowed from the library for our monthly selections. She has a daily commute that allows her to finish a book rather quickly.
TKAM was the second audiobook I “read” for a book club. The other was The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki. Nothing is lost in the “translation”. I recommend audiobooks for those who like to multi-task, have commutes or have road trips on the agenda.
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, Beckie. I love what you said about the nuances you pick up on in an audiobook. I feel much the same way.