Links for the Next Meeting - Two Agatha Christie books

Five Little Pigs reviewed at Good Reads

& on the main Agatha Christie site (including background details)

A Murder is Announced at Good Reads

& on the AC site

Plus - Wikipedia articles on Hercule Poirot & Miss Marple

Ex Libris book plates

This is a stunning set of Ex Libris (from the library of...) book plates of the famous.

If you want to get your own, and it's very tempting, this would be a good place to start. (Or you can print off your own at this site here)

Book Group Tours

We've just had an email from this company offering themed literary tours for book groups.

Get in touch with them if you're interested in Agatha Christie, Ian Rankin, JK Rowling or more.

Sadly they don't yet offer James Frey's LA...

The Wave Pictures - Sweetheart

How great is this? A music video made entirely out of second hand books. The music's not bad either!

The Wave Pictures - Sweetheart from Ben Reed on Vimeo.

From The Wave Pictures

Star in a Penguin TV ad

From an email from Penguin:

Calling all readers!

We need YOUR help to star in a TV ADVERT to launch our author on PRIME-TIME NATIONAL TELEVISION.

In October 2010, Penguin will be putting their biggest advertising campaign of the year behind an exciting debut author. We can't reveal who the author is, but you'll be surprised and delighted when you find out!

If you have a passion for brilliantly written, comic women's fiction in the best Readers' Group tradition, or simply have a love of discovering new authors, we want to hear from you.

We'll be compiling a long-list of interested readers who will then be interviewed over the phone, via Skype or in person. A selection of you will get an EXCLUSIVE look at this much coveted manuscript to read and react to.

After second interviews the final 6 readers will be chosen to STAR IN OUR AD, where they'll have a chance to meet and interview our mystery author! We'll also be giving our 6 stars £100 WORTH OF PENGUIN BOOKS and a SIGNED FIRST EDITION of the book.

To enter, write 50 words about why, as a member of a Reading Group, you like to discover new authors. Email your answer to marketing@penguin.co.uk along with your name, age and location.

You will need to be available to come to London for the shoot on 7th September. We will cover your travel expenses but not accommodation.

CLOSING DATE: Friday 23rd July

To Kill A Mockingbird at 50

Don't forget to watch the special programme on BBC4 this week.

Details here

"Marking the 50th anniversary of the influential novel To Kill a Mockingbird, writer Andrew Smith visits Monroeville in Alabama, the setting of the book, to see how life there has changed in half a century"

See also this article on the BBC News website about the enduring appeal of the book.