Online Book/Movie Discussion Group

Summer's over, kids; time to grow up. In September we'll have a great discussion about Stephen King's 1982 novella "The Body" (part of the collection Different Seasons), in which four boys come of age during a Labor Day weekend adventure in 1959. We'll also discuss the 1986 film adaptation, Stand By Me, directed by Rob Reiner.

Feeling witchy? In October we'll have a magical time with Alice Hoffman's 1995 novel Practical Magic, about the Owens sisters, who use their delightful and dangerous family traits to protect each other from an abusive spirit. We'll also discuss the 1998 film adaptation, directed by Griffin Dunne - and we might even mention the brand-new sequel, just for fun.

Take it easy! In November we'll meet veteran-turned-private-eye "Easy" Rawlins, in the first of his investigations by Walter Mosley, 1990's Devil in a Blue Dress. Set in 1948, the mystery unfolds when Easy is hired to find a missing woman and discovers a much bigger secret. We'll also discuss the 1993 film adaptation directed by Carl Franklin and starring Denzel Washington.

It's a classic for Christmas - we'll go back in time to discuss Betty Smith's semi-autobiographical 1943 novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, following six years in the life of young Francie Nolan and her family. We'll also discuss the film adaptation from 1945, directed by Elia Kazan.