An Indian friend once recently described California as "America's America." What she was getting at was that if the United States for a long time was considered the shining beacon of democracy, then California was at the very epicenter of all that's great about the country. California Cool is a real currency and the diverse demographics of the Golden State complemented by its absolutely breathtaking geography mean plenty of rewarding material for talented authors to explore - and for book clubs to enjoy - as these selections amply illustrate. Each recommendation is backed by an excerpt and reading guide, and for a limited time, you can also read our full length reviews and "beyond the book" articles.

But first - we currently have two book club discussions open, both nonfiction (H Is For Hawk & Dead Wake), and four more waiting in the wings. Please do join us for any that are of interest!

And we have a new interview with Writers as Readers - a book club in Rockford, IL who share the books they've enjoyed and how reading together helps them become better writers.

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