What are Muse Notes?
Muse Notes offer information and ideas for book groups and individual avid readers. We carefully select each book for its power to stimulate active, thought provoking discussions. You may read the Muse Notes on the screen or print them out in sections or as a whole for distribution to your group. So that we may provide both breadth and depth on the site, we offer two kinds of Muse Notes: Mini Muse Notes and Muse Notes .

Mini Muse Notes include brief reviews of our recommended books, with engaging lists of suggestions for reading and topics for discussion. Muse Notes Plus are detailed reviews of books chosen for their range in era, genre, voice, audience, etc. They include seven interlinked subjects:

• Overview of the book
• Topics for Discussion--lots of great questions to ponder as you're reading
• BookMuse Commentary--a thought-provoking mini-essay that deepens your understanding of the book
• Literary Criticism--very brief notes on how others have interpreted the book
• Further Reading--books to read if you enjoyed this book
• Author's Biography
• Leader's Tips-more food for thought for your book group leader

Why did you choose the name BookMuse?
We wanted the word "book" in our name since a book is a concrete image of what we're about. "Muse" has several meanings, all of which fit perfectly with our vision for the site. Webster's says: "muse, noun: 1. any of nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song and poetry and the arts and sciences 2. a source of inspiration; a guiding genius," also "muse, verb: ponder, a state of deep thought." We don't claim to be goddesses or geniuses, but we do hope to guide, inspire and promote deep thought.

Perhaps one of our readers said it best:

"Congratulations on the fabulous name of your site. Muse: inspiration, help. . .but also museum: collection, display...and maybe also amuse. I love it."

How should I lead a book discussion group using your Muse Notes?
The Notes offer a number of flexible angles into each book, so as to encourage smart, fun discussions, without dictating how those discussions should proceed. We respect each reader, leader, and book club to navigate the site in the ways that work best for you.

One of the ways we've added flexibility is to make each section of the Muse Notes separately printable. So, if you'd like to hand out the discussion questions to your group for consideration while reading the book, you may print out just that section and copy it for distribution. Another example is that some readers will want their entire group to read the Commentary before meeting, while others will want the designated discussion leader to do all the preparation. As you work through the Muse Notes, please feel free to give us your suggestions about how we might make them even more thought provoking and discussion enhancing. Also, please see How to Use Muse Notes.

I've got more questions, but I've run out of FAQs.
No problem. Just send us a note and we'll try to answer your questions to the best of our abilities at or call (415) 388-1583. We'd love to talk to you.