My friends and I started a book club last month.

Our first book was "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett. It has an opera theme, and the discussion leader invited us over for an Italian dinner and played opera music on meeting night.

For other ideas, I'd suggest looking at the Hennepin County Library's book club kits. The library provides kits of eight books along with discussion questions to check out for a six-week period.

They have a nice selection that may be reserved online: http://www.hclib.org/pub/books/bookclubkit/.

(I called Scott County libraries and unfortunately they said they don't have the capacity to create kits at this time.)

One of my favorite authors is  David Sedaris. I am currently reading and enjoying "Me Talk Pretty One Day." He has also written "Barrel Fever" and "Naked," which I have heard are really good.

Another one of my favorite authors is Tom Robbins. My favorite books by him are "Still Life With Woodpecker" and "Jitterbug Perfume."

All of these books are fairly quick, fictional reads. I think these books are humorous, witty and very well written. They may be fun to discuss in a group setting.

Hold your nose if you don't like this selection:

I suggested "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway to my mom, who chose it for her book club. The reaction was less than impressive.

Half of the club said they hated it. But the truth is that it is probably one of the best books -- and fastest reads --of all time.

Yes, you do have to read about fishing and Joe DiMaggio. If you're a woman who doesn't like those topics, grin and bear it, realizing that the book is more about life than it is about catching a marlin.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Any suggestions for a great biography or auto-biography? I naturally gravitate toward fiction, but I'm thinking expanding to non-fiction might prove enlightening. Perhaps my life would go smoothly if I learned tips from world leaders instead of Nancy Drew? Although, she is one of my all-time character idols, no matter what anyone says.

Maya Angelou has some excellent books that draw from her incredible, and often painful, life experiences. She is a beautiful writer.

Stephen Colbert's new book, "I am America and So Can You!" hit the bookshelves today.

I haven't read it yet, but it is sure to find its way to my bookshelf this week.