Thursday, December 24, 2009

February 2nd book: The Poisonwood Bible


Chosen from from a list of gifted titles, below is your read for our February group:

The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver

As any reader of The Mosquito Coast knows, men who drag their families to far-off climes in pursuit of an Idea seldom come to any good, while those familiar with At Play in the Fields of the Lord or Kalimantaan understand that the minute a missionary sets foot on the fictional stage, all hell is about to break loose. So when Barbara Kingsolver sends missionary Nathan Price along with his wife and four daughters off to Africa in The Poisonwood Bible, you can be sure that salvation is the one thing they're not likely to find. The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement: "We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the jungle," says Leah, one of Nathan's daughters. But of course it isn't long before they discover that the tremendous humidity has rendered the mixes unusable, their clothes are unsuitable, and they've arrived in the middle of political upheaval as the Congolese seek to wrest independence from Belgium. In addition to poisonous snakes, dangerous animals, and the hostility of the villagers to Nathan's fiery take-no-prisoners brand of Christianity, there are also rebels in the jungle and the threat of war in the air. Could things get any worse?

Give a little, get a lot...of great ideas

Finding yourself with a bit of extra leisure time over the holidays? Need a new read? In addition to the three books we just voted on for the February book group, below is a list of the books given away at our Christmas exchange; favorites from all types of readers.

This is San Francisco by Miroslav Sasek

The Art of Eating by M.F.K Fisher

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Midwives by Chris Bonjalian

The Punch A Novel by Noah Hawley

Monday, December 7, 2009

Get your vote on

Hey Gals,
It's voting time again! This time, we took books that were given out at our Holiday Brunch and Book Exchange and put them on the list. We are voting on the book to read for February's book group.

Thanks everyone who came to brunch, it was a delight!


The Punch A Novel

by Noah Hawley
In his third novel, Hawley (Other People's Weddings) traces the path of Scott and David Henry as they prepare for their father's memorial service. Younger brother Scott—stuck in a dead-end job, failing in love and a frequenter of San Francisco strip clubs—is saddled with his alcoholic, self-destructing mother, Doris, on their trip to New York. Scott's successful sales executive and closeted bigamist brother, David, shares Doris duty while navigating memorial service preparations and secretly juggling marriages on both coasts. Along the way, a family secret is revealed, two hotels are nearly blown up and the trio explores what it means to be a family. Unfortunately, Hawley's asides on physics, religion and the nature of time distract from the plot without adding to it, and the occasional dud sentence pops up (Now they circle their wagons and eye each other warily from the high towers of their castles). However, the characters—especially Doris—and humorously handled uncomfortable situations (as when David's two wives meet) somewhat mitigate these shortcomings, and the memorial service at the legendary White Horse Tavern provides a rollicking climax.

Midwives
by Chris Bohjalian
In Midwives, Chris Bohjalian chronicles the events leading up to the trial of Sibyl Danforth, a respected midwife in the small Vermont town of Reddington, on charges of manslaughter. It quickly becomes evident, however, that Sibyl is not the only one on trial--the prosecuting attorney and the state's medical community are all anxious to use this tragedy as ammunition against midwifery in general; this particular midwife, after all, an ex-hippie who still evokes the best of the flower-power generation, is something of an anachronism in 1981. Through it all, Sibyl, her husband, Rand, and their teenage daughter, Connie, attempt to keep their family intact, but the stress of the trial--and Sibyl's growing closeness to her lawyer--puts pressure on both marriage and family. Bohjalian takes readers through the intricacies of childbirth and the law, and by the end of Sibyl Danforth's trial, it's difficult to decide which was more harrowing--the tragic delivery or its legal aftermath.

The Poisonwood Bible

by Barbara Kingsolver
As any reader of The Mosquito Coast knows, men who drag their families to far-off climes in pursuit of an Idea seldom come to any good, while those familiar with At Play in the Fields of the Lord or Kalimantaan understand that the minute a missionary sets foot on the fictional stage, all hell is about to break loose. So when Barbara Kingsolver sends missionary Nathan Price along with his wife and four daughters off to Africa in The Poisonwood Bible, you can be sure that salvation is the one thing they're not likely to find. The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement: "We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the jungle," says Leah, one of Nathan's daughters. But of course it isn't long before they discover that the tremendous humidity has rendered the mixes unusable, their clothes are unsuitable, and they've arrived in the middle of political upheaval as the Congolese seek to wrest independence from Belgium. In addition to poisonous snakes, dangerous animals, and the hostility of the villagers to Nathan's fiery take-no-prisoners brand of Christianity, there are also rebels in the jungle and the threat of war in the air. Could things get any worse?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

January 5th Book- Fever 1793


Hey friends, you came and you voted. And now we have our January selection from choices offered by our very own Jennie G. You get extra time for this one, enjoy!

Fever 1793
Laurie Halse Anderson, 272 pages, young adult

On the heels of her acclaimed contemporary teen novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson surprises her fans with a riveting and well-researched historical fiction. Fever 1793 is based on an actual epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia that wiped out 5,000 people--or 10 percent of the city's population--in three months. At the close of the 18th century, Philadelphia was the bustling capital of the United States, with Washington and Jefferson in residence. During the hot mosquito-infested summer of 1793, the dreaded yellow fever spread like wildfire, killing people overnight. Like specters from the Middle Ages, gravediggers drew carts through the streets crying "Bring out your dead!" The rich fled to the country, abandoning the city to looters, forsaken corpses, and frightened survivors.

In the foreground of this story is 16-year-old Mattie Cook, whose mother and grandfather own a popular coffee house on High Street. Mattie's comfortable and interesting life is shattered by the epidemic. As first frost arrives and the epidemic ends, Mattie's sufferings have changed her from a willful child to a strong, capable young woman able to manage her family's business.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Best of Both Worlds- have your run and reading too.


Hey there book groupers, due to an exciting ward relay race taking place on the same day, I am going push the book group brunch on December 5th to 12:30 (instead of 11:30) That way if you are interested, you can participate in both activities.
And what better way to satisfy a post-race appetite than delicious food, good company, and a new book?!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

January book choices-cast your vote!

Hi there,
it's voting time again! Take a gander at the below choices presented by Jennie Gurney. We will be reading this book for the January 5th meeting. (No book for the December brunch)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Betty Smith, 528 pages

Francie Nolan, avid reader, penny-candy connoisseur, and adroit observer of human nature, has much to ponder in colorful, turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. She grows up with a sweet, tragic father, a severely realistic mother, and an aunt who gives her love too freely--to men, and to a brother who will always be the favored child. Francie learns early the meaning of hunger and the value of a penny. She is her father's child--romantic and hungry for beauty. But she is her mother's child, too--deeply practical and in constant need of truth. Like the Tree of Heaven that grows out of cement or through cellar gratings, resourceful Francie struggles against all odds to survive and thrive. Betty Smith's poignant, honest novel created a big stir when it was first published over 50 years ago. Her frank writing about life's squalor was alarming to some of the more genteel society, but the book's humor and pathos ensured its place in the realm of classics--and in the hearts of readers, young and old.


Fever 1793

Laurie Halse Anderson, 272 pages, young adult

On the heels of her acclaimed contemporary teen novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson surprises her fans with a riveting and well-researched historical fiction. Fever 1793 is based on an actual epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia that wiped out 5,000 people--or 10 percent of the city's population--in three months. At the close of the 18th century, Philadelphia was the bustling capital of the United States, with Washington and Jefferson in residence. During the hot mosquito-infested summer of 1793, the dreaded yellow fever spread like wildfire, killing people overnight. Like specters from the Middle Ages, gravediggers drew carts through the streets crying "Bring out your dead!" The rich fled to the country, abandoning the city to looters, forsaken corpses, and frightened survivors.

In the foreground of this story is 16-year-old Mattie Cook, whose mother and grandfather own a popular coffee house on High Street. Mattie's comfortable and interesting life is shattered by the epidemic. As first frost arrives and the epidemic ends, Mattie's sufferings have changed her from a willful child to a strong, capable young woman able to manage her family's business.

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley, 288 pages, 1932
"Community, Identity, Stability" is the motto of Aldous Huxley's utopian World State. Here everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young women has the potential to be much more than the confines of their existence allow. Huxley foreshadowed many of the practices and gadgets we take for granted today--let's hope the sterility and absence of individuality he predicted aren't yet to come.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

books down, pencils up!


Without a book assignment the month of November, we certainly don't want anyone getting bored. So in lieu of reading a book, try your hand writing one! Dig out your best Bic #2 and have at it!
Check out National Novel Writing Month to guide your adventure.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Holiday Brunch and Book Exchange

Mark your calendars book groupers (and everyone else too!). The holidays are ont their way, and this means a slight change in schedule. December book club will not be meeting our usual first Tuesday- that is the night of the fabulous holiday Enrichment Party. Instead, we are going to meet on Saturday December 5th. We aren't reading a book for the December meeting, instead we are going to have brunch, watch some fun from the Santaland Diaries, and best of all have a book exchange!

So here is what to plan for:
Brunch at 11:30-bring yourself! (Usual place, my apartment)
Book Exchange-wrap and bring a favorite read (old or new) you are ready to part with. Don't worry, you'll go home with something great.
Santaland Diaries-this entertainment is provided.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

so much to learn...


Book group gathered last night to review March, and who knew such a small book would be jam-packed with big issues. After touching on topics including slavery, racism, religion, gender roles, war, and the evolution of human dignity in modern society, the conversation certainly wasn't lacking for depth and passion!

Thank you Tina who diligently facilitated from afar, sending us her poignant questions and thoughts to guide discussion.

Pepper was kind enough to send the link to the documentary she was telling us about; for those interested in learning more about the church's history with African-Americans: Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons

(And thanks to everyone who brought those delicious treats! They soothed the passing of my quarter century)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Banned Book Week


After venturing to the library last week I discovered September is the month of Banned Books, and that various libraries, cities or organizations have official weeks in which we are encouraged to pick a banned book, and, well, read it. The American Library Association has officially declared September 26th-October 3rd Banned Book Week for 2009, during which you are invited to read a banned book, old or new. (Nice of them to give us two weeks to get the task done)
Lists of banned books contain anything and everything, from Harry Potter and Twilight, to The Diary of Anne Frank and 1984. While the merits book banning is one of those subjects that can and will be argued over endlessly, I think we can all celebrate the freedom and ability to censor for ourselves and read, or not read, what we choose.
As with many statements of opposition, banning books often brings far more attention to a piece of literature than the work would have received if simply ignored by nonsupporting groups, organizations, cities, states, etc. Certainly books on recent lists haven't currently been on my radar, but in researching this topic, there are a whole list of titles I can't help but be curious about. Why did they make the list?


If you are interested in participating, here are some sites to browse on the subject:

American Library Association on Banned Book week

Time Magazine- A Librarians Perspective

Wiki's thoughts

DetectCensorship.org

Wiki on Book Burning

I have selected my book:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky.

Now go read a book. Of your choice!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

October & November reads


October 6th book:
March
by Geraldine Brooks

Winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
As the North reels under a series of unexpected defeats during the dark first year of the war, one man leaves behind his family to aid the Union cause. His experiences will utterly change his marriage and challenge his most ardently held beliefs. Riveting and elegant as it is meticulously researched, March is an extraordinary novel woven out of the lore of American history.

From Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic Little Women, Geraldine Brooks has taken the character of the absent father, March, who has gone off to war, leaving his wife and daughters to make do in mean times. To evoke him, Brooks turned to the journals and letters of Bronson Alcott, Louisa May's father—a friend and confidant of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. In her telling, March emerges as an idealistic chaplain in the little known backwaters of a war that will test his faith in himself and in the Union cause as he learns that his side, too, is capable of acts of barbarism and racism. As he recovers from a near mortal illness, he must reassemble his shattered mind and body and find a way to reconnect with a wife and daughters who have no idea of the ordeals he has been through.

Spanning the vibrant intellectual world of Concord and the sensuous antebellum South, March adds adult resonance to Alcott's optimistic children's tale to portray the moral complexity of war, and a marriage tested by the demands of extreme idealism—and by a dangerous and illicit attraction. A lushly written, wholly original tale steeped in the details of another time, March secures Geraldine Brooks's place as an internationally renowned author of historical fiction.


November 3rd book:
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light-The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta
by Mother Teresa, compiled by Brain Kolodiejchuk

Mother Teresa was one of the most revered people of the 20th century, so it is no surprise that 10 years after her death people still want to know what impelled this poor, humble Albanian woman to give her life to God so completely. Kolodiejchuk, a Catholic priest and friend of Mother Teresa’s who is actively promoting her cause for sainthood, assembles a startling and impressive collection of her writings, most of which have never been seen by the public. Two themes especially shine through in Mother Teresa’s letters, namely, her absolute conviction that she was doing God’s will, and a deep and surprising chasm of darkness within her that some would call the dark night of the soul. It is also apparent that this saintly woman was no pushover. In her quest to found the Missionaries of Charity, she aggressively pursued approval from her bishop, fully confident that God desired this work to be done. Kolodiejchuk is at times a bit presumptive in his interpretations of Teresa’s letters, as no one can say for certain what was in her mind and heart at all times. What we do know, in part thanks to this volume, is that Mother Teresa’s vocation to care for the poorest of the poor will continue to inspire people for generations.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Great Female Writers

A gal I went to school with writes for Eliza magazine, and I thought his article about famous ladies in literature was fun:
http://www.elizamagazine.com/article.php?ID=30

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Thanks Ladies


Just a quick shout out... "Thank You!" to everyone who has been participating in book club-either by voting or commenting on the blog, attending the group, or just reading the book! We've had a lot of fun, there is nothing quite look a delightful group of gals discussing their musings of quality literature.

A friendly reminder: READING NOT REQUIRED TO PLAY! Everyone is welcome, regardless if you've read the book or not. We often spend our time discussing other books, whether read or potential options, and of course we must catch up with the latest and greatest in life.

Also, if you've read something awesome lately, LET US KNOW! Email me if you want to post it on the blog and I can add you as an author! Or you can just email me your thoughts and I'll post them for you.

Thanks again for all of your participation, and input and feedback is always welcome.
Cheers,
Martha

November 3rd choices:

Teresa Boyd has conjured up a delightful selection for the Novemeber 3rd meeting. Browse and vote on whatever suits your fancy!

Peony in Love: A Novel
by Lisa See

Set in 17th-century China, See's fifth novel is a coming-of-age story, a ghost story, a family saga and a work of musical and social history. As Peony, the 15-year-old daughter of the wealthy Chen family, approaches an arranged marriage, she commits an unthinkable breach of etiquette when she accidentally comes upon a man who has entered the family garden. Unusually for a girl of her time, Peony has been educated and revels in studying The Peony Pavilion, a real opera published in 1598, as the repercussions of the meeting unfold. The novel's plot mirrors that of the opera, and eternal themes abound: an intelligent girl chafing against the restrictions of expected behavior; fiction's educative powers; the rocky path of love between lovers and in families. It figures into the plot that generations of young Chinese women, known as the lovesick maidens, became obsessed with The Peony Pavilion, and, in a Werther-like passion, many starved themselves to death. See (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, etc.) offers meticulous depiction of women's roles in Qing and Ming dynasty China (including horrifying foot-binding scenes) and vivid descriptions of daily Qing life, festivals and rituals. Peony's vibrant voice, perfectly pitched between the novel's historical and passionate depths, carries her story beautifully—in life and afterlife.

The Secret Founding of America: The Real Story of Freemasons, Puritans & the Battle of The New World
by Nicholas Hagger

Ask most Americans where the country’s origins lie and they’ll point to the Mayflower and its settlers—whom we often think of as the earliest arrivals to our shores. But something existed even before that: Jamestown. Its founders had thoroughly different values than the Puritans, and their Masonic beliefs indelibly shaped America’s future. This authoritative, accessible, and absorbing history takes a fresh look at the past to reveal the truth about why the United States is now run by Freemasons who are Christians, too. Drawing on original findings, and exhibiting a rich, in-depth understanding of the political and philosophical realities of the time, acclaimed author Nicholas Hagger argues that the new nation, conceived in liberty, was the Freemasons’ first step towards a new world order. He charts the connections between secret societies and libertarian ideals, explains how the influence of German Illuminati worked on the framers of the new republic, and shows the hand of Freemasonry at work at every turning point in America’s history—from the Civil War to the Cold War to today’s global struggles for democracy. It’s a fascinating subject, and one that will also be at the center of Dan Brown’s next book—so interest is sure to be high and the tie-in potential immense.

Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light-The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta

by Mother Teresa, compiled by Brain Kolodiejchuk

Mother Teresa was one of the most revered people of the 20th century, so it is no surprise that 10 years after her death people still want to know what impelled this poor, humble Albanian woman to give her life to God so completely. Kolodiejchuk, a Catholic priest and friend of Mother Teresa’s who is actively promoting her cause for sainthood, assembles a startling and impressive collection of her writings, most of which have never been seen by the public. Two themes especially shine through in Mother Teresa’s letters, namely, her absolute conviction that she was doing God’s will, and a deep and surprising chasm of darkness within her that some would call the dark night of the soul. It is also apparent that this saintly woman was no pushover. In her quest to found the Missionaries of Charity, she aggressively pursued approval from her bishop, fully confident that God desired this work to be done. Kolodiejchuk is at times a bit presumptive in his interpretations of Teresa’s letters, as no one can say for certain what was in her mind and heart at all times. What we do know, in part thanks to this volume, is that Mother Teresa’s vocation to care for the poorest of the poor will continue to inspire people for generations.

October 6th choices are in:

Tina Weiss has submitted a unique variety of options for our October group. (meets the first Tuesday of October, the 6th, at 7:30)

Study your choices and vote!


Outliers
by Malcolm Gladwell

In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.


Shelter Me
by Juliette Fay

After Janie LaMarche's husband, Robby, dies in a motorcycle accident, the 38-year-old Pelham, Mass., widow embarks on a year of transformations in Fay's wise and inspirational debut. Going through the bewildering and painful cycle of grief and anger while trying to hold it together for her children-preschooler Dylan and toddler Carly-is no walk in the park. Enter Tug Malinowski, an attractive contractor Robby had hired to build a screened-in porch to surprise Janie. Tug is divorced, childless and attracted to Janie while she's tempted by Fr. Jake Sweeney, who has "a secret life of misery" and fears casting aside his vow of celibacy. Fay's mingling of Janie's pithy journal excerpts with crisp traditional plotting adds a nice depth to Janie's journey to emotional healing. The concerns of single motherhood after sudden tragedy come vividly to life, and as Janie learns to appreciate everyday miracles, readers will be charmed. (Jan.)


Pride & Prejudice and Zombies

by Seth Grahame-Smith

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton-and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers-and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.


March
by Geraldine Brooks

Winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
As the North reels under a series of unexpected defeats during the dark first year of the war, one man leaves behind his family to aid the Union cause. His experiences will utterly change his marriage and challenge his most ardently held beliefs. Riveting and elegant as it is meticulously researched, March is an extraordinary novel woven out of the lore of American history.

From Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic Little Women, Geraldine Brooks has taken the character of the absent father, March, who has gone off to war, leaving his wife and daughters to make do in mean times. To evoke him, Brooks turned to the journals and letters of Bronson Alcott, Louisa May's father—a friend and confidant of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. In her telling, March emerges as an idealistic chaplain in the little known backwaters of a war that will test his faith in himself and in the Union cause as he learns that his side, too, is capable of acts of barbarism and racism. As he recovers from a near mortal illness, he must reassemble his shattered mind and body and find a way to reconnect with a wife and daughters who have no idea of the ordeals he has been through.

Spanning the vibrant intellectual world of Concord and the sensuous antebellum South, March adds adult resonance to Alcott's optimistic children's tale to portray the moral complexity of war, and a marriage tested by the demands of extreme idealism—and by a dangerous and illicit attraction. A lushly written, wholly original tale steeped in the details of another time, March secures Geraldine Brooks's place as an internationally renowned author of historical fiction.

Monday, July 13, 2009

The Station Master


by Jiro Asada

Meeting September 8th, 7:30 p.m.

this one was tough to find the authored synopsis, however there are some nice reviews I found on the internet:

The Stationmaster is an anthology of love and loss with a touch of supernatural in the everyday lives depicted therein.

Eight stories about eight vastly different people all share a theme in common – loss. Whether it is a stationmaster at a soon to be defunct railway station; a man dealing with the death of the wife he never knew; a boy dealing with a devil; or a couple realizing they may not get a second chance at love; each tale is an involving story about people and what beats at the core of their hearts.

The stories are fascinating. Told with a nostalgic air, we learn about the railway man who lost his wife and daughter; a video store owner of ill repute who discovers he has a heart after all when he falls in love with the woman he never knew until it was too late; a boy dealing with a tutor he believes to be the Devil; a middle aged man suffering a midlife crisis is reunited with the father that left him as a child; an unusual boutique and its enigmatic owner attract a salesman; the O-bon festival honoring the dead is a trying time for a wife who is being edged out by the family that has never cared for her; a man named Santa discovers he may have a small streak of good in him; and a couple separated by bitterness and years may find a second chance in an unusual invitation.

The strong sentiment and humanity in the writing is what draws the reader in. Out of the many tales, each one has a small wonder, a tiny miracle and otherworldly occurrence that helps bring things into perspective for the character. They are not always easy or happy endings, but such is life. Ghostly reunions, strange occurrences, and miraculous moments underpin everyday existence complete with its small joys and deeply felt losses. They are emotional journeys, not heavy handed, but with subtle depths that can take the reader by surprise. My personal favorites was the tale of the Stationmaster upon which the anthology is named, and the Festival of Lanterns about a woman who has always been an underdog in life and at the O-bon festival, gets a second chance. It is not a second chance filled with rainbows and bliss, but one of quieter happiness found in sudden freedom, new found self-esteem, and a surer sense of self.

The Woman in White


by Wilkie Collins.

Meeting August 4th, 7:30 p.m.

The story begins with an eerie midnight encounter between artist Walter Hartright and a ghostly woman dressed all in white who seems desperate to share a dark secret. The next day Hartright, engaged as a drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, tells his pupils about the strange events of the previous evening. Determined to learn all they can about the mysterious woman in white, the three soon find themselves drawn into a chilling vortex of crime, poison, kidnapping, and international intrigue.
Masterfully constructed, The Woman in White is dominated by two of the finest creations in all Victorian fiction—Marion Halcombe, dark, mannish, yet irresistibly fascinating, and Count Fosco, the sinister and flamboyant “Napoleon of Crime.”

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Lovely discussion tonight, any thoughts to add?

Choices for the September 7th discussion. Vote!

Books were selected by Pepper Elliot, who will lead the discussion on Sept. 7th.

West with the Night
by Beryl Markham

West with the Night is a memoir of Beryl Markham, horse trainer, bush pilot, and history making aviatrix. Beryl Markham grew up in the wilds of Africa where her father raised racehorses on their farm. Beryl followed in her father's footsteps by becoming the first woman in Africa to receive her horse-training license. Fascinated with the talents of her friend, Tom Black, Beryl learned to fly and went on to become the first person to fly east to west across the Atlantic from London to North America. Although her flight ended in Nova Scotia rather than the intended New York, Beryl will always be known for her courage and her groundbreaking talents.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Barbara Kingsolver

Hang on for the ride: With characteristic poetry and pluck, Barbara Kingsolver and her family sweep readers along on their journey away from the industrial-food pipeline to a rural life in which they vow to buy only food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves, or learn to live without it. Their good-humored search yields surprising discoveries about turkey sex life and overly zealous zucchini plants, en route to a food culture that's better for the neighborhood and also better on the table. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle makes a passionate case for putting the kitchen back at the center of family life and diversified farms at the center of the American diet.

The Stationmaster
Jiro Asada

As well as introducing North American fans to Japanese culture and animation through anime programs, VIZ now presents The Stationmaster, a collection of eight short stories by award-winning author Jiro Asada.

As an example of the types of stories contained in the book, the eponymous tale, the one that gives the book its name, concerns a railway man, Otomatsu, who waits at the end of the line each day to greet incoming trains. But after years of being filled with passengers, the trains now bring only one or two people, and sometimes come empty into the station. Otomatsu realizes that the station will soon close, and looks back over the tragedies he's experienced over the years. But suddenly the emptiness of his life changes, as a bright young girl wanders in. She has an uncanny resemblance to his own infant daughter who had died years before. What will this girl do, to return life and hope to this stationmaster?

Choices for the August 4th discussion. Vote!

Books were selected by Kim Hatch, who will be leading our discussion on the 4th.

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
by Alexandra Fuller

In Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller remembers her African childhood with candor and sensitivity. Though it is a diary of an unruly life in an often inhospitable place, it is suffused with Fuller’s endearing ability to find laughter, even when there is little to celebrate. Fuller’s debut is unsentimental and unflinching but always captivating. In wry and sometimes hilarious prose, she stares down disaster and looks back with rage and love at the life of an extraordinary family in an extraordinary time.

Cat's Cradle
by Kurt Vonnegut

Cat's Cradle is a satirical science-fiction novel by American writer and novelist Kurt Vonnegut, originally published in 1963.

Planning to write a book about the bombing of Hiroshima, the book's narrator ("John") follows his research to the life and work of one Felix Hoenniker, a physicist who has created the world's most deadly substance, ice-nine (water that freezes at room temperature). However, the story ultimately takes him to the fictional Caribbean island of San Lorenzo, a failed utopia where the locals practice an outlawed religion that may hold the secret to the mystery of life's purpose.

The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins

The story begins with an eerie midnight encounter between artist Walter Hartright and a ghostly woman dressed all in white who seems desperate to share a dark secret. The next day Hartright, engaged as a drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, tells his pupils about the strange events of the previous evening. Determined to learn all they can about the mysterious woman in white, the three soon find themselves drawn into a chilling vortex of crime, poison, kidnapping, and international intrigue.
Masterfully constructed, The Woman in White is dominated by two of the finest creations in all Victorian fiction—Marion Halcombe, dark, mannish, yet irresistibly fascinating, and Count Fosco, the sinister and flamboyant “Napoleon of Crime.”

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society


Meeting Tuesday June 30th, 7:30 p.m.

From the Jacket:

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 30th. Review your options and vote!


Remember that bit about dealing with exceptions to our schedule? Well the first one is here already. July is a busy month, and we thought it best to sneak in book club before the crazy 4th of July weekend. It's truly only 1 day off schedule, so you still have ample time to read. So we'll meet 4 weeks from now, June 30th.
The following meeting will be Tuesday, August 4th, and so forth on the first Tuesday from there.

Mary brought a tasty buffet of choices- don't worry, if the one you pick doesn't win this time, I'm sure a few will be on the lists of our next suggesters!

People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks
From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of March, the journey of a rare illuminated manuscript through centuries of exile and war.
In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book’s mysteries. The reader is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book’s journey from its salvation back to its creation.
In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim risks his life to protect it from the Nazis. In the hedonistic salons of fin-de-siècle Vienna, the book becomes a pawn in the struggle against the city’s rising anti-Semitism. In inquisition-era Venice, a Catholic priest saves it from burning. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah’s extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed. Hanna’s investigation unexpectedly plunges her into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics. Her experiences will test her belief in herself and the man she has come to love.
Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is at once a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity, an ambitious, electrifying work by an acclaimed and beloved author.

West with the Night
by Beryl Markham
West with the Night is a memoir of Beryl Markham, horse trainer, bush pilot, and history making aviatrix. Beryl Markham grew up in the wilds of Africa where her father raised racehorses on their farm. Beryl followed in her father's footsteps by becoming the first woman in Africa to receive her horse-training license. Fascinated with the talents of her friend, Tom Black, Beryl learned to fly and went on to become the first person to fly east to west across the Atlantic from London to North America. Although her flight ended in Nova Scotia rather than the intended New York, Beryl will always be known for her courage and her groundbreaking talents.


The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins
Sixteen-year-old Katniss is smart, athletic, and fast. She can take down a rabbit with a bow and arrow, hitting it straight through the eye. Will these skills be enough to survive the Hunger Games?
Suzanne Collins, the author of the middle-grade fantasy series The Underland Chronicles begins anew, exploring a future landscape that will be familiar to devotees of science fiction's dystopic strain. In a nation called Panem, which occupies the landmass that is the present United States, a parasitical fascist Capitol dominates 12 conquered districts. There was a thirteenth district but it was obliterated during a rebellion. The totalitarian government keeps the subjected populations in line by threatened devastation, starvation, and brutality.

The Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins
The story begins with an eerie midnight encounter between artist Walter Hartright and a ghostly woman dressed all in white who seems desperate to share a dark secret. The next day Hartright, engaged as a drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, tells his pupils about the strange events of the previous evening. Determined to learn all they can about the mysterious woman in white, the three soon find themselves drawn into a chilling vortex of crime, poison, kidnapping, and international intrigue.
Masterfully constructed, The Woman in White is dominated by two of the finest creations in all Victorian fiction—Marion Halcombe, dark, mannish, yet irresistibly fascinating, and Count Fosco, the sinister and flamboyant “Napoleon of Crime.”

Discussion Recap: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close


The gals got together tonight and had a great discussion on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Everyone seemed pretty pleased with the read- I definitely don't recall anyone lamenting over the hours spent following Oskar around on his adventure. (Usually we are desperate for more reading time!) Give this one a go if you haven't yet had the chance.

Some aspects we discussed included 9/11, tragedy, reading from the perspective of a child, and coping mechanisms.
Here is a sampling of some questions we discussed (led by Pepper)-any thoughts or feedback?

-Did you like the writing style of the author? What did his writing style indicate?
-Do you think writing fictional about tragedies such as 9/11 is appropriate? Did the author do so with adequate respect?
-"Humor is the only way to tell a sad story". How do you feel about this? Was the novel comical? Appropriately so?
-Was Oskar believable? (his version of the events, etc)
-Any thoughts on the Grandfather's storyline? Did you enjoy the double narrative or have a preference for who was talking?
-How do we handle/observe/cope with tragedy?

Did anyone dislike the book?

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Book Group Scoop


With varying participants and crazy schedules, getting book group on the calendar can be quite the task. We want everyone to be able to come, every single meeting, with ample time to get the book read. And we also wouldn't mind seeing pigs fly, and perhaps winning the lottery? (not that we gamble...) Alas, I'm pretty sure the latter of those options is most likely these days, especially with a foggy SF summer- and the subsequent vacations we become desperate for- looming ahead. Sunshine on the beach is a respectable excuse-just as long as you read while you bask!

Since there will never be a perfect place or time, we are going to plan something regular and adjust if absolutely needed. Here is the plan:

1st Tuesday of every month, 7:30 p.m.


We also need to pick books, of course. Here is a fun system that everyone can be involved in:

- Each meeting a couple of volunteers will be responsible for bringing at least 3 book ideas to the group.

-I will post the ideas on the blog and take a poll. After a day or so of votes, we'll declare a winner and announce the book in the regular announcements, and on the blog, of course. We will try to schedule out 2 or 3 groups at a time.

-At the subsequent meetings, the person who provided the book idea guides the discussion with some questions/thoughts about their suggestion.

-At the following group, the person who last led the discussion brings a treat!

A simple rotation like this would have at least 3 different people bringing "something" to each group: book choices, discussion questions, and treats! Let's get ready to rumble....!
Anyone can comment on the blog of course, but if you are interesting in posting--be it about a great book option, maybe you have a spare copy of the current book, etc. just let me (Martha) know and I can add you to the author list!

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer



Meeting Tuesday, June 2nd 7:30 p.m

"Oskar Schell is not your average nine-year-old. A budding inventor, he spends his time imagining wonderful creations. He also collects random photographs for his scrapbook and sends letters to scientists. When his father dies in the World Trade Center collapse, Oskar shifts his boundless energy to a quest for answers. He finds a key hidden in his father's things that doesn't fit any lock in their New York City apartment; its container is labeled "Black." Using flawless kid logic, Oskar sets out to speak to everyone in New York City with the last name of Black. As in Everything Is Illuminated (Houghton, 2002), Foer takes a dark subject and works in offbeat humor with puns and wordplay. But Extremely Loud pushes further with the inclusion of photographs, illustrations, and mild experiments in typography. The humor works as a deceptive, glitzy cover for a fairly serious tale about loss and recovery. For balance, Foer includes the subplot of Oskar's grandfather, who survived the World War II bombing of Dresden. Although this story is not quite as evocative as Oskar's, it does carry forward and connect firmly to the rest of the novel. The two stories finally intersect in a powerful conclusion that will make even the most jaded hearts fall."