Bluestockings Society

Thursday Teaser

2009-10-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

"He was following man's sad tradition of running to God when all else fails. He had done it before, turned his face to the heavens, only to return to new trouble when the current trouble passed.

But this time, when the sun rose, Henry Covington slid the shotgun under his bed and lay down next to his wife and child.

It was Easter Sunday."

excerpt from "have a little faith: a true story" by Mitch Albom

Anne's thoughts - The Scarlett Letter

2009-10-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this book. I really enjoyed it. I had a hard time imagining myself as a high schooler reading this, and understanding all of the symbolism in the book. Plus, I think that I would have been too naive to truly appreciate all that Hester went through. I would have probably said something like "Serves her right for messing around before while she was married to someone else." (Yes, I was a bit of a prude back then.) As an adult, I loved Hester. She was strong - and I love stories with strong women characters. She made a mistake and she took her punishment without flinching. She made her life a memorable one by wearing the "A" every day and serving all of those people that were shunning her. When she first stood on the scaffold, I wanted to cry for her. She was so exposed and could do nothing to stop it - and the reverend looked on, suffering silently, without saying anything to take away any of that pain. Did everyone else realize at this point that the reverend was the father?

Pearl was an odd little child. Some of the descriptions about her confused me. I could tell that the author was trying to make a point with her. She was so odd because she came into the world as a result of a "sin." Hester was a wonderful mother and never crushed Pearl's spirit but tried to teach her to not make the same mistakes her mother did. The scene at the brooke where Pearl would not come to her mother without the "A" was a favorite of mine. The "A" didn't mean anything bad to Pearl. It was the symbol of her mother and when that symbol was gone, it was like Pearl was looking at a stranger who sounded like her mother. It reminded me of my boys when I make a little change to the routine or change the furniture around. They get confused, irritable, and just unsure of what to do.

Another symbol in the book was Chillingsworth. He was certainly evil. I don't know why Hester ever married him - although he wasn't as evil when they got married. I wish we knew a little more about the marriage. Was it arranged? Hester clearly stated that she didn't love him, so why did she marry him? I really felt angry with him for making Hester conceal his true identity. He was plotting against her from the very beginning. His relationship with the reverend irritated me. He knew why the reverend was suffering and yet he kept giving him who knows what kind of medicine to keep him in pain. I wonder if the reverend would have died when he did if the doctor hadn't given him so much medicine.

The ending had good closure for me. I'm so glad that the reverend stood and took credit for his share of the "A" but was sad to see him die before he had a chance to be happy with Hester and Pearl. Hester again impressed me by her resolve to continue wearing the "A" through her entire life. I was happy to see that Chillingsworth gave Pearl some inheritance and even happier to believe that she chose not to accept it and live a happy life somewhere else. All in all, I plan on reading this book again - looking for more symbolism - and hope to make it through "The Custom House" without falling asleep. That was the hardest part of the book for me to read. It had too much other background information that I couldn't see was useful to the story. I see the reason now and want to read it again in hopes that I can make it through with a little more clarity.

The Scarlett Letter questions

2009-10-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm posting some questions to discuss The Scarlett Letter. I think I might be the only adult on the planet who went to high school and college and still hadn't read this book. I'm not quite finished due to some crazy days in my household but am looking forward to hearing your opinions about the book. Obviously, there are tons of questions for this book. I had a hard time choosing questions because I didn't want our discussion to remind anyone of a high school essay. These questions are just to get you started. You don't have to answer them if you feel like discussing other parts of the book.

1. What is the significance of the 3 scaffold scenes in the book?

2. What punishments would the Puritan women have given Hester Prynne if it were left to them?

3. Did Hester ever love her husband?

4. Why is Chillingsworth a symbol of evil?

5. How would you have acted if you were a woman in the crowd on the day Hester leaves the prison with the Scarlett Letter?

Anne's Answers

2009-09-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Fun idea Jennie! Thanks for sharing!
1. Are there any books you read over and over again?
Yes, definitely! My favorites are An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott, Gone with the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, Miracle in the Andes, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Nefertiti, The Hiding Place. I could keep going. I am a re-reader!

2. Name 3 or 4 fictional characters you would like to be and tell us why.

Scarlett O'Hara: who wouldn't want to be the belle of the ball and have an 18 inch waist. She's reckless and headstrong and oh man, I love her!

Elizabeth Bennett: totally agreeing with Jennie! I'd love to be Elizabeth! Love to be loved by Mr. Darcy!

Nefertiti (she's not technically fictional, but she's fictional in a sense in the book Nefertiti by Michelle Moran): Oh, wow! I'd love to be an ancient Egyptian queen/Pharaoh and rule a country, have plenty of servants, dress like a goddess, have someone do my makeup/hair. (I'd be her as long as I could have all the luxury without being hated by nearly everyone.)

3. Name a book that has had you thinking about (and even talking about it) for a long long time afterward.

Here recently, The Poisonwood Bible - can't imagine the hardships people faced and am wondering how I would have handled a year or longer in the deepest, darkest parts of the Congo in the 1960's.
Always thinking about Three Cups of Tea - what can I do to make a difference in this world?

4. Name one "classic" book that you are afraid to admit you don't like. We're all friends here - be honest.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickins - my only expectation with that book was that eventually it would finish. Too much complaining, confusion, and old English to drudge through. I finished it though.

5. Have you ever wanted to write your own book? You don't have to be specific if you don't want, but you can.

Actually, I've written 3 children's books. My sister in law is illustrating them and I am saving the money to get them published! Here's hoping that someday I can say I am officially an author. I've always wanted to be one since I read Little House on the Prairie and to think that I am close to actually fulfilling this dream is pretty darn cool.

Jennie's Answers

2009-09-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

1. Are there any books that you read over and over again? If so (and I'm sure there are), name them.
Anne of Green Gables series, Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, Persuasion and Suck In Your Stomach and Put Some Color On

2. Name 3 or 4 fictional characters you'd like to be and why.

Elizabeth Bennet - you knew I was going to list this one - the why should be obvious, but here are my reasons - she's smart, funny, pretty enough, witty and she gets Mr. Darcy in the end.

Antonia from My Antonia - because in the end, she is happy and she's discovered her happiness lies with her family. At least, that's what I remember getting out of that book.

Sunya from Pastries: A Novel - because she has the life I want - well, the bakery anyway.

3. Name a book that has had you thinking (and even talking) about it for a long, long while afterward.

The Island, Triumph of Hope and A Breath of Fresh Air are three that still cross my mind.

4. Name one "classic" book that you are afraid to admit you don't like. We're all friends here - be honest.

Jane Eyre. Liked it okay, but Jane was just too good to be true for me. Nice story, but not one I'll read again. I know, I've just offended the English-speaking world. Hey, I love Jane Austen. Isn't that enough?

5. Have you ever wanted to write your own book? You don't have to be specific if you don't want, but you can.
Yes. I've actually thought about just writing it as a screenplay these days because that's how I see it in my head, like it's a movie. A cute little fluff take on Cyrano de Bergerac - with roles reversed, so it's the girl trying to get the guy. With food. It would be fun, I think. I don't know. I've thought about taking an online screenwriting class and really trying. But then I'm afraid to. Silly.
And a food memoir. I'd like to travel to the South and explore my culinary heritage. Write a fictional book on that. Or just a cookbook.

Book Group Tag

2009-09-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

All right, fellow Bluestockings. I was thinking about the different personalities we all have and thought a little "book group tag" would be fun. So here are the questions I thought of:

1. Are there any books that you read over and over again? If so (and I'm sure there are), name them.

2. Name 3 or 4 fictional characters you'd like to be and why.

3. Name a book that has had you thinking (and even talking) about it for a long, long while afterward.

4. Name one "classic" book that you are afraid to admit you don't like. We're all friends here - be honest.

5. Have you ever wanted to write your own book? You don't have to be specific if you don't want, but you can.

There. Five questions. Now I'll do a seperate post with my answers and I challenge y'all to do yours as well. It could be very enlightening. I can't wait to see what you all have to say!

September and October

2009-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Anne for the reminder! I changed the reading schedule on the side there to reflect your choice for September and I put mine in for October - something light and fun after a serious classic!
Takers for November and December?

Books??

2009-09-14T09:39:00.001-07:00

Do we know what books we are reading for the next couple of months? I am trying to get my life back into order after the crazy summer we just had. I have read most of the books from the summer and have yet to review them. I apologize for my laziness. I will do better. I believe I spoke for September's book so I am hoping that all of you don't mind that I chose a classic. I would like to read The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne if that works for everyone. I will post questions at the end of the month, unless I hear otherwise. I'm flexible.

Reviews

2009-08-29T20:02:00.001-07:00

It's almost the end of August and seems to signify the end of summer as well. A good time to wrap up loose ends. I think my reviews are pretty lame when I write them this long after reading the book, but I still feel like I should do it anyway.

"Little Heathens"

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There's something about that old-fashioned work ethic that inspires me to want to be better. As difficult as life was back during the time of the depression, the fight to survive tough times, life almost seemed simpler. Mildred's descriptions portrayed the stern grandparents, yet she didn't speak with bitterness and instead seemed to have a joyful childhood despite the challenges. Every time I picked up the book, I was smiling or laughing at something, and was always intrigued by meal preparations. I appreciated all of the details--it helped my understanding of "the olden days." I was inspired to be more frugal (how appropriate for these economic times!) by things like the way they swiped out the inside of eggshells to make certain they got all the eggwhites. I confess that in all my years of cracking eggs, this has never crossed my mind! In fact, I still might not (fingernails ya know?) but the idea that things weren't wasted, and that they made the most of what little they had, has stuck with me. This will be fun to read parts of it to my kids as they get older to teach them "see what life was like way back when."

The Survivors Club

Another great read! I liked that this book was more than just a compilation of experiences of people who had survived major traumas/accidents/attacks/etc. It used these experiences to point out ways that we can be better prepared to be survivors ourselves, whether it be surviving an accident, or surviving an economic depression, or whatever. There really are things we can do to increase our chances of surviving when faced with adversity. Sherwood (author) doesn't claim to know why some people die while others survive, he simply explores what those survivors did and lets the reader think through it. For example, he studies how some people have a strong will to live, how some people learn to manage fear, some of it is just luck, etc. I found it all quite interesting. The end of the book has a section for taking a test to determine your own survival personality, but since I checked this book out of the library I did not get to do this part (each book contains a single user code for the online test). I'm pretty sure I fall into whatever category includes "fearful" so one of my goals is to work on managing that fear.

Outlander

Gabaldon (author) can really tell a story! It was more than a story it was like some kind of epic romance/adventure. And then I wanted to take a trip to Scotland each time I picked up the book. While I got swept away in the first half of the book, I got annoyed with all the sex scenes in the last half. I mean, a honeymoon is one thing, but seriously I didn't need to read about all the details for EACH passionate encounter! Really wasn't there an editor around prior to publishing? Also I personally thought the evil Capt Randall gay lover bit was pretty icky too. TMI! The book was plenty long enough already, well written, descriptive, exciting, other than these two thumbs-down pieces so it begs the question of whether Gabaldon could have left out some of these details or not? As far as a "time travel" book, she did an amazing job at making it seem realistic and possible rather than fall into the "fantasy" category. (side note: I started to read "The Time Travelers Wife" last year and thought it was obnoxious--couldn't finish it) In doing so, I liked that I couldn't figure out how it was going to end, how everything was going to wrap up in the end, and kept you guessing right till the very end. I was glad that Claire chose to stay with Jamie---now I'm debating on whether or not to continue the series!

Thursday Teaser

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull, p. 75

[grandpa speaking] "Assuming you were the right kind of people. Frankly, I don't know you that well. I hoped that the kind of person who would take the trouble to solve my little puzzle would be the kind of person who could handle the notion of a preserve full of magical creatures. Fablehaven would be too much to swallow for most people."

This is a pretty imaginative book. It's targeted for juveniles and so it might not contain enough depth for an adult reader. It still held my interest because I adore creativity in stories!

Thursday Teaser

2009-08-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

"The Princess and the Hound" by Mette Ivie Harrison, p. 157

"My father has always thought that I was of no value to him or the kingdom."

George began to speak, to interrupt her, but she put up a hand, and he stopped himself.

"It is no secret that he wished for a son, to follow in his footsteps, to be a warrior as he was. And I could not be that son no matter how I tried." Beatrice stroked Marit.
"But I have done the one thing that he was never able to do. In one swift movement, I have won him all of Kendel. Through marriage to you."

George stared at her. Was that what the marriage was to her, a way to prove that she could succeed at something her father never had? He did not know whether to be affronted or impressed.

Thursday Teaser

2009-08-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Hollow Hills p. 123

"The mist was lifting, drawing back from a sparkling sky. Faintly, high over the castle promontory, grew a hazy moon of light. Then the last cloud blew clear, billowing before the west wind like a sail blowing towards Brittany, and in its wake, blazing through the sparkle of the lesser stars, grew the great star that had lit the night of Ambrosius' death, and now burned steady in the east for the birth of the Christmas King.
We set spurs to our horses and rode for the ship."

I'm about halfway through this book and I cannot believe it's taken me so many years to read this series. The first book, The Crstyal Cave, is Merlin's story. This second book is Arthur's childhood (Arthur hasn't factored much into the book so far, but that's because Merlin isn't with him). The books are in Merlin's voice and Mary Stewart is a wonderful storyteller.

Thursday Teaser

2009-08-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke, p. 175

"If Meggie could have hated Capricorn any more, she would have done so now. It was his fault that Mo had never once read aloud to her in all these years. To think of the magic he could have worked in her room with his voice, a voice that gave a different flavor to every word, made every sentence a melody! Even Cockerell had forgotten his knife and the tongues he was supposed to cut out and was listening with a faraway expression on his face. Flatnose was staring into space, enraptured, as if a pirate ship with all sails set were truly cruising in through one of the church windows. The other men were equally entranced. There was not a sound to be heard but Mo's voice bringing the letters and words on the page to life."

I'm about 1/3rd of the way through this one. It was a bit slow to begin, but it's quite creative--it's one of those books where I can't figure out where it's headed!

August book?

2009-08-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

And September's while we're at it? I've lost track of whose turn it is, although I know Annette is off the hook for a bit.
I don't mind choosing one of them. I'm currently reading The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart and loving it, but I've got big ol' stack of library books to choose from. Would y'all like me to choose August or September? I'll be stuck in a chair nursing a baby a lot soon, so reading is my salvation!

Thursday Teaser

2009-07-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

I saw this from another book blog...each week the members posted a few "teaser" lines from a book they were currently reading. How fun is that! Open to a random page and choose a few lines to share, without giving away any spoilers.

My book this week is "a single thread" by Marie Bostwick.

"Sure, you want to be able to support yourself, but there are about two hundred easier ways to do that than owning a quilt shop, and you know it. Think. When you first walked down that alley and peered into that dirty window, what was it you saw? What was in front of you was a run-down wreck of a storefront that no one had thought to rent in years, but that's not what you saw. You had a vision, a dream of something special, something that gave you the courage to pull up stakes, empty your bank account, and put everything on the line." His voice was urgent. "What was it?"

So far it's a good book!

Annette's pick for the next book

2009-07-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, Jennie I'll pick. I'd like to read Little Heathens if that is Okay with everyone. Its by Mildred Kalish

From Annette on Outlander

2009-07-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

1. What kind of characters has Gabladon created? Given that she has created a cross genre novel (historical/fantasy/timetravel) are her characters realistically drawn? Are they emotionally and psychologically complex...or flat, one-dimensional and cartoonish?

I found the characters to be satisfyingly complex. I liked the way she gradually developed them over the course of the novel with some individuals (like Murtagh) turning out to be different than first glance. Capt Randall's character a definitely BAD guy also had more nuances and depths than often given to the bad guy. But those depths were darker and scarier than it looked at first. I also liked how Claire discovered strengths and skills she would have never guessed possible.

2. What are a few of your favorite characters and why? What is there importance to the story?

Claire, Jamie, Murtagh, Geillis. The importance of the first three is kind of obvious the story revolves around them. Geillis I appreciate because she was a "fish out of water" like Claire. And her actions as a woman and as a "witch" is what propelled (unintentionally) Claire (and then Jamie) into flight and danger.

3. What assumptions does Jonathan Randall make regarding Claire upon first encountering her...and why? How does that shape the plot of the story?

He assumes she must be whore. She was rescued by Murtagh because he thought she was in distress. Which began her whole journey to Dougal, Colum, and Jamie

4. In what ways does Clair adjust to her new circumstances, and how does she put 20th-century knowledge to work in an 18-century world?

I think psychologically she adjusts remarkably well. she thinks fast and has a survivors attitude. She uses her medical skill to her advantage and finds a place and a role early on. It helps that she knows her scottish history to make sense of where she is and what is going on.

5 How disorienting (or appealing) would it be for you to be transported back in time? How would cope with the time change? What era would be most appealing to you to travel back to? and Why? If you time-traveled, how much of the future from which you have come would you be tempted to reveal? What might you attempt to change using your knowledge of modern times?

I actually don't like time travel novels, it makes my head feel like its going to explode. So I'm surprised that I like this one. Or because I love anything that has to do with Scotland. Or perhaps because the characters are interesting. I'm pretty sure I'd have a hard time if transported more than a hundred years. I'm pretty independent, outspoken etc and am not sure how well I'd fit in as a woman of another time. If I did "go back" perhaps to the mid 1800s when so much was changing and being created in the U.S. a remarkalbe time in history (but mostly for men).

6. The Outlander series was originally difficult to market because it didn't fit into any "neat" genre of fiction. It eventaully caught on and in HUGE WAY. What do you think is so appealing about the series to readers? what is the fascination?

I think its the characters and their relationship. I also think there are constant surprises that take the story in a slightly different direction or explain why the story went where it did. I like that.

I actually read the 2nd book first (not knowing it was a HUGE series...I justliked that it was about Scotland). I highly recommend it Dragonfly in Amber. I think I may like it best of the two...but I don't know...pretty close.

Next Book

2009-07-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Why don't you pick for us Aunt Annette? I'll pick for August, then who wants September and October?

Next Book?

2009-07-04T10:10:00.001-07:00

I've lost track of who selects the next book and I don't know how many of you have finished Outlander and are ready for another book. I'll be finished this weekend. I will be leaving in about 10 days for another trip to Florida and would love to know the next book so I can download to my Kindle if I don't already have it. I made a few suggestions a couple posts ago...but I'm completely open (as always) to whatever anyone picks. Hope you are all enjoying summer and getting some reading time in!

Outlander - Discussion Questions

2009-07-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've managed to track down some questions on the internet. You would not believe the extent of Outlander series websites, discussion groups, etc. However, it was hard to find a simple set because many of the dicussions groups discussion a couple chapters a week!!! So, I'm not sure the questions are really great. If you want to just discuss your feelings about the book in a more general way, go for it. Or if you have any questions yourself...feel free to add them.

1. What kind of characters has Gabladon created? Given that she has created a cross genre novel (historical/fantasy/timetravel) are her characters realistically drawn? Are they emotionally and psychologically complex...or flat, one-dimensional and cartoonish?

2. What are a few of your favorite characters and why? What is there importance to the story?

3. What assumptions does Jonathan Randall make regarding Claire upon first encountering her...and why? How does that shape the plot of the story?

4. In what ways does Clair adjust to her new circumstances, and how does she put 20th-century knowledge to work in an 18-century world?

5. How does Clair's marriage to Jamie effect her marriage to Frank (and her feelings towards Frank).

6. How disorienting (or appealing) would it be for you to be transported back in time? How would cope with the time change? What era would be most appealing to you to travel back to? and Why?

7. If you time-traveled, how much of the future from which you have come would you be tempted to reveal? What might you attempt to change using your knowledge of modern times?

8. The Outlander series was originally difficult to market because it didn't fit into any "neat" genre of fiction. It eventaully caught on and in HUGE WAY. What do you think is so appealing about the series to readers? what is the fascination?

Outlander

2009-06-10T15:42:00.001-07:00

Help! I'm only about 1/2 way through the book but figured others might have finished, so I started looking for discussion questions. I can find websites that have questions by chapter!!! That's a lot of questions! Apparently some people are having online chat groups where they take a certain number of chapters each week. I can find discussion groups where people just post opinions and discuss back and forth. I can find discussion groups about the CAR Outlander. But can't seem to find just a simple set of questions...there may be some on one site...but I need to pay to join the site...its some bookgroup support website. I'll continue looking but I was wondering if any of you have favorite place where you go to look for discussion questions. if you do can you let me know?

Thanks.

June book?

2009-06-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

I'm traveling until the end of June. I have a few books on my kindle that might make a good June book...if they don't work..that's fine...I can go to Borders and buy what we pick. But am trying to keep the luggage in check.

Ideas:
French by Heart: An American Famioly's Adventures in La Belle France by Rebecca Ramsey
The Geography of Bliss: One Grumps Search for the Happiest Places... by Eric Weiner
Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish.

Annette's take on Outliers

2009-06-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

I am writing this without my book because I'm traveling. I also read it about 4 months ago. But here goes:

1. Which chapter did you most enjoy reading?

I agree with Rebecca about the first two chapters...they really got my attention. I told my tax acountant about it while I was visiting him and he started googling all the famous professional hockey players he could think of...and their birthdates were all exactly where Outliers would predict. creepy. Same thing for the top professional really famous baseball players. I also like the chapter that dealt with the "tribal" culture of the hollars of west viriginia/kentucky etc. I've actually bought the book he references "Albion Seed" I have it on my Kindle to read.

2. Were you surprised to learn about the backgrounds of any of the success stories?

Yes...same as Rebecca for the same reasons.

3. Does his idea, that success is dependent largely on "uncontrollables" like luck, timing, birth month, nationality, etc, change your view of successful people or what it takes to be successful?

I don't think that he says success is LARGELY based on uncontrollables. I believe that he thinks they have a significant effect. It doesn't change my view of usccessful people at worst they are people who knew to take advantage of what is given them be it intelligence, education, or the uncontrollables. It does make me look differently at people who "fail", that not all the failure is of their own making. interesting. Because you don't want people to use these facts as a "cop out" but....

4. This book gets as much criticism as it does acclaim. Were there parts that you questioned or do feel he presented enough information to back up his theories?

I'll have to come back to this question when I have the book in hand. But in general I think he's done (or reviewed) very interesting research that holds up pretty well under scrutiny

5. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? I definitely would. I did. Its very thought provoking.

Outliers review (Reb)

2009-06-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Outliers

1. Which chapter did you most enjoy reading? I was completely intrigued by the first two chapters--chap 1 explained that success as a Canadian hockey player largely depended on their date of birth--the evidence was quite compelling, and chap 2 which presented the "10,000 hour rule", meaning that a person/group needs ten thousand hours of practice time in order to achieve expertise. Gladwell's claim is that it takes more than just talent or brains to become successful--most often it takes hard work and luck!

2. Were you surprised to learn about the backgrounds of any of the success stories? All of the stories were new to me so I felt surprised at everything I learned! One specific idea I'd like to hear about from an "expert" is the bit about math education differences in Asian vs. Western schools. He begins with suggesting that our English number-naming system is not as logical as the Asian counting system (p227-231) and therefore gives Asian students an early edge on mathematics--it was so interesting I sat there dumbfounded wondering where our English system came from! The Asian system DOES seem to make more sense!

3. Does his idea, that success is dependent largely on "uncontrollables" like luck, timing, birth month, nationality, etc, change your view of successful people or what it takes to be successful? The frustrating part is that he provides explanations for success, but because there are so many "uncontrollables", except for the hard work on our part, it doesn't offer any tools to help the reader become successful. It could go 2 ways: based on Gladwell's findings, a reader might become discouraged in his/her own quest for success--there are no set rules or steps to follow to guarantee success (duh, but still...) and there's no way anyone could possibly control all the circumstances! or, in a personal quest, one might feel hopeful that even though they can't see all the elements in play, there might be advantages that they don't even recognize at the time, that will help them on their way. In some ways, my view of success is now more "equal opportunity." I think this was what he wanted the reader to get out of his book??

4. This book gets as much criticism as it does acclaim. Were there parts that you questioned or do feel he presented enough information to back up his theories? I feel like he sometimes gets too "wordy" and it takes me awhile to follow his train of thought. At times it feels like he wraps it up too neatly with one simple explanation. My example of this is in the chapter about education--he almost makes it sound like "summer vacation" is the single most important factor in contributing to poor/disadvantaged students' low scores when compared to wealthier/upper class students. Again his argument is compelling, totally worth researching, but I'm not 100% sold on that being the single factor. It's almost like he looks for "new ideas" and makes them fit into his book. What would happen if his ideas were researched in a wider field with more depth?

5. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? Yes! I enjoyed it and think it offers interesting topics for debate and conversation! I'd also recommend his previous 2 books "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" for an interesting read.

E-mail notices - testing

2009-06-01T22:35:00.001-07:00

I think I did it - I changed the settings so we would get notified via e-mail when there is a new post. Let me know if it worked - I'm going to check mine right now!

Jennie

Oh, and we need a book for June! Any ideas? I'm out of school, so I have to catch up with all of you!
Something light and fun and summery? First one to post gets dibs - it should be one that is really accessible so we can get it from the library or order it.