Bluestockings Society

Mockingjay Release!

2010-08-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Ack! My copy of Mockingjay is on its way from Amazon--alas I was slow to order and I am feeling the jealousies of it being in everyone else's hands but mine! I ordered the trilogy. In fact I'm tempted to re-read the first two before I jump into the finale. Think my family would notice if I disappeared into the depths of 1184 pages for a weekend??

So let's talk it up in September? Our book blog here is suffering from our lack of attention! I enjoyed the last one "Beneath My Mother's Feet" but had to return it before I wrote up my comments. I need some writing practice---lately I can't seem to get my words from my brain into a readable format. My "lame" review: very good, it felt "real" (sadly so in some situations), was happy about how it ended, touched by the relationships, enjoyed the little details that made it come alive (description of smells, etc), and it left me interested in a culture different than my own.

I didn't get much reading in over the summer. But I'd love to pick up again and continue with our monthly reads! Anyone else?

---Rebecca

New Books and Hunger Games discussion?

2010-04-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

Are we ready for the Hunger Games discussion? I sure am! Let us know Rebecca!

I put a book up for May, something I've been wanting to read and discuss.

Any takers for June, July, August?

Happy reading!

Jennie

Many apologies part II

2010-03-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

I don't have a great excuse like Annette. I've just been crazy busy with school and life.

So, my apologies.

I'll be reading The Hunger Games over my spring break.

many apologies

2010-01-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

Many, many apologies my fellow readers. I have been completely out of circulation obsessing with the move and getting the house finished. my brain is so full I couldn't even remember the name of our blog...geesh. Anyway...I'm still obsessed, still not finished with moving, still not done with house. So I'm giving myself permission to remain MIA until March 1st. When I'll happily rejoing the great discussions about books with you. Read On!

January Book

2010-01-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

Let's read "The Hunger Games" for January (since Anne is ok with re-reading it for a book discussion--yeah!). The author is Suzanne Collins. It was one of the most popular books last year but I kept shying away from reading it (I'll include my reasons in my review). I hope it's good---happy reading!

getting started with the new year

2010-01-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

Hi! It's probably my turn to choose a book so I'm looking for something and will try to post by the end of the week. Next for me is "The Hunger Games" but I know Anne has read this one already. I'll have to go back to the ideas everyone posted a few months ago...

I just finished "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak and thought it was excellent!! Have y'all read that one? Highly recommended!

--Rebecca

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.

Email Notices

2009-05-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies. I was wondering if I can ask a favor? on the blog that I have with Kelly and Kerry I set it up so that when any of us post on the blog, we all get an email telling us that there has been a new post. I tried to figure out how to do that with BlueStocking but can't figure it out, probably because I'm not an administrator. With all my traveling and sporadic internet access to the blog it would be great to know when someone has posted. I'd be more timely in responding. Is this possible? thanks! Read On!

What happened to OUtlander discussion?

2009-05-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

I read Outliers awhile ago, so don't mind discussing it now? but did we decide to skip the april selection? Outlander? I'm half way through it...

Discussion questions: Outliers and TSC

2009-05-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm a bit muddleheaded when I try to write reviews so I like to have a jumping off point. Here are a few questions you might consider in your reviews, but certainly share thoughts beyond these as well!

Outliers

1. Which chapter did you most enjoy reading?

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

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?

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?

5. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?

The Survivors Club

1. Who is your favorite survivor in this book and why?

2. Why do you think people are drawn to survivor stories?

3. Do you agree or disagree with the first rule of The Survivors Club: Everyone is a survivor?

4. Do you believe that a person with a positive mental attitude - or a strong will to live - can overcome any challenge, including a serious medical problem? Do you agree that 80-90 percent of survival is mental?

5. After reading this book, have you changed your attitudes or actions? Do you feel better prepared to survive and thrive in the face of adversity?

The Pirate Coast and May books--Rebecca

2009-05-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling embarrassed to admit that I didn't actually finish reading The Pirate Coast. What happened?! I was so intrigued with it at the beginning--I read the first 1/4 of the book in one evening. But then, it just never grabbed me again. I tried to continue a few times and ended up skimming through. I'm not sure why? While the detail was interesting, sometimes the book got bogged down in too much detail. I didn't understand some of the political maneuvers and there wasn't much warmth in it--not much personality. I'd opt for a condensed version of this historical event.

For May's reading, I'm going to leave it for either of the two books I mentioned so that everyone can read the one that is available to them. (ie. Anne can get TSC, but still not O). I think it will actually make for interesting reviews--both books are similar in that they are non-fiction, they are made up of a variety of individual stories and accounts that should contain appeal to many different interests. Also because of this nature, there are no "spoilers" to give away in a review. If you're feeling ambitious, read both! Happy reading!

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood

p.s. I'll try to post questions for each as soon as I can so you can write your reviews as you read, or when you've finished and it's still fresh in your mind (I do much better in my reviews when I don't wait so long to post!)

The Pirate Coast - Anne's thoughts

2009-04-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was a little disappointed by this book. I had heard lots of good things about the author and the book in particular - and they both fell short in my opinion. The history was fascinating. I always am so amazed at how little I know about the past. I can't imagine having to deal with the irregularity of correspondence/communication as they did. I love that I now know why the line "from the shores of Tripoli" is in the Marines hymn. And I am dying to try writing a letter in lime juice and seeing if I can really read it when the letter is exposed to heat. (If you receive a blank letter from me in the next couple of months, you'll know I have been experimenting.)

The characters in this book were aggravating. At times, I felt so incredibly sorry for William Eaton. Other times, I couldn't believe how irritating he could be. I despised Lear for most of the book. And I was surprised at my feelings toward Thomas Jefferson. Was he really that annoying/manipulative or was that the author's agenda? Or maybe that is just politics in general?

The beginning of the book was really hard for me to get through as I felt that way too much background information was given. Even once the story line picked up, I found myself skimming through the extra stuff to get to the point. It seemed like the author would tell you what was happening and then tell you again what was happening through quotes/letters/personal accounts. At times, things felt a bit redundant.

My favorite part of the book was during the searching for Hamet and the trek to reach Derne. Again, once I dug through the extra info, I enjoyed reading about the struggles of communication, supplies, and money. I found myself wondering where all the money could have possibly come from and was amazed at how many people willingly extended credit to Eaton on just his character alone. (I guess credit companies today extend credit to just about anyone, so it really isn't that different.) As with any treks across a desert, I can't believe the hardship of traveling through endless heat and the stamina that it required.

Overall, it was an okay book. I feel a bit smarter. Plus the irony of reading about pirates in the early years of our country and hearing about pirates on the news last week, attacking in just about the same way made the book a little more interesting.

PIrate Coast by Annette

2009-04-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it. I'm a big non-fiction buff and love books that tell the story behind the stories we learn, but I found that the book dragged in places and oddly provided even more information than I thought necessary (or perhaps interesting). That being said, I'm glad I read the book and I feel like I learned a lot about the time period, the early years of our naval military (despite the title there really wasn't much about "marines" in the book, was there?) and the parentage so to speak of modern day covert operation policies.

I think one thing about the story was that I didn't care much (personally) for either of the main characters. I could appreciate their intelligence, or their tenacity, or their cleverness but I just couldn't feel ...hmmm..searching for the word....I didn't like them much. I don't know if this was the fault of the author or if they just weren't very likable.

The role of communications (or lack thereof), the media, and public relations (for lack of better word) was very interesting especially compared today's almost instantaneous communications (not just between military and government but between military operations and the rest of the world through media, cell phones, satellite pics, and gosh...now tweeting). You wonder how things would have gone if there hadn't been the long lapses of communications. Who would have "won out"?

The Pirate Coast

2009-04-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

There are no book discussion questions out there anywhere for The Pirate Coast so feel free to just discuss your feelings on the book. I am totally slacking and not quite finished with the book but am looking forward to hearing what you all have to say!

Check your libraries

2009-04-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Hi y'all,

This is another brand-new book (Jan '09) I'd love to share here. I'm a couple chapters in and, pending whether you can get it in time, am already tempted to suggest this one in lieu of Outliers next month (though that would still be a great read and we'll keep it on the list). Anyway, check with your libraries to see what the waiting list is like.

The Survivors Club

by Ben Sherwood

A Woman In Berlin--Rebecca

2009-04-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

I'm writing several weeks after finishing the book---shoulda written sooner! This is going to be pretty short due to waiting too long!

Wow. How did Anon have the foresight to keep a record of those 6 weeks? Especially since she said her only previous journal experience was as a young girl. I was amazed by the writing--she was honest and descriptive without being overly detailed. I think she included the right amount of detail--I'm sure there was so much she wanted to forget. It is suprising that there wasn't more anger or frustration in her tone, almost like she was reporting and leaving it to the reader to judge.

Food. For the past 6 months one of my big goals has been to build up our family's food storage. Each time I read accounts of war, especially as it relates to the common citizen, I'm amazed at how little food people survive on. The quest for food is all encompassing. I hope to never have to experience this in my life!

Men. War disrupts normal life. Would these men have behaved such had they not been subject to the rigors of life as a soldier? Does that excuse their behavior? I think not. But I needed to have some understanding so as not to glare at the male population in general.

Women. They suffered. They endured. They worked. They supported each other. They were courageous. They cleaned up and moved on. They survived. True they each found their own way of coping, but in short, I was inspired and wanted to be a better woman because of them.

A Woman in Berlin - Anne's thoughts

2009-03-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

I agree with Annette in the choice for this book. I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own but am really glad that I read this. I've always had a weird fascination with World War II and had never heard much from this perspective before. I felt entirely naive as I was reading about this woman's life and all that she was encountering. How is it that in history classes we only hear about the suffering and hardships that happened to the Jews (not to be disrespectful by any means) and not more about what happened to normal citizens who were just trying to live their lives while the world around them was crumbling?

After having her life so torn apart, I am sure that Anonymous was thankful to be able to write it all down. I am prone to venting my frustrations and as I was reading could feel the same tone in her words as when I vent. (Not that I have anything to compare in my life with hers but the idea of venting was the same.)

I wondered as I read how I would have handled this situation had I been in her shoes. I again agree with Annette. I wouldn't have felt compelled to commit suicide, at least I don't think I would have. I might have hid. I might have accepted my fate knowing that I might be safer if I cooperated. I don't know. How awful to have to face the uncertainty of food, rape, war, disease, and pregnancy all at once!

One of the things that Anonymous said that touched me more than others was the following quote. It was found in the beginning of the book, before much of the horrors were taking place, and yet I got the feeling that Anonymous knew what was coming.
"Why are we so appalled at the thought of children being murdered? In three to four years the same children strike us as perfectly fit for shooting and maiming. Where do you draw the line? When their voices break? Because that’s what really gets me the most, thinking about these little boys: their voices, so high, so bright. Up to now being a soldier meant being a man. And being a man means being able to father a child. Wasting these boys before they reach maturity obviously runs against some fundamental law of nature, against our instinct, against every drive to preserve the species." Ugh! That just tears me up inside reading that. I think of my little boys and had we lived in that day and age how they would be soldiers way too soon - killing and possibly dying for a cause they could hardly understand, let alone support.

Overall, this book was touching. I feel more informed after reading this - more aware of the true meaning of "spoils of war." Thanks for recommending Jennie!

A Woman in Berlin - annette's comments

2009-03-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

Jennie, I am so glad that you picked this book. I'm not sure I would have voluntarily picked it. But I must admit I'm a little dwarfed at having to write a review because my thoughts are everywhere. I tried to find some "book club" discussion questions on line...to no avail...so here goes. So I'm going to start with a few thoughts and observations and see what you guys say and then write some more.

I love journals, diaries, and memoirs based on diaries. As if you haven't noticed I share a love of the genre (with 3 blogs, facebook, a desk diary, and even now twittering). I find that journaling helps me sort out my feelings, form opinions, gives me a distraction, helps me cement memories, helps me cope with memories, and much more. I can really see how her scribblings, her notes helped her keep sane, gave her life some structure when everything was out of her control. Some hid in the attic...she hid in her words.

The book all too well depicts the horrors of "collateral" damage in war. Both militarily (bombs) and socially/culturally/personally. This was a time before tv, radios were out (mostly), newspapers had stopped, no email, no phones for the most part, AND this was the end of a long hard war that had starved its people (on both sides) physically, mentally, spiritually. These were battered, beaten people even before the Russians got there.

I was fascinated in a macacre way with the many ways that the people dealt with the horrors. From suicide, to hiding in dark, cramped spaces (for weeks without knowing when it would end), to fighting, to being clever, to going along to get along, to becoming informers, and every thing else. Its one of the reasons I think it would be hard to know just exactly what we'd do...

The question of waht would I have done? I think I might have done what Anonymous did. I certainly wouldn't have ever committed suicide to avoid what was coming. I might hide my daughter in an attic. But I'm not sure I could sit in essentially a closet, just waiting, for what? for how long?. And then of course, the only ones that COULD do that were people who had people on the outside who could bring them food and water.

There are so many of things that could be discussed about the rape (or the "forced intercourse"). so many I don't know where to start. It seemed there were many "reasons" for it. From revenge, from pent up exhaustion and rage, from drunkeness, to a bizarre, distorted loneliness (not for the violent rape but the "agreements" that arose out of the whole mess), and others. Many of the soliders viewed these women as "conquered" as "the enemy" as I suppose that loosened what little (if any) sense of propriety remained after the grueling and never ending battles on the Russian/German frontiers. But it isn't always just when the army is the "invading army". Keri, Kelly and I read The Wedding Officer which is about Naples towards the end of the war when the US and its allies have liberated southern italy from the germans. Astonishingly, there was a lot of rape going on BY THE LIBERATORS. That was one of the sub plots in the book...what was the difference between life under the liberators versus under the nazis? AND the US ARMY decided to send whores beyond the German lines to the cities where the German soldiers took their R&R. They sent them up there to join whore houses so the German soldiers would get syphillis. That's right. They inspected women who had become prostitures in Naples (usually because they were starving and had already been raped and had no way to make a living)...if they had syphillis INSTEAD of treating them...they sent them to have sex with the Germans. This is true...not just fiction...the novel was based on a number of memoirs and military documents. So they were using women as ammunition...impersonal ammunition.

Just makes you wonder about men, some men, does it not?

Okay...I've run out of steam...but do have more to say. what have you got to say?

April Book by Annette

2009-02-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

now that we have february and march squared away...let's pick Outlander by Diana Gabaldon for April. And we have Outliers for May. So at this point then...once we've finished discussing February...we'll pick June...etc. etc.

A book for March

2009-02-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I think the general consensus was that I should choose a book for March. I went round and round about what to choose because I am reading a fairly long book for one of my other book clubs in March, but I finally decided on "The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the first marines, and the secret mission of 1805" by Richard Zacks. Hopefully, it will be fairly captivating. The following is the book jacket summary.

"The declaration of war by Tripoli in 1801 marked the first foreign policy test of Thomas Jefferson's administration. Then, on Halloween of 1803, the unthinkable happened: The USS Philadelphia accidentally ran aground in Tripoli harbor and the Barbary Pirates captured three hundred U.S. sailors and marines. The Moslem ruler renamed the frigate "The Gift of Allah" and held the Americans as his slaves, to be auctioned at his whim." "Newspapers around the world proclaimed America's shame in headlines. Faced with this hostage crisis and an ongoing war with Tripoli, Jefferson dispatched diplomats and navy squadrons to the Mediterranean, but he also authorized a secret mission to overthrow the government there. This is the story of America's first overseas covert operation, one of the strangest, riskiest, most compelling adventures ever undertaken for love of glory and country." "Jefferson chose an unlikely man to lead the operation. Forty-year-old William Eaton was a failed diplomat, deeply in debt, who had been court-martialed from the Army. He saw this mission as a last chance to redeem himself and resurrect his career. His assignment was to find an exiled prince named Hamet hiding in Egypt and convince him to mount a civil war in Tripoli. But before Eaton even departed, Jefferson grew wary of "intermeddling" in the internal affairs of another nation and withdrew Eaton's supplies, weapons, and troops." "Astoundingly, Eaton - who was forced to beg cash from British merchants - persevered and found Hamet up the Nile and lured him to Alexandria, where he rounded up a ragtag force of European mercenaries and Bedouin fighters; Eaton then borrowed eight U.S. Marines - including fiddle-playing Presley O'Bannon - and led them all on a brutal march across five hundred miles of Libyan desert to surprise attack Tripoli." "After surviving sandstorms, treachery, and near-death from thirst, Eaton achieved a remarkable victory on "the shores of Tripoli" - commemorated to this day in the U.S. Marine Corps hymn. His triumph led to freedom for three hundred Americans and newfound respect for the young United States, but for Eaton the aftermath wasn't so sweet. When he dared to reveal that the president had abandoned him, Thomas Jefferson set out to crush him."--

How about....

2009-02-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

How about we move Woman in Berlin to FEbruary (that was Jennie's pick?), move Outliers to April (that should give enough time....maybe to get it from library?...Rebecaa I think you picked Outliers?). so why doesn't Anne pick the March book? If you think we should move Outlier to May just in case...then we'll need an April book...ok now I've lost track...would that be my pick again?

Jennie's Reply

2009-02-15T19:35:00.000-08:00

We'll never come to an agreement - I love the sound of everyone else's suggestions. Outlander - read it a few years back and loved it. My mom would jump all over that one! The John and Abigail Adams one sounds good, as does the Thomas Jefferson one.
I have a copy of A Woman in Berlin - read it already and will read it again for the discussion. We could start it now.
As for pointers on getting books for cheap - my favorite way is to find a good used book store in my neighborhood. My old one would let me trade my books in for store credit and I would get new books. Just a thought.
I agree that three months out is where we should be as far as planning and all. So we should choose a new March book (if AWIB is the Feb book?), an April book and a May book.

Anne's book ideas

2009-02-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone for considering my plight in getting books to read. (I hope I am not causing a problem.) Our library system is big but hard to get books that are new. The two local book groups that I am in have the same problem. I appreciate the advice on where to find books online that are cheap. I don't buy much online and so I really don't know where to find the cheapest books. I will look into purchasing some of the books suggested if we decide to read them.

As far as book suggestions go, I am willing to read just about everything. All of your suggestions sound great. Two books that are on my list to read are:
Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the first Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805 by Richard Zacks

There are no holds at my Library for March's book "A Woman in Berlin" if we wanted to start there while we work out the books for the next several months.

Annette' Thoughts on Books

2009-02-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

First...a book: Out of Jennie's list (that are at Rebecca's library) I'd prefer Pilate's Wife. Out of Rebecca's list...maybe Out Stealing Horses (although it sounds a little darker than I'm in the mood for in the middle of winter). (I'd prefer Pilates' to Horses) I also have a suggestion of a book that should be at a library (or really cheap through Amazon marketplace) but maybe you've already read it: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (I accidentally read the 2nd in the series...want to go back and read the 1st volume).

Second...book getting: Perhaps we should plan 3 months ahead for books to allow everyone to get in line for books at the library? (are you all on the list for the the Woman in Berlin book?) As Jennie knows I buy my books through Amazon (new or used) and then keep them for my library or pass them on...so I hadn't really been thinking about how hard it would be to get popular new books at libraries. I should have. In addition to planning ahead we could do something like only pick books that are in paperback or are at least a year old...should increase the chance of getting them cheap used or at the library. Any other ideas?

Third...buying books cheap. Online, I'd suggest amazon (click on "used" books) or powells book. We buy a lot of our books "lightly used" from dealers with good ratings. I just checked amazon...here are some examples (only from dealers with a "rating" greater than 97% positivie:

Pilate's Wife: $4.75 (.75 for the book, 3.99 for shipping)
Out Stealing Horses: 10.87 (6.87 for book, 3.99 for shipping)
Outlander: 6.89 (2.89 for the book and 3.99 for shipping)

USed book stores: most used book stores now have their inventory catalog on computer. So you could also look for used bookstores in your town and call them when looking for a book to see if they have it (might be cheaper without shipping).

books on my list (Rebecca)

2009-02-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not familiar with any from Jennie's list so those would be a great place to start! Here's also a few on my reading list (waiting for availability at library)

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson

My Dearest Friend: letters of Abigail and John Adams

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Jennie's Suggestions

2009-02-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

Here's a few books I can think of to suggest - maybe we should vote on them based on their availability?

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain

Buster Midnight's Cafe by Sandra Dallas

Pilate's Wife by Antionette May

The Virgin's Knot by Holly Payne

Admittedly, I do own several of these books, but I know most of them have been published for quite a while. These are just suggestions.

Postpone our reading list?

2009-02-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Anne commented she's having a hard time getting books from her library in time (as in she's 133rd on the "hold" list for Outliers, and still waitng to get Sugar Beach) Should we postpone these books for a few months and see if there are some others she (all of us) can locate easier/quicker? I know that for me it's not the best time to purchase books either. My library is part of a pretty big system and so luckily I haven't had too much trouble.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Since our group is so small I'd feel bad leaving anyone out!

Ideas for other books so we can start checking our libraries? I'll start looking...

Annette's Thoughts - (Now that she's finally home)

2009-02-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies...sorry to have been slow on commenting and completely lapsing on providing any questions...as I would expect you've stepped up to the plate with a very interesting set of comments. Here are mine,

I was fascinated with this book and Helene's story and that of her country. I found myself surprised more than a few times. I liked Helene...she wasn't a perfect person but she had the ability to rise to the occasion, learn, and had a good sense of humor in spite of situations.

Although I knew that Liberia had been "founded" by slaves and that it is now a cesspool of corruption and poor living conditions, I had no idea how quickly the fortunes of the country changed and how affluent some segments of the country had been in the not too recent past. And things like there not being electricity in the capital for something like 10 years! How can that be??? I didn't know about the flight of virtually all the educated and well off blacks to foreign countries. And speaking of educated and wealthy blacks....I just never knew that the upper class of Liberia were black and that they were so wealthy. And that they were wealthy in a very "western" way....with their fascination with modern architecture and of things from the US...Nancy Drew, movies, music, dress, and cars....adn Europe. What a loss to this country to lose all that education and experience with their flight out of Liberia.

I agree with jennie that I was fascinated with the fact that some people have remained loyal to Liberia and keep going back. And that some people never left even when they had the choice to leave. It is a testimony to the pull of national roots and sense of community. It seems insane and remarkably admirable at the same time.

Several "cultural" things fascinated me about Helene's upbringing in Liberia. First, I was struck by the fact she didn't view herself as "second class" to any other group or race of people. In not growing up somewhere like the US where blacks are often (and at one time were always) treated as second class citizens with sub par capabilities, she grew up thinking of herself as capable and...well...superior. Her shock of how blacks were viewed and treated in the US when she first moved here was sad testimony to race relations in the US at the time.

I know that the language thing was confusing for some of you...I was captivated by it. I've always had an avid interest in language, dialects, the use of language in culture, how culture shapes language and vice versa, and how language is used to define social groups and classes. The use of multiple accents and dialects to maneuver in different social situations is foreign to many of us in the western US where we always say "we have no accent" ...but it isn't that distant. I have several Boston friends who's accents lighten up when they aren't with their Boston friends. And the desire to speak "proper" (for instance a cockney learning to speak with a Queen's English accent AKA My Fair Lady) is pretty common. And we associate the "good old boy red neck accent" with...well...undereducated red necks!

Although it made a tougher read, I don't think she could have told her story without using the language and dialects to show who she was or who she was trying to be at any given moment.

But beyond the heaviness of the politics and chaos of what happened to her family and her country, there was also a delightful story of a little girl growing up amongst close friends and family. I loved things like the fact that the girls ended up pulling the mattresses all into one room and sleeping their together the entire time they lived there even though there was 4 times the room. I loved the glimpses into her teen years, being boy crazy, fighting the bullies, just "normal" stuff. I thought she described well the heartache and confusion over the divorce.

I wondered too along with Jennie as to why it took Helene so long to contact her sister back in Liberia. I wonder if there was something going on akin to "survivor's guilt"...she was lucky enough to get out and maybe she felt guilty or ashamed? hmmm...I don't know. It may have also just been a certain level of immature self-centeredness going on that she finally grew out of.I agree with Rebecca that when they reunite and Eunice shows no bitterness and instead is mature and greeets Helene with an open heart, I was really impressed by how amazing she was to have survived without bitterness and was able to carve out a life for herself in that chaotic morass of a country.

All in all...the book was a great journey. Now onto Outliers!

The House at Sugar Beach - Jennie's thoughts

2009-02-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

Aunt Annette couldn't find any questions she liked for this book, plus she's been travelling, so we're going to just post our thoughts.
I should have done what Rebecca did and write down my thoughts immediately instead of now, but I'll do my best.
Things from this book that have stayed with me:

The history of Liberia - had absolutely no idea going into this book. Very interesting.
The breakdown in these African countries of all order - I just finished a book on Rwanda this past fall and it truly amazes me the level of atrocity a group can go to.
How quickly the "new regime" starts to act like the old one.
The impact the divorce had on Helene's family - while it was devastating, it didn't seem all that bad for them. She said she saw her father more once her parents divorced. But it had to have been a problem for her. I wonder if it has been the influence on her relationships as an adult. It would have to have an impact.
Helene's mother's choice to let the intruders rape her in order to protect her daughters. Aaron and I have discussed this, especially in light of "The Woman in Berlin" that I chose for March. I would do anything to protect my daughter from something like that. Would I make the same choice? I don't know. What Aaron pointed out, and I agree, is that you couldn't know that those men wouldn't just go ahead and rape the girls after the mother. That's putting a lot of faith in men who aren't really all that trustworthy. But I think I could handle it better than my daughter. Although it still traumatized her daughters, just in a different way. Frankly, I'd just as soon shoot them.
I think the family was a little blind to what was going on around them, not protecting themselves, not leaving Sugar Beach before it was too late.
The level of loyalty some of her Liberian friends had to Liberia, even after horrible things happened to them, amazed me. If something like that were to happen in America, if my family were killed, no, murdered by the government, I don't think I'd be sticking around. I wouldn't love my country after that. It wouldn't be America if that sort of thing went on. It wouldn't be my country.
She went so long without contacting her sister back in Liberia - I never understood why, really. Trying to distance herself from the country is different than distancing herself from family I think.

That's all I can think of now. I'll read what others post and comment.

Sugar Beach--Review--from Rebecca

2009-02-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

(I wrote the following right after finishing the book. Now that it's Feb. I'm going to post it b/c my book has to go back to the library this week!) There aren't any questions posted yet, so here I am writing some thoughts down in a very random way. When I first started reading, it was interesting but a little slow. I got a little bogged down in the introduction of so many relatives and different times in history. Once I got halfway though, I was so caught up in Helene's life that I read all the way through in one evening, just wanting to know the outcome! It's amazing to know that this is her true-life story.

Helene is so very likable. At the end, one thing I found myself really wanting was to actually hear her voice, and was excited when I found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vbZI3fbTC8. It was easy to picture her as a friend, a happy child, a "normal" teen. I liked her honesty--for instance in telling about the way she faced some of her new challenges like attending new schools and hiding in the library. We've all faced new situations before and I related to that feeling. She was inspiring--she kept moving forward even after her childhood was taken from her and dedicated herself to achieving her dream as a journalist. I think she's a remarkable woman!

Reading this made me feel immenseley stupid in the realm of foreign affairs. I don't think I'd given much thought to the country of Liberia prior to this! Once it was an affluent, up & going society and after the coup, it reverted into a 3rd world country! How so many people survived, and are still living in this manner, with no electricty, no phone lines, etc. is shocking. What then struck me is how fragile our country is as well. It could be said that we have a false sense of security too. In the end, Philip had stayed behind, saying that despite what had happened, Liberia was his home. That is some serious allegiance! I was touched at how he had endured a church service in the same congregation with the men who murdered his father, and then been able to let go of the anger & hatred. I would have liked to learn a little more about him.

While at first it seemed strange that Helene's parents went and adopted 11 year old Eunice from a poor family, I was pleasantly suprised that Eunice really was treated like their own daughter. I think that says a lot about Helene's parents. I loved that although Eunice was shy and stuttered when she spoke, that she was still spunky and courageous. Where did she get her inner strength from? She was the one always comforting Marlene, reassuring Helene, protecting them when she wasn't even that much older than they were. There wasn't very much detail about her life after the Coopers moved to the U.S. I was shocked when Eunice got pregnant in a relationship where the boyfriend took off immediately after. This didn't seem like her. I wonder if she was feeling "lost" during this time of her life, without the Coopers, dreams of college in the U.S. now unattainable, living in a poor shack with her biological mom again, and just longed for some love and security in a boyfriend. I was pretty heartbroken for her. To sidestep away from Eunice for a minute...I was impressed by the lesson that this taught Helene, Marlene, and their father when he told his girls that they "could always come talk" to their parents. When Eunice reunites with Helene again, she seems to have carried no bitterness. I have to admire this amazing, humble, woman.

Sugar Beach comment

2009-01-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

I'm about 1/3 into this book (so no spoilers or anything here) and this observation keeps coming up so I wanted to post it now prior to our discussion. Hope this is ok!

So this is pretty minor, but is anyone else having a tough time reconciling that Helene and her family are the wealthy, upper class, almost royalty in their country DUE TO THE WAY THEY TALK? Is it because we Americans are so conditioned to associating wealth and privilege with a proper use of the English language?

This is not meant to be critical of the family in any way. It's just hard to wrap my head around this! In fact, I think this makes it fascinating because it pushes me beyond what I know. Happy reading!

Reading list

2009-01-05T16:25:00.001-08:00

I posted a little list on the side - and I chose (hope no one minds) to list a book for March because I am DYING to discuss this book with women I know a bit better than random people on the internet. So, for March, I chose A Woman in Berlin - here's the blurb:

For eight weeks in 1945, as Berlin fell to the Russian army, a young woman kept a daily record of life in her apartment building and among its residents. Spare, unpredictable, minutely observed, and utterly free of self-pity (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland), the anonymous author depicts her fellow Berliners in all their humanity as well as their cravenness. And with bald honesty and brutal lyricism (Elle), she tells of the shameful indignities to which women in a conquered city are always subject. A Woman in Berlin is, to quote A. S. Byatt, essential, and a classic of war literature.

This is really a powerful book and deserves a good discussion. I would really appreciate some feedback on it! I promise to not dominate it either!

Mansfield Park - from Anne

2008-12-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

Whew! I should have sat down and posted my thoughts a lot earlier this month. (And I am so relieved that everyone struggled with this book. I thought it was just me and that I would not be allowed in the Jane Austen fan club anymore.)

Here are my thoughts....

1. Though it was very successful, Jane Austen deemed Pride and Prejudice "rather too light." Austen hoped to address more serious issues in her next novel, Mansfield Park. Many readers and critics think Mansfield Park is Austen's most serious and most profound novel. How does it differ from other Austen novels? How are her treatments of class, gender, relationships, and most especially, faith, more nuanced and more mature?

I would have to say that this is a serious novel, not as light hearted as most of her others. But, the topic that she was constantly trying to bring out is a more serious topic. I think Annette said that she felt like Jane was preaching to her while she read, and I did too.

2. Describe the social positions of the three Ward sisters: Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price. How did they arrive at such different circumstances and how have their circumstances presumably affect their personalities? How do the sisters treat each other and how much of this is a result of their respective status?

These ladies drove me nuts. Each one was so lacking in motherly characteristics that I had a hard time remembering that they were the adults and not Fanny. They each arrived at their various circumstances by their choice of marriage and the luxury of the money that they married into, or in Mrs. Price's case didn't marry into. I think that their personalities might have changed a little once they were married but it wouldn't surprise me if they were just as annoying as unmarried women!

3. Describe the family's feelings for Fanny as the novel develops. How does the treatment of Fanny by Mrs. Norris and the Bertram sisters distinguish her from the rest of the children? How does Fanny feel about the Bertrams and how do her feelings change?

I felt like the Bertram sisters felt that they needed a charitable project to keep their status in high society so they adopted Fanny into their home. There was no love for Fanny, she was a burden to just about everyone, or so they thought. Mrs. Norris and the Bertram sisters believed that no one could possibly be better then themselves so they treated Fanny as a servant to make sure she never achieved a greater status then themselves. I felt that Fanny was grateful and terrified to be chosen and taken away from her home, even though it wasn't a caring home. If someone had nurtured her more, taken her under their wing, I bet she would have bloomed earlier than she did in the book. She wasn't my favorite heroine of the Austen novels but she did say some things that made me chuckle. (And if I wasn't on vacation writing this right now, I would flip through my book and write down some of my favorite Fanny quotes.)

4. Mansfield Park was divided into three volumes, published separately. Why do you think Austen chose this structure, and how does it affect your reading of the book?

My edition was divided and it didn't affect the reading of my book at all. It was still hard to read!

5. From the moment the idea is suggested, Edmund is against the staging of a play. Why is the play seen as inappropriate by both Edmund and Fanny? Why, once it is decided upon, does Edmund accept a part in the play, even though he would appear a hypocrite? What is the significance of their choice of plays, Lover's Vows?

Acting was considered to be something suggestive during Fanny's time. Pretending to be a different character was seen as dangerous by those with good moral values because you could forget who you were and just pretend, and that allowed all of those young people to be flirtatious and I think that was what bothered Edmund and Fanny. I think Rebecca said that she felt Edmund was kind of "wishy washy" for the entire book and again, I agree. He wasn't firm in his decisions, he could be persuaded by others, and I have a hard time viewing him as a parson.

6. Describe the similarities and differences between the courtship of Edmund and Mary and that of Fanny and Henry. What are the stumbling blocks in these two courtships that cause them to fail? Ugh! These courtships were tedious, nothing but lies and deceits. I hated the way Mary used Edmund and that Edmund allowed it to happen. Henry drove me nuts that he "chose" to try to break Fanny's heart and then ended up in love with her, and then ran off with her cousin. Hello! He is awful!!!! The part that I was a bit annoyed by was when Fanny and Edmund finally got together we didn't get to see it through the characters eyes, we heard it from the narrator. I was happy that Fanny finally got what she wanted but felt like Jane didn't really want to include that and added it as a side note at the end when she was all done preaching.

I do want to read this book again to see if I feel differently about it. Has anyone seen the movie? Is it any good?

Advance Notice--February book

2008-12-29T09:57:00.001-08:00

Just thought I'd put this up since I'm thinking about it. I'll take February---

Malcolm Gladwell's newest book "Outliers"

His others were really interesting (maybe for another month's reading) despite some holes in the theories. I'm curious as to how this new one stacks up.

Jennie do you want to put this in a sidebar or something--our advance reading schedule?

Mansfield Park--Rebecca

2008-12-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry all for my late post--December got full way quicker than I anticipated!

I was suprised at how difficult it was for me to get through Mansfield Park! This was due partly to the other books I was reading at the time...more contemporary I guess. I think I would enjoy MP more during an in-depth study of Austen's works, where I was more immersed in the times. For example, it did take me a while to understand why "the play" was such a big deal, more specificallywhy it was a big "no-no." But once I had an understanding of the moral issue, it was interesting to watch everyone's reaction to it.

I felt sorry for Fanny, but it was harder to feel close to her. I felt like there were more descriptions of other characters than of Fanny. She "grew up" so quickly in those first few chapters that I didn't get a chance to "know" her. It's a story of a quiet character. One of the things to admire in her is her consistency. She didn't let others influence her in a bad way. She didn't bow to peer pressure! The simplest way to put it is that she is so "good."

I read another review that made a comparison between this and P&P which I thought was interesting....Elizabeth Bennett is both "witty AND good" whereas Fanny is just "good". Mr. Darcy is "rich AND good" where Henry Crawford is just "rich." I think this makes MP more real in a sense---the main characters are not loaded with attributes we are all drawn to..they're pretty normal.

What did I think about Edmund? I wanted to be annoyed with him for seeming to be flaky and falling in love with Mary Crawford. (side note: I never felt comfortable with Mary--she acted all innocent but I think she had to know what she was doing! And I was so upset with her for going out riding on Fanny's horse so that Fanny was stuck indoors!) Anyway, I can't fault Edmund too much because I did the same thing he did---OVERLOOKED Fanny. But I was glad that he finally saw who Mary really was, and that he stayed true to himself.

So, I like all these topics in MP--there is a lot to talk about and discuss--again an in-depth study would be the way to go with this one. It just wasn't an easy one to read!! I told Jennie that I'm going to re-read one of my other Austen books this month (Persuasion) and I'll certainly continue to draw comparisons about why I enjoy some Austen books more than others.

My Favorites 2008

2008-12-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

I liked your idea Annette!

My favorite books of 2008:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy

Suck Your Stomach in and Put Some Color On by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra

Bitter Sweets by Roopa Farooki

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

The Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi

The Island by Victoria Hislop

Next Book - The House at Sugar Beach

2008-12-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

Okay Jennie I'll have a go at the next book. I'd like to read "The House at Sugar Beach" by Helen eCooper. With the holidays and all. Shall we "meet" the last week in January? Giving us a little time to get to the book in between holiday travels and festivities?

Here is the synopsis of Sugar Beach from goodreads: Helene Cooper is "Congo," a descendant of two Liberian dynasties -- traced back to the first ship of freemen that set sail from New York in 1820 to found Monrovia. Helene grew up at Sugar Beach, a twenty-two-room mansion by the sea. Her childhood was filled with servants, flashy cars, a villa in Spain, and a farmhouse up-country.

It was also an African childhood, filled with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee. When Helene was eight, the Coopers took in a foster child -- a common custom among the Liberian elite. Eunice, a Bassa girl, suddenly became known as "Mrs. Cooper's daughter." For years the Cooper daughters -- Helene, her sister Marlene, and Eunice -- blissfully enjoyed the trappings of wealth and advantage. But Liberia was like an unwatched pot of water left boiling on the stove. And on April 12, 1980, a group of soldiers staged a coup d'état, assassinating President William Tolbert and executing his cabinet. The Coopers and the entire Congo class were now the hunted, being imprisoned, shot, tortured, and raped. After a brutal daylight attack by a ragtag crew of soldiers, Helene, Marlene, and their mother fled Sugar Beach, and then Liberia, for America. They left Eunice behind.

A world away, Helene tried to assimilate as an American teenager. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she found her passion in journalism, eventually becoming a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. She reported from every part of the globe -- except Africa -- as Liberia descended into war-torn, third-world hell. In 2003, a near-death experience in Iraq convinced Helene that Liberia -- and Eunice -- could wait no longer. At once a deeply personal memoir and an examination of a violent and stratified country, The House at Sugar Beach tells of tragedy, forgiveness, and transcendence with unflinching honesty and a survivor's gentle humor. And at its heart, it is a story of Helene Cooper's long voyage home. [close]

Mansfield Park - Jennie

2008-12-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

I have a confession. I really struggled with this book. I could not get into it. It is not like Jane Austen's other books that really draw you in right away. This book was a little slower and a bit more tedious. Edmund drove me a bit crazy - he was a little dense, falling in love with Miss Crawford. The sisters were horrible to Fanny, as were the aunts. And Fanny was too much of a doormat - I guess this is why I really love Elizabeth Bennett and Emma Woodhouse - they were in a better social position and could therefore stand up for themselves a bit better. I prefer a fiestier heroine.
So my review is a bit lame. I'm sorry, I truly am! I'll work harder on the next one. Speaking of which . . . . Annette, would you like to choose?

my favorites in 2008

2008-12-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

Here is my list of my favorite books that I read in 2008 (just a few more than the target number of 10). What are yours?

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer

The Sacred Willow: Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family: Duong Van Mai Elliott

Queen of the Road : The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of its Own by Doreen Orion

The Glass Castle: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls

Jacob's Ladder: A Story of Virginia During the War by Donald McCaig

China, Inc: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World, by Ted C. Fishman

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer

Catfish and Mandala: A Two Wheeled Voyage through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam by Andrew X. Pham

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl

Roar of the Heavens: Surviving Hurricane Camille, Stefan Bechtel

Cross Creek, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Dragonfly in Amber, Diana Gabaldon.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo

Mansfield Park - from Annette

2008-12-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

I was expecting to like Mansfield Park better than I did. I'm glad I read it. I always enjoying hearing Jane's voice but I didn't find this as satisfying as Pride, Emma, or Sense. There were times when frankly...I skimmed paragraphs....I know horrifying...but it was either that or fall asleep or worse, give up. I just thought that there was more narration and less action/dialogue than I would have liked. And i believe in some cases, she could have achieved the same effect with less narration.

Favorite characters?: Fanny, of course, Edmund (although he was amazingly dense at times!), William, and eventually Mr. Bertram (the elder) who I believe was the character who made the most "growth" of all of them.

Least favorite: Mrs. Norris...Jane gave her a wonderfully gawdawful "voice". So proper, so insipidly vacuous. ugggh.

1. Though it was very successful, Jane Austen deemed Pride and Prejudice "rather too light." Austen hoped to address more serious issues in her next novel, Mansfield Park. Many readers and critics think Mansfield Park is Austen's most serious and most profound novel. How does it differ from other Austen novels? How are her treatments of class, gender, relationships, and most especially, faith, more nuanced and more mature?

It is more serious than Pride and Prejudice, but I enjoyed P and P much more. I felt that Jane was preaching at me more in this book that its style was not just more serious but more heavy handed. . There were times when she describes interactions and conversations as opposed to relaying them...I found it much harder to pay attention frankly. I felt that she was wielding a much bigger hammer when a smaller one would do...but perhaps at the time it was written a BIG one was needed? What she has to say isn't as shocking or revelatory now than it would have been then. Perhaps that is a difference. I can't talk about the "nuance/mature" question because its been a couple of years since I read P and P.

2. Describe the social positions of the three Ward sisters: Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price. How did they arrive at such different circumstances and how have their circumstances presumably affect their personalities? How do the sisters treat each other and how much of this is a result of their respective status?

hmmm...they arrived where they are by their choice of who they married. And that has defined what class they inhabit, the amount of financial security, and the extent of leisure they possess. Lady Bertram has the luxury of idleness and self-centerness...it is in fact not just tolerated but encouraged at least by some. Mrs. Norris...well I believe she was a piece of work from birth...the fact she didn't have children of her own probably makes her more meddlesome than she might have been...but I don't know...she pretty much likes to tell the world how it should be. Mrs. Price...well...her life became a struggle and remains a struggle. No room for lofty thoughts, self-edification, or much else.

3. Describe the family's feelings for Fanny as the novel develops. How does the treatment of Fanny by Mrs. Norris and the Bertram sisters distinguish her from the rest of the children? How does Fanny feel about the Bertrams and how do her feelings change?

Edmund is the only one who attempts to see Fanny as Fanny...worthy of attention and care. Mrs. Norris and the sisters see her at best as a "project" or as something that should make them feel superior for being so charitable to her. They do not view her as an equal in class or in person. Fanny is at first afraid and in awe of them. I believe as time passes she sees them more clearly but she always seems to keep to "her place" as would "be proper"...but I do think she begins to see them more 3 dimensionally.

4. Mansfield Park was divided into three volumes, published separately. Why do you think Austen chose this structure, and how does it affect your reading of the book?

I wasn't aware of it...so it didn't affect the reading of the book at all. I'm not sure why it would?

5. From the moment the idea is suggested, Edmund is against the staging of a play. Why is the play seen as inappropriate by both Edmund and Fanny? Why, once it is decided upon, does Edmund accept a part in the play, even though he would appear a hypocrite? What is the significance of their choice of plays, Lover's Vows?

I must admit...from my viewpoint in the "Modern" future...it took me awhile to figure out what the fuss was all about for Edmund and Fanny. But I think it boils down to that Edmund didn't believe acting was a suitable activity for the women. I think he also felt it was too "frivilous"...but I don't think that was the main concern. Edmund taking part in the play was somewhat of a "necessary evil" in that it kept someone (was it Yates? I can't remember) who he felt completely inappropriate from acting and interacting with his sisters in the play.

6. Describe the similarities and differences between the courtship of Edmund and Mary and that of Fanny and Henry. What are the stumbling blocks in these two courtships that cause them to fail? To what extent were the trials of these courtships

Fundamentally Edmund and Fanny viewed the world (what was important, values, propriety etc) very differently than Mary and Henry. Fanny knew this all along....Edmund for whatever reasons had difficulty seeing this of Mary.

I look forward to hearing what eveyrone else has to say.

Mansfield Park Discussion

2008-11-24T19:22:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post questions for Mansfield Park this week before the craziness of Thanksgiving makes me forget. I will hide the text like Jennie did so I don't spoil anything for those who might not be finished yet.

1. Though it was very successful, Jane Austen deemed Pride and Prejudice "rather too light." Austen hoped to address more serious issues in her next novel, Mansfield Park. Many readers and critics think Mansfield Park is Austen's most serious and most profound novel. How does it differ from other Austen novels? How are her treatments of class, gender, relationships, and most especially, faith, more nuanced and more mature?

2. Describe the social positions of the three Ward sisters: Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price. How did they arrive at such different circumstances and how have their circumstances presumably affect their personalities? How do the sisters treat each other and how much of this is a result of their respective status?

3. Describe the family's feelings for Fanny as the novel develops. How does the treatment of Fanny by Mrs. Norris and the Bertram sisters distinguish her from the rest of the children? How does Fanny feel about the Bertrams and how do her feelings change?

4. Mansfield Park was divided into three volumes, published separately. Why do you think Austen chose this structure, and how does it affect your reading of the book?

5. From the moment the idea is suggested, Edmund is against the staging of a play. Why is the play seen as inappropriate by both Edmund and Fanny? Why, once it is decided upon, does Edmund accept a part in the play, even though he would appear a hypocrite? What is the significance of their choice of plays, Lover's Vows?

6. Describe the similarities and differences between the courtship of Edmund and Mary and that of Fanny and Henry. What are the stumbling blocks in these two courtships that cause them to fail? To what extent were the trials of these courtships responsible for Edmund's change of heart toward Fanny?

December book?

2008-11-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

Any takers for December?

Potato Peel Society

2008-11-13T16:09:00.001-08:00

I am finally posting my review! Sorry it took me so long - will you excuse the crazy lady with schoolwork?

I also really enjoyed this book - on the surface, it was breezy and fun, but with a bit more to it than that.

1. What was it like to read a novel composed entirely of letters? What do letters offer that no other form of writing (not even emails) can convey?

I actually liked that fact that you jumped into the middle of this correspondence between friends, and started the new one with Dawsey at the same time. It's fun figuring out the dynamics of the relationships based on what you learn through each letter. First I though that Juliet and Sidney were destined for one another, but I realized only later that theirs was too much of a brother/sister relationship.

I adore letters - they convey so much of what the person is thinking at the time. E-mail is too quick. When I'm writing a letter, I take the time to get the right words in my head before I put them on paper. You kind of get the difference in the book with the letters v. the telegrams and quick notes.

2. What makes Sidney and Sophie ideal friends for Juliet? What common ground do they share? Who has been a similar advocate in your life?

Sidney and Sophie were ideal friends for Juliet because they had her best interests at heart - no ulterior motives. They "got" her, really understood her quirks and what she had gone through in her life. They were the kind of friends you don't have to explain yourself too. For me, Sariah and my mom would be similar advocates. And Aaron. And Rebecca and Annette (just had to throw you two in there!). The kind of friend that pushes you to do something that you know you want to do but are afraid of doing.

3. Dawsey first wrote to Juliet because books, on Charles Lamb or otherwise, were so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences did you note between bookselling in the novel and bookselling in your world? What makes book lovers unique, across all generations?

Differences between bookselling in the novel and in my world? Um, I can get anything I want with free shipping? I can't imagine not having nearly every book imaginable available to me at all times. I can get used, rare, out-of-print books and the latest bestseller. I can get books in any language if I want to.

What makes book lovers unique, in my mind, is that we tend to obsess about our favorite authors or subjects. I, personally, have a smidge of an obsession with Jane Austen. Love her books. Love books about her. There's even a book on Jane Austen and food that I read at culinary school. I also love books about Asia - India, China, Japan, Vietnam. Fiction, non-fiction. Bit of an obsession with me. Dawsey developed a passion for Charles Lamb and pursued it. I would do the same had it be me on Guernsey, reading Jane Austen for the first time.

4. What were your first impressions of Dawsey? How was he different from the other men Juliet had known?
Truthfully, I didn't even consider him as a prospect for Juliet - I thought he was too old! He seemed good and kind. The other men in Juliet's life were a bit flashier, more modern. Fast-paced kind of men. Nothing wrong with either, but she obviously hadn't found what she wanted with them.

5. Discuss the poets, novelists, biographers, and other writers who capture the hearts of the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. What does a reader’s taste in books say about his or her personality? Whose lives were changed the most by membership in the society?

I can't remember much, but the woman who was so excited when she was introduced to Pride and Prejudice I immediately related to.

6. Juliet occasionally receives mean-spirited correspondence from strangers, accusing both Elizabeth and Juliet of being immoral. What accounts for their judgmental ways?

7. In what ways were Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits? What did Elizabeth’s spontaneous invention of the society, as well as her brave final act, say about her approach to life?

8. Numerous Guernsey residents give Juliet access to their private memories of the occupation. Which voices were most memorable for you? What was the effect of reading a variety of responses to a shared tragedy?

9. Kit and Juliet complete each other in many ways. What did they need from each other? What qualities make Juliet an unconventional, excellent mother?

10. How did Remy’s presence enhance the lives of those on Guernsey? Through her survival, what recollections, hopes, and lessons also survived?

11. Juliet rejects marriage proposals from a man who is a stereotypical “great catch.” How would you have handled Juliet’s romantic entanglement? What truly makes someone a “great catch”?

I'm a bit passive aggressive, so I would most likely have handled it the same way - got caught up in the romance of it all and in the end realized he was so wrong for me! But I would have to escape him first to really know it. Oh wait, this IS MY LIFE! Thank goodness for my own Guernsey Island (known in Jennie's history as Hyde Park NY and Seattle WA) where I realized how wrong he was and then found Mr. Right-for-Me.

12. What was the effect of reading a novel about an author’s experiences with writing, editing, and getting published? Did this enhance the book’s realism, though Juliet’s experience is a bit different from that of debut novelist Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece, children’s book author Annie Barrows?

At least they had a first-hand knowledge of the process. I can relate a bit, especially to Juliet's lack of inspiration that drives you far away from what you know so you can find it again.

13. What historical facts about life in England during World War II were you especially surprised to discover? What traits, such as remarkable stamina, are captured in a detail such as potato peel pie? In what ways does fiction provide a means for more fully understanding a non-fiction truth?

14. Which of the members of the Society is your favorite? Whose literary opinions are most like your own?

15. Do you agree with Isola that “reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones”?
Yes, yes and YES!

Potato Peel Society - thoughts from Annette

2008-11-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

I loved this book. I found it very human, very touching. Jerry and I don't often read the same type of fiction but he was desparate for something to read towards the end of our trip (and was running out of books) so I suggest PPS. He loved it as well.

1. What was it like to read a novel composed entirely of letters? What do letters offer that no other form of writing (not even emails) can convey?

I liked this format for this story. It easily allowed the story to switch "points of view" without cumbersome narrative. And since part of the story line was uncovering how the war effected different people in different places, I found this a very effective way of conveying that information. The author had the ability of making each character's letters easily convey their personalities and histories.

2. What makes Sidney and Sophie ideal friends for Juliet?

Having been an only child (and having raised an only child), I personally know and understand the importance of and the trueness of choosing friends who become your family. I've often said that you have the family you are born with and the family you choose (and if you are lucky there is some overlap). Maybe its even easier to have that honesty and uncompetitive love amongst friends you choose as family...maybe there isn't the baggage (the good and the bad) that comes with siblings and family history? hmmm...don't know for sure since i wasn't raised with siblings. But I know that my husband although close to his brother was never close with his sister...ever.

What made Sidney and Sophie special was their honesty, their appreciation of intelligent thought, and I believe they offered Sophie, unconditional love (which she returned). I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold throughout the book.

3. Dawsey first wrote to Juliet because books, on Charles Lamb or otherwise, were so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences did you note between bookselling in the novel and bookselling in your world? What makes book lovers unique, across all generations?

We still fortunately have access to a wonderful independent bookseller in the town next to ours. His bookstore is like a treasure trove although it is so messy that it is really more like a treasure hunt! But for the most part we have such easy access to knowledge of books, authors, and history through the internet that it is hard to compare the bookselling worlds at all (hence the demise of small bookstores). We can buy new books and old books online through individuals and large bookstores. In most ways this is really cool...but there is also a little loss of "the hunt" of the anticipation (one of the reason I still love to just blindly walk through used bookstores).

I believe book lovers are curious (in all aspects of that word actually). I believe book lovers enjoy the ability to travel with the mind. I believe we eager to explore other people's worlds and thoughts and beliefs (even if we don't share them).

4. What were your first impressions of Dawsey? How was he different from the other men Juliet had known?

I found Dawsey self contained and centered from the very first. Unlike Anne I didn't immediately see him with Juliet until Juliet actually travels to the island...then it was SO obvious to me that they would be good together. How was he different? I believe that his sense of self and his self confidence was not dependent on other people and in particular not dependent on his reflection in the eyes of a woman. Because of that he had the ability to let other people (juliet included) be who they were without trying to fit them into a cubby that suited him. I liked his ability to be quiet. There was a line in the book where Juliet says she couldn't imagine being with a man who she couldn't be quiet with (or something like that). Dawsey was a man who she could comfortably sit in silence with.

5. ...Whose lives were changed the most by membership in the society?

Wow...this is a tough one for me. Maybe that guy (I can't remember his name) who comes to love Shakespeare? Or perhaps Dawsey...because in the end it was his interest in Charles Lamb that led him to Juliet. It was that interest that ended up bringing her to the island and to him.

6. Juliet occasionally receives mean-spirited correspondence from strangers, accusing both Elizabeth and Juliet of being immoral. What accounts for their judgmental ways?

Now that is the 64 dollar question. They had very narrow views of the world. Whether that came naturally, from religion, through some disaapointment or defeat in life...I can't figure it out. I didn't give it much thought. There are always people like that everywhere who are mean spirited, narrow minded and unfortunately feel a compunction to tell everyone within ear shot how they feel about things. I often think they are people who are angry or unloved or both.

7. In what ways were Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits? What did Elizabeth’s spontaneous invention of the society, as well as her brave final act, say about her approach to life?

I agree wtih Anne's comment that they both marched to their own drums different from others and felt comfortable about it. They both were accepting of people's differences, appreciative of intelligence, emotionally brave, a little pig headed (in a good way), and generous of spirit.

10. How did Remy’s presence enhance the lives of those on Guernsey? Through her survival, what recollections, hopes, and lessons also survived?

This is an interesting question that I'm not sure I know how to answer. Remy was another "outsider" like Juliet, who manages to find her own place in really what is quite a remarkable community of friends. She, I think, was a bridge to Elizabeth and perhaps helped bring closure for many people. Perhaps for some their ability to help Remy heal was like a final act of homage to Elizabeth who they ended up not being able to help out of her tragedy. I think that many felt that Elizabeth would have wanted them, perhaps would have expected them, to help Remy. Perhaps it helps the community heal from the war.

11. Juliet rejects marriage proposals from a man who is a stereotypical “great catch.” How would you have handled Juliet’s romantic entanglement? What truly makes someone a “great catch”?

I'm not sure I would have dated him as long as she did...except that I know he was a welcome respite from the grayness and ugliness of London during the war. Perhaps he was like a vacation. But it didn't seem like they ever really talked about anything that mattered to her and that he absolutely didn't understand her true yearnings and intellect. He wasn't a bad guy at all...he just definitely wasn't the right guy.

13. What historical facts about life in England during World War II were you especially surprised to discover? What traits, such as remarkable stamina, are captured in a detail such as potato peel pie? In what ways does fiction provide a means for more fully understanding a non-fiction truth?

Neither Jerry nor I knew that the Channel Islands had been occupied for almost the entire war...that was a complete surprise. I knew about the bombings and deprivations of London and about the children who were sent to the country (they were actually send from all over europe). But what I hadn't realized was that the rationing and shortage of goods went on for so long after the war.

14. Which of the members of the Society is your favorite? Whose literary opinions are most like your own?
Isola, I think. Was she the Jane Austen nut?

15. Do you agree with Isola that “reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones”?

Pretty much...

Rebecca's question about the book ending. I hadn't really thought about it so had to go back and read that section of the book. And although it obviously didn't spoil the ending for me (otherwise I would have noticed it) I do find it a big odd. Especially since it goes back to the "letter" format for one final letter from Juliet to Sidney. However, it kind of fits Isola's quirky nature and is an extension of her love of everything "miss marple".

I have one theory. This book was researched and started by Mary Ann shaffer but was finished by (or was assisted in finishing by) her niece Annie Barrows when Mary Ann Shaffer became ill. She actually died before the book was published (in february 2008...just two months after she wrote the acknowledgements). Maybe they just ran out of steam and used Isola to tie up the loose ends?

A few of my favorite quotes

Page 11> "That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book."

Page 8> "I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with somone I can't talk to or worse, someone I can't be silent with".

And now from Guernsey Island it is onto Mansfield Park!

Annette B

Potato Peel Society

2008-11-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

I agree with Rebecca, I really liked this book. Here are some of my thoughts:
1. What was it like to read a novel composed entirely of letters? What do letters offer that no other form of writing (not even emails) can convey?

At the start of the book, I was a bit confused as to who each character was and how they were connected to each other. Once I figured that out, I loved the letter format. I felt like I knew about each character's inside jokes and quirks that really only appear in writing! Letters are so personal, in my opinion, even more so than emails because the person physically touched the paper, pencil, etc. I loved letters from my grandparents when I was little because I felt a small connection with them every time I held their letters.

2. What makes Sidney and Sophie ideal friends for Juliet? What common ground do they share? Who has been a similar advocate in your life?

I loved Sidney and Sophie and wished that they were my friends. They considered Juliet a part of their family, treated her with love, and were not afraid to tell her the honest truth if needed. I felt like they were such good friends because they spent so much of those awkward teenage years together. Those bonds are so often the tightest because friendships are formed without bias.

4. What was your first impression of Dawsey? How is he different from the other men Juliet had known?

I loved Dawsey. I hoped from the very first time we met him in the story that he would end up with Juliet. I loved his calm demeanor, his love of books, and how loyal he was to his friends. I think that he is different from the other men in Juliet's life because he wasn't pushy about his relationship with Juliet and became friends first, not lovers.

7. In what ways were Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits? What did Elizabeth's spontaneous invention of the society, as well as her brave final act, say about her approach to life?

Juliet and Elizabeth marched to a different drum. They weren't worried to say what they felt, even if they knew it would end badly. They were passionate about their friends. Most importantly, they disregarded the boundaries that most people believed in. (falling in love with a German, finding a way to help a starving worker, breaking off a seemingly perfect engagement, etc.) I loved the way Elizabeth went about her life and wished that we knew more about her. She was compassionate and resourceful. I wish I was more like her.

8. Numerous Guernsey residents give Juliet access to their private memories of the occupation. Which voices were most memorable for you?What was the effect of reading a variety of responses to a shared tragedy?

I don't know if I could say I had a favorite voice in regards to the memories of the occupation. Each person had such vivid details about their experiences. I was moved by their endurance and was thrilled that they found a love of books together to help them through.

14. Which of the members of the Society is your favorite? Whose literary opinions are most like your own?

I loved quirky Isola. She made me laugh so many times. I loved how she wanted to know more about people and was completely unconventional in how she obtained that information. I loved here literary opinions as well- Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorites! I was bothered a little that Isola was the one who told the ending of the book. Rebecca asked that question in her post. I really wish that I could have seen the discovery of Juliet and Dawsey's affection in a letter that maybe Juliet wrote to Sophie, or better yet, a letter that Juliet wrote to Dawsey!

Potato Peel Society

2008-11-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

I REALLY liked this book!

I haven't answered all of the questions but these are the few I wrote about right after I finished reading. I don't know if I'm too lengthy here or not...no one else has posted yet!

1. What was it like to read a novel composed entirely of letters? What do letters offer that no other form of writing (not even emails) can convey?

Right away this book reminded me of “Daddy Long Legs” by Jean Webster (great book!) which was written in the letter form. I really like it—letters are personal in a different way than regular conversations and, though cautious, I think there was so much humor in this form! I loved thinking (and remembering in my life) about the anticipation of a letter in the mail. In a tangible way you feel close to the person who wrote you—you are holding the paper they themselves touched! In this modern email world, a written word can be a treasure!

3. Dawsey first wrote to Juliet because books, on Charles Lamb or otherwise, were so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences did you note between bookselling in the novel and bookselling in your world? What makes book lovers unique, across all generations?

(p.15) “No one in their right mind would take up clerking in a bookstore for the salary, and no one in his right mind would want to own one—the margin of profit is too small. So, it has to be a love of readers and reading that makes them do it—along with first dibs on the new books.” Doesn't this quote say it all? I've never really known a small, independent book shop but I do enjoy the large book stores of our day. Being in a book store somehow feels like an escape from the outside world (provided I'm not reading newspapers or magazines, which I don't do in a book store). I also like the cozy little cafes associated with the bigger book stores.

4. What were your first impressions of Dawsey? How was he different from the other men Juliet had known?

For some reason I at first thought he was a female –I have never heard the name Dawsey before and didn’t automatically think of a man being so passionate about a book. I loved the first description of his character by Amelia. This is the first time in the story that someone else talks about him.

(p.37) “I don’t believe he is aware of it, but Dawsey has a rare gift for persuasion—he never asks for anything for himself, so everyone is eager to do what he asks for others.”

What a compliment and what a rare person to be that selfless. Right then I realized he was a worthy person to know. It took me a while to place his age—at first thought he was a young farmer, then an aged farmer. I never did get quite comfortable with him being 40ish—I have a difficult time visualizing him.

I thought she was going to fall in love with Sidney! I was honestly really suprised when he turned out to be gay! Didn't see that one coming!

5. Discuss the poets, novelists, biographers, and other writers who capture the hearts of the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Well I’m definitely curious about Charles Lamb now! I was dismayed each time an author was mentioned who I was NOT familiar with!

I was fired up right along with Clovis when he was so upset by “The Oxford Book of Modern Verse, 1892-1935” for not including any poetry from WWI because, according to Mr. Yeats, “Passive suffering is not a theme for poetry.” (p.73) What an interesting insight!

10. How did Remy’s presence enhance the lives of those on Guernsey? Through her survival, what recollections, hopes, and lessons also survived?

I feel bad about this but I didn’t ever feel a strong connection with Remy. She suffered the most of anyone in the story (except Elizabeth) and she has arguably the most to overcome in her future, but since she never really bonded with anyone on Guernsey or corresponded with Juliet, she was a distant character for me. Maybe I need to re-read these parts.

13. What historical facts about life in England during World War II were you especially surprised to discover? What traits, such as remarkable stamina, are captured in a detail such as potato peel pie?

This became a fascinating part of the book for me. I've been devoted to increasing our food storage, emergency supplies, etc. for my family and this really hit home how I need to be prepared. I wanted to cry when I read the contents of their food boxes from the Red Cross--so little and yet so much! I cannot even fathom eating turnips every day for years.

The thought of sending my children away, and then not hearing from them for years, is heartbreaking. I can't even discuss it further than this quick mention of it. It puts me in tears.

No news or outside communication for 5 years. Can't imagine! I venture to say this would be more difficult in our day--we are so addicted to news, information at the tip of our fingers. If something like this happened to us now, the isolation would be unbearable.

I thought it was interesting the comparison between the ways the war affected Guernsey vs. the mainland. Guernsey was occupied by German soldiers, short on food, witness to the work camps, etc and it seemed pretty bad. But when you compared it to the bombing of entire cities and neighborhoods, Guernsey almost seemed like they were better off? Any thoughts on this?

In what ways does fiction provide a means for more fully understanding a non-fiction truth?

I liked how I got a feel for the people's everyday lives, without getting too caught up in war details. Non-fiction just can't capture the emotion, bravery, strength in the same way. Even in the midst of war, people still LIVED. That is fascinating--

15. Do you agree with Isola that “reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones”?

YES! I love this thought (p.10) “Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true.” When I read good books I smile, I think, I want to talk about it, I appreciate that it was worth my time. I am so frustrated when my time is wasted by a bad book.

A discussion question of my own: Was anyone else bugged by the change in writing at the end of the book...when the story was told by Isola instead of through the letters? I liked the plot, how Juliet realized Dawsey loved her by keeping "mementos" of her, but I was kind of bugged that I heard it from someone else's voice.

Some of my other favorite quotes (weren't there a lot of good quotes in this book?) These would make interesting discussion points too.

(p70 Juliet) “The war is now the story of our lives, and there’s no subtracting it.”

(p.116 Juliet) “Have you ever noticed that when your mind is awakened or drawn to someone new, that person’s name suddenly pops up everywhere you go? My friend Sophie calls it coincidence, and Mr. Simpless, my parson friend, calls it Grace. He thinks that if one cares deeply about someone or something new one throws a kind of energy out into the world and “fruitfulness” is drawn in.”

(p274 Juliet—last page in book) “Think of it! We could have gone on longing for one another and pretending not to notice forever. This obsession with dignity can ruin your life if you let it.”

November's Book.....finally!

2008-10-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Since we are all so inspired by Jane, I thought reading one of her fabulous novels would be fun. It's always so hard to pick which Austen novel to read, so I chose one I hadn't read before: Mansfield Park. It should be a quick read for the busy month of November. Discussion will begin on December 1st.

Great T-Shirts

2008-10-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

I love geeky shirts. And I love that you can get Jane Austen geeky shirts. Just thought I'd share these with you all. They are available on cafepress.com - so much fun to browse through them!

And for those who think that Jane Austen's other novels are better, they have plenty of Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey shirts to keep everyone happy.

November book?

2008-10-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to declare a book for November - so we can get on library lists, or order it, or dust it off?
Please?

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2008-10-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

I saw this trick on a web board once. The rest of the text is in white. You'll have to highlight it if you want to read it. These are the discussion questions for this month's book. I've done the little disappearing act on the text because there are a few spoilers and I'd hate to spoil this book for anyone! It goes fast though - I plowed through it this weekend and just loved it. But that's all I'll say for now. Once you're done, read through the questions (I didn't make them up, though I'd love to take credit for them) and think about it. Right your thoughts down and save them. You can even start your post and just save the post until November 1.
Happy reading!

1. What was it like to read a novel composed entirely of letters? What do letters offer that no other form of writing (not even emails) can convey?
2. What makes Sidney and Sophie ideal friends for Juliet? What common ground do they share? Who has been a similar advocate in your life?
3. Dawsey first wrote to Juliet because books, on Charles Lamb or otherwise, were so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences did you note between bookselling in the novel and bookselling in your world? What makes book lovers unique, across all generations?
4. What were your first impressions of Dawsey? How was he different from the other men Juliet had known?
5. Discuss the poets, novelists, biographers, and other writers who capture the hearts of the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. What does a reader’s taste in books say about his or her personality? Whose lives were changed the most by membership in the society?
6. Juliet occasionally receives mean-spirited correspondence from strangers, accusing both Elizabeth and Juliet of being immoral. What accounts for their judgmental ways?
7. In what ways were Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits? What did Elizabeth’s spontaneous invention of the society, as well as her brave final act, say about her approach to life?
8. Numerous Guernsey residents give Juliet access to their private memories of the occupation. Which voices were most memorable for you? What was the effect of reading a variety of responses to a shared tragedy?
9. Kit and Juliet complete each other in many ways. What did they need from each other? What qualities make Juliet an unconventional, excellent mother?
10. How did Remy’s presence enhance the lives of those on Guernsey? Through her survival, what recollections, hopes, and lessons also survived?
11. Juliet rejects marriage proposals from a man who is a stereotypical “great catch.” How would you have handled Juliet’s romantic entanglement? What truly makes someone a “great catch”?
12. What was the effect of reading a novel about an author’s experiences with writing, editing, and getting published? Did this enhance the book’s realism, though Juliet’s experience is a bit different from that of debut novelist Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece, children’s book author Annie Barrows?
13. What historical facts about life in England during World War II were you especially surprised to discover? What traits, such as remarkable stamina, are captured in a detail such as potato peel pie? In what ways does fiction provide a means for more fully understanding a non-fiction truth?
14. Which of the members of the Society is your favorite? Whose literary opinions are most like your own?
15. Do you agree with Isola that “reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones”?

Book Trout

2008-10-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

I found this website which I think is interesting and fun...all about books and reading. http://booktrout.blogspot.com/

Book for October!

2008-09-20T11:44:00.001-07:00

I'll go ahead and take October - and Aunt Annette's suggestion:

We have all of October (and the rest of September) to acquire it and read it. It's only available in hardback right now - $13.20 on Amazon, which isn't bad. If someone would like to choose a November book now, then those of us ordering could take advantage of free shipping. Course, I can always order more books for myself - never a problem for me.
Discussion will begin November 1, unless we all finish early and want to start talking sooner.
Happy reading.

Oh, here's the blurb about the book:

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.

Let's Choose a Book!

2008-09-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Any takers for October? If you have a book you want to read, go for it. I know I've got a list a mile long, but I don't want to hog the blog.

And So It Begins

2008-09-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here is our online book discussion group. For this post, let's discuss the lay of the land. I propose that we each take turns choosing a book for each month. We should begin reading the book . . . when? And begin discussing the book . . . when?
I was thinking we should start the discussion of the book on the first of the month. So if we chose a book for September, we would begin the online discussion on October first. Does that make sense?
Should the "host" each month assign certain questions to answer? Those can be found at the back of some books, and online.
And I have to add everyone as authors so we can all post. Please e-mail me so I can add you to the list of authors: domesticgoddess18@hotmail.com.
Anything else?
We should start a new book in October - it will most likely take that long to get everything set up. If we wait to discuss things then there can be no spoilers on the plot until the official discussion date. We don't have to wait until the first, that was just a suggestion.

****Edit:
I like Rebecca's suggestion on a running list. Should it be on the side, that way it doesn't get buried? I'll set it up.