January 22

Hello book lovers:
Our book club is reading My Life in France by Julia Child. In her own words, here is the captivating story of Julia Child’s years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found ‘her true calling.’ I voted for it because I have just watched Julie & Julia - loved the film. I grew up watching Julia on TV - she was a hoot whether you cooked or not.

Just finished reading The Piano Teacher. First-time novelist Janice Y.K. Lee exposes the fascinating world of expatriates in Hong Kong during WWII.This book has multiple layers including a love triangle .. along with the difficult choices people have to make in times of war. I give it my thumbs up!!

Also listening to the audio book - Blame & so far it is very captivating. The story of a black-out alcoholic accused of killing two people while she was drunk. A very realistically told story of life in prison & her ultimate redemption.

Please use this blog to post what you are reading!

Happy New Year!

Hope we are all enjoying reading "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane?
I enjoyed it although must say I probably would have NOT picked this one up on my own. Ah, the joys of book club! Next meeting is Jan 20 - WEDS - are we ready?

I am still wondering about Bobbie's comment on my last post? Cannot find that title .. fruit book or something or other?

I am truly a masochist because tried to read King's The Dome on top of The Given Day - King's is a tome not a novel .. & did not care for it. Something in the old Kind is dead in my opinion or maybe I just got old?

PS - did you like Eat Pray Love? New book by same author -
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert

Take care book club & see you all soon!

Almost Thanksgiving

I'm very thankful for the wonderful faculty with whom I have the great fortune to work alongside. So many avid readers!! All with interesting suggestions. I learn so much from you all.
Our next & LAST meeting of the semester & 2009! will be held Dec. 2 - Weds. We will discuss Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson. Please bring a wrapped gently used book to swap - no names please. We will have fun guessing who brought which titles.

I'm reading A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It by Stephen Kinzer [author of All the Shah's Men]. I happened upon this author some time ago book talking it on Book TV.
It is so incredible & eye opening. It is nonfiction & I admit to skimming some of the military strategic details which were nevertheless interesting. I think everyone should read it. This book will make you aware of what you miss in our 30 second media sound bite world! I decided to read it as a follow up to the YA novel - Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You by Hanna Jansen and Elizabeth D. Crawford - which I also highly recommend to 8th grade & above.

Please comment - what are you reading? any suggestions for our book club?

Happy Reading!!

Long time coming...

Well, the school year hit & this is my first blog since our first meeting!

Our next meeting will be December 2nd - Wednesday - coming up very soon!!
We are going to read : Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson
Also, there will be a fun book swap so bring ONE book wrapped to swap - do NOT put your name on the book.

During our 2nd meeting we discussed Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout which met with mixed reviews from our readers. This is a book of short stories many of which are filled with complex characters & sad realities. Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer it makes a good choice for book club discussions.

Next, we read The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. Honestly, I was not there for that meeting so not sure how the group felt? [Feel free to comment to my blog - gang!]
I really enjoyed the setting of this novel. It took me to a place (Montana) which I am not truly familiar so I enjoyed being a "mental traveler."

On a different note, I recently read a young adult novel Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You by Hanna Jansen and Elizabeth D. Crawford. The story was good, but the real life story behind it is even more interesting! This German born author & her husband have adopted 13 children most of whom are refugees from other countries. This is the story of one of them who lost her entire family in Rwanda's genocide. I found the story touching & realistic without the necessity to go to graphic detail.

Check out the Jansen's website: http://www.hannajansen.de/engl-author.htm

First Meeting Fun!

Thanks to everyone for making our first meeting a blast. A special thanks to Katy for being our hostess. We voted & decided to read Olive Kitteridge which won the Pulitzer so at least we can all say we read a Pulitzer this year ;) We can ponder as we read why? this one made the mark.

Our next meeting is October 8th - THURSDAY - mark those calendars!

Today we shared our favorite books from summer & Valerie from Blue Willow gave us some fabulous ones to consider as well: She was a treat as always!!

What we read this summer:

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff (Mormonism)
Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover by Ally Carter (teen book)
Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson (crime novel)
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (yoga - soul seeking- inspirational)
Escape by Carolyn Jessup (LDS - true story)
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (childhood friendship)
Fool by Christopher Moore (King Lear)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (southern whites & their maids)
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Historical Fic - Britain - mystery)
Little Bee by Chris Cleave (Nigerian refugee in UK)
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (Frank Lloyd Wright)
Ninety Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey (Inspirational)
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (why some succeed & some do not)
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (how small changes can have big effects)
What Would the Founders Do? by Richard Brookhiser

What Valerie recommended:

Annie's Ghosts by Steve Luxenberg (Family Secrets)
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (dog story)
City of Thieves by David Benioff (siege of Leningrad)
Game Day by Craig James (college football)
In Hovering Flight by Joyce Hinnefeld (reflections on parent's marriage)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Teen Book)
Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis (Uruguay)
Map of Home by Randa Jarrar (Muslim girl growing up in Kuwait, Egypt and Texas)
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (prejudice & cruelty in the South)
Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd (wrote Secret Life of Bees)
The White Queen by Phillippa Gregory (wrote The Other Boleyn Girl)

Sorry for any errors or misspellings!!!
Lastly - if you missed this meeting - post your favorite summer read !