After 4 Book Club

June 19, 2011

2011-06-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Greetings Book Worms! Hope you are all enjoying some summer fun?!

I have been wanting to get this blog up & running again for some time. Perhaps with a bit of time on my hands I can make it work for us. This could be a great spot for us to talk & share books! Any of you in SBISD can create a blog using your new Google School Account.

So, what have I been reading?

At present, I'm reading Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert -it is fun & light .. but not quite as good as I had hoped. I just finished Gilead by Marilynne Robinson .. I think the end of the school year was NOT the time to read this .. some beautiful language, but very trying & tedious for me. Maybe I was just too tired to give it my full attention. It did win a Pulitzer.

Valerie from Blue Willow visited both our school & our last Library Meeting in May.
Her recommendations included:

* My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliviera
* The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
* The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
* The Atlantic by Simon Winchester
* Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
* Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
* The Storm at the Door by Stefan Merrill Block (also wrote The Story of Forgetting which I LOVED)!

This is not her complete list, but I thought I would include those I had heard others recommend
.. Please visit Valerie's site for more ideas & lists:
http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/

Finally, I thought just for fun - I would list the books sitting by my bed that are on my summer reading list. Maybe you can read some of them with me & we can discuss them in the fall.

# Everything will be All Right by Douglas Wallace
# The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly
# Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
# The September Society by Charles Finch
# The Finkler Question by Howard Johnson
# The Hand that First Held Mind by Maggie O'Farrell

Well, to name a few .. Ah too many books ...

Has anyone tried Shelfari.com? I love it & could use some friends there :)

Post your comments ^ reading suggestions ^ or ideas.

Love to hear from you! !

November 18, 2010

2010-11-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

We had a super meeting on Weds. Discussed "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" .. most of us really loved it & have read sequels seen the movies etc...
We are going to read "Room" & OR "Yes, My Darling Daughter" for our next meeting Dec. 15th. So, members decided to read one or both since we were so close in voting on them.
I am actually more than halfway through "My Darling Daughter" .. it is a super fast read - keeping my attention - not the Gothic ghost story I was expecting.
I recommend "In the Woods" by Tana French - if you liked "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." It is also a series .. & murder mystery - very good - in my opinion & others I recommended it to liked it as well. Her 3rd book just came out & I will have it in the Library collection soon.

Also, recently liked:
"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - touching POST-retirement love story - so sweet !
also another recent favorite:
"The Tower, The Zoo, & the Tortoise" by Julia Stuart. I really needed something different & this truly fit! Quirky story of a couple living in the Tower of London - during today's times .. he is a Beefeater & keeper of the Queen's menagerie of animals kept there as an experiment to repeat historical past when this was the case at the Tower. The wife works at the Underground's lost & missing item's office.
Funny, touching .. quick read!!

September 26, 2010

2010-09-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Dear MMS Teachers & Staff:

It is never too late to join.
Join on - PDLC - search - "MMS - Teacher Book Club" # 6392.14605

Our first meeting was a blast ! Seventeen participated. Thanks to everyone who helped with food & set up. Valerie from Blue Willow shared some of her favorites with us. *See my Shelfari (this page) for a view of some of the titles we can't wait to read!

We are going to meet again on October 21
OUR NEXT BOOK: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls.

Watch the video on You Tube

September 2010

2010-09-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

We are preparing for our first meeting! Can't wait to reconnect with all my SUPER teacher readers!! Valerie from Blue Willow will book talk.
See her site for great book recommendations:
http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/

Picking our first read ... we will vote AFTER our first meeting on one of the books Valerie discusses at this meeting. I will send out one of my "voting e-mails."

Many of us have read great books this summer, but I would like us to choose from amongst the titles Valerie presents so we have something new/fresh to plunge ourselves into! I will be working with her to come up with new titles you have not seen. Hopefully :)

July 12

2010-07-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Well, summer is dead on & I am reading until my eyes are bleary.
Some of my favorites so far:

City of Thieves
Dewey
Half Broke Horse
Life As We Knew It (young adult novel)
Major Pettigrew
The Postmistress
Right Behind You (for older teens - high school)
When I was Puerto Rican

April 28, 2010

2010-04-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

We ended our 2009-2010 Book Club with a terrific title which we all loved - The Help by Kathryn Stockett (#2 on the NYT Bestseller List.) We have been passing around the audio version which we all agreed - we did NOT want it to END !!! Soon to be a made into a major motion picture ! (of course).
Check out her website:
See: In Her Own Words
If you would like to read an interesting tidbit in Ms. Stockett's own words about her upbringing & family maid.

I think I can say that just about everyone enjoyed the book club this year & we may just have to meet up this SUMMER to share some other good reads.

Students & teachers are always sharing with me things they read & enjoyed. Here is a small list. Please - post a comment about the book in your life right now.

* TINKERS by Paul Harding
* HOUSE RULES, by Jodi Picoult
* THE ALOHA QUILT, by Jennifer Chiaverini

IT IS ALMOST MAY !!!!!!!!!!

March 26

2010-03-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

Our Spring Book List!
We recently held a meeting in which our attendees shared books they read over Spring Break. Here is our list - keep checking as I'm adding as folks e-mail me their titles.

All the Shah's Men & A Thousand Hills by Stephen Kinzer

Annie's ghosts : a journey into a family secret by Steve Luxenberg

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Blame by by Michelle Huneven

CRIME BRULEE by Nancy Fairbanks
“the first book in the Culinary Mystery with recipes series…in this book, food writer Carolyn Blue gets a taste of New Orleans cookery and crime.”

CRY of the KALAHARI by Mark and Delia Owens
“An America couple’s seven years in Africa’s last great wilderness”

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Esperanza Rising by by Pam Munoz Ryan

The Flamenco Academy by Sarah Bird

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

A HISTORY of GOD – The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by Karen Armstrong
“Why does God exist? How have the three dominant monotheistic religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-shaped and altered the conception of God? How have these religions influenced each other?”

The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K Lee

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

The Princes of Ireland, Edward Rutherford

Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson (series)

THE WITCH DOCTOR’S WIFE by Tamar Myers
“A prim missionary, a sleazy Belgian executive and a humble witch doctor are players in this novel set in the Belgian Congo in 1958.”

Check them out!

January 22

2010-01-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-12T17:53:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-17T15:39:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-11-09T15:54:00.001-08:00

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!

2009-09-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

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 !

Welcome Back

2009-08-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a great summer break. I am sure you read a lot !!
I certainly did & enjoyed staying up until 1pm & getting up late.
Back to my usual bad habits ;)

This fall our book club will be meeting on the following dates:
Sept 2, Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2 (4pm to 5:30pm).

For our first meeting - Sept 2 - I would like us to share our favorite summer read. I will also provide a sign up sheet so members can sign up as either a hostess or book discussion leader. I believe two hostesses per meeting should be enough to supply our yummy snacks! Our book club has always enjoyed food, friendship, & books - not necessarily in that order.

A discussion leader should provide the group 2-3 title choices that the members can vote on. The choices should be available in paperback. The discussion leader will then lead our discussion of the upcoming title. I will be happy to assist discussion leaders.

I will lead our discussion for the first "real" meeting on Oct. 7.
So think about these book choices: & be prepared to vote soon!!

A. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
B. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
C. Dogwood by Chris Fabry

HAPPY READING!!

Happy Summer !

2009-06-29T08:21:00.001-07:00

Yeah ! Summer is finally here & I hope & am sure that many of you are reading like FIENDS! I have been for sure. Please post comments as to what you are reading.
I'm reading Olive Kittridge - which I had been meaning to do since it won the Pullitzer. Wow it is fantastic. It is a series of short stories centered around a main character who is a complex, grumpy old woman - aren't we all? haha. So, I've really been enjoying/relating to it. Post your comments & share what you are reading .. perhaps we can meet this summer & discuss what we have been reading in July - sometime?

February 10

2009-02-10T09:37:00.001-08:00

Well, been a while since I blogged here. Sort of took a vacation for a bit.
Our next meeting will be February 26 at 4:30 - location to be disclosed soon.
Please make comments regarding ways to improve or continue the book club for next year.
Thinking about last meeting with a fun book swap amongst members, agreed??

Check out the lower right of this blog - I've added things we have read & created a new section entitled .. things we thought about reading. For those of you whose favorite titles slipped out of your grasp.

October 19

2008-10-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Sadly, for many of you The Art of Racing in the Rain didn't win out in our vote of the next title to read. I recommend it & have read it. I can check it out to you when it comes back - it is out to one of you right now. It is told from the perspective of the dog - a fun read. Speaking of fun, I truly think you will all enjoy our winning title Then We Came to the End. I have some for sale - just stop by Monday.

I recently read The House at Riverton - which is great. Those of you who enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale (which we read last year) this one will be right up your alley.

For those Kite Runner fans out there - I am reading The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam.
I bought it because I heard a review which claimed it made "The Kite Runner seem like a Hallmark card" well that got my attention! I'm about halfway if anyone wants to borrow it after me. Here is that review:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94886854

Sometimes in a book club we read things that are very controversial. The Shack seems to have ruffled a few feathers - so I can't wait for our discussion on Thursday. For those of you who cannot attend .. send us your comments on this blog!! I will read & share with the group on Thursday. The Shack continues to be the #1 bestseller on the NYT trade paperback list. Here is an interesting article about it's popularity:
NYT Article

Please continue the posts & share your reading with us - that is what this blog is all about.

October 2nd

2008-10-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting was a big success!! We discussed "Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall & Denver Moore.

We are now reading "The Shack" by William P. Young

Please check out my Shelfari (bottom right) for ideas for our next title to read after this one. It has been suggested that we read something a little more upbeat so the selections on the shelf reflect something along those lines .. I recommend you look them up on Amazon or where you might find a review & be prepared to vote - soon - so I can some copies for you to purchase at the next meeting.

For nostalgia's sake .. check out the playing slide show to the right of "What we have read ..." did I forget anything old timers?????

Lastly, we decided to have a membership due - so please pay up so we can all eat up at our next meeting October 23rd.

Keep reading !!

Sept. 12

2008-09-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

I've added Jodee Blanco's title: Please Stop Laughing at Me. to my Shelfari. If you click "next" you will see all the titles I'm proposing.

If anyone else has a suggested title not on my list let me know.

Sept. 11

2008-09-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying reading all the comments on the blog!
Thank you all for making a comment.

If we can come up with a title for the October meeting perhaps? I can have copies available at our September meeting. That said - let's vote on one of these 3 that were suggested:

1. The House at Riverton
2. The Shack
3. The Life of Pi

What do you all think of reading more than one title? For instance, if I've already read The Shack then I may choose to read The Life of Pi so that I'm prepared to discuss either. Or do you all want to stick to reading just one title at a time. I want everyone to read something that is new & exciting for them ! It is just a thought - comment away :)

Also, we need folks to think about which date(s) they wish to participate by leading a book discussion or bringing something to eat. I think if we all pitch in this can be a very fun/easy time for us all.

The Book Club Continues!

2008-06-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

And then, there was a Blog ...

Well, here we are another new school year is off & running. I'm very excited to be continuing our staff book club. I think this book club is a terrific way for us to get to know each other in a different venue & also share an excitement for reading great books! If you are like me you find reading a much needed escape from a hectic life.

Our first title of the year will be Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore. We will meet Sept. 18th. I've not been able to find discussion questions so I think we will have to make up our own. I've begun a few - please post comments to this blog that include other discussion questions we may want to consider.

Discussion Questions for Same Kind of Different As Me:

1. What is your first reaction when you encounter a homeless person?
2. Other than donating money to a homeless organization; what are other ways you can help the homeless?
3. If you were homeless, how would you like others to respond to you?
4. Our immortality gives us cause to consider .. what are 3 things for which you want to be remembered ?
5. Why did Deborah get through to Denver when others had failed to do so?

Also, check out the authors' website:
Same Kind of Different As Me
*Notice their speaking engagements calendar - they are coming to town!

Other books I want you all to consider for future readings are located on my Book Shelf (be sure to click "next" to see more titles. No, I didn't come up with these all by myself! I had a lot of help from a certain little book store we all know & love. Of course, you can come up with your own titles which you may wish to suggest. When considering a title, remember choosing a variety ensures that all our members will find something they enjoy. Also, it is a good idea to choose something that is or will be available in paperback.

Happy reading - comment on this blog so I know you are alive & kicking!
PS - check out some of my favorite reading links located on this blog -