Today as I was getting my coffee at work, one of my more stylish colleagues (she is more junior than me and I don't know her name, oops!) said, "I LOVE your dress! I always admire your sense of style!" Of course, I felt very self-conscious (yet thrilled!) and thanked her.
Because I have no boundaries, and think that other people must find my life as fascinating as I do, my immediate instinct was to say, "Oh I just got the most wonderful style tips from my book club, we had a fabulous girls weekend at the beach, and we picked celebrity style icons for each other!"
Thankfully, not having yet had my coffee, I was able to suppress the urge!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Dreams from my Father: Final Results
Didn't like it - 0
It was OK - 1
Liked it - 3
Really liked it - 2
It was amazing - 0
Didn't finish - 0
6 votes total
It was OK - 1
Liked it - 3
Really liked it - 2
It was amazing - 0
Didn't finish - 0
6 votes total
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday Meme
Yeah, it's Tuesday, but I'm just happy to be blogging again and not obsessing over a grant application!
This week's discussion: libraries (again)! One of my favorites.
What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you? Do you have you any funny/odd memories of the library?
Post your answers in the comments!
This week's discussion: libraries (again)! One of my favorites.
What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you? Do you have you any funny/odd memories of the library?
Post your answers in the comments!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Bookstore Spotlight: Denver
Last week, Dawn and I were in Denver for the Joint Statistical Meetings (she a presenter, me a tag-a-long spouse). Being the book nerds we are, we decided to visit the local bookstore, the Tattered Cover Book Store, one of the largest independent bookstores in the US. It was in a beautiful old building with two floors of books, lots of armchairs and couches, and even fireplaces.
They had a nice display of book club suggestions. I don't think we've read any of these as a book club or at least not since I've been in book club.
Unfortunately Dawn and I did not get a picture of us together at the bookstore but we did get a good one that night before dinner.
If you're ever in Denver, visit this store!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Book Club for Intellectually Disabled - Nice Story
Book Club Girl posted a link to this story about a book club for adults with developmental disabilities. It is such a neat idea, I thought you might like to read it.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Twilight
I know Katie has started reading the Twilight books . . . has anyone else? I am so intrigued. I almost wish we read them so we could go to the midnight book release next weekend. Salon recently published an interesting commentary on these books, starting with the observation that the main character is no Buffy!
Friday, July 18, 2008
The Post-Birthday World: Final Results
didn't like it - 0
it was OK -0
liked it -0
really liked it - 3
it was amazing -1
didn't finish it -0
4 votes total
it was OK -0
liked it -0
really liked it - 3
it was amazing -1
didn't finish it -0
4 votes total
365 Nights
If you were at book club Tuesday night, you know what I am talking about. . .
Charla Muller, the author of 365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy is coming to the Regulator Bookshop Friday, July 25.
Charla Muller, the author of 365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy is coming to the Regulator Bookshop Friday, July 25.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Exciting Girl Stuff News!
Lush Cosmetics is opening a store in Crabtree! If only it were Southpoint . . .
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sonya's Answers to Reading Quiz
1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I think I always loved to read- my parents say I memorized books from about the age of two. But the first book I remember completely adoring was Anne of Green Gables- I devoured the entire series and read them many times. I just loved Anne so much and even took to naming the trees and streams near my house like she did in the books.
2. What are some books you read as a child?
Well, guess I should have looked ahead, but when I was really small I loved a book called I am a Mouse and Sesame Street books like The Monster at the End of This Book. Later, I loved The Babysitter's Club and choose-your-own-adventure books.
3. What is your favorite genre?
Fiction, but I like both contemporary and literary.
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
The Poisonwood Bible
5. Where do you usually read?
Anywhere I get the chance, but usually in bed or on the couch.
6. When do you usually read?
Before bed or during a sporting event I'm not interested in.
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
I can barely handle one at a time.
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
No.
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I try to get most of my books at the library- I love the idea of being able to give them back when I'm finished with them, plus it saves money. But, I do buy on occasion and seem to do that more frequently these days for convenience's sake.
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I give them away in big stacks to Goodwill, or if it's a book I really love, to my sister or mom.
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
The Monster at the End of this Book, Goodnight Moon, I am a Mouse and fairytales- all books I read as a child.
12. What are you reading now?
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, with no chance of finishing before tonight.
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Right now I have a stack of books on my nightstand from an overly ambitious plan to read three books while on vacation (I read about 30 pages total the entire week), but usually I don't have a list.
14. What’s next?
Probably next month's book pick, but I really want to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and it's in the aforementioned stack.
15. What books would you like to reread?
I'd love to re-read books I hold very dear, like Poisonwood Bible, The Red Tent, Circle of Friends and other books that really spoke to me the first time I read them to see how my perspective has changed. I also think I need to read Atonement again- I liked it the first time, but I don't think fully appreciated it.
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Barbara Kingsolver, Maeve Binchy, Jane Austen, Meg Cabot and David Sedaris (how's that for diverse?)
I think I always loved to read- my parents say I memorized books from about the age of two. But the first book I remember completely adoring was Anne of Green Gables- I devoured the entire series and read them many times. I just loved Anne so much and even took to naming the trees and streams near my house like she did in the books.
2. What are some books you read as a child?
Well, guess I should have looked ahead, but when I was really small I loved a book called I am a Mouse and Sesame Street books like The Monster at the End of This Book. Later, I loved The Babysitter's Club and choose-your-own-adventure books.
3. What is your favorite genre?
Fiction, but I like both contemporary and literary.
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
The Poisonwood Bible
5. Where do you usually read?
Anywhere I get the chance, but usually in bed or on the couch.
6. When do you usually read?
Before bed or during a sporting event I'm not interested in.
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
I can barely handle one at a time.
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
No.
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I try to get most of my books at the library- I love the idea of being able to give them back when I'm finished with them, plus it saves money. But, I do buy on occasion and seem to do that more frequently these days for convenience's sake.
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I give them away in big stacks to Goodwill, or if it's a book I really love, to my sister or mom.
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
The Monster at the End of this Book, Goodnight Moon, I am a Mouse and fairytales- all books I read as a child.
12. What are you reading now?
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, with no chance of finishing before tonight.
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Right now I have a stack of books on my nightstand from an overly ambitious plan to read three books while on vacation (I read about 30 pages total the entire week), but usually I don't have a list.
14. What’s next?
Probably next month's book pick, but I really want to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and it's in the aforementioned stack.
15. What books would you like to reread?
I'd love to re-read books I hold very dear, like Poisonwood Bible, The Red Tent, Circle of Friends and other books that really spoke to me the first time I read them to see how my perspective has changed. I also think I need to read Atonement again- I liked it the first time, but I don't think fully appreciated it.
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Barbara Kingsolver, Maeve Binchy, Jane Austen, Meg Cabot and David Sedaris (how's that for diverse?)
Friday, July 11, 2008
Allison's Answers
1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I remember being read to a lot plus my mom was a teacher.
2. What are some books you read as a child?
Berenstain Bears, Beatrix Potter, Ramona Quimby
3. What is your favorite genre?
Literary fiction
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
To Kill A Mockingbird
5. Where do you usually read?
On the couch or on my porch
6. When do you usually read?
Weekend days
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
No, I usually read one book over a couple of days rather than drag several books out for weeks.
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
No but I also don't read a lot of nonfiction.
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
This is embarrassing given my profession but I usually buy them. I've found this to be true of most librarians so I don't feel too bad.
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
If I love a book I keep it, otherwise I give them away.
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
I don't have children but I tend to gravitate towards Eric Carle books when reading to kids or giving gifts. Today I read The Very Hungry Catapillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? to my nephew.
12. What are you reading now?
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama, of course
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Yes, see "Allison's Bookshelf" under Links
14. What’s next?
Something fun, maybe a Jennifer Weiner book or the new Lauren Weisberger book.
15. What books would you like to reread?
There's too much I want to read for the first time so I don't think I'll be rereading anything in the near future.
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler
I remember being read to a lot plus my mom was a teacher.
2. What are some books you read as a child?
Berenstain Bears, Beatrix Potter, Ramona Quimby
3. What is your favorite genre?
Literary fiction
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
To Kill A Mockingbird
5. Where do you usually read?
On the couch or on my porch
6. When do you usually read?
Weekend days
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
No, I usually read one book over a couple of days rather than drag several books out for weeks.
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
No but I also don't read a lot of nonfiction.
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
This is embarrassing given my profession but I usually buy them. I've found this to be true of most librarians so I don't feel too bad.
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
If I love a book I keep it, otherwise I give them away.
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
I don't have children but I tend to gravitate towards Eric Carle books when reading to kids or giving gifts. Today I read The Very Hungry Catapillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? to my nephew.
12. What are you reading now?
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama, of course
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Yes, see "Allison's Bookshelf" under Links
14. What’s next?
Something fun, maybe a Jennifer Weiner book or the new Lauren Weisberger book.
15. What books would you like to reread?
There's too much I want to read for the first time so I don't think I'll be rereading anything in the near future.
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Liz's Answers
This only took me 5 minutes!
1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
No. I don't remember not loving to read.
2. What are some books you read as a child?
Dr. Seuss, Curious George, the Shoes books, Beverly Cleary
3. What is your favorite genre?
Literary fiction
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
The Cider House Rules, Emma, Atonement, East of Eden, or The Post-Birthday World
5. Where do you usually read?
In bed. Before I had a child, I read on the sofa in the living room. Sometimes I still read there if he's asleep.
6. When do you usually read?
Naptime on weekends and before bed during the week. Sometimes at lunch.
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
Yes.
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
No.
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I check most of them out from the library. Property is a sin! (I'm not serious about that. But I do hate accumulating things. And I love libraries.)
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I try to give them away unless they are an absolute favorite or a reference book.
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
Green Eggs and Ham, The Little House, Goodnight Moon (yes, yes, no)
12. What are you reading now?
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama and Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Yes, you can view it here.
14. What’s next?
The History of Love by Nicole Kraus.
15. What books would you like to reread?
Emma, The Cider House Rules, The Post-Birthday World
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Jane Austen, George Eliot, Philip Pullman, Elizabeth George
1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
No. I don't remember not loving to read.
2. What are some books you read as a child?
Dr. Seuss, Curious George, the Shoes books, Beverly Cleary
3. What is your favorite genre?
Literary fiction
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
The Cider House Rules, Emma, Atonement, East of Eden, or The Post-Birthday World
5. Where do you usually read?
In bed. Before I had a child, I read on the sofa in the living room. Sometimes I still read there if he's asleep.
6. When do you usually read?
Naptime on weekends and before bed during the week. Sometimes at lunch.
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
Yes.
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
No.
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I check most of them out from the library. Property is a sin! (I'm not serious about that. But I do hate accumulating things. And I love libraries.)
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I try to give them away unless they are an absolute favorite or a reference book.
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
Green Eggs and Ham, The Little House, Goodnight Moon (yes, yes, no)
12. What are you reading now?
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama and Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Yes, you can view it here.
14. What’s next?
The History of Love by Nicole Kraus.
15. What books would you like to reread?
Emma, The Cider House Rules, The Post-Birthday World
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Jane Austen, George Eliot, Philip Pullman, Elizabeth George
Monday Bookish Meme
Yep, I know it's Thursday. Busy week. It's a long one from Barbara H.
Cut and paste these questions into your own post, or answer in the comments. You can just pick and choose which questions you want to answer.
Cut and paste these questions into your own post, or answer in the comments. You can just pick and choose which questions you want to answer.
1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
2. What are some books you read as a child?
3. What is your favorite genre?
4. Do you have a favorite novel?
5. Where do you usually read?
6. When do you usually read?
7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
12. What are you reading now?
13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
14. What’s next?
15. What books would you like to reread?
16. Who are your favorite authors?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
My Elizabeth Gilbert Moment
Last week, I tried a new yoga/meditation practice called Yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra is also referred to as yogic sleep. It is a guided meditation you do while lying down. I went to a class given by Donna Norfolk at the Yoga Practice Center. The session lasted about 90 minutes. We started by greeting each other and just settling down. Then, we recited (chanted) a yoga sutra called the four great attitudes. The attitudes are:
- peacefulness towards all beings
- joyfulness towards all beings
- kindness towards all beings
- compassion towards all beings
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday Bookish Meme
From BTT. . .
What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?
Post your answer in the comments!
What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?
Post your answer in the comments!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday Flashback: Naming our Group
Our book club was nameless until 2000. If you've ever tried to plan a lunch or dinner out with us you know we can be some indecisive people, so it took some effort to come up with book club names. Most of them were pretty bad:
The Miami Relatives
The Excitement
Oprah Alternatives
Triangle Area Readers
RTP - Read Talk and Prepare Food
Acute Triangle Readers
The Commuters
Commuting Readers
Food Comes First
First, the Food
To Read or not to Read
Book 'em!
OK some explanation - "The Miami Relatives" was Laura Mullins' idea. I think I voted for this one. It was at the time of the Elian Gonzalez incident and it was just funny. "The Excitement" was a reference to one of the early books we read, Angela's Ashes. In it, young Frank McCourt refers to sex, which he knows hardly anything about, as "The Excitement," always capitalized. That was one of my nominations, and I still think it's funny too.
By the way, if you're now wondering what happened to Elian, he just joined the youth Communist Party this month! The CBS news story makes me so angry - it's introduced as "Remember Elian being forcibly removed from his relatives 8 years ago . . ." without any mention of the fact that he was being taken back to his father! The whole story is sad but I'm happy he's alive and well and with his daddy. Probably a good thing we did not name our book club after those relatives.
The Miami Relatives
The Excitement
Oprah Alternatives
Triangle Area Readers
RTP - Read Talk and Prepare Food
Acute Triangle Readers
The Commuters
Commuting Readers
Food Comes First
First, the Food
To Read or not to Read
Book 'em!
OK some explanation - "The Miami Relatives" was Laura Mullins' idea. I think I voted for this one. It was at the time of the Elian Gonzalez incident and it was just funny. "The Excitement" was a reference to one of the early books we read, Angela's Ashes. In it, young Frank McCourt refers to sex, which he knows hardly anything about, as "The Excitement," always capitalized. That was one of my nominations, and I still think it's funny too.
By the way, if you're now wondering what happened to Elian, he just joined the youth Communist Party this month! The CBS news story makes me so angry - it's introduced as "Remember Elian being forcibly removed from his relatives 8 years ago . . ." without any mention of the fact that he was being taken back to his father! The whole story is sad but I'm happy he's alive and well and with his daddy. Probably a good thing we did not name our book club after those relatives.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Chock Full o' Lists
Entertainment Weekly is celebrating its anniversary with many top 10 and top 100 lists of tops in entertainment in the past 25 years - including a list of the top 100 new classics in literature, and Will Arnett's top 10 TV moments that made him cry.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday Bookish Meme
From BTT:
Think about your favorite authors, your favorite books . . . what is it about them that makes you love them above all the other authors you’ve read? The stories? The characters? The way they appear to relish the taste of words on the tongue? The way they’re unafraid to show the nitty-gritty of life? How they sweep you off to a new, distant place? What is it about those books and authors that makes them resonate with you in ways that other, perfectly good books and authors do not?
This is a hard one for me. I'll have to think about it a bit. Post your answers in the comments!
Think about your favorite authors, your favorite books . . . what is it about them that makes you love them above all the other authors you’ve read? The stories? The characters? The way they appear to relish the taste of words on the tongue? The way they’re unafraid to show the nitty-gritty of life? How they sweep you off to a new, distant place? What is it about those books and authors that makes them resonate with you in ways that other, perfectly good books and authors do not?
This is a hard one for me. I'll have to think about it a bit. Post your answers in the comments!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday Flashback: Harry Potter Night!
At long last, I'm posting the pictures from Harry Potter night. Almost one year ago, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. We had dinner (and margaritas!) at On the Border and then went over to Barnes and Noble to stand in line for our copies.
What a crowd!
Luckily, Dawn and Katie escaped the attack from Cindy the Dementor:
I dominated in the night's quidditch match. Allison and Sonya were there to cheer me on.
Around midnight, we lined up and started moving.
But first we had to take the obligatory nose picture.
1:20 AM: Success!
What a crowd!
Luckily, Dawn and Katie escaped the attack from Cindy the Dementor:
I dominated in the night's quidditch match. Allison and Sonya were there to cheer me on.
Around midnight, we lined up and started moving.
But first we had to take the obligatory nose picture.
1:20 AM: Success!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
"Her mix tape's a masterpiece . . . "
For those of you who still have old mix tapes from your past (preferably made by old boyfriends), you can post pictures of the tape, the songlist and a story here. I can't wait to do this with some of mine. I can only hope that one of the many people for whom I made mix tapes will do the same with one of my creations.
Raise your hand if someone put Depeche Mode's "Somebody" on a mix tape for you . . . that was pretty much the standard profession of love song by alterna-geek (and potentally gay?) boys in my high school years.
Raise your hand if someone put Depeche Mode's "Somebody" on a mix tape for you . . . that was pretty much the standard profession of love song by alterna-geek (and potentally gay?) boys in my high school years.
Ghostwritten: Final Results
didn't like it - 0
it was ok - 0
liked it - 2
really liked it - 4
it was amazing - 0
didn't finish it - 0
6 votes total.
it was ok - 0
liked it - 2
really liked it - 4
it was amazing - 0
didn't finish it - 0
6 votes total.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Most Discussible Books of 2007
I am learning so much from Book Club Girl. A while back, she posted Reading Group Choices' top 11 most discussible books from 2007. (Reading Group Choices is another book club recommendations website.) We have read 4 of them! The complete list is:
Of the remaining we haven't read as a club, I think The Book Thief and Three Cups of Tea look the most interesting. These have been on my list for a while.
#1 Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
#2 The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
#3 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
#4 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
#5 The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
#6 TIE: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
#6 TIE: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
#7 My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
#8 Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
#9 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
#10 Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Daivd Oliver Relin
--Barbara Mead, President, Reading Group Choices
Of the remaining we haven't read as a club, I think The Book Thief and Three Cups of Tea look the most interesting. These have been on my list for a while.
Monday, June 16, 2008
N&O Summer Reading List
I personally can never get enough summer reading lists. The N&O published their suggestions on Sunday. The printable PDF guide is here, and it is a nice list. It contains some interesting recommendations organized according to summer movies - the idea is that you can save money by reading books of the same genre rather than going to the movies . . or something like that. Apparently there is also a N&O book club blog.
Monday Bookish Meme
From BTT
Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (ot, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?
Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?
Well, I think we can ignore the first part of this question. Post your answers in the comments!Friday, June 13, 2008
New Feature: Friday Flashback
Since alliterative titles are all the rage in blogging, I'm moving the memes to Mondays.
The last time I posted about our history was in February, when I posted our book selections from 2001. In 2001 we had just experienced an influx of new members and really started to get our routine down. Whereas in our first few years, our meetings would often get canceled or postponed, meetings got regular and were generally well attended after 2001. As Irina McGovern would attest, with regularity comes the need to spice things up a bit! (Sorry, couldn't resist the reference to our current book.) In 2001 we did our first mystery month in which:
Our mystery month selections are listed below. Which was your favorite?
2001: Green for Danger by Christianna Brand
2002: Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James
2003: For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George
2004: The Missing Piece by Antoine Bello
2005: Death Comes as Epiphany by Sharan Newman
2006: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
2007: Dead Famous by Ben Elton
2008: The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
The last time I posted about our history was in February, when I posted our book selections from 2001. In 2001 we had just experienced an influx of new members and really started to get our routine down. Whereas in our first few years, our meetings would often get canceled or postponed, meetings got regular and were generally well attended after 2001. As Irina McGovern would attest, with regularity comes the need to spice things up a bit! (Sorry, couldn't resist the reference to our current book.) In 2001 we did our first mystery month in which:
- we select a mystery novel for the month's book
- it must be a "whodunit" type novel that can be figured out, rather than a basic suspense novel
- one member reads the entire book and tells everyone where to stop reading
- we come to the meeting and try to figure out who, why, how etc by asking only yes/no questions
Our mystery month selections are listed below. Which was your favorite?
2001: Green for Danger by Christianna Brand
2002: Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James
2003: For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George
2004: The Missing Piece by Antoine Bello
2005: Death Comes as Epiphany by Sharan Newman
2006: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
2007: Dead Famous by Ben Elton
2008: The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Lit Lovers!
Lit Lovers is a website designed for book clubs. It has a really cute design and has suggestions for book selections (many of which we have read!), recipe ideas (including Indian and British food that might be appropriate for our next meeting - no Russian meals or spiced popcorn though), discussion guides, and mini-courses on literature appreciation. I think I'm going to visit again. I'll post a permanent link on the bottom left side of our blog.
Oh! And Lit Lovers has a featured book club section. I have written to the developer to see if we can be a featured book club at some point. Since we have our own blog and all!!
Oh! And Lit Lovers has a featured book club section. I have written to the developer to see if we can be a featured book club at some point. Since we have our own blog and all!!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Poetry
My cousin David is a poet (and an English professor). When I was young I would try to read this poetry books that my parent's had stacked on their book shelf (same shelf as the classic "North and the South" by John Jakes---god I loved Patrick Swayze back then). Anyway, I could never really understand the meaning of his poetry and it always made me feel nonliterary. I thought it might be interesting if I brought a book of his poems to book club...we could read a poem or two and everyone could share in their amazement that I'm related to someone who speaks so eloquently (yes, I had to use spell-checker for this entire post).
Here's a link to some of his work in anyone is interested...
Here's a link to some of his work in anyone is interested...
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Can't eat, can't work, can't sleep??
The Post-Birthday World: Is it possible not to love, but to be in love with a book? I finished it last night at 2:30 AM, basically reading the last half in one sitting. When I stood up to stretch and ruminate, I had no idea what time it was and was shocked to see the numbers glowing on the kitchen stove clock. I slept soon after, but not very deeply. Some words describing my feelings today: giddy, all stomach butterflies, completely unable to concentrate on work, and increasingly, achingly empty. I need more coffee to clear my head but I'm afraid of increasing my heart rate even more! The precipice of pleasure and pain indeed!
I remember Allison writing about needing to take a walk after Cold Mountain. On the one hand, I want to hurry up and process this book and move on because really, I have work to do. But on the other hand, I hate to let Irina, Ramsey and Lawrence go. I was considering re-reading the book immediately to be better able to discuss it next week but at this point I think that would be torture. Let the mourning period begin.
I remember Allison writing about needing to take a walk after Cold Mountain. On the one hand, I want to hurry up and process this book and move on because really, I have work to do. But on the other hand, I hate to let Irina, Ramsey and Lawrence go. I was considering re-reading the book immediately to be better able to discuss it next week but at this point I think that would be torture. Let the mourning period begin.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Alas
I have just discovered the person I want to be. All envy aside, it looks like it might be a useful site for our club!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Have you started The Post-Birthday World yet?
- Are you as stunned as I am by this book? The writing is breathtaking, painful, precise.
- Like Irina, I am completely obsessed with Ramsey Acton.
- Thematically, PBW follows Ghostwritten really well - with all the events hinging on a chance, split-second decision.
- I cannot stress this enough: be very careful when you do a google image search for snooker.
- Is anyone else thinking that we have had some really awesome book club selections lately? All of our books in 2008 have been really, really good. We rock!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
