tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86013245739175709892024-02-21T23:18:28.033-08:00For The Love Of BooksA place for friends to discuss books we read together!Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-35485728091526765852014-01-06T19:54:00.002-08:002014-01-06T19:54:56.945-08:00We fell off the face of the earth...So I'm not too sure what happened to our little book club, it just kind of dwindled. And that is okay. I just hope everyone is still enjoying reading, and letting their imagination take them to much more exciting places that our current locations and situations.<br />
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And on that note I wanted to let you know what my top 10 books that I read in 2013. These are in no particular order:<br />
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**The Last Lecture* by Randy Pausch</div>
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Now I read this book while I was visiting the Thorson's in January. It was such a perfect book to read to start out my year. Now if only I had kept its message in my heart and mind throughout the year, maybe I would have had a better, more positive year.</div>
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**Warm Bodies** by Isaac Marion</div>
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I stumbled upon this book while on a stroll in Barnes & Noble and am so happy I got it. I love the message in the book, and I really like the style of the author. I will have to see if he has written anything else. Also I think this book has one of the best movie adaptations of any book I have read (and then seen.)</div>
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**Ender's Game** by Orson Scott Card</div>
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I read this book while I was making a really difficult decision in my life, and it seemed to be the perfect book to read while my life was changing at a rapid rate. Now several of my friends have recommended this book to me, and I just can't believe it took me so long to read. It is incredible! And I definitely will have to re-read it (and watch the movie.)</div>
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**Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter** by Seth Graham-Smith</div>
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Now I listened to this book on my drive to and from Oregon visiting the Thorsons in March. It was narrated by the author and oh my gosh it was so good! I have always been interested in Lincoln and this was such a great mix of a biography and fiction. Just amazing and the perfect book to drive to! (I wasn't a huge fan of the movie. I mean the book itself was 10 cd's long ... not sure how many pages that is... but the movie was like 90 minutes... not long enough to go where the book took us.)</div>
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**Wave** by Sonali Deraniyagala</div>
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I got this book after having watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1649419/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_10">'The Impossible'</a>. I still can't imagine living through such a horrific and tragic event. This book will rip your heart out, shred it to pieces, and not fully heal it before the book is over... but that being said I am so grateful Sonali shared her story with us, and I pray that I can be as honest with myself in the tragedies of my life.</div>
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**Civil War Love Stories** by Gill Paul</div>
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This book was a fun fast read. You get to read about a dozen couples on both sides of the war. It is always wonderful to see glimpses of life's that have finished and to see how love was in another time. I recommend it to anyone that has an interest in history and families!</div>
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**Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles** by Kevin Hearne</div>
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Now this book was recommended here in the book club AND I LOVED IT! I have read the first 3 books of the series and then I got side tracked by other books to read, but I will need to go back and read the rest!</div>
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**World War Z** by Max Brooks</div>
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Now this was my 2nd book on cd that I read/listened to this year. I listened to this one when I drove up to Oregon in October. I love the format of this book, and I love the choice of voices in the book. Another great attempt at a zombie book, but I love that this one is a take on what would/could happen if zombies are real and how the world could work together or fall apart trying to save humanity. (I also enjoyed the movie, but it was vastly different then the book.)</div>
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**Silver Linings Playbook** by Matthew Quick</div>
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Now I saw the movie before I read the book, and I have to be honest... I like the movie better than I liked the book. In the book it was harder to like the characters. But I loved the book in tackling mental disorders. The book seemed to delve deeply in the issues and I loved that... but I struggled with the interpersonal relationships. Now the movie... I loved the relationships but I don't think it tackled all the issues the book did. All in all I think you need to read the book and watch the movie to get the full picture.</div>
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**City of Bones** by Cassandra Clare</div>
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A friend of mine recommended the book series to me, and I have to say I enjoyed the first one. I got distracted with other books so I haven't attempted any of the others, and I haven't seen the movie yet, but I like the world the author created and I loved the supporting characters! A really fun summer read.</div>
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I'd love to hear about the books you read and loved in 2013, as well as those you are looking forward to reading this year.</div>
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Also... please let me know if anyone else wants to keep up the book club? I like that sometimes someone else gets to pick a book for me to read.</div>
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Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-36944729289119903212013-05-18T16:45:00.000-07:002013-05-18T16:47:10.208-07:00Don't Panic and something about a Towel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alright it is the <strike>end of another month</strike> middle of the next month, and it is time to talk about my book choice.<br />
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Now I have to say that I struggled in reading this book and didn't find myself in the mood to read it, but I did finish it and I think I will read the sequels at some point in my life. So I found some questions from other book clubs, so hopefully we can have a good discussion. =)<br />
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<b>1. What did you enjoy about Hitchhiker? What made you laugh?</b><br />
I really liked the character of Arthur Dent, I thought he was a great example of a how an ordinary person would handle the chaos of the first 50 pages or so. Plus I love the UK so that made me smile. Not so happy about earth being destroyed though... =)<br />
<b>2. The two most famous icons from the series are the towel and the phrase, "don't panic." Comment on that.</b><br />
I enjoyed "don't panic" and I think that is the best news for anything that happens in life. Now the towel part... I have to say I didn't really notice the towel thing. Maybe I completely forgot it or it is mentioned more in the next books.<br />
3. The Hitchhiker series has permeated our popular culture. Some refer to its impact as "hitchhiker-mania," a phenomenon that has spun off a movie, TV series (with Stephen Hawkins, no less), and merchandise (towels and action figures). There are frequent references in rock, videogames, websites, and even an online translation service called Babel Fish! What is it about the series that inspires that kind of . . . following?<br />
I really don't have a good opinion on why that is... I just know that a good deal of my friends enjoyed this book, and it is normally the ones that are a bit nerdier... <br />
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<b>Alright so I really wanted to get into discussing the book but to be honest I didn't love it, and I can't really get myself to talk about it. So if you would like to discuss please feel free to do so... here are more questions, but I really don't have much to say about it, and am a bit disappointed in how much I didn't enjoy reading it.<br />
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Some non specific questions:<br />
1. Did the book meet your expectations? Why/why not?<br />
2. What elements of the book did you find particularly enjoyable? Did any of it annoy you? Why?<br />
3. Why do you think this book continues to be popular, especially among college students and adolescents?<br />
4. Adams's humor has been described as both sophomoric and as brilliant. Which term do you think best describes Adams's work?<br />
5. How effective is Adams's use of the technique of flashback in the novel?<br />
6. What unresolved questions or conflicts in the book would you hope to see addressed in its sequel?<br />
7. Compare and contrast Adams's portrayal of space alien creatures in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to those in other popular books and movies.<br />
8. Is Arthur Dent a hero? If so, how? How would you describe his character?<br />
9. How do Arthur and Ford Prefect relate to each other? What are the strengths and weaknesses of their friendship?<br />
10. Compare the outlooks of the five principal characters – Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian and Marvin. How do they view the world? What are they looking for in life?<br />
11. What does the book say about human beings? Is it a positive or negative view overall? How could this view of humanity affect the way someone lives?<br />
12. How is the idea of God dealt with in the book? Do you agree or disagree with this perspective? Why?<br />
13. How does the book treat the subject of religion? To what extent do you feel the treatment is fair?<br />
14. Slartibartfast says he would “far rather be happy than right any day.” Do you think this is a good perspective to have on life? Why? What are the long-term difficulties with this approach?<br />
15. On what basis do the characters decide issues of right and wrong? What justification is there for their approaches to morality?<br />
16. What do you think Douglas Adams is suggesting with the number 42 being the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything? Why do you think the search for the question was repeatedly frustrated? What would be your answer to “Life, the Universe and Everything”? <br />
17. What would you say is the Ultimate Question? How have you attempted to answer the question over the years? Do you think it matters whether or not there is any ultimate meaning in life? Why/why not?<br />
18. If you could ask the author a question, what would it be?Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-48314387003785304182013-05-16T07:26:00.001-07:002013-05-16T07:26:38.530-07:00May, I guess I am doing MaySo, I know this is a little late, but I have had a lot going on. I am on my way to San Jose today, but before I left I wanted to post this so no one was in suspense any longer. ;)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Grave-Deanna-Raybourn/dp/0778328171/ref=cm_cmu_up_add_glance"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iOZjBkWeL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX285_SY380_CR,0,0,285,380_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Silent in the The Grave by Deanna Raybourn is a period mystery. It is the first in five book series and I love them all. Just so you are aware the book covers often look selacious, but they're not. That doesn't there isn't plenty of romance to go with your mystery, there just isn't any descriptions. Plus there are no bad words. Oh, and did I mention they are funny too! I hope you all love them as much as I do (the first one, we are only reading the first one),<br />
<br />Fitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904984269804330174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-40048280402968100302013-03-22T16:13:00.000-07:002013-03-22T16:13:34.001-07:00Well... where did March go?Alright, so March was a bit of a flop for us. I hope everyone enjoyed reading whatever books they have been reading on their own. I for one continued on our Iron-Druid series, I loved the second one, and I'm having a hard time sticking to the third... my mind seems to have jumped to other books. But I will get back to it! Thank you Heather for introducing me to another good book series!<br />
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<br />
<br />
Now April is my month again and I have decided to pick a book I started but never finished and I am not sure why that happened. (I blame my slight ADD for it... but who knows.) So we shall be reading "The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams! Now my book has all of the Hitch-Hikers Trilogy (there are more than three books, so I'm unsure why it calls itself a trilogy) and I may attempt to read all of them in the month, but we shall see. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN1hY4EljRoaAqR63rgoL2Wk4NWaDRJDuhq7URYeA8O2S2NsG9f7pkQCZRFircKNkH-owaBUSiXJqdRsY7Z3jcOzs4G1yrFtKRhmfsSuM2IXahfaQolI5wL8vdDYwd1Cbj8PefKF_Wl4p/s1600/hitch-hikers+trilogy.bmp" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN1hY4EljRoaAqR63rgoL2Wk4NWaDRJDuhq7URYeA8O2S2NsG9f7pkQCZRFircKNkH-owaBUSiXJqdRsY7Z3jcOzs4G1yrFtKRhmfsSuM2IXahfaQolI5wL8vdDYwd1Cbj8PefKF_Wl4p/s320/hitch-hikers+trilogy.bmp" /></a>Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-54649334566154636432013-02-04T09:58:00.004-08:002013-02-04T10:00:46.469-08:00Fantastic February<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="200" src="http://click.infospace.com/ClickHandler.ashx?du=http%3a%2f%2fwww.openlettersmonthly.com%2fissue%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2011%2f05%2fhounded.jpg&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww.openlettersmonthly.com%2fissue%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2011%2f05%2fhounded.jpg&ld=20130204&ap=4&app=1&c=prodegemeta3.org&s=prodegemeta3&coi=372380&cop=main-title&euip=12.110.63.224&npp=4&p=0&pp=0&pvaid=3ccd5dec626c4199858b83da37e16fff&ep=4&mid=9&hash=A28E1F9D4C6A4CACB51385504C76B177" width="119" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Heather's February Book Suggestion</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ever since receiving the invite to this lovely blog, I’ve been on the
edge of my seat and happily, quietly following along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confess I haven’t been able to do all of
the monthly reads, but I’m always here in spirit, and reading along to the ones
I can whenever I get a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, the
price we pay when raising 4 children under age 6 plus a husband, and playing
the role of aspiring writer and author in the couple of hours left over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>Now you’ve already gathered that I like to
write as much as I love to read, so the rest of me is not difficult to figure
out either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a domestic goddess,
sassy lassy and SAHM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarcastic,
candid, a chocolate snob, blogger, writer, and not a bad singer either.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough about me- on to the book of the month!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<u>Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book One</u> by Kevin Hearne<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now I know that urban fantasy novels have been overwhelmingly abundant for the
past 10 years or so, and most of them aren’t even worth the paper they’ve been
printed on, but I assure you, this one is different. The television, literary,
and comic book allusions woven throughout this series make it an enjoyable read
for almost anyone, from the traditional Shakespeare junkies to the “fracking cylon”
haters, and everyone in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The
only downside to this book in my opinion has been the abundant use of the
“F-dash-dash-dash word”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was willing
to overlook it because the story itself is pleasingly plotted and very well
written.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The overall sense of humor and
the twists and turns in plot were very satisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention, after reading books 1-5 and
the novellas in between in less than a 3 week time span <em>(that’s how you know I
really love something: when I forsake sleep to get more of it</em>), I unashamedly
declare that the main character, Atticus, is more intelligent, masculine, and sexy than anything you’ve
read about glittering vampires or the like for the last decade and, also, the
next dog I adopt might possibly be named Oberon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know I haven’t given you much to go on as of yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s because there’s no point trying to restate something that was already stated well enough, therefore I have just given you the perfectly adequate synopsis off of Amazon.com:</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hounded-Iron-Druid-Chronicles-Book/dp/0345522478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358627157&sr=8-1&keywords=hounded+the+iron+druid+chronicles.+book+1#_"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.amazon.com/Hounded-Iron-Druid-Chronicles-Book/dp/0345522478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358627157&sr=8-1&keywords=hounded+the+iron+druid+chronicles.+book+1#_</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happily, I can also add that the audio version of this series is just as good as reading it from print on your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author doesn’t have any dialectical hang-ups or speech impediments that will cause a subconscious stumbling block or distract you from the story in any way, and his ability to highlight and individualize all of the key characters is, truthfully, quite enjoyable and amusing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For kicks and giggles, I've added some questions for discussion at the end of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the month. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Which
character do you like the most and why? The least and why? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">D</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">id any
passage from the book stand out to you? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are
there situations and/or characters you can identify with, if so how? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Did the first chapter hook you as a reader or did it take a while for you to get into the story?</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At
what point in the book did you decide if you liked it or not? What helped
make this decision? </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Name
your favorite thing overall about the book. Your least favorite? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If
you could change something about the book what would it be and why? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Describe
what you liked or disliked about the writers style? <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have, and I look forward to discussing it at the end of the month!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14485374628176537021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-48386233034960143252013-01-15T19:16:00.002-08:002013-01-15T19:16:35.302-08:00January's Book(s)So we couldn't all agree on A book, so we will have options. <b>Please read as many or all of the book options.<br />
</b><br />
So far I've read:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CvRwYozPtzT8ORoDv2jNhmqO-AdsOZXld-iaNVpps9xKz2AkAqIi7RRx5bQAVY9UizIOzjXwbk2kEhpvkgf61ZRnRrm3qwf3Iik1gIoJXqLmKzeK_SJsGwP7pqHMK9dQsEoGPyBmIE9Y/s1600/warm+bodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="143" width="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CvRwYozPtzT8ORoDv2jNhmqO-AdsOZXld-iaNVpps9xKz2AkAqIi7RRx5bQAVY9UizIOzjXwbk2kEhpvkgf61ZRnRrm3qwf3Iik1gIoJXqLmKzeK_SJsGwP7pqHMK9dQsEoGPyBmIE9Y/s400/warm+bodies.jpg" /></a></div>Warm Bodies by Issac Marion<br />
<br />
And I've started:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfjt0eUVpwHvR__RP655yDvqupMqzeVvk9FFzpLQEdKtT5GzcHXU8UjalN0DglaSbnsP1_yO91lU1bhpZCbjsKoCsr2gEGjeGx_3StZOdH1c5JzvNzu4V-YR4-xuxTpO4Fcs3-rpfVsXi/s1600/silver+linings+playbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="155" width="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfjt0eUVpwHvR__RP655yDvqupMqzeVvk9FFzpLQEdKtT5GzcHXU8UjalN0DglaSbnsP1_yO91lU1bhpZCbjsKoCsr2gEGjeGx_3StZOdH1c5JzvNzu4V-YR4-xuxTpO4Fcs3-rpfVsXi/s400/silver+linings+playbook.jpg" /></a></div>Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick<br />
<br />
And I Plan to Read (by the end of the month)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvWXMaSmLD6nqhwSy760eBwl-kzEAsS_w8eb9EkiKSllMZ1h7P1jXtImwShBZMi291wU1vNH2YO7xqStJihX2FdiCejYC0zzyglmAl5M7qgFCFVl50-ZHZIvsw2OhWb7UCsAQo39ygT-Q/s1600/treasure+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="154" width="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvWXMaSmLD6nqhwSy760eBwl-kzEAsS_w8eb9EkiKSllMZ1h7P1jXtImwShBZMi291wU1vNH2YO7xqStJihX2FdiCejYC0zzyglmAl5M7qgFCFVl50-ZHZIvsw2OhWb7UCsAQo39ygT-Q/s400/treasure+island.jpg" /></a></div>Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
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Now enjoy 2013 by reading some good books!!!<br />
<br />
Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-85379358111537137682012-12-31T15:36:00.000-08:002012-12-31T15:36:20.852-08:00January's BookSo my very good friend Hilary is supposedly a part of this book club, but right now she is busy working and being pregnant... so we will need to pick a new book without her.<br />
<br />
Does anyone have any books they are dying to read?<br />
<br />
Here are my suggestions... let me know if you like any of them.<br />
<br />
-Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick<br />
-Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (I think Ella just read this)<br />
-The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier &Clay by Michael Chabon<br />
-Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
-Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe <br />
-The Swiss Famly Robinson by Johann David Wyss<br />
<br />
All of these are on my nightstand, so any of them will make me happy... so you decide... and quickly so we can start reading!<br />
<br />
I hope you all are having a great New Years Eve!!!! I hope 2013 is a great year for all!<br />
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Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-69596577384968966032012-12-31T00:32:00.000-08:002012-12-31T00:32:44.167-08:00God Bless Us, Every One!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIQIEhil_-Pewy5BQD8gADIQhPVOy0GorOz0FIY2W-OZJDcGXFrd7n8bTiRjnNbleytBQiHONiuUe1bK1agFA28L1RKEvnK2ByF7Ja92VTbkohv-MgSgphJKtWsSV9F4JNXnYBcxbb2LG/s1600/a+christmas+carol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="153" width="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIQIEhil_-Pewy5BQD8gADIQhPVOy0GorOz0FIY2W-OZJDcGXFrd7n8bTiRjnNbleytBQiHONiuUe1bK1agFA28L1RKEvnK2ByF7Ja92VTbkohv-MgSgphJKtWsSV9F4JNXnYBcxbb2LG/s400/a+christmas+carol.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity and the time to read this book during this Christmas/Holiday season. Now I didn't reach my goal of finishing it before Christmas... Stacey you are awesome for doing so... but I still loved reading it. (It also gave me hope that someday my brain will be smart enough to understand a full Dickens novel!)<br />
<br />
I love the simple message of this book... that we can change. That nothing is fully set in stone, not even our personalities. We can and should continually improve to be the best self that we can be that will bless ourselves and all those we come into contact with.<br />
<br />
Now I wanted to be smart and try and think of great discussion questions... well I'm not very original, so I googled it (or I might acutally have used bing...) and this is some of what it came up with:<br />
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<b>1. Had you read A Christmas Carol before? Did anything surprise you in the book?<br />
2. This is a very short book, and not the only Christmas story that Dickens wrote. Why do you think that it and its message endured and became such a part of English-speaking culture?<br />
3. Did you have a favorite part? What image or line or scene sticks with you the most, if one does?<br />
4. How would you characterize Bob Cratchit’s attitude toward Scrooge? Scrooge’s attitude toward Cratchit? Besides literal heat, what might be the symbolism of the tiny coal fire that Cratchit has in the office?<br />
5. How is Scrooge affected by seeing the Cratchit family?<br />
6. What is the lesson Scrooge learns when the ghost shows him the Cratchit family after Tim’s death? Why is this lesson needed when Scrooge’s attitude has already changed so much?<br />
7. Is Scrooge’s transformation believable?</b><br />
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Now I want to have an actual discussion so I'm not sure if I should answer the questions on my own or wait to see what other people think or write???<br />
<br />
***On a side note and final note, here are some of the quotes or lines of the characters that really stuck with me:<br />
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<i>"I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you." p.23 <br />
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"The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever." p.28<br />
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"I should have liked, I do confess, to have had the lightest license of a child and yet to have been madn enough to know its value." p.53<br />
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"...For it is always the person not in the predicament who knows what ought to have been done in it, and would unquestionably have done it too..." p.59<br />
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"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that, while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." p.81<br />
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"...For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas..." p.85<br />
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"Best and happiest of all, the time before him was his own, to make amends in!" p.115</i><br />
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Alright so I actually want to see what everyone else thinks before I share my own opinion. I hope more than Stacey and myself read... but if not, I still think it will be an awesome conversation!<br />
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So start talking/typing!Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-61618519341587977622012-12-08T21:10:00.000-08:002012-12-08T21:10:08.866-08:00A ThoughtOkay, so I haven't been the best at keeping this book club going month to month. In my excuse I started a new job that is kind of stressful and taking all of my time. But I promise to do better.<br />
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Now I know December has already started, and I know it isn't my month to choose, but I am not sure if Beckah is really following much in the book club so I'm going to make a suggestion, and you can do with it what you will.<br />
<br />
It is December and everyone is all Christmas focused, as we should be. So I thought a fun book to read this month would be "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I have never read it and always wanted to, so that is what I will be reading in Decemeber. Please feel free to read along and we can talk about it and all the memories and thoughts we have about the book and all its film adaptations.<br />
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Let me know what you think? <br />
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PS... I going to try and finish this before Christmas so that we can talk about our Christmas and our reading!Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-57560103316975508972012-11-26T22:35:00.002-08:002012-11-26T22:40:22.730-08:00ThoughtSo here's the thing. I think I suck at book clubs.<br />
<br />
'Cause I either don't get around to reading the book everyone's reading, or I'm not in the mood for the book, or I've already read the book, or whatever. But I love books, and I really love you guys, so here's what my book club participation is gonna consist of: <br />
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!<br />
<br />
Feel free to join me in this endeavor, or comment if you've read one of these books. You are also free to ignore all of these recommendations. I'm also on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2283381?shelf=currently-reading">goodreads</a>, and you're welcome to check out more book reviews there. Also, when it's my turn to pick a book, I'll let you guys just decide from among these posts. <br />
<br />
So, here are a few recommendations I have from the last few months. (I was about to recommend Anna Karenina, but I'm only a third of the way through and that seems like breaking the rules. It's HECKA good though.) These are all YA reads. <br />
<br />
<b>Hate List by Jennifer Brown</b><br />
This book is told from the point of view of a girl whose boyfriend opened fire on their high school, using a list they created together of people they hated to target victims, before turning the gun on himself. She never had any intention of harm, but she now finds herself in the difficult position of being both a victim and an accomplice. <br />
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<b>Purity by Jackson Pearce</b><br />
<span class="readable reviewText">
<span id="freeTextreview359214214">I worried that this was
going to be one of those cheesy "Christian questioning her desires for
chastity" books, but it totally wasn't. Through a series of
circumstances, 16-year-old Shelby decides to try to lose her virginity
in the next 5 weeks before the "Princess Ball," where she's supposed to
make a vow of chastity. She feels restricted by the idea, so she figures
that if she has sex BEFORE the ball, she won't have any purity to
pledge and the vow is void. But things are more complicated than she
thought, and she has a series of misadventures, including buying condoms
from a pharmacist who looks like her grandfather and trying to seduce a
guy who looks like Jesus. A beautiful coming of age story about
identity, love, selflessness, and what it truly means to keep a promise.</span></span><br />
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<b><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214">Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell</span></span></b><br />
<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214">I was so enchanted by this book that I immediately ordered it on Amazon after reading the library's copy. </span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214">
<span class="readable reviewText">
<span id="freeTextreview323400810">I almost always judge books
by their covers, and this one lived up to its fantastic cover design. I
love this book so much I'm going to buy it. A great story about letting
go and living in the moment, told by a narrator I recognized as, well, a
lot of myself. The author herself has lived a life of travel and
adventure, and reports that at least half of the things that happen to
Vassar in the book happened to her at one point or another (including
being held hostage in the jungle of Laos). The truth is always stranger
than fiction, they say, but this fiction is delightful enough for me.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview323400810"><b>Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview323400810">If you can find this book on tape (or cd...or...mp3 file--man I gotta get with the times), LISTEN to it. The actor who reads it is phenomenal. John Green is a master, and all of his books are wonderful. In this one, </span></span></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview323400810"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview200325584">the themes of identity and truth and fear are true to life and confusing and beautiful. </span></span>**NOTE: Homosexuality is a major theme in this book, and while none of it is explicit, it IS talked about. There's also a lot of language in this book. If you're uncomfortable with either of those things, you may want to skip it.**</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview359214214"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview323400810">Happy reading! </span></span> </span></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17843219433075940501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-77253119511134470802012-11-02T13:36:00.001-07:002012-11-02T15:30:35.302-07:00Finally my turn! (November)Hello fellow bookclubbers! My name is Esther, and it is my turn to suggest a book.<br />
This summer I got a kindle for my birthday, and as a result I've been reading much more than I used to. I have read some great books, but I've narrowed it down to 3 to choose from. If there isn't a clear winner in a few days then I will pick my favourite.<br />
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The first book that I present to you is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I picked this up in holiday this summer and I really resented having to put it down! This is Amazon's summary;<br />
" <br />
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<div id="postBodyPS" style="overflow: hidden;">
<div>
Enter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson,
Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't
trusted not to steal the silver...<br />
<br />
There's Aibileen,
raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her
own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her
tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why
her beloved maid has disappeared.<br />
<br />
Skeeter, Aibileen and
Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would
tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries,
they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a
truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell..."<br />
<br />
This isn't a topic that I ever thought would appeal to me, but it was told so well that I got sucked in. I loved all the characters and really wanted to know what would happen. It was one of those books that I never wanted to end. It was also a real eye opener, I couldn't believe that it was set in the 60s! The only downside to this book is that it is quite long, but if you can find the time, you wont be sorry. Oh, and I have seen the film since then, and as usual the book is much better. The film was good, but there is only so much that you can fit in, and anything cut out of the book would be a shame.<br />
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This summer I especially made an effort to read some of the classics, in an atempt to feel intelligent, and to be better at quizes! So, when my husband downloaded "Around the world in 80 days" by Jules Verne, I thought that I would give it a go. I was very pleasantly surprised. Again, I really liked the characters, and the book wasn't full of boring descriptions like I feared.I especially enjoyed the chapter in Utah :) The best thing about this book though was the ending. Ever though the story is really old, I hardly knew anything about it, and was still surprised at the end! So if you want a classic read, with a really cool story, this is the one!<br />
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The third choice is also along the classic lines. The summer I finished reading all of Jane Austin's novels for the first time, and I was in mourning that I would never read one of them for the first time again. I decided to branch out and read "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. I found it to be a lot more sombre than Austin's work, but still very well written and I was invested in the characters. I think that this is a book that should definitely be read in a person's life time. I also think that it is one of the most romantic stories ever, and I love how doing the right thing and being brave really pays off in the end. It would have been so easy for Jane to take the easy way out, and , well, I don't want to spoil it if you haven't read it already! I will just say that it was a very satisfying read.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, it's up to you, although ..I strongly recommend all 3!</div>
</div>
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essi1356http://www.blogger.com/profile/01018051122741180005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-87366193054452816192012-10-01T07:58:00.001-07:002012-10-01T07:58:06.953-07:00Thoughts on One Second After<i>Melissa posted this on the comments and I thought it might be better seen here:<br />
</i><br />
Ok all, what did you think about it? Did you find yourself looking at your own food storage differently? Do you think you know your neighbors well enough that you'd protect eachother or be everyman for himself? Did you lose any sleep over this book? Which character did you relate to the most? Why? What was the most jaw dropping moment in the book to you? ( we'll start there)<br />
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Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-54754703274371512842012-09-26T03:18:00.003-07:002012-09-26T04:50:49.226-07:00Hello book clubies.I'm not much of a reader, that's point one. The truth Is I read slow, it's a curse some of us live with, we re-read sentences and paragraphs because it either didn't go in or it just didn't make sense. My theory based on my extensive research, namely me, is that I felt pressure at school to be reading 'big books'. The kid with the most pages, smallest print, least pictures was the cleverest. All sat at a desk reading our chosen book from the school library and proving that I was a 'big book' reader when in reality a picture book would have been what I would have chosen and my English reading lessons consisted of me day dream whilst staring at the book and occasionally turning a page.<br />
<br />
Point two I love reading but don't get round to it too often. I don't like too much description, or swearing or sex. Books should come with ratings, the amount I have half read due the above is just as long as my read list.<br />
<br />
Point 3, I've not read next months book so I apologise if it has any things from point two. I have However read the first few pages and it amused me. Big tick in my estimation.<br />
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Point 4, it's British.<br />
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Point 5' I'm british.<br />
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Point 6 I present you with "things can only get better: eighteen miserable years in the life of a labour supporter" by John o'Farell<br />
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I will post a pic when my laptop charger arrives in the mean time blogger on an iPad sucks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Can-Only-Get-Better/dp/0552998036/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Can-Only-Get-Better/dp/0552998036/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3</a>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975679872443487189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-62106534632406028262012-09-05T13:12:00.002-07:002012-09-05T13:12:30.925-07:00September BookMy very good friend Melissa has the book choice for this month and she facebooked me to tell me our book would be:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcVcOHtbKHu8IEdPx-zXsiWbfZjh-5AVvfAJ3qV-MMuux8XI9yRcsXYe6BPvoxufSfcg52V1-6mGdxwtdzvNCT12saD6atuh9oKhYlIULNUXUPCiQSFkgTNaGgKwelyOn-kpRRoUv5rVw/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="154" width="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcVcOHtbKHu8IEdPx-zXsiWbfZjh-5AVvfAJ3qV-MMuux8XI9yRcsXYe6BPvoxufSfcg52V1-6mGdxwtdzvNCT12saD6atuh9oKhYlIULNUXUPCiQSFkgTNaGgKwelyOn-kpRRoUv5rVw/s400/book.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<i>One Second After</i> by William R. Forstchen.<br />
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I honestly don't know anything about the book or author, but I'm excited because it sounds all suspenseful and page turner-y.<br />
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So hurry and finish Peter Pan if you haven't. And Kathleeny, I know you are busy housing and developing your first born, but please don't forget us lowly book club peeps! (I mean that in an only slightly sarcastic way... I blame all the caffeine going through my system at the moment.)<br />
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Alright readers.... READ!Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-20489835575456683012012-08-14T21:06:00.002-07:002012-08-14T21:06:57.122-07:00August.Ok guys, here it is: <i>Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (</i>the play). How predictable am I? Yes, I've read it before. In fact, I know it is as dear to some of your hearts as it is to mine. That's part of the reason I've chosen this piece; I can't wait to talk about it more with you all! Another reason is that I've got a little boy growing inside me, and I want to stoke the fire a little. Last, I think we're all familiar enough with the story that, even if we have trouble finishing it by the end of the month, we'll all get to join in the discussion.<br />
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As I type this, Jesse and I are thumbing through our ancient copy (the one I picked up in a tiny village in Scotland called Bridge of Allen and literally clutched to my chest as I walked home in the woods). I knew which copy Jesse had grabbed by the smell of the pages.<br />
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If you can, get a hold of a copy with the Dedication to the Five. It's beautiful. I haven't read the play through in a few years, and I can't wait to start again. As much as I love this story, I love the way it was written almost more. The stage directions are magical. The <i>stage directions</i>!<br />
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Anyway, if the library doesn't have the play version, here's an Amazon link where you can order it in an anthology of JM Barrie's plays for cheap. I hope hope hope it's the original play. I "looked inside this book" and it seems to be.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0199537836/ref=sr_1_1_np_1_main_olp?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345001946&sr=1-1&condition=new">Peter Pan and Other Plays</a></i><br />
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Is this ok with everyone?<br />
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<br />K + Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134880501787707753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-18229115935405890722012-08-10T22:38:00.001-07:002012-08-10T22:38:58.533-07:00Learning From Man's Best Friend!!!Well... I feel like we should discuss the books we read for July. Now I was naughty and only read one of the books. My used book store and my local library didn't have <i>Major Pettigrew's Last Stand</i> so I read <i>The Art of Racing in the Rain</i> by Garth Stein.<br />
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Now this book really took me for a journey. From the preface I knew i would love it. But I found myself struggling to finish. I just felt so utterly betrayed by the twins (the grandparents)that I just didn't want to read anymore. But I just had to keep reading to see the end.<br />
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So because of my issues I am having a hard time thinking about what to discuss. So I cheated and found some questions online!<br />
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<b>Some early readers of the novel have observed that viewing the world through a dog's eyes makes for a greater appreciation of being human. Why do you think this is?<br />
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I really agree with the greater appreciation comment. But I really think it is because we have such a Zen dog perspective. I think that if we had the dog from "Up" then we would think differently. I like that Enzo is such a deep thinker and yet he doesn't get into the naggy drama that we humans dwell upon.<br />
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<b>Do you find yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?<br />
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Oh I completely did! While reading I kept wondering what Lucy (my 5 year old Shitzu/ Terrier mix) thought of how I treated her. I wondered if she thought I was babying her too much or if I spoke to her enough or too much. If she feels safe with us, or if she sometimes still feels like a visitor. (We only have had her for a year.) I wonder if she is very Zen or if she is as girly as I think she is.<br />
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To be honest it made me think a lot more of my dog’s outlook on things. I loved that!<br />
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<b>In the book, we get glimpses into the mindset and mentality of a race car driver. What parallels can you think of between the art of racing and the art of living?<br />
</b><br />
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Now I could take this question several ways. Professionally our careers can be a race, or a marathon to see if/when/and how we can achieve our goals. In relationships I think it can relate to knowing your surroundings, your partner/team/significant other and what you both need to do to stay in sync and moving forward together to the next lap, or the next race. <br />
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Denny and Enzo and the way they relate racing into their whole being shows how preparation and planning and endurance relate to both life and racing. The twins also show that planning and knowing your course, your opponents, and your pace can pretty much determine your race. But only what you can control. The twins did all they could to achieve the win they wanted. But they couldn't completely control their opponent...Denny. (Sorry I'm probably not explaining myself very well..codeine does that to me.)<br />
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<b><i>“That which you manifest is before you.”</i> Garth Stein: <i>“We are in charge of our own lives. We create our own destiny. And we have to take responsibility—a big job. If we delegate to people around us, we get what we deserve. If we really want something, we have to set our attention on it and do everything it takes to get it. . . . The energy we put out to the world is what the world becomes for us.”</i> Is this true for the characters in the book?</b><br />
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All I can really say to those statements and that question is YES!!! <br />
In life we get what we put into it. And we could see this with the characters in the book. It may not happen quickly but I do believe that we get what we strive for. My brain is getting a little too fuzzy. SO I will end it there!<br />
Now discuss… and anyone who has read the other book… please post!<br />
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IF you haven't noticed, I'm really not very good at this business. But I have been thinking our August book. Let me sift through a couple options tonight and hopefully tomorrow I'll post what I've found. I'm thinking something either short or easy or both, as it's already 10 days into the month. I miss you all and hope your lives are all swimming right along happily!K + Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134880501787707753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-23524313460963371512012-07-10T16:46:00.002-07:002012-07-10T16:46:34.145-07:00Hey I'm new!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hi, I'm Carrie!</span></div>
I apologize for the pictures... the only ones I have of me reading are also of just my legs. Which is odd.<br />
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I feel so privileged to be in this super exclusive book club! I feel like a mason only less manly and secretive.<br />
Just thought I would introduce myself. I'm living in Utah and have a good-lookin'-hard-workin'-soft-spoken husband and a bananas 1 year old. This is us at the Smithsonian:<br />
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I stay at home and have a social work degree. I have a <a href="http://adventuresofscottandcarrie.blogspot.com/">blog</a> where I talk about my day and stuff I make because I'm pretty typical like that. I even like Diet Coke and watch The Bachelor.<br />
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Liz once told me that I'm mainstream but wearing a really cool hat. </div>
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I have always loved to read and had a goal this year to join a book club so I'm pretty excited.<br />
Is this weird to do an introduction post? I would love it if all of you introduced yourselves in the comments or something because I think there are some of you I don't know.Carrie Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209518269608948257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-45566556775183678902012-07-05T12:09:00.000-07:002012-07-05T12:10:03.029-07:00July Bookie-WookHiya peeps!<br />
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Sorry I've been sort of absent from this group...I'm not now that it's my choice! Ha ha.<br />
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Anyway, I couldn't decide between two books. I just did a "<a href="http://dinosaursarefun.blogspot.com/2012/07/for-frozen-sea-within-you.html">Book Recommendation Post</a>" on my personal blog, so here are two of the books from that list. Which one would you guys like to read for July?<br />
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(Click on the picture to enlarge and read more.) <br />
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Major Pettigrew's last stand is very British, something along the lines of "Remains of the Day," and oh so tender. Focus is on human relationships.<br />
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The Art of Racing in the Rain is much more along the lines of "Tuesdays With Morrie," although there's a lot more humor in it. Focus is on life lessons. <br />
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Cast your votes in the comments, my friends! <br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17843219433075940501noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-24673335242865149862012-07-04T22:14:00.002-07:002012-07-05T10:11:01.906-07:00Let’s Talk About Dead Bodies<b>Disclaimer: I sort of freaked myself out by trying to hard to make this a meaningful post. Please help me me make this discussion better by commenting!<br />
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So... this month was Samalama DingDong's choice and she chose "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach. When she told me about it I was initially so excited! I ran to my nearest bookstore and picked it up. It hooked me right in the beginning.<br />
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<i>"Being dead is absurd. It's the silliest situation you'll find yourself in. Your limbs are floppy and uncooperative. Your mouth hangs open. Being dead is unsightly and stinky and embarrassing, and there's not a damn thing to be done about it."</i> (In the introduction) And then on the next page: <i>"One's own dead are more than cadavers; they are place holders for the living. They are a focus, a receptacle, for emotions that no longer have one. The dead of science are always strangers."<br />
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I love how the author can go from sarcastic, witty and funny to heartfelt. It isn't something I would have thought possible on this subject. And yet she does it beautifully. I really think this book is worth discussing for so many reasons. Each of her chapters are so educational, interesting, and thought provoking. There is a lot more to being a cadaver than I thought. And I just don’t mean the donated body. <br />
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Personally I am a registered donor, on the bone marrow registry, and a regular blood donor. I love the idea of being able to bless those in need in any way I can. And yet with all that, I still am unsure about my position on donating your body to science, and some of its uses. And I guess that relates to my faith and my thoughts on our physical bodies, and how they are a gift from God that we are responsible to take care of while we are here. Now that is as far as I will go with my faith, because this shouldn't be a religious discussion, but I can’t seem to totally disconnect my faith with my logical brain… they seem to be intertwined. But I can say this… I think it is our duty as a human race to help where and when we can, and it any way we can. Ms. Roach makes me laugh when she said:<br />
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“I’m a believer in organ and tissue (bone, cartilage, skin) donation, but was startled to learn that donated skin that isn’t used for, say, grafting onto burn victims may be processed and used cosmetically to plump up wrinkles and aggrandize penises. While I have no preconceived notions on the hereafter, I stand firm in my conviction that it should not take the form of someone else’s underpants.” P.24<br />
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Okay so now I’ll jump of that podium for a second and just get back to how much I enjoyed that way Ms. Roach approached this subject, and the way she wrote about it. You can tell she has a respect for the subject and those involved, but she also added humor so the book wasn’t too heavy. I think my favorite portion of her writing was when she was talking about donor H.<br />
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<i>“But H is different. She has made three sick people well. She has brought them extra time on earth. To be able, as a dead person, to make a gift of this magnitude is phenomenal. Most people don’t manage this sort of thing while they’re alive. Cadavers like H are the dead’s heroes. It is astounding to me, and achingly sad, that with eighty thousand people on the waiting list for donated hearts and livers and kidneys, with sixteen a day dying there on that list, that more than half of the people in the position of H’s family was in will say no, will choose to burn those organs or let them rot. We abide the surgeon’s scalpel to save our own lives, our loved ones’ lives, but not to save a strangers life. H has no heart, but heartless is the last thing you’d call her.”</i> P.195<br />
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It must have been so very powerful to watch this persons vital organs cut out and distributed for individuals miles away from one another. To know that through this sadness to H’s family, there can be joy and hope. In a small way she still lives on.<br />
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Now I will just share a few of my favorite quotes that either had me thinking, or laughing, or both:<br />
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* “The human being of centuries past was clearly in another league, insofar as pain endurance went. The further back you go, the more we could take. P.29<br />
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*“We are biology. We are reminded of this at the beginning and the end, at birth and at death. In between we do what we can to forget.” P.84<br />
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*“The distance between the very old, sick, frail person and the dead one is short, with a poorly marked border. The more time you spend with the invalid elderly (I have seen both my parents in this state), the more you come to see extreme old age as a gradual easing into death.” Pp. 97-98<br />
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*“A male heart is in fact slightly different from a female heart. A heart surgeon can tell one from the other by looking at the ECG, because the intervals are slightly different. When you put a female heart into a man, it continues to beat like a female heart. And vice versa.” P.192<br />
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*“If you could at all help it, it was extremely advisable, historically, to avoid being epileptic. Treatments for it have included distilled human skull, dried human heart, bolus of human mummy, boy’s urine, excrement of mouse, goose, and horse, warm gladiator blood, arsenic, strychnine, cod liver oil, and borax.” P.226<br />
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*“While I am thankful to be alive in the era of antibiotics and over-the-counter Gyne-Lotrimin, I am saddened by modern medicine’s contributions to medical nomenclature. Where once we had scrofula and dropsy, now we have supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Gone are quinsy, glanders, and farcy. So long exuberant granulations and cerebral softening. Fare-thee-well, tetter and hectic fever. Even the treatments used to have evocative, literary flavor. The Merck Manual of 1899 listed ‘a tumbleful of Carlsbad waters, sipped hot while dressing’ as a remedy for constipation and the lovely, if enigmatic, ‘removal inland’ as a cure for insomnia.” P.226<br />
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*“’Do not spit at the beach.’ Unless, I thought to myself, the beach suffers from nightmares, ulcers, ophthalmia, or fetid perspiration.” P.244<br />
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I am so glad that Samalama chose this book. I doubt I would have found it on my own, and I love the differing tastes of those in our book club! I hope everyone else enjoyed it and that we can have a good discussion!Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-9305666226472260142012-06-19T10:00:00.002-07:002012-06-19T10:00:57.727-07:00My name is....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey everyone.. I am Samiee... Many of you have no idea who I am and that is because I am a loser and I have not been participating in this amazing book club! I have a million and one excuses as to why I have been MIA but non of them are sufficient. The truth is... I AM LAME! There I said it.. I am lame.<br />
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I have not been in a reading place. I go through phases of devouring books 2 at a time for months and then I will not read for months... I am currently in a non- reading phase. I want to participate so bad but I just can't focus. So I am so sorry folks for being lame... and I picked the book for this month and while I have it on my Nook.. ready to go I just haven't found the time to read *sigh* Someday. Hope you guys enjoyed it!<br />
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Samiee-the-lameUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-62787208236123994962012-05-27T21:59:00.001-07:002012-05-27T22:22:43.780-07:00In anticipation.... French Revolution.How are you enjoying <i>A Tale of Two Cities?</i><br />
<br />
Anyway, in anticipation of the book discussion, I wanted to post this. It's from a fav UK show of mine, <i>Horrible Histories.</i><br />
<br />
It's Historical Wife Swap. I LOVE this! If you've read the book, you'll find some interesting insights.<br />
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FYI: Did you know that Madame Tussad got started doing wax models off the chopped off heads? Eww.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229233245734572655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-66441228811843918802012-04-30T15:45:00.000-07:002012-04-30T15:45:12.201-07:00Happy Anniversary!On this date in 1859 "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens was first published in serial form in a literary magazine.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCdMoOW_wcB3ixWvShPEAXw1o_uz9_T1Cd7PbcH5Daa6VUAFG-i1oAlu20VGX48RFfKPDqilsO-5gBvNkqn48hncQGpG-pHcazaOFbPWGJ7o0iCeyrVzr2NclGgzZGunvaM6_Bmk6hds5/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="177" width="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCdMoOW_wcB3ixWvShPEAXw1o_uz9_T1Cd7PbcH5Daa6VUAFG-i1oAlu20VGX48RFfKPDqilsO-5gBvNkqn48hncQGpG-pHcazaOFbPWGJ7o0iCeyrVzr2NclGgzZGunvaM6_Bmk6hds5/s400/images.jpg" /></a></div>
Good job Stacey for picking this book!Jaggers Brainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546842589476757587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-28135359834989468732012-04-28T11:40:00.000-07:002012-04-28T11:40:55.514-07:00The next book! (Finally!)Sorry for the delay. It's been a crazy week at work and I had to try and make time to get to the library and deal with a very unhelpful librarian who was upset that I actually required her to do something. <br />
Sadly, the book that I really wanted us all to read, I cannot get (sometimes living in Idaho is very trying).<br />
<br />
But all is not lost! <br />
Since it's a certain famous novelist's 200th birthday this year, I want to read one of his novels.<br />
Can you guess? <br />
So.... drum roll please!<br />
Here is this month's novel: <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aFcHaTNqrGIv-2KAfnOqeMRU2Ha42DCmsM-iX5ZvEUW6k9tTmV92hV1Lp8UEYHwZpmriAEtE8yCUA0NaylqgF7A-s1ehX0pTiE049JVr4Fwizv3LOxkPQd1DHA5koT4vOWDN76SmjlSP/s1600/Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aFcHaTNqrGIv-2KAfnOqeMRU2Ha42DCmsM-iX5ZvEUW6k9tTmV92hV1Lp8UEYHwZpmriAEtE8yCUA0NaylqgF7A-s1ehX0pTiE049JVr4Fwizv3LOxkPQd1DHA5koT4vOWDN76SmjlSP/s320/Book+Cover.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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I realise this is set during the same time as <i>Scarlet Pimpernel</i>, but ... it's Dickens! He's cool.<br />
I started reading it and I really like it. He is really such a word smith.<br />
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This should be fun!<br />
If you do have problems with understanding him, there is a website:<br />
<a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/lit/a-tale-of-two-cities/">http://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/lit/a-tale-of-two-cities/</a><br />
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It will be the best of times!<br />
<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229233245734572655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8601324573917570989.post-83699581357352460162012-04-23T18:01:00.000-07:002012-04-23T18:01:46.758-07:00A Little More Conversation<a href="http://humanflowerproject.com/images/uploads/scarlet-pimpernel-drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://humanflowerproject.com/images/uploads/scarlet-pimpernel-drawing.jpg" /></a>I must apologize, this month has been a bit hectic. I really can't believe that the end of April is just around the corner! You would think with me having recently had my spring break that I would have had some down time, but that just doesn't seem to be in the cards right now. Pile on that this weekend I have been very sick, it has not been the best of months. So, I didn't finish the book. I got 62% of it read (thank you kindle for your accuracy). However I have seen the musical and know the basic storyline.<br />
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The first chapter took my breath away. It was so descriptive and poetic. It made the guillotine seem like a character unto itself. I became excited and enthralled immediately. However, at its conclusion when I found that the style did not continue into the rest of the book I had a hard time picking it up again. Once the Blakeneys made their entrance it became much more engaging. The scene in the garden where Margarete finally tells Percy that her brother is in trouble is beautiful and I sat on pins and needles with the "whole will they won't they" dilema.<br />
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I am not really sure how to start things off. I really could go on for a while on themes and analysis, but I don't want to bore you and make this post way too long. While reading a couple of themes really stood out to me in the book; duality and trust. Our hero and female ingénue both suffer from duality, but in reverse aspects (which I find fascinating). Percy is seen as an imbecile (I loved all the different conjugations of the adjective in the book :) ) in public. His mask is one of innocence and obliviousness. It makes me wonder when this mask was put in place in his life, when did he realize that it would be useful. It does seem to give himself some freedom. No one suspects him, who is the likeliest culprit due to his finances and bred "intelligence" of the upper-class (Oo, another theme, class). How could they suspect him? He is a foppish idiot who serves as the court jester. Then there is Marguerite. I debated as to whether or not I should call her an ingénue and then decided that is her true self. She is seen by the "world" as a strong opinionated woman. It is often remarked that she is too witty to have married such an moron of a husband. This is the exact opposite of an ingénue, but when the author gives us her private thoughts or her conversations with her brother, I think the title fits. She is smart and witty, but easily makes mistakes and is beguiled by others and her own narrow perceptions. She of all people should have realized Percy's true self. I wanted to scream at her when she would remark on how much he had changed from courtship to marriage. She said remarked that Percy was a strong, loving, intelligent man and then became and annoying, distant, idiot after their wedding. Such a shift, at least to me the reader, seemed like a tell tale sign that something was amiss. However, just like Percy's mask, hers gives her more freedom. In a world where women are seen as ornaments, her forthrightness actually give her more freedom and influence.<br />
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This leads me to me second theme, trust. Marguerite trusted Chauvelin, at first, merely because they were countrymen (a sign of her naiveté). He bamboozled (oh how I love that word) her with it to get her attention and then thrust the dagger of betrayal into her bosom and twisted it with the desire to entrap her brother and husband (what a dramatic sentence! haha). Then there is the lack of trust between Percy and Marguerite. How different the book would have been if the two of them had sat down and had an open conversation instead of letting their pride get in the way. Although I find that to be the case in many stories, if people used the lines of communication we never would have a story or it would be vastly different due to less conflict. What does that teach us? :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://botany.0catch.com/pimpernel1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://botany.0catch.com/pimpernel1.JPG" width="200" /></a>The other thing I wanted to mention was the scarlet pimpernel itself. I did a little "research" and found that it is a weed that has a tiny flower. I like the idea that one man (the tiny flower) could "spread" across France to "choke" out the wicked. The allusion that Orczy uses is, to my mind, rather effective.<br />
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I hope I didn't bore anyone or that this didn't get too long. I had so much fun analyzing what I read of the book. It reminded me of college and my English major days. I kind of miss those. :) What are your thoughts?Fitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904984269804330174noreply@blogger.com5