Melissa posted this on the comments and I thought it might be better seen here:
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)
Monday, 1 October 2012
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Hello 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.
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.
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.
Point 4, it's British.
Point 5' I'm british.
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
I will post a pic when my laptop charger arrives in the mean time blogger on an iPad sucks.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Can-Only-Get-Better/dp/0552998036/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3
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.
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.
Point 4, it's British.
Point 5' I'm british.
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
I will post a pic when my laptop charger arrives in the mean time blogger on an iPad sucks.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Can-Only-Get-Better/dp/0552998036/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
September Book
My very good friend Melissa has the book choice for this month and she facebooked me to tell me our book would be:
One Second After by William R. Forstchen.
I honestly don't know anything about the book or author, but I'm excited because it sounds all suspenseful and page turner-y.
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.)
Alright readers.... READ!
One Second After by William R. Forstchen.
I honestly don't know anything about the book or author, but I'm excited because it sounds all suspenseful and page turner-y.
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.)
Alright readers.... READ!
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
August.
Ok guys, here it is: Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (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.
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.
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 stage directions!
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.
Peter Pan and Other Plays
Is this ok with everyone?
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.
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 stage directions!
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.
Peter Pan and Other Plays
Is this ok with everyone?
Friday, 10 August 2012
Learning 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 Major Pettigrew's Last Stand so I read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
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.
So because of my issues I am having a hard time thinking about what to discuss. So I cheated and found some questions online!
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?
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.
Do you find yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?
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.
To be honest it made me think a lot more of my dog’s outlook on things. I loved that!
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?
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.
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.)
“That which you manifest is before you.” Garth Stein: “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.” Is this true for the characters in the book?
All I can really say to those statements and that question is YES!!!
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!
Now discuss… and anyone who has read the other book… please post!
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.
So because of my issues I am having a hard time thinking about what to discuss. So I cheated and found some questions online!
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?
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.
Do you find yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?
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.
To be honest it made me think a lot more of my dog’s outlook on things. I loved that!
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?
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.
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.)
“That which you manifest is before you.” Garth Stein: “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.” Is this true for the characters in the book?
All I can really say to those statements and that question is YES!!!
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!
Now discuss… and anyone who has read the other book… please post!
August Read
Hi all,
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!
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!
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Hey I'm new!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I apologize for the pictures... the only ones I have of me reading are also of just my legs. Which is odd.I feel so privileged to be in this super exclusive book club! I feel like a mason only less manly and secretive.
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:
I stay at home and have a social work degree. I have a blog 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.
Liz once told me that I'm mainstream but wearing a really cool hat.
I have always loved to read and had a goal this year to join a book club so I'm pretty excited.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)