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So...SB (from Book Club #1) picked The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Now, I've heard about this book and didn't think that it was that hot of a book since it was released in 2008. Silly me! I called the library and when I asked to be placed on the waiting list, I was #647. Holy Smokes! I knew something was up and I need to get my hands on this book. My fabulous friend DDC came to the rescue and not only did she have The Hunger Games (Book 1) she also had Catching Fire (Book 2). I finished both these books in five days! Yes, you read correctly, both books in five days.
Now I can't wait for August because that is when Book 3 is set for release. If you can get a hold of these books I highly recommend them. The only thing I'll say (because I don't want to sway your opinion) is that they are similar (very slightly) to the series, The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger. Let me know what you think...
I learned a lesson from my last book club. I shouldn't hype a book so much even though it might be one of my all time favorite books, it just gives the book injustice. The book I'm talking about was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It is probably one of my all time favorite books that I don't know if I'm willing to see the movie because the book is so perfect in my brain and I don't want anything to ruin MY intepretations.
So now onto the new book I just read for book club, Same Kind Of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I didn't know anything going into this book and that's why I think I liked it. After reading reviews of this book, I can see both sides of the argument in terms of liking and not liking the book. In terms of this book, I went in blind and came out seeing something good and inspirational.
Every wonder where words came from?
Frisbee came from a Connecticut woman who made pies.
Tantalize came via a Greek myth about a misbehaving son of Zeus.
Silhouette came from a French finance minister.
Are you intrigued as I am? Believe me when I was listening to this story on Morning Edition I knew this book would end up on What To Read. Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words written by John Bemelmans Marciano is a discovery of word origins. I'm sure it will be a truly fascinating book and provide some great cocktail party banter!
I just finished a book I was very reluctant to read at first. I think I was reluctant because this author had other books that I loved and I was hoping this one wasn't going to disappoint. Well, it didn't and I think it might be my new favorite book from her; her being Amy Tan and the book being The Hundred Secret Senses.
Here is a great summary of the book by a fellow "Goodreader":
Olivia, the narrator, is the American-born daughter of a Chinese man and an American woman. When her father is on his deathbed, he reveals to his wife that he left behind a daughter in China, and asks her to retrieve the daughter. Enter Kwan, Olivia's older half-sister who believes that she has "yin eyes" and can see and speak to ghosts.
Olivia struggles her whole life to ignore and dismiss Kwan's superstitions until her marriage is crumbling and she, her estranged husband and her sister find themselves on a trip to China together.
The ending is, well, you have to read it!
One of the books I read for my book club last month was The Giver. I think I mentioned that my niece said that I should read two other books by Lois Lowry, Gathering Blue and Messenger. She said that they don't continue with the same characters but once you read all three, it all makes sense.
Well, I read Gathering Blue another great read and again a bit disturbing and now I'm onto Messenger. I'm only a few chapters in and I can see the connection of all three books (I won't give it away). It's killing me that I don't have more time to read because I can see the connections already and I can't wait to get to the end of Messenger! I think it just might be a "closet" night for me so I can really get into the book. For those of you who know me you know what I mean when I say "closet" night when it comes to books.
Well, I think I finally have my bearings back. After we came back a couple of Saturday's ago, W and J started school that following Monday and B and I were back to work. B and the boys didn't miss a beat but it took most of last week to get rid of my jet lag and my monster headache. Our trip to China was amazing on so many levels, culturally, gastronomically, and socially. I promise to post about the trip soon with pictures and all but I've been so busy getting our lives back to normal and back to the work groove that I haven't had time to organize my pictures. But in the meantime I will share with you a book I read for one of my book clubs and another book I want to read.
I think a lot of people have read The Giver by Lois Lowry in junior high or high school but for some reason I didn't, but I finally did and I really think it's a great fast read, a real thought provoking book, and great for book club discussion. I found it a bit unnerving but really good. My niece told me that there are two other books by Lois Lowry that I should read, Gathering Blue and The Messenger. It isn't a trilogy but she said that once you read The Messenger is ties all the books together. Hmmmm, I can't wait!
Another book I just heard about while listening to Radio West yesterday, is The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8 Lee. She explores the origins of Chinese food, what is authentic and inauthentic why and how authentic became inauthentic. After our trip to China AND growing up on authentic Chinese food (made by my mom - who is the BEST cook) I think this is on my must read list. I'm always on the hunt for new books. Let me know if there are any you would recommend.
BTW, the picture above is one that B took while we were on the Great Wall. It was 99 degrees with 80% humidity, that's another story...
I'm on to my next book for book club. It's my turn and I picked, Serena: A Novel, by Ron Rash. (I'm actually in two book clubs so it was fun to pick back-to-back books - hee hee).
I heard about Serena while listening to Michele Norris on NPR. It was her Summer pick. After hearing about it I couldn't get it out of my mind. Read this excerpt from the first paragraph and you'll see why.
Chapter One
When Pemberton returned to the North Carolina mountains after three months in Boston settling his father's estate, among those waiting on the train platform was a young woman pregnant with Pemberton's child. She was accompanied by her father, who carried beneath his shabby frock coat a bowie knife sharpened with great attentiveness earlier that morning so it would plunge as deep as possible into Pemberton's heart.
You can read the rest of Chapter One here.
We went to Park City for Father's Day Weekend and I finished a great book, Princess Academy. It only took me a couple of days. Quick, easy, and fun! Check out Shannon Hale's other book, The Goose Girl, as well!
I just finished another great book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It takes place in 1962 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. You will meet some extrodinary women in this book; some you will love and some you just don't understand and probably never will but it's an amazing book that depicts how black and white women interact and change through their relationships during this very emotional time in our history.
Note: I used the terms black and white because that is how it's written in the book and these terms were used during the 1960's.
Looking for just the right book? If you haven't checked out goodreads or joined goodreads, do! It's a great place to get book recommendations from people you know, keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read, and form a book club (if you're not in one already). When it's my turn to pick a book for book club, goodreads is the first place I visit. I look at my friend's lists, read their reviews, and look how many stars they gave a book. I'm not as organized as my fellow readers because I don't review or give stars BUT my friends do check out my list and give me a call or email to ask me : ) I'll try to get better at giving stars at least! Any-who, I did put a new gadget on the blog, "Recommended Reading and/or Currently Reading". Check it out from time-to-time.
Here are the first two on the gadget:
I just finished A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (by Betty Smith). I really enjoyed it. It's about life, plain and simple, but amazing!
I'm now reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows). I've read great things about this book and even though I just started, I am already in love with it!
I'll keep you updated on the latest reads but do check out goodreads. As Martha would say, "It's a Good Thing!" : )
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