The Brown Book Project

You Lost Me There Review and Discussion

2012-02-02T17:40:00.002-05:00

You Lost Me There

by Rosecrans Baldwin

genre: fiction

You Lost Me There peers into the life and memories of an Alzheimer's research scientist, Victor after he has lost his wife. Victor finds his life proceeding on a collision course with his grief. As he attempts to make sense of the marriage he had and the future he's looking for, he discovers papers written by his late wife delving into her feelings about the marriage and how it had proceeded over its course. Rosecrans Baldwin explores the realm of perception and skillfully reveals that what one person experiences can be all too opposite of another in the very same situation.

I enjoyed this book and at one point found myself unable to put it down. I felt a sort of sympathetic frustration for the lead character and his inability to truly take control of his life. When he discovers his wife's papers, at first I thought 'man this guy's idea of his marriage is so skewed' and as he continues to read and recount how he acted in the marriage, I started to think 'when is this woman going to cut this guy a break?' It seemed as though, according to her idea of his involvement in the marriage and her life, that he could never satisfy her. First she wants him more involved, then she says he's too involved and then she laments that he pulled away from her. What in the heck did she want? This led me to wonder if I am that fickle in my own marriage. I hope not.

I thought some of the supporting characters were annoying and not all that necessary, especially the daughter of Victor's friend. His friend I understood to be a point of tension in the novel, but the daughter was merely irritating. The son of his aunt-in-law could also grate on my nerves as serving only to flit in and out of the novel acting spoiled until the very end when he begins to play a more significant role, albeit erratic. And while his partner at the labs offered a more congenial contrast to the other characters floating around him, her character also felt peripheral without much purpose.

I did find myself reading late into the night as I felt more and more drawn into the novel, which eventually led to my pure disappointment in the end of the novel. His last note seemed so out of character, so sentimentally wistful, I didn't find it believably 'Victor'. Though the end's fizzle most likely held true to life, I found it anti-climactic and disappointing because I felt like this man I had invested so much emotion into and rooted for had not finished his story arch, he had not reached some point of personal growth to my satisfaction.

Overall the novel is well written and engaging. The idea of memories and how we build those not as truths based on fact, but as truths to our own perception certainly intrigued me. Though I was left feeling disappointed in the ending, that could not overshadow the fact that most of the novel drew me in.

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What were your thoughts on the novel's overall ideation? What did you feel the supporting characters added to the novel, if they did add anything for you? Did you find yourself satisfied with the ending? What were your thoughts on the disparate views of the marriage between Victor and Sara?

(I've thrown out a few questions to try something new - answer if you want or answer others, or ask others. Let's have some fun with this.)

Book Discussion this Week

2012-01-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

Hey, since we've got the new book to get to, let's do a review and discussion of You Lost Me There. I'm thinking Thursday. What do you say?

Thursday, February 2nd. See you here.

In the meantime, were you able to get a hold of A Week at the Airport? This one should go rather quickly, it is not a cumbersome book, but I am looking forward to the meat of it on the inside.

Brown Books Club Set 3 Book 5

2012-01-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Hope you enjoyed that!

Book Opening ready!

2012-01-24T21:02:00.002-05:00

I have a video ready. I think you're going to enjoy this one. We're trying some new stuff. Check back around 10 am Wednesday (Jan 25th), watch with delight!

Missed

2012-01-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

I know I missed this book opening deadline. Sorry. Trying to get to it but I wanted to at least check in here and let you know that I am working on it. Hopefully once I do make it, it will be silly enough to make you laugh.

Book Opening to Come

2012-01-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

Monday. Video for book five will be posted up. Woot. We're nearly half done, how's that for moving along?

Speaking of moving along, how is the reading going with You Lost Me There? If you've gotten far enough we could think about talking the book over next week sometime.

Book Goals and Getting a Ruling

2012-01-10T08:58:00.002-05:00

Goodreads has a 2012 reading challenge. You pick how many books you want to read in the year, plug that in and Goodreads tracks your progress for you.
So, this year I've decided to make it a goal to read 50 books. I think it doesn't sound like much but I didn't even read half that last year. Here's hoping I do a much better job this year. I have a question for you. Would you count books that you re-read in the year as one towards the goal number? I'm torn on this one. After all, reading a book is reading a book, but if it's a repeat, maybe that makes it too easy? Yes, torn on this one. Tell me what you think. And have you made any goals concerning reading this year?

Temperance Review

2011-12-23T08:11:00.000-05:00

Temperance

by Cathy Malkasian

genre: graphic novel

I'm not sure where to even begin with this one. In fact, I'm not even sure how I feel about it. It's not that I didn't like it. I did, on a certain level. This book delves into weighty subject matter such as blind faith, mental abuse, physical abuse and traumatic memory loss. However, none of these subjects felt particularly dealt with to completion in the story. Toward the end of the book, the story seemed to fall apart into jagged pieces which I had a difficult time reconciling into the story-line up to that point.

At face value, the book is full of beautiful illustrations. I appreciate the detail of the artwork and the style of drawing. But the story itself seemed heavy on narrative which is rather odd in a graphic novel. Additionally, there were too many fantasy elements which were left unexplained and that felt distracting to me. In the end I thought the author pulled those into a sort of mythological explanation of opposing seasons (winter/summer, autumn/spring). But given the deeper subjects of the story, this resolution felt far too simple and rather anti-climactic.

So, I'm on the fence with this one. How did you feel about it? What did you think the final message was?

Move Little Train, Move

2011-12-20T05:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, so Temperance review this week. I'll plan for Thursday. Has anyone started reading You Lost Me There? I have it but haven't picked it up yet. I'm anxious to start.

See you back here on Thursday.

Book 4 Set 3 Opening

2011-12-13T06:53:00.000-05:00

Now we open book 4. Ah so exciting.

Sh*t My Dad Says Review and Discussion

2011-12-09T12:37:00.000-05:00

Sh*t My Dad Says

by Justin Halpern

genre: memoir, humor

Justin Halpern's father is a bottomless well of in-your-face wise but crass quotes. I expected to be humored, possibly to the point of laughing out loud. I hadn't expected to laugh through the entire book or that I would actually like his dad.

As a character in life, this guy likely ticks off people left and right simply due to his uncouth manner and lack of social filter. That said, if you listen long enough you'll hear that he's not a scary flippant but a softy with a side of common sense. His devotion to his children and to people in dire straits shows up often enough to make him lovable.

As for the writing in the book, it has a folksy feel to it, only this folksy includes a lot of swearing. Anyone who gets offended by foul language should not read this book, but then the title should have warned you off in the first place. Format wise I liked how he would tell a little anecdotal story at the beginning of each chapter and then end the chapter with straight up quotes from his dad. I get the feeling only the good stuff was put in, as in, his dad might have acted worse on occasions but we're getting the publishable version. That said, if you were writing a humorous book about your dad, wouldn't you write it that way?

The best thing about this book is plainly explained by its title. I cried laughing and often interrupted my husband's reading to share quotes that were cracking me up. I believe every good reading regimen needs light and fun books thrown in to the mix. This fits that bill in spades.

Where have you been?

2011-12-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

You might well ask that of me. Around, I'll tell you. But, the good news is, it is time to start moving on the club again! Therefore, tomorrow will be the Sh*t My Dad Says review and discussion and we are reading Temperance and hopefully will be able to do a review and discussion by next week or the week after depending on your readiness. How cool is that?

Which also means, we should do a book opening next week, that way you have time to put your requests in to your local library for the next book. I'd say Tuesday would be a good day.

So, in summary:

Sh*t My Dad Says official review and discussion Friday, December 9th
Start reading Temperance right now, no I mean this minute! (not really)
Opening of Book 4 on Tuesday, December 13th

See you back tomorrow.

P.S. Kevin Spacey posted a comment on The Big Short with some questions he had about the book. I'm going to get my book out and dig into it again to see if I can answer (though I'm just no financial guru). If anyone else out there that has read the book can answer his questions - please chime in. Thanks

Book 4 Set 3 Opening - correction Book 3

2011-11-11T06:30:00.002-05:00

Just so you know, we have a new camera. Same cameraman/husband but the speaker on the camera is located in a different place. So we had sound difficulties. Sorry about that. In any case, the video will give you what you need, the first peek at the next book!

So I just now noticed that I'm skipping my numbers a bit. This is not book 4, this is book 3! Sorry about that

What We're Reading

2011-11-08T15:06:00.001-05:00

Is anyone out there reading Sh*t My Dad Says? Is anyone out there?

This book is a great little breeze to read. Sometimes it's fun to have a lighter book to get the reader ball rolling. I'm enjoying this one for that.

I think, since the book is going to be a fast read once you get it, I'd like to do another opening this Friday. That way, new book procurement can begin. We can post up a review and discussion for this one sometime next week. What do you say?

Anyone? Anyone?

All Hallows Read

2011-11-02T11:02:00.000-04:00

Did you participate in All Hallow's Read? We did. Well they weren't exactly very scary books. But they were fun with a little Halloween theme.

They were much enjoyed. If you gave or received scary books for All Hallow's Read, what were they?

Book 2 Set 3 Opening - en francais

2011-10-29T22:00:00.002-04:00

The Big Short Review and Discussion

2011-10-29T18:11:00.000-04:00

The Big Short

by Michael Lewis

genre: non-fiction

You know going in, this book is going to be like watching a train de-rail. You know you're going to be mad as hell and shocked at the catastrophic pyre. But you also know you won't be able to stop yourself. Which is exactly what happened. What I didn't expect, was that I understood all of it. Wall Street talk has an earned reputation for being difficult to understand. Let's face it, even people working on Wall Street preceding this last fallout didn't seem to understand. But Michael Lewis lays out this story in concise layman's terminology.

What I loved about this book made up for the train wreck slowly happening over 268 pages. Michael Lewis' writing style is easy-going and personable. He talks about the people involved not in a clinical manner, but more in a story-like style. He gives the background story on the people he follows. He shows how the inception of these complicated, and incidentally convoluted, deals occurred. He invites you inside the heads of people like Steve Eisman, Michael Burry and Greg Lippmann to name a few. Through it all, he explains clearly what the components of the mortgage bond market and the products created that would ultimately collapse the financial world in on itself were.

The toughest part about reading this book is thinking of all the little guys in the houses bought during this crap storm, aware or unaware of their risk. Knowing how they ultimately were the losers. Billion dollar deals passed hands like grocery store purchases while people were being sold a load of goods about variable rate mortgages being sound and low risk. Massive bonuses falling into the bank accounts of irresponsible financial wolves for nothing more than basically showing up to work. It was the damn Titanic all over again. Government involvement essentially handed the life boats to the guys who steered the boat into the iceberg and left the homeowners in the bottom decks waiting for the flood to come in. So, yes I enjoyed this book and cringed at each passing page simultaneously. I would definitely recommend it.

Review and Book Opening Announcement

2011-10-26T15:12:00.000-04:00

Friday.

My thoughts on The Big Short will be published here as well as a new video for the next book.

So, meet me here.

Another Book and the Brown Book Status

2011-10-25T05:54:00.000-04:00

So I finished reading Wives and Daughters, a wonderful guilty pleasure I gave myself this past week (review to follow). I am also nearly finished reading The Big Short. Which brings me to my real point. Have you finished? Would you like to set up a discussion date?

How I Bugged My Brother, Read Two New Books and Learned New Words All While Enjoying the Zing of Great Critical Essay

2011-10-04T08:10:00.002-04:00

It started with an interest in critical essay. My older brother is an avid reader and has read several books of critical essays. I solicited his recommendations for my first plunge into that genre and he shot back some wonderful books, including the two I have read so far: A Reader's Manifesto by B. R. Myers and Hatchet Jobs by Dale Peck.
I posted a review of A Reader's Manifesto last month basically expounding my agreements with Mr. Myers assertions. Just after that I picked up Hatchet Jobs and read it thirstily. I however cannot review this book. Here's why.
First, I have not read many of the author's that Mr. Peck so specifically crucifies and don't feel equipped to agree or disagree with him without having first done that. He makes great arguments and uses excerpts to prove his points, but in this book he is not so much presenting an idea about fiction in general. He is pointedly attacking certain authors and works. I am uncomfortable making any decisions about his essays before reading at least some of his victims.
Second, Mr. Peck's language skills and vocabulary had me reeling, thus proving that I am not afraid of challenging language. While I understood the book in whole, there were many words that I had never seen in my life and I loved that, but was too eager to finish the book to get out my dictionary.
Given those two crucial points, I am determined to first read some works he studies and second re-read his book with a dictionary at my side. I can however say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. His vitriolic debating style had great zing and made me laugh out loud repeatedly.

Book Acquisitions

2011-09-26T08:53:00.000-04:00

Checking in. Have you gotten hold of the book? Have you been able to start it? Are you way ahead of me and already finished?

I'm not far in, but this week will be the week for The Big Short by Michael Lewis.

I do hope you (as many of 'you' as possible) will be reading it too.

Book 1 Set 3 Opening - You doubted didn't you?

2011-09-09T08:02:00.002-04:00

I'm here to reassure you no giant ant has eaten me or my computer. Below, proof. Also below, proof that me and my husband truly are weird aliens - just don't tell anyone else.

I come prepared

2011-09-07T07:33:00.000-04:00

Set 3. I'm ready. When I say I'm ready, I mean I have video already uploaded. Oh yeah. So that means, whatever date I set for the opening, there is no way in H-E-L-L it will be late.

Unless of course Blogger fails.
Or there is a giant computer eating ant that invades Canada and eats my computer.
Or a superhacker falls madly in love with me, decides to stalk me and wipes my computer while simultaneously scaring the beejeezus out of me and I have to go into the witness protection program.
Or a massive hurricane lands on the Blogger server warehouse and lifts it into the sky where it will land in a place populated by very short, singing weirdos who like to wear flowers on their heads.

All plausible outcomes I'm sure, but I'm willing to bet the odds are stacked in my favor.

In light of my surety, I'm going to say we'll have a book opening, right here, on Friday the 9th of September, 2011 at approximately 8:02 am Eastern Standard Time. Be there. Unless you're a giant computer eating ant of course.

Up and Coming

2011-06-07T20:10:00.000-04:00

How does the reading go? I have still barely gotten in to Frances Perkins but am ramping up now. I finished Plastic Fantastik and will be posting up a review by Friday. If you've had the chance to read it you could pop in and give your thoughts at that time.

We're on the doorstep of finishing set 2. I'm thinking if the reading is going ok for you (all of you) we might post up the review and discussion on Monday? Let me know what you think.

Thanks guys.

Have You Started?

2011-05-10T10:56:00.000-04:00

Were you able to get a hold of the book: The Woman Behind the New Deal? If you were, did you start reading it yet?

I started just last night and three chapters in I'm liking it. I will wait till the end to give a full opinion, but so far, an interesting woman to read about.

I wanted to ask if anyone had the chance to read Plastic Fantastic? I will admit I have not finished it. I started it just before my family went into chaos. Now that things are much more orderly, I'm picking that one back up too.

So that's it. Wanted to check in. Oh, and I'm so excited. Did you realize that (I know I mentioned it before but saying it just sounds so thrilling) The Woman Behind the New Deal is the last book in the second set? You know what that means! Set three, baby. Oh yeah. Once we've finished this lovely biography, we'll be staring at ten beautiful new brown paper wrapped books and drooling to dig in. Tell your friends. Let's have a stupendous Brown Book Year!

Set 2 Book 10 Opening

2011-04-22T10:27:00.000-04:00

Here it is as promised:

This book is a biography of Frances Perkins the Secretary of Labor for Franklin D. Roosevelt. I'm really looking forward to reading about her and the influence she had over the decisions about the great depression and the new deal. I hope you'll join in if you can!

When Sadness Abounds

2011-04-19T10:10:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading a review of Toby Barlow's book Sharp Teeth in which the author himself commented on the review (nothing like the recent debacle of a certain self-published author who completely lost her cool over a negative review and started swearing at the blogger and commenters - not classy). Toby Barlow discussed marketing and the free verse novel following the reviewers speculation that the book was essentially in verse form for marketability. Mr. Barlow astutely pointed out the actual downfalls for an author of a free verse novel, or poets all together for that matter. It is an older post from 2008 but I appreciated the albeit short but in depth discussion for several reasons, one of which being that in spite of common internet behavior norms, these people displayed the kind of class and thoughtfulness we ascribe to many great philosophers and debaters. Read Here.

This of course brought me back here, a place I have of recent seriously neglected. For whatever reasons, I shall hold private, I have been wallowing in my own sadness and have been mostly absent from internet places including this one. However, I also recalled after reading this, how much we loved Toby Barlow's book and how much I love this space, and that made me sad too. Instead of continuing on this melancholy immobility, I would like to revive this poor limping little club. I previously mentioned that I had already purchased ten books for the next set of brown books. Why waste a good thing? Let's dig in to the last book of set two, and then we can rev into set three. I am hereby scheduling a book opening for Friday. Book ten.

Please join me. Let's read!

The Truth About Santa Discussion

2011-02-08T05:42:00.001-05:00

The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve

by Gregory Mone

genre: non-fiction educational (ok, maybe it's more like fiction for fun)

For every true believer, this book not only confirms your beliefs, but it arms you to prove them. How many doubters have you met, spoiling the Christmas spirit during the holidays? How many times have you wanted more fire power than "He's magic"? Now you've got it. Full scientific mapping of the methods of Santa to make all his rounds in one night, including the sleigh's true fire power, Santa's assistants and their use of time travel and wormholes, as well as the true role of the elves. I would take exception to only one thing in this book: the author's portrayal of Mrs. Claus. Disparaging Santa's wife landed well out of place here and makes this reader wonder whether the author has some grudge specifically with her, perhaps she turned him down for a date once. Or maybe he simply has a problem with women in general. Whichever answer, it seems to me that in a book giving scientific fact, the personal lives of Mr. and Mrs. Claus are clearly unnecessary fields for writing material.

I would point out that the science in this book has been well laid out and backed up with interviews and references, giving this author weighty authority. Readers may well trust his research when given names of leading scientists currently working on many of the technologies explained herein. I am grateful for the wealth of information here that gives me the backing I've always longed for when defending the reality of the Jolly Elf. I fully enjoyed this book as a great tour through the real North Pole. Therefore, barring the minor slip from authorial protocol, taking fault with Mrs. Claus, this author has done a bang up job.

I offer one warning though. This book is certainly not for children. Given the defamation of Mrs. Claus character and some other highly revealing science, this book should only be read by adults. The information in this book could easily be filtered through an adult to a child needing stronger explanations than the whole magic theory, however, do it carefully. And on Christmas Eve, take your Santa Claus's life into consideration, stay in bed for Pete's sake. And don't forget the cookies and milk.

Set 3!!!!

2011-02-01T15:04:00.000-05:00

They came they came! I think there is nothing more exciting (except possibly Christmas morning) than a pile of unread books just waiting to be opened! I can hardly wait. This set is going to be spectacular, fun, stupendous, informative, stimulating, interesting, you name it!

Remember we have just two more books in set 2 before we start up set 3.

I was planning to discuss The Truth About Santa on Friday. Let me know if this won't work for you.

2011

2011-01-27T06:30:00.003-05:00

We've survived 2010. You're reading this, so I'm pretty sure I'm right. The book club slooooooooowed down so much it nearly came to a halt. However, we have nearly finished set 2 and I think that deserves a round of applause. Pat yourself on the back while you're at it. You're cool and you know it. Back to the book club. We have two books left beyond the current book we're working on. That means we should be able to finish up somewhere near the end of February or beginning of March. In light of this, I have ordered the next set of 10 books. In 2011 we've got a stupendous variety of genres coming up. But I'm not going to even hint at what they are because then it wouldn't be a brown book surprise! So get your reading gear out and join in.

Set 2 Book 9 Opening

2011-01-24T19:41:00.003-05:00

It was all his idea!

Correction: Eugenie Samuel Reich

Book 8 Set 2 Opening

2011-01-15T16:21:00.002-05:00

La la la, acting like I'm on time. La la la.

Announcement!

2011-01-12T15:20:00.001-05:00

I am still alive. It's true.

I'm thinking we should read a book! So. Let's open a new one. On Friday.

See you then!

My Father's Tears Discussion

2010-12-14T21:11:00.002-05:00

The official discussion post begins now.

Let's hear your full thoughts on the book.

I prefer to wait till I've finished the book to give a full review but I will say that I enjoyed the stories. They feel more like little snidbits of people's lives than stories with character archs or full plotlines. However, they did tend to make me feel a little down or melancholy as I mentioned before and therefore found it difficult to read more than one or two at a time, and it was hard to pick it up and start for that reason. I had never read anything by Mr. Updike before and am glad that I have this book. I look forward to finishing it.

Here Again

2010-12-13T07:15:00.002-05:00

Well I've been tied up for a bit. And Updike, well he's been getting the back burner. Mainly because, even though I'm enjoying him, I feel a little melancholy when I read the stories and right now, I don't want extra downers. However, I realize you guys have read it by now, or probably have. I want you to be able to give your thoughts before they completely evade you. (I realize I may be too late for that). So, I propose that we put up a discussion post, I will post a full review when I do read it and let's open a new book. I think this next one will be great because it is the extremely skinny one, which means it will be a little breeze. A good quality during the holiday season wouldn't you say?

So. Is it plan, or would you like to see things done some other way? Let me know.

The Anthologist Discussion

2010-11-02T08:39:00.001-04:00

The Anthologist

by Nicholson Baker

genre: literary fiction

If singing in the loft of his barn to the lines of poetry he loves doesn't get his introduction to an anthology written, then Paul Chowder will do anything short of doing anything to get it done. A presentation board, a white plastic chair by a river, a game of badminton, a gift of beads, these are the tools of procrastination which not only keep him from finishing his work, his one hope of income, but which drive his girlfriend away. As Paul rambles through his random thoughts on poetry, he reveals his absolute love affair with it and makes some self-discoveries along the way.

How many books of this kind are out there. The self-deprecating, unmotivated, down on his luck guy or girl who walks through a little fire and finds a bit of himself on the other side? Probably enough to fill a semi trailer, no, many many semi trailers. And yet, I truly enjoyed this one. Of course, he appeals to the poet in me with his constant adoration of poets and poetry and words. His knowledge and total gaga attitude completely endeared his character to me. But I liked the oscillation between ecstatic displays of wordy love and the utter mundane of cutting his finger or walking his dog.

Given the character's love of words, the author has required he use that kind of language which should live up to literary prowess. I think he succeeds where very many have failed. Phrases such as "kicked in the spleen by the mediocrity of my own short sentence" or "Their eyelids, which droop and have skin tags on them, like tiny pennants age has hoisted". In the grand scheme of things, the novel mostly rambles like a free association exercise. Which I thought was rather ironic given that writers, poets perhaps more so, take their word choice very seriously. Every word or phrase is vetted carefully and edited and edited to a polished gem. Paul on the other hand, just wanders aimlessly. But it works. It is the scattered thoughts of someone trying to accomplish something they haven't got the will to do.

In the end, the idea of happy endings comes in an altered state, wherein the hero may not get exactly what he wants, but in the words of two other poets, "you might find, you get what you need". The book itself, though skimming a line of near plotlessness, shines through shedding natural light on a world often shrouded in pretentiousness. And that is what I love best about it.

Come out come out wherever you are

2010-10-20T06:09:00.002-04:00

Just a few reminders.

Did a book opening just below. Hope you guys got a few seconds to grab the next book.

Also, am planning to review and discuss The Anthologist this Friday unless you need more time. Please let me know.

Ball is rolling!

Book Opening Book Seven Set Two

2010-10-18T09:21:00.004-04:00

It's time.

For another edition of I make a grade A fool of myself opening a book.

Actually, I'm rather boring this time. Have a look see.

The Lost City of Z Discussion

2010-10-12T08:10:00.001-04:00

The Lost City of Z

by David Grann

genre: Non-Fiction/Biography

Obsession. David Grann, a journalist, sets out to write about the life of Colonel Percy Fawcett and his treks into the Amazon jungle for the Royal Geographical Society. Fawcett becomes obsessed with the idea of a lost civilization, as many have done, in the Amazon jungles which adheres to the legends of a city of gold and riches.

Interspersed with the stories of failed journeys by Fawcett and other crews, Grann lives his own obsession bringing us along for the ride. Given the horrors of trekking through the Amazon, and the fate of so many before him, I felt like a person staring at a car accident but not wanting to look. In the end, Grann's book enlightens more the seduction of discovery for these men than the actual findings. The findings, though astounding, wan in the wake of the near addict obsession of the trek itself.

I am exceedingly grateful that Grann wrote the book for the reason that I loved the trek, the fascination with this obsession, but you would not catch me following such a path unless it were in the form of written words. The book itself carries the expected journalistic style from the author, though it drags in some places and jumps about a bit, the conveyance of each man's feverish need to go routing about in a dangerous jungle kept me pleased and reading.

How bout now?

2010-10-06T21:30:00.003-04:00

Hey, wanna discuss Z on Friday? Sounds like you all have that one ready to go! I'm so glad you guys were able to get it and seemed to have enjoyed it.

Things are picking up in my world. Which is good. So what do you say?

I'm Baaaaack!

2010-10-02T18:56:00.004-04:00

Tell me of your homeworld Usul.

Have you ever danced with the devil by the pale moonlight?

This town needs an enema!

I'd sooner kiss a wookie!

All right, enough with the oddities. Wanna watch a video of a weirdo with a brown book? Ok.

Let's Open a Book

2010-09-20T09:12:00.003-04:00

Thanks for chiming in. Sounds like we could open a book and schedule a discussion for The Lost City of Z soon.

Let's open a book tomorrow. And how do you feel about discussing The Lost City of Z on Friday?

I'm excited to get reading again. How did your summers go and of course, the start up of school again?

Roll Call

2010-09-08T11:52:00.001-04:00

So, just wondering, how many of you out there are reading The Lost City of Z, or already read it?

I'm finishing it up. We could get a discussion up and do a new opening.

Book Opening Book Five Set Two

2010-08-04T11:53:00.002-04:00

Can you believe this is the halfway book? Woot! We're rip roaring!

Technically Difficult

2010-08-03T06:35:00.003-04:00

So yeah, I don't have a camera right now. I left it at my belle mère's (MIL) and it's a long drive to retrieve it so I haven't and that leaves me without book opening media. However, I may get there by this afternoon and therefore might have a video up by tonight. Because I'm soooooooooo excited to get another book open!

Weekends at Bellevue Discussion

2010-08-02T06:55:00.006-04:00

Weekends at Bellevue

by Julie Holland, M.D.

genre: memoir

Meet Dr. Holland. Witty, smart, compassionate, full of gumption and somewhat abrasive. From med school to her tenure at the infamous Bellevue Hospital in New York, we are given a peeping tom's seat into her world. For many of the us, the population of those that crossed the line into the mentally ill spaces of life are somewhat distant and separated from our own lives. These are the people that either wander the streets talking to their own invisible companions or spend their lives in hospitals where we are shielded from their reality. But here we get a sense of how imminent mental breakdown is in all of us, a fact which the author fixates on quite a bit. We also get to see the afflicted from the medical point of view and even a little from the police who deal with them.

I was surprised to learn how much bravado gets thrown around as a tool for protection. Knowing it happened didn't compare to really understanding how much it affects the people in these fields. In some cases, it went to the point of scary. I spend much of my life in the happy bubble of thought that those employed to protect and aid us (police, doctors) are altruistic humans with only our good in mind. I know of course how naive that is. But seeing just how human those people are caused a bubble burst of larger proportion than I expected. As for the author, I liked her and I didn't. I appreciated how honest she is. I thought that her dealings with her coworkers seemed borderline pathetic and childish. Then again, I've been out of the workplace long enough to gloss over just how ridiculous work politics are. Oh, the stalker guy part was creepy wasn't it? And her chapter on the summer of residency sex was fun.

In all, I'd say this book has a little of everything: fun, enlightening facts, a bit of the scary and overall some damn good voyeurism from a safe distance. Could you ask for more?

Finding Home Discussion...aka Getting Caught Up

2010-07-30T07:17:00.006-04:00

I think it's about time to get caught up don't you? Let's begin with Finding Home today. Tomorrow I will post up a discussion for Weekends at Bellevue and Monday we'll open the next book.

Finding Home

by Roisin McAuley

genre: romance

When a film company finds a house in the countryside for their period film, the question of what makes a home home becomes something of a quest for several people. Sometimes it is the physical land and house that generations of your family tree have lived in. Other times it is where a loved one has been buried. But mostly, it's where you give your heart. In the end, finding home for two key women comes from finding love.

It was said of this author that she 'is the new Maeve Binchy'. I have to confess I've never read a Maeve Binchy. However, I want to now. I loved this book. It is one of those guilty pleasures I think. It may not have the loftiness of some worthy books labeled literary fiction, and yet, it spoke to me on a level of common understanding. Universally held feelings and reactions can be appreciated without that label. And it was enjoyable. It often reminded me of Jane Austen's style in that it moved very quickly with constant interaction. The only gripe I had was the stalker ending. I mean it was fun, but it seemed a bit over the top. It just pushed my bounds of acceptance a nudge too far. But given that I enjoyed the entire book despite that, I'd say that nudge is forgivable.

I'm not often a romance reader other than Jane Austen books. In fact, I wasn't sure if you'd classify this as a romance except that it doesn't really fit any other genre that I can pinpoint. It certainly didn't feel like the trashier romance novels that are my quintessential cliche idea of romance books, which is incidentally why I don't really read them. I pretty much loathe those kinds. But this was sweet, a little exploratory of human nature and the conflict in it had a depth beyond the typical 'fiery woman pushes man away because she thinks he's a rogue even though she's terribly attracted to him until they finally end up together' type of story. All of which is to say that I enjoyed it enough to want to read more by Roisin McAuley and to pick up a Maeve Binchy too.

Your turn.

Set Two, Book Four Opening

2010-07-06T06:58:00.002-04:00

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers Discussion

2010-06-28T19:43:00.003-04:00

I am not formally reviewing this because that wouldn't be fair. I never finished it.

I will however say that I'm highly disappointed in it and even reaching toward angry. Yep, angry. Here's why. So many authors work so hard to get a book published. So many people are not reading today. So why, why, WHY would an author waste that opportunity by boring me to this degree? Why write something with so many holes in the first 100 pages that I find myself more disgusted than interested?

100 pages. I forged my way into 100 pages and still couldn't figure out why I should like these two characters. Why I should care about them. And I certainly didn't identify with them in the least. I kept telling my husband, "This is a guy's book." Because from my point of view, it read like an action flick plays. If we throw in enough bullets, nighttime escapades, cops and robbers, they'll love it! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeh. Wrong. Shoot outs are a winner right? Beeeeeeeeeeeh wrong.

I admit, the first few pages intrigued me. They appeared to be dead and yet weren't. They had holes in them the size of should-be-dead, and yet they weren't. Or were they? Or weren't they? Or were they? Yeah. Then we get the boys sneaking around the country looking gray and feeling pale. Where do they go? To their mom's of course! The one place the police would never look for them once their bodies are so blatantly found missing from the morgue. And what do the police tell their mother? 'Someone must have stolen the bodies.' Huh? So we have highly incompetent police, apparently a rather slow mortician and a couple of boys who have no memory of what happened and confidence that if they were thought of as dead, they could go just about anywhere. Huh?

So yeah. I just couldn't get into it. I couldn't get past these hang ups and the more I read the more angry I got that my time felt wasted. I wish I had liked it. I wish I had gotten it. I wish that the whole cops and robbers thing had done it for me. Unfortunately it didn't.

Here's my challenge. Anyone. One of you guys that regularly reads. Someone you know. Heck the author. Please convince me to finish reading this book. Give me reason enough to continue. Get me excited about it. I loathe that I bought this big beautiful book and now fear it will sit lonely upon the abandoned loser's shelf. Make me believe this is a winner and I will finish it. I will give it a proper review.

Set Two, Book Three Opening

2010-06-14T21:10:00.002-04:00

Wow Where did the Days Go

2010-06-09T06:35:00.002-04:00

So I was sure that the book opening and review were next week. Huh. I'll push the book opening to Monday. As for the book, how are you guys doing? Anyone reading the Firefly Brothers? I am but its moving slowly. How are you finding it? I don't feel the need to push this one unless any of you want it. I can take some extra time in the next few days and get it picked up. But don't be shy, let me know what you want.

Flipping Out Discussion

2010-06-01T05:55:00.009-04:00

When the wives of LA police are being shot in the back of the head, of course the police become protective of their families. But these wives were all involved in a real estate scheme to flip houses to sell murder mystery books. As each house is put on the market, so too is a mystery in which the victim dies in the flipped house.

So why would someone want them dead? The enigmatic and extremely egocentric author thinks she has enemies. The wives of the house flipping business have their own suspicions. But mostly for Detectives Lomax and Biggs, the case dead ends, several times. With the DA's office bearing down on them to solve the crime fast, it would be enough to keep their nose to the grindstone. But even when the DA thinks the mystery is solved, the facts that Biggs' wife might be next on the hit list and some of the clues aren't adding up, mean Lomax and Biggs won't stop till they know everything.

If you love fast paced stories with twists and turns. If you've got a thing for murder mysteries and detective yarns. If you enjoy quick witted banter. This book will keep you delighted page after page. Not a heavy literary giant by any means, but exactly the kind of book that makes people love reading. I couldn't put it down. I read it in a record two days. With short chapters and constant action, this book keeps you hungry to turn pages.

If you're already a fan of this book, author Marshall Karp has three more Lomax and Biggs mysteries: The Rabbit Factory, Bloodthirsty and his latest one Cut, Paste, Kill. You could also check out his author web page, his Facebook page, his Goodreads page or follow him on Twitter.

Now it's your turn. What did you like or dislike about this book? Did it satisfy your bookish personality? Or did it fall flat beneath your literary sensibilities?

Set Two, Book Two Opening

2010-05-24T18:42:00.002-04:00

Brown Book Set Two Book One

2010-05-07T20:10:00.003-04:00

Come on, sing along. You know you want to.

Guess What?

2010-05-05T20:46:00.000-04:00

A Book for the Daring and Gordo

2010-04-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Gordo I thought immediately of you when I saw this:

Fifty Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do

This author was on TED talking about five dangerous things you should let your kids do - basically the message being that we've stopped letting our kids try things and they're losing opportunities to learn the process of creating things and tinkering and learning about the world around them through experience. He's set up a Tinkering school which gives kids these opportunities. It's not about being wantonly dangerous or careless, it's about teaching them to try things and learning to protect themselves through knowledge. Pretty cool idea.

Wicked the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West Discussion

2010-04-26T20:04:00.005-04:00

Wicked

by Gregory Maguire

genre: Fantasy

Nothing is ever what it seems, and stories told are never truly accurate - only vaguely true from one point of view, and most importantly evil is perhaps only as evil as perceived goodness.

As though reading from some lost journals of the family Thropp from which came the famed Wicked Witch of the West and consequently also the Wicked Witch of the East, we are taken deep into their personal lives to see a whole history we never knew from the stories we are so familiar with. We are not taken to the account of Dorothy landing in Oz until the very end because this story is not about Dorothy, it is about a young green girl in search of truth and right and unwittingly a soul.

Born to a promiscuous mother, devoutly crazy father, Elphaba (aka the Wicked Witch) grew up as an outcast. Her green skin, strange looks and intense allergy of water sets her so far apart that she becomes the quintessential goth girl of Oz. Sent off to boarding school she sees a life even more confusing and frustrating than the one she endured as her father's example of the consequences of evil to his converts. In her fervor to champion the rights of others, she begins a journey of searching for the nature of evil only to find that evil and good can easily become entangled, and life in pursuit of higher righteousness in whatever form (proselytizing, terrorism against tyranny, or living martyrdom) only produces sorrow. In the end, she seeks forgiveness and finds that this one thing withheld from her, is the one thing that will be her undoing, or from another perspective, it became her salvation.

I found this book so much more meaty that I had ever expected. I was enthralled and repulsed simultaneously by my anticipation of suffering. Even when I thought the book had maybe traversed the passages that scared me, I would turn a corner into another phase of nervous reading. Politically charged with themes of evil, good, individual rights and causes, it forces me to question everything I thought I knew. Is a person fighting for the right cause still good if they choose a path of destruction endangering innocent lives? If we don't agree with their path, does that necessarily make them evil though their intent is right? Is a person devout of faith truly good if they use their faith to raise themselves above others? Are they wrong to think that way even if they might be better than the people around them? Is a person asking for forgiveness truly deserving of it simply because they had enough sense, humility or goodness to ask for it? Would forgiveness truly set that person free if they had been granted it?

I believe the greatest asset of this book toward raising these questions is to highlight that they are truly unanswerable. Sure we have a set idea of right and wrong. Sure we think we could point and say no, that was wrong. But the issue itself has a multitude of angles leading to it that result in a multitude of answers leading away from it. How do you know which of these to choose? The consequences of the choice you make might still turn out as damaging as any other choice. Most pointedly proving this is the way that Elphaba who has fought for right in every way she thought she could, turns completely to rash and harmful, even murderous actions very quickly when she feels cornered.

A quote from page 357 best sums it up, "People who claim that they're evil are usually no worse than the rest of us...It's people who claim that they're good, or anyway better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of."

ADDED: I've been thinking about this review and the book for a few days and I wanted to add some thoughts. First, it isn't so much that the evil acts in the book are difficult to define as evil, because they are most assuredly that. It is though that the people behind the acts are not so black and white which is I think the part that is surprising. In the sense that we can have a tendency to look at someone who has done something terrible and not be able to see that they are not the embodiment of the act they committed. It doesn't make their actions or culpability any less, but it does point out how easy it is to fall into those actions if we are not careful. Or how easy it is to judge others without background information.

How About Monday?

2010-04-23T11:11:00.001-04:00

Ok guys. I'm inches away from finishing Wicked. Man it's taken me awhile. So what do you say to discussing it Monday? Then we can give a fond farewell to Brown Books set 1 and throw down a welcome mat to Brown Books set 2!

Where I am with Wicked

2010-04-08T06:07:00.003-04:00

Yeah so Wicked is turning out meatier than I thought. I'm plugging away at it and enjoying the ride. Thoughts on this book coming soon.

Here I go Again

2010-04-02T07:30:00.003-04:00

Hey guys. Sorry about the absence. I was supposed to open a new book on Monday. Glitches and other circumstances led me to the decision to wait - however I did not get her to make a post on that and I am sorry. I am not ready for today's discussion either. I feel like such a heel. But here's the thing. What if we push the discussion to Wednesday? Would that be cool? And then next Friday we could have a new book opening for the new set and kick it all off with a bang. And I WILL keep the schedule.

Stick with me, the next set is 10 books and I think you're going to like the selection!

Book Twenty-Four Opening

2010-03-12T09:12:00.003-05:00

At Long Last! So sorry. Here we go.

It Stuck With Me, But That Might Not Be Good

2010-03-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happens Every Day

by Isabel Gillies

genre: Memoir

She married the man of her dreams. Or did she dream the man she married?

This is a remarkably candid, albeit one-sided, account of the demise of a marriage which basically falls apart in a matter of two months. From the eyes of Isabel Gillies, we are taken through the beginning of her marriage to her 'Adonis' to the moment it all fell apart. She really holds nothing back, even I think when she hadn't meant to reveal things. I'll get to that in a minute, but let's just say there was a lot between the lines.

First let me share a bit about this demise. Isabel begins to suspect something is going on between her husband (who by the way cheated on his first wife, ending that marriage, but not with Isabel) and a new English professor at the university where they were both teaching. Frankly I think she was right, however he might have denied anything happened till after their marriage broke down. Marriages just don't seemingly dissolve over one fight, which is what seems to happen to her husband. They fight over her suspicions and then he shuts off. Granted, as I said this is a one-sided story as it can only be in a memoir. Maybe there were issues before this happened. But the aggravating thing was that her husband refused to even discuss it or try. He simply said "I can't" and that was it. He stopped loving her over night. Or was it? Given that this new professor was typical of the women he was attracted to and given that he ends up 'together' with this woman two or three weeks after Isabel moves out, plus the fact that friends of theirs said, 'when it is just those two and you are not around, it's like they are a couple', all indications point to them having been 'together' in some form or other before either admitted and certainly before the marriage broke.

It was an emotional book. And I like emotional books. However, let's talk about the stuff between the lines. Frankly Isabel comes across as spoiled, clueless and a bit on the arrogant side. Anyone who thinks being poor could possibly entail redesigning a kitchen and sending away for designer wallpaper and fabric to 'do up' your house, has never known poor. Let's forgive her this since she doesn't seem to realize that having a summer vacation home in Maine and spending entire summers there isn't exactly what people living in rundown government apartments would call deprived. But come on. Judging someone's acting career as non-existent from the standpoint of someone who has been on some derivative of Law and Order as a secondary wife character is a bit rich. Thinking her husband is perfect and putting him on a pedestal so high he probably gave up trying, not exactly seeing things with clarity. And when fighting in a marriage is 'fixed' by ending it without resolution and then pretending it never happened, you can't possibly think things are in balance. All of which comes out by Isabel's own words and completely flabbergasted me. Yes, flabbergasted. I was so on her side. Still am actually. I don't care how ridiculous she might have been, I'm pretty sure he knew that before he married her and definitely before they had children together. Ending it because you're attracted to someone else is just lazy and inexcusable. But, I still felt so damn frustrated listening to her. I yelled at the CD player at least twice as her voice droned on about how she couldn't understand what had happened.

Good book? Yes and no. Wonderfully candid. I can't think of a better quality for a memoir to have. But still irritating to take in on so many levels. And I did think about this book for over a week after having listened to it. That is most often a sign of a book's greatness. I'm not sure I could call it that this time. It was just that I was so steaming mad at her ex-husband. Not exactly endorsement. Over all I'd say I was impressed with her style and honesty and that will have to be enough.

What Happened Discussion

2010-03-04T07:19:00.003-05:00

What Happened

by Scott McClellan

genre: political tell all (non-fiction?)

This book is marketed as Mr. McClellan's opening the door into the highly secretive Bush administration and revealing the things behind the scenes. We get Mr. McClellan's view of the Plame incident, the falsified weapons of mass destruction documents, Katrina and several other of the 'scandals' of that Presidency. What we don't seem to get is very much information beyond what we already knew. For a Presidency clouded in secrecy and scandals that jeopardized and even took lives, I had expected something more. Some information that evokes an 'Aha'. I was disappointed.

Have you ever had a conversation with a girl just after her boyfriend dumped her and treated her like crap and she is so blindly in love with him still that she defends him at every turn? Mr. McClellan is that girlfriend. He comes across as so fervently in love with President Bush and his ideals that I got the feeling we weren't getting anything more than an apologetic ex just saying enough to attempt to clear his own name in his dumping. In a way it is exacerbating how McClellan exonerates the President by indicating he was pushed and influenced by people such as Cheney, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld. In part this may be true. However, as President of the United States, wouldn't it be part of his job to see through these things? To do what is right in spite of the agendas of those on his team? I would hope that any president would have the intelligence and conviction to pursue the best for the country. It is a little lame to pass the blame onto other people when ultimately Bush was in the driver's seat. Again McClellan comes across almost as a Bush groupie with stars in his eyes.

At one point while discussing the President's reactions to Katrina, he says, "The standard practice of the Bush White House was not to have the president rush to the scene of a natural disaster." Why? Not to interfere with emergency response and that they "never wanted to give the appearance of capitalizing on a tragedy for political purposes." If I remember correctly (and I do), President Bush could be considered the all out front runner of politicians who capitalized on disaster. Terrorist attacks of 9/11 were brought up continuously for years and years after they happened as political push to keep him in office and promote his agendas in the world. This claim concerning Katrina falls flat.

McClellan's points about the atmosphere of perpetual campaign impeding governance are right on the money. However he completely deflates his arguments by defending the actions of the President and his administration instead of focusing on digging into the supports for his debate. I wasn't looking for the President to be literarily drawn and quartered. But I was interested deeply in this perpetual campaign that McClellan talks about and would have liked him to push harder into his reasoning, give a more candid account of the years he served the President, instead of a candy coated ex-girlfriend's defense of the man she hopes to get back with.

P.S. I was going along so well this year and then dropped into the land of the living dead (aka migraine city and sick kids and I could go on). But now I'm back and I'm sorry for the schedule f* up. I will post up the video of the last book opening for this set (24) later today!

Look What's Around the Corner!

2010-02-19T18:08:00.002-05:00

OK shouting out reminders.

Monday - we're opening book....

book 24!!!!!! Whoa. Yeah. The last book in the first set. Know what that means?

I'll tell you.

It means you should be watching your mailboxes those of you who've been here for the long haul with me.

It means we're about to start a whole new set. And this next set? Oh think you guys are gonna like some of them. Hopefully all of them. We'll see. (Frankly I hope I like all of them, but books are books just like people.)

It means, pop that champagne guys, you've done an awesome job and I couldn't have made it without you!

Next reminder:

We will be doing the discussion of What Happened a week from today on the 26th. Get your ideas in hand and we'll get down and dirty with politics.

See you on the flip side!

The World Without Us Discussion

2010-02-13T07:34:00.009-05:00

The World Without Us

by Alan Weisman

genre: factual fiction?

Mr. Weisman takes a grain of wonder and using fact and knowledge of experts in so many fields, he spreads that grain into an entire world. Our world. The grain: what if we weren't here anymore? What if we suddenly disappeared? What would happen to earth? Amazingly detailed information takes us into a possible future where we witness nature reclaiming her own. It gives the reader a great deal to think about our impact on earth. From the buildings we live and work in, the cars we drive to the food we eat and the clothes we wear, not to mention all our fun gadgets. Are these things bad? Not wholly. But we've changed this landscape far beyond its early state and truth be known, there may be no going back. But perhaps that is the nature of things after all.

When I put this book on the list, I had thought it was a sort of fictional story based on fact. What I hadn't realized is that this book a)has no real story, it's more of a written documentary and b) it is full of information about not just a possible future, but the state of our world now and the history of it and us in it. This part fascinated me as much as the peering into the future. I did not know that ages ago, there were giant animals that have gone extinct like camels and sloths. I of course knew about mammoths and saber tooth tigers - I suppose these are the iconic cliches of those now extinct herds of animals.

I didn't enjoy this book the same as others. Other books have that 'can't put it down quality'. This book beckoned me like a playground. Every time I took it up I had so much fun learning. I was constantly surprised by the things I learned and my level of enjoyment. It was like being a kid again, discovering some subject that draws you into obsessive knowledge seeking, minus the petty teasing and rivalry of school. This one gets a high high recommendation from me. So worth the time to read and though it's not a traditional novel, I can see myself reading this book more than once. I think it will be like those movies that you watch and find that you see something new each time. I look forward to that.

Your turn: how did the book affect you? Did you enjoy it or was the style of it not your thing? What parts of the book did you love or hate? Go.

By the way, I feel like such a bad mother, I missed my first deadline this year. I have a good excuse though. My SIL had to go to the hospital last night, so we hosted her children for dinner and worried about her which made me completely forget my pet project here. I am sorry.

A Writer Writes

2010-02-10T06:25:00.003-05:00

On Writing

by Stephen King

genre: instructional/memoir

Many authors put out books about writing. Most of them fall into two categories: 1) the book about getting started or getting out of writer's block and 2) the book with exercises in every chapter to teach you writing skills. This book falls into neither category. Half memoir, half writing instruction, Stephen King's voice comes growling through with nuggets of wisdom and almost grumpy admonitions. And every word rings true.

I have only read Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King before picking up this book. I now plan to read at least four of his books. He impressed me quite a bit with his no nonsense style and forthright language. He's funny, sarcastic and a little wacky too. But most of all, he's successful and there's a reason for it. I think you'll find a lot of that reason laced throughout these pages. He's got gumption and talent. Those two things are necessary in a writing world from what I've been told. A lot of great writer's never get their names known because despite their talent, they're afraid of rejection. Without facing that fear, no writer will ever get published, let alone have the discipline to sit down and write every day. Beyond those two qualifications, he digs deeper into elements of writing and the importance of understanding the mechanics of language. He highlights proper presentation when selling yourself or your work to publishers, magazines and ultimately agents. He gives practical advice from the experiences he's lived. And nothing could be more valuable than that, given the source.

Some quotes I loved:

"You must not come lightly to the blank page...it's writing damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business."

"The adverb is not your friend...I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops."

Lastly he tells the account of being hit by a van while out on one of his daily walks and how that affected him as a person and a writer. It moved me considerably. Not having known much more than the titles published by Mr. King, I found this book a fun discovery of a writer I now admire.

Even if you're not interested in being a writer, this book is an enjoyable read. At least the first half, the memoir part, I believe appeals to anyone. The sections on writing might not be your cup of tea, and yet, his style and humor creeping out on every page make it more than just instructions on writing.

Book Twenty-Three Opening

2010-02-08T20:40:00.002-05:00

She Waxes Patriotic

2010-02-08T19:42:00.005-05:00

The Partly Cloudy Patriot

by Sarah Vowell

genre: collection of essays

Sarah Vowell, sporting a voice like no other, has a passion for history and civic life to rival the greatest sports fan. In this collection of essays she takes us through a wide range of clever thoughts on patriotism, history and individual involvement in the political atmosphere. She takes time to delve deep into subjects such as what it means to be patriotic even when you extremely dislike (to put it lightly) the President (George W Bush at the time of writing) or musing on her almost macabre delight in vacationing at historical sites of mass death or political assassinations.

I am no history buff. Sarah Vowell's utter love of the subject draws me in and makes me start making lists of places to see or books to read. This of course I may not ever accomplish, and yet to even get me excited enough to believe I will takes a great amount of conviction. And she's got it. I love reading her because she uses dry wit and clever thought process while making parallels with pop culture icons like Revenge of the Nerds or Buffy the Vampire Slayer so that even the layest of lay people can get where she's coming from. No dry history or sociopolitical text book is this.

Pick it up for a delightful, if short, read. Or better yet, get it on audio and enjoy the unique quality of her only slightly grating voice. The cool thing about her audio versions is that she employs people like Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, They Might Be Giants, Michael Chabon.

It Came It Came It Came!

2010-02-05T17:32:00.003-05:00

You cannot believe how utterly difficult it is for me not to open this.

Reminders:

2010-02-05T11:24:00.006-05:00

We are now reading The World Without Us.

We will be having a book opening video up on Monday for book 23.

Plan on having your thoughts ready to share next Friday the 12th for the discussion of The World Without Us.

See you then!

2010-02-03T18:55:00.002-05:00

My heart is aflutter. I have just been notified that my shipment of books are on their way! That would be the next set of Brown Books. Woot!

This time, I'm giving myself an added handicap. I know the list of books, but I will not be looking at them before they are wrapped. My husband has agreed to be the wrapper for this round. That way, I won't even know the size and shape of the books and therefore, I will get an added element of surprise.

I'm just so excited.

Can you tell?

A Wish for Beyond the Grave

2010-02-02T10:26:00.003-05:00

The Lovely Bones

by Alice Sebold

genre: Literary Fiction

You live in a small town. Most people know most other people and you feel secure in your close knit community. The unthinkable happens. A girl goes missing. You later hear through gossip chains and the news, she was murdered. Your small town world becomes a place less safe, you feel shattered. You attend the funeral. You know the family a little. You try in some way to give condolences but you know that nothing you say or do could penetrate that kind of sorrow. What you don't know you learn in this book. What happens to a family that loses a daughter and sister this way? How do they hold it together? Or do they at all? What does loss like that mean? And you learn that there are never pat answers or perfect endings.

Told from the point of view of the murder victim, this story imagines a life after death for the dead and the living. It is eerie and sickening as we are navigated through the rape and murder of this character. But then we are taken on an unexpected journey as flies on a wall peering into the private horror of a family that must go on. Each reacting in their own separate ways, it is a train wreck of emotions.

I think this book is one of those books that evoke the love it hate it phenomenon. People will likely either be enthralled with it or they will be repulsed by it. It is not a book for young or squeamish people, though I would point out that the scenes about rape and murder are actually fairly tame. I was surprised to find that I only cried once, though I felt myself on the verge many times. In any event, I myself fit in the love it category. I listened to this one on audio and there were moments when I became the character. An author that kidnaps me that way counts as successful to me. It is the ultimate goal of storytelling, to take people into the story and make them forget where they are. I spent several days afterward thinking about this book, the characters and my own questioning nature on the subject of death and afterlife. If there were a heaven, even though it was not perfect, I would want it to be as described in this book. I found myself wishing it were true.

I don't think you'll truly know if you are a lover or hater of this book unless you pick it up and give it a try. I highly recommend it.

What's Coming Up

2010-02-01T09:58:00.004-05:00

As you may have noticed, we are now starting book 22. That means including The World Without Us we have three books till we're done with the first set!

In light of that, I spent a lot of time thinking over how to proceed with the next round. Since you guys all expressed an appreciation for the surprise effect of not knowing a single book I picked, I went ahead and made the new list and ordered the next set of books. This time however, I only ordered 10. It seems like a much more logical number. Think of it as the Brown Book Club converting from Imperial to Metric. So, by the time we finish the first set, we're going to be ready to start the next. In between there we'll have a celebratory post in which I will virtually shower you all with golden statue awards and giant bags of swag and giant checks signed by the ghost of Ed McMahon. Or we'll just post in and get emotional. Or not.

I Am America (So Can You) Discussion

2010-01-29T16:14:00.002-05:00

I Am America (So Can You)

by Stephen Colbert

genre: comedy

Succinctly put, this book is a raging plethora of exaggerated political hubris and paranoia presented as postulation. Colbert outlines all of the things 'attacking' the American way and Christianity. These things he presents as gospel truth. Heavily leaning against liberals and homosexuals, he takes the GOP stance to the utmost of ridiculous. He is obviously being sarcastic.

Once again, I went into this thinking, "Hey I like this comedian, I'll love his book" and was sorely disappointed. Not that I didn't laugh. But I was cringing a lot too. I began to wonder who he truly was making fun of and if any of the people reading this book held such ludicrous ideas as truth, would they think he was encouraging them? He certainly went into distasteful territory in my opinion. I don't mind an in your face comedian. And I get sarcasm. But this was too much for me to laugh at. And that is where my disappointment lies. It was vitriolic while trying to be tongue in cheek and I lost the laughter after about three or four chapters.

Example: "..until that great day when all humans can't see color, those with darker skin should take the Invisible Man's brave example and wrap themselves in the white bandages of unity so that we all truly look the same color.
"You see, White people are already wrapped in bandages: the skin God gave us to protect ourselves from racism."

or on immigration: "We need to build a 2000-mile long wall along our southern border...We don't want these Mexican Jumping Beans hopping over whenever they feel like it...something that can be seen from space, with double-wall construction, machine-gun nests and a flaming moat..."

Like I said, I'm not immune to the fact that he's using exaggeration and causticness, it's just that it feels like it goes too far without enough punchline humor to counter it. I think he's funnier in person where inflection and tone and the visual imagery of making fun of himself and those he's supposedly supporting help to make that balancing effect.

Did anyone else read the book? How did you feel about the humor? Were there passages you especially liked or hated?

Book Twenty-Two Opening

2010-01-26T04:37:00.002-05:00

Technical Difficulties

2010-01-25T21:40:00.000-05:00

Due to technical difficulties, my book opening video will not appear here tonight. I am sorry. I am going to attempt this again first thing tomorrow, if it still doesn't work, I'll just do an announcement.

Sorry for the delay.

Don't forget

2010-01-24T18:04:00.000-05:00

Book Opening tomorrow! This will be book 22. We're nearing the end. And rounding the corner to a beginning. What a great year we're going to have.

So tune in tomorrow and catch our latest video of us being...complete idiots. But at least idiots in love with books.

Not my Best Year

2010-01-20T22:10:00.000-05:00

It is January. This is a book blog. Therefore by association I feel compelled to write a Best of 2009 list or acknowledgement of lists post.

I can't. Why? I've been so out of the mainstream, I hardly knew the lion's share of the books listed in all the lists of lists that I perused.

I can tell you that my "To be read" list grew to Mount Everest proportions. If I ever make it to the top, I'm mounting a plaque. Here set the foot of a book lover whose eyes gave out. Well, hopefully I won't be crying at the eye doctor too soon.

According to my records, I finished exactly fifteen books last year. Oy the feebleness. I did manage to start about double that. But that doesn't count.

So I am challenging myself this year. Including the books we read, I'm aiming to read at least one book a week. (Or in the end, the average of such by the end of the year. I'm not disillusioned enough to overlook the fact that some weeks just go to hell).

Some of the books I'm hoping to sink my teeth into include:

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - The winner of the 2010 John Newbery Medal for outstanding children's literature, a story of middle school years, coming of age in New York city by a girl obsessed with A Wrinkle in Time.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle - I've never read it, and if I want to read the above, I figure I really ought to read this one first.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - another I must read before I do something else. I'd like to see the film Peter Jackson, in spite of the scathing reviews so far. I want to read the book first. This one has actually been on my radar for quite some time, but I shied away from it. No more.

Voluntary Madness by Norah Vincent - as Amazon puts it: "an investigation into psychiatric practices and questionable diagnoses" and "a personal exploration of mental stability". To be honest I just happened to stumble on to this one, one of those click click click and suddenly I'm somewhere I never expected to be. Quite a rabbit hole indeed.

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre - a humorous expose of all the science and medical scams we're inundated with from media.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman - almost completely off my radar, the recommendation I read for this felt like a slap on the back of the head. "Why haven't you heard of this book?" was the thought running through my head. And as far as I've read, don't let the fantasy aspect of it fool you. It is a serious novel clothed in fantasy.

I won't bore you by going on and on. But these were some of the highlights of things that jumped out of the Best Of lists I've read so far.

So now, you tell me: What sort of challenges are you setting for your reading year? What are the books you've added to your to be read list from the Best Of lists? What books would you say are the top books of 2009?

Mudbound Discussion

2010-01-15T16:08:00.005-05:00

Mudbound
by Hillary Jordan

category: literary fiction

Mudbound is the name of a farm, so dubbed by the wife who'd been reluctant to move there. When the rains come, the farm becomes isolated from the nearest town. That fact sets an entire stream of events into motion that inevitably lead to despair, deceit, pain, resolution, self-discovery and love.
Land sickness is described as the disease the farmer feels who is tied to his land, inextricably in love with it. So much so, that those infected with land disease often go blind to the effects the land exerts on those they love around them. You will not find any bucolic imagery of farming here. The land is hard, and the people on it often become hard with it. In a town in Mississippi just after the second world war, when racial tensions still ran higher than any flag flown, Henry and his wife Laura, buy Mudbound. Rather, Henry buys and as a dutiful wife she follows, however reticently.
Never having defied her husband, she finds herself thrown into situations that test her inner strength and her beliefs about deep-seated rules of racial boundaries and her deep-seated sense of right and wrong. She begins to make demands of her husband, standing up for people in defiance of his will. Strain on the marriage inevitably ensues. Add a cruel old man as the father and father-in-law into the mix and the tension thickens to pudding consistency. Then Henry's brother moves in with his ghosts of the war, and Laura begins to feel a passionate side of herself she never knew. Henry and Laura's relationships to all these people and the tenants on their farm, including a black family who become substantially entwined with their daily life, are the whirlwind this novel's plot revolves around.

This book does not indulge in flowery language. It is simple and direct, infused with its own style of elegance. Jordan's choice to write from each character's point of view chapter to chapter, heading them with only the name of the person speaking seems daring yet, I think, the only satisfactory way to tell this story. Any one person's point of view would never convey the widely varied ideals and perceptions that are essential to understanding the full story, and a narrative voice could never be personal enough to dig into the emotion of it. Throughout the novel I felt a sense of looming danger, yet it never felt depressing or too frightening to continue. There was a longing for things to go right when I knew there was no way they truly could. Jordan skillfully tapped into my emotions and drug me along like a fish on a hook. I found it hard to draw myself away from the story, even after forcing myself to put the book down. I can't say the ending surprised me all that much, but the range of feelings that I wrangled through to get there did.

I would definitely recommend this book. Not a difficult read, but certainly a worthy one.

Now, your turn. What did you like or dislike about this book? Or both? What are your post reading impressions? Did it stay with you and why?

Book Twenty-One Opening

2010-01-11T20:17:00.002-05:00

As promised and on time! Woot!

The Book Examiner

2010-01-06T15:48:00.003-05:00

So I recently found myself clicking through to an article at the Book Examiner about annoying phrases used in book reviews. Then I dug into her site further and found articles about formats of book reviews and how impotent most reviews are and voila I had a Brown Book resolution staring me in the face.

I'm going to do my best to never use the words listed in this article.
I'm going to attempt to use a format similar to the one she lists in this article.
I want to get more comprehensive and foster higher interest in the books we're reading.
Which also means I need to be on the ball here and follow my schedules. (Um, ahem)

So. Here we go.

How many of you are reading Mudbound? I'm planning for us to discuss this one next Friday. If you want more time let me know, we'll futz with the schedule. We'll be opening the next book on Monday. Look for a rip roaring opening video!

Let's get the last few books of this set romped through and then let's do another! Shall we?

For the next set of books, I'm thinking we should wrap up 10 to 15 books instead of the amount I did last time. Secondly, I was leaning toward picking the books again so that you guys will have the socks surprised right off your warm and tingly little toes. But, I'm open for democratic shoot down of my dictatorship, so let me know what you think. And did you have fun last year?

Portrait of a Lady Discussion

2009-12-18T19:23:00.003-05:00

I'm conflicted about this novel. Here's why. The story was compelling. I was drawn along instantly feeling connection with Isabel. The varied people around her, some practicing political duplicity, others quite sincere, some overtaken by her, all had interesting depth. I wanted to know what would happen to her. Who would she marry? How would her marriage turn out? And when we found that out, I yearned to a strong extent for a resolution for her. In the end, the resolution she chooses would not have been my choice, and yet it had the effect of being one of those great endings that stay in my mind plaguing me for days.

That being said, I had a hard time holding on to James' prose. I was easily bored by his wordiness and tangential wanderings. His words are beautiful, and yet, though I understood them all, not unfamiliar with them, I still felt his composition veiled the whole thing in a rather frustrating cloud of vagueness. It was like knowing something but never truly putting your finger on it. Not being able to fully express it. It gnawed at me. It made me feel inferior to his narrative which was off putting. I'm not reading to be confused, I'm reading to understand. I couldn't quite figure out why if I understood the meaning of each word, the string of them eluded me. I'm not sure this makes sense to you, but it is the strange feeling that shadowed me through the entire novel.

Overall then I'm not sure how to rate it. I didn't enjoy it as I should have if it hadn't been for that odd perception of being in the dark the whole time. And yet, I didn't want to put it down for all that.

What would you say about it?

Calling all Brown Bookers

2009-12-14T12:35:00.002-05:00

How many of you have read Portrait of a Lady? I'm just looking for a rough number of people. I'm going to put the discussion up sometime this week. We just opened book 20: Mudbound! I hope some of you will be reading this one. I know the holidays are here and my schedule can attest to yours being as busy busy busy. So we're not going to rush this one but come say mid-January, let's rally and get our momentum into the homestretch. We'll be looking to the next year with a new set of Brown Books if you guys are willing. We can get a lively discussion going on that topic too, i.e. should I pick the books again? Should we bandy about giant wish list between all of us and I can surprise you with that? Think about it, save your thoughts and next month we'll get to partying it up about all this. I'm so glad you guys have stuck with me and this has been a fun project. I'd like to keep going. I've had a lot of fun.

Book Twenty Opening

2009-12-11T06:49:00.004-05:00

This took all night last night and starting over this morning and all day today to upload.

Wow, sometimes technology astounds in all the wrong ways.

A Plethora of Gifting Ideas

2009-12-07T20:56:00.004-05:00

Well the holidays sent me into a tailspin. How about you guys?

I have a couple of links I'd like to share of gift guides for books, very nice stuff.

Books on the Nightstand's Book Gift Guide

Books on the Nightstand's Kid's Books Gift Guide

Geek Dad's Holiday Gift Guide #1: Books

Boing Boing has a six part series of gift guides:

Kids

Media

Gadgets

Nonfiction

Fiction

Art/Comix

And where I get most of my book recommendations, NPR:

Big and Beautiful: Best Gift Books of 2009

Check these out. Some great suggestions in here. Of the ones listed I will say that I have purchased Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary for my husband, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is on my to get list, and I found a whole lot more that I want on these lists.

Other suggestions straight from me:

Lyrics by Sting - we love Sting around here, my husband especially. This is great for those followers but it is also poetry worth reading. As a poet, I can say that I thumbed through this and can't wait till he's done so I can read them all.

Dune - my budding teenage reader is into the fantasy leaning books, but he's been complaining that he wants to get into new series with a little more to them and perhaps something different. I'm encouraging him down an older road. This was an excellent read at his age for me. And along the same lines as this one,

I, Robot - for some great classic Sci-Fi.

Andy Rooney: 60 Years of Wisdom and Wit - now this one I don't have. It's on my wish list. But, I've been reading another book of Andy Rooney's writings called The Most of Andy Rooney which seems to be out of print. I can tell you that I love this stuff. Great quick reading too. Short little one or two page articles full of wry humor.

How to Raise the Perfect Dog - another Cesar Milan book out with more in depth information on raising and training your dog. Great gift for anyone with a young dog or contemplating getting a dog.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day - I know I've mentioned this book before. I mention it again because it deserves notice. I have been using this book now for over six months and I have not made one dud loaf yet. Not one. Each loaf has had beautiful crust and crumb. And the taste is sensational. Great for sandwiches, rolls, or just tear away and eat. Any home bakers you know will kiss you for this book.

Now. Have you been sufficiently inundated?

Listening and Waiting

2009-11-09T06:56:00.003-05:00

I recently bought an mp3 download of Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk.

I love listening to books on audio. It is relaxing and I can squeeze in that kind of 'reading' easier throughout my day than sitting with a book. This time I chose Waiting for Columbus based on a post over at Books on the Nightstand by the voice narrator's wife. She moved me so much that I couldn't wait to get it.

I listened and I have to tell you that just listening had the 'can't put it down' affect on me. At one point in the book I couldn't turn off my mp3 player. I just couldn't. And at another point, I lost it. I broke down and sobbed.

This book tells the story of a patient in a mental hospital who believes he is Columbus. He weaves his stories of acquiring his ships for his great voyage and as he does, the truth about who he is, why he is there slowly but exquisitely unravels.

This book is absolutely beautiful with a capital B. Trofimuk dances with words the way Astaire dances with feet. Riddled with humor, sexual tension, mystery and tender feeling, this gets my vote for one the of the best books of 2009. I loved it so much that I plan on buying the hard cover because something that moving has to sit on my shelf. And I plan to read it, and maybe re-read it.

The Zookeeper's Wife Discussion

2009-11-02T12:32:00.002-05:00

All right yous guys. I spent my weekend laid up with a nasty cold. But I'm here and I'm gonna get this wagon train a movin.

I'm not done with the book yet. I can tell you my impressions of it so far.

It started out a bit slow for me. There have been passages that lose my interest. But overall, I've been drawn to it to find out what's happening. I tried to imagine myself in Antonina's place. When the war first broke out in Warsaw, I was so floored with the thought of worrying about your child, not really having anywhere to take them to be safe. We truly live a very lucky life here in North America I think.

So far then, I'm impressed and absolutely going to finish.

How did you like the book?

Book Nineteen Opening

2009-10-26T21:25:00.003-04:00

I know the only warning I gave of this was in the calendar. So I hope you guys have looked at the calendar. In any case, ready for another book?

I pushed the discussion for The Zookeeper's Wife to Friday since I am a bit delinquint. I hope you don't mind. =)

Thanks for all the participation on The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Though a long book, I am so glad we read it.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle Discussion

2009-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

This book gripped me. Not only was the language astonishingly beautiful, but the relationship of Edgar and his dogs touched me.

I am the kind of person that is fully affected by the things I read or watch. This book was very difficult for me due to that fact. Mr. Wroblewski made me love these characters, truly care about them. I spent days worrying until I could get back to the book. I was saddened by each downturn and of course the ending practically killed me. So I left this book extremely conflicted. Even now, writing this I feel confused how to express it.

It is a beautiful story, true to its origins (a modern day remake of a Shakespearean play) and wrought with powerful words and images which could not help but bore into my being. But that boring, it hurt. I found myself thinking of the book long after having finished and feeling so depressed about it. So that where I would tell you any book that grips me enough to have me thinking about it so heavily long after it's done is surely a book worth reading, I would also admit that I'm not sure I would ever read it again. But only because I'm not sure I could read it again. In the end that is endorsement enough to induce a shining review from me. I loved it, I would recommend it to anyone I know, I am glad I read it in spite of the heart rending it inflicted on me.

Ball Rolling

2009-10-15T22:30:00.001-04:00

I'd like to schedule the discussion for Edgar Sawtelle for next Monday. I don't even know how many of you read it beyond De. I hope if you did, you haven't forgotten your thoughts. So, Monday what do you say?

Book Eighteen Opening

2009-10-07T19:14:00.002-04:00

I'm afraid family concerns are preventing me from being here and devoting any creativity to this. I am deeply sorry. I expect that these difficulties should be resolving soon and I will be able to return.

I do have book 18 for you.

Tada!

Hope to see you soon!

The Eyre Affair Discussion

2009-09-08T23:37:00.001-04:00

All righty.

I have to confess that despite my rushed and wildly strong efforts, I have not finished this book yet. I am inchingly close though. And not being done has nothing to do with the book at all. If I could have, I would have read this book in one day. I am enjoying it immensely. The constant literary references make this book a treasure trove for any lover of books. Here I must also confess that I did not know all of the references, but have been keeping a list to look them up. And that has made the book even that much more fun for me. I wish I could give a definitive conclusion on the book as a whole, but I should be done in a day or two.

Some things I have pinpointed that I love about this book so far: the flow moves quickly and keeps you turning pages. I found it rare that the book slowed down so much that I didn't want to keep going. It wasn't that I-gotta-keep-reading-or-I'm-gonna-die-of-curiosity feeling, but the action just keeps you moving forward. The concept of the book is also fun. Who of us wouldn't want to be able to walk into the books we read? It definitely fed my imagination.

On the other hand, some of the names and references were corny and I found Jack Schitt's name more off-putting than his actual character, which I believe is the more important point. But really, Jack Schitt is such an old and juvenile joke. I would have to say that this is hardly a complaint large enough to ruin the book for me though. In all, I have found (so far) the book a light, fun and witty read.

Added - I finished today and I absolutely loved it. I got down to the last 30 pages and couldn't stop reading. I am looking forward to reading more of Jasper Fforde. If you haven't all ready I suggest taking a peek at his website. Its a fun place to stay for a bit.

Book Seventeen: The Reveal

2009-09-07T15:08:00.003-04:00

Some things said about the next book:

“A CLASSSIC IN THE MAKING: Whether you read for the beauty of language or for the intricacies of plot, you will easily fall in love with David Wroblewski’s generous, almost transcendentally lovely debut novel" O Magazine

"…a big-hearted novel you can fall into, get lost in and finally emerge from reluctantly, a little surprised that the real world went on spinning while you were absorbed." Washington Post Book World

"I doubt we'll see a finer literary debut this year... David Wroblewski's got storytelling talent to burn and a big, generous heart to go with it." Richard Russo, author of Bridge of Sighs

And here is the very book that these people all loved so well, next on our list:

New Approach, New Schedule

2009-09-02T12:15:00.004-04:00

All right, what say you to trying out basically doing one discussion a month? If it ends up being too boringly slow, we can change it, but given the time frame to get hold of a book and then read it I thought it might work out better. Now if you all think that stinks, then tell me, I might protest loudly while holding a large blunt object, but then I'll give in like the people pleaser that I am. (oh ha ha)

Ok so, here's the layout of the next few weeks, see if this works for you.

Friday, September 4, Opening Book 17

Tuesday, September 8, Discuss The Eyre Affair

Wednesday, September 30, Opening Book 18

Friday, October 2, Discuss Book 17

----The one that I'm most concerned about is the Eyre Affair discussion. Let me know if that is too soon for those of you not finished yet, if there are any.

P.S. The calendar reflects these dates for reference.

Vacation Winding Down, Book Club Winding Up?

2009-08-18T18:58:00.004-04:00

Hey guys, I've been out and about, in and around doing family things, having out of town visitors and general summer buzz. I hope your summers went well. I hadn't meant to let the reading club fall off over the summer, but I see now that it is probably a good time to at least slow down.

In a couple of weeks, children will be back in classrooms and summer outings will be coming to a close. So what do you say we pick back up officially on September 1st? I will get a post up prior to that date to get some scheduling going. In the meantime, let me know if you've read The Ayre Affair and how soon you could jump into discussing it. You still with me?

Coraline Discussion

2009-07-08T13:55:00.003-04:00

I will first qualify that, as many of you know, I am a pretty big fan of Neil Gaiman's work. I've read the first of his Sandman series, American Gods and Stardust besides reading Coraline. I enjoyed each and every one of them, inlcuding Coraline.

I liked the creepiness of this story. It's not too creepy, which usually frightens me away. I'm a big baby. But what I really respected was that he did an astounding job seeing this world through the eyes of a 10 year old. Some descriptions he gives as if off-handed but strike the heart of me and would have done so even more as a girl. For instance when he said, "and, in the bath, a dead spider the size of a small cat." It was just thrown there but can you picture that? Do you even want to?

Coraline's realization that she didn't want everything she wished for all the time adds the moral of the story element, which I like. It reminds me of all the old stories, passed down by word of mouth or written down to scare children into doing the right thing. The 'teaching story' is such a long tradition and really who of us, even a child, doesn't enjoy being frightened now and then?

I am now excited to see the movie.

Some Book World News

2009-07-07T08:37:00.002-04:00

Some interesting headlines and articles in the book world:

E Book Reader Market Expanding
This is great for consumers. The more abundant the choices become, the market gets more competative and that means prices will go down. The technology curve rewards the patient, though perhaps not with the most up to date bells and whistles.

J.D. Salinger Fights to Keep 'Fan Fiction' from being Published
I called this fan fiction for lack of a better description. While it is based on the original book, I wonder if it would truly be considered fan fiction?

Hatchette Book Group Giving 30 Day Peeks Into Full Text of Books
An interesting marketing angle. Neil Gaiman has deployed this strategy and it seems to have worked quite well for him. I don't know a book reader who would read an entire book online without really wanting to purchase the book. I am firmly in the browse and buy camp. How about you?

Mr. Frey is Back, Now With Young Adult Series of Novels
The premise of the story sounds interesting. But I am, honestly, rather skeptical of anything Mr. Frey is involved in writing. I was not impressed with his writing style in the now infamous Million Little Pieces, besides the fact that he screwed up royally. I realize this new series would be fiction, but I'm still unsure I'd be willing to pick it up. It will be interesting to hear what the critics think.

Discussion Coming

2009-07-07T08:34:00.002-04:00

We are scheduled to discuss Coraline tomorrow. How many have read it? Anyone still reading? Let me know.

Schedules and How are You?

2009-07-02T12:31:00.003-04:00

Ok here are some of the upcoming schedule dates I have. I'm bypassing the holiday weekend and extending things a bit, I hope it helps:

Wednesday July 8 - discuss Coraline
Monday July 13 - Open Book 17
Friday July 17 - Discuss The Eyre Affair

How is that looking for you guys? I know it's summer and a lot of people are busier (I sure am) or having vacations, so I want to make the dates equitable.

And for the fun of it, who's reading what?

Book Sixteen Opening

2009-06-25T13:59:00.002-04:00