The Paige Turner Book Club

Gunn's Golden Rules

2011-05-23T14:21:00.000-04:00

Oh how we love Project Runway! So when we discovered Tim Gunn had penned a book, we simply had to add it to our lineup. We were expecting something light and witty, and for the most part, Tim delivered.

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work. It's part ettiquitte, part story-time. Our main complaint: the book can rabbit-trail, and lacks an overall cohesiveness. Sometimes the chapters just end, and you can't remember which "rule" you started with because the storytelling went to a completely different place. We also thought the ending was a little weak. We wanted more of a "final thought" or something that would wrap it all up and leave us ready to "Make it work!"

That being said, Gunn's writing is very true to his voice. He's warm and witty and sarcastic and slightly snarky (though he claims he constitutionally incapable of being so). The crazy stories from the fashion world and the glimpses behind the scenes of Project Runway were consistently funny and satisfying. And we enjoyed the stories from his personal life too. We love Tim Gunn and we're happy that we read his book.

Next up: Here Burns my Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Still Alice

2011-04-21T09:07:00.003-04:00

Out book for April was "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova. It's a book that tackles the issue of Alzheimer's, and is told from the perspective of the woman who is struggling with the disease. Our group's reaction: This was the first book we've truly enjoyed since reading "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak in March 2010. I would highly recommend this book to other book clubs.

We talked about the characters, issues, and plot. We thought Lisa Genova did a wonderful job of writing so that you really identify with the main character and experience her stuggles and losses with her. We loved the diverse, yet believable, reactions of her family and friends.

Our longest discussion topic was around the question: "Would you want to know if you had an unavoidable illness?" The characters in the book face this question specifically on the topic of Alzheimers. Would you want to know if you were going to go through it? Or would you rather face it (or not) as it came? We had people that answered differently, and for very different reasons. It made for a wonderful conversation, and I think we all learned about each other in the process.

Next up: Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work by Tim Gunn

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

2011-03-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

Our nomal meeting night fell on St. Patrick's day...and we had green-frosted cupcakes to celebrate. Also, we discovered triskits + Irish cheese + bruscetta = one delicious appetizer. But on to the book.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. We didn't hate it, but we didn't love it either. Kingsolver often weaves multiple storylines together. To us, one of the storylines grabbed us much more than the others. It featured a believable lead role, and a believable struggle. I think it would have been nice if the whole book centered on that storyline. The other characters could have been woven in through shared scenes or conversations.

One thing we really enjoyed was the language. Kingsolver truly gives each character their own voice, and has her characters use their unique voices to help them describe how they percieve their world and how they work through their problems. That was very neat to read.

The conclusion of the story was a little sudden and convenient for our taste. (With the exception of our favorite storyline. We felt that one ended in a realistic place and we enjoyed the journey to get there.) I would like to read some of her other books to see if this one just rubbed me the wrong way, or if Kingsolver...while very talented...just isn't for me.

Next Month: Still Alice by Lisa Genova. I'll be a little transparent here. It would be nice to find a book our whole group can be excited about again. That hasn't really happened since "The Book Thief"...and that was several months ago.

The Magicians

2011-02-18T14:07:00.000-05:00

After a very hectic fall, the Paige Turners are back to normal. And with the presence of brownies, banana bread, veggies, and five eccentric girls, we had a lovely gathering last night.

The topic of conversation was Lev Grossman's book The Magicians. The back cover describes it as a grown-up version of Harry Potter blended with Narnia. Our collective group opinion was slightly different.

It wasn't one of our favorite books. A few girls were deeply bothered by some of the content and language. We did discuss several interesting topics: growing up, teenage ennui, revisiting childhood stories, the affect of power, maturity, sexuality, dynamics of small groups, faith and confidence. But what frustrated us all was the lack of something to root for. We didn't feel any like the story took us (or the characters) anywhere, nor was there someone we could get get behind as a hero (tortured soul variety included).

We've put this one behind us and are looking forward to Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2010-07-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

I do believe this is the "most trendy" book we have read as a group. Meaning: Right now people are reading it, wanting to read it, talking about how much they liked it....it seems to be everywhere. We're cool girls, don't get me wrong. But our meandering literary path took us very mainstream this month. Having said that, everyone really enjoyed this book.

A large number of our regular attenders were out of town, so we welcomed a few new faces to make up for it! They fit right in. Rabbit-trailing like pros. *wink* It's a beautiful thing. Balancing fellowship with jabbering and managing to fit a meaning discussion about the book in as well.

We talked about the characters and their voices. We talked about racism, self-esteem, social dynamics, and choices. We talked about the bravery of Skeeter and her friends. And we talked about how sometimes the brave thing and the right thing may cause waves, but leave things pretty much unchanged, and yet somehow still be the right thing to do. (That was actually something that bothered me a little bit. How nothing was really different at the end of the book.) We talked about how class distinctions in any form don't have to be inherently degrading. And we talked about how these issues, prejudices, and mindsets might be reinterpreted in the years to come. Will we be able to recognize flawed thinking and injustice when we see it? Will we have the courage to listen, to stand up, and to tell the meaningful story...even if there's a chance it won't change anything? I enjoyed listening to Anna and Lynn share stories about the beautiful houses of West Annapolis and the families that make homes. Good discussion indeed.

And of course there was chocolate pie for all. No extra ingredients included of course!

So...Lynn and Anna, welcome! Erinn and Amanda, thanks for holding down the fort. Everyone else, you were missed. I hope to see you soon.

Next up: The Hunger Games by Suszanne Collins.

In My Hands by Irene Opdyke

2010-06-16T12:04:00.000-04:00

This month's gathering marked a first for me: it was the first time I hadn't read the book. (Shame on me!) In my defense, I honestly thought I was going to miss the meeting. I loaned my copy out to one of the other girls. I made arrangements for us to meet at Panera Bread instead of our normal living room. I was resigned to my fate. And then my hindrance dissapeared and I happily joined everyone for the discussion. All I have to say is this: Thank goodness that this book was based on a real life! I was able to do some research on the real facts of Irene Opdyke's life (the truth really is better than fiction), and I was able to engage in the conversation.

What a woman! Her story gave us so much to talk about. How much a person can change in 5 years. How some people become heroes and legends by simply responding to the situations in front of them. It could be said that all Irene did was rise to the opportunity. But we talked about how there are thinkers, and there are doers. Some people would have weighed and pondered and re-weighed every consequence. Irene just looked at things and said, "this is what I can do."

We talked about hard choices. About how sometimes people are forced into supporting a system they don't agree with. How does a person deal with that? Respond to it? Fight the system even while 'supporting' it?

One of our amusing side conversations was on languages. Irene knew a few, and her friend (fiance was it?) knew several more. Most of us were lamenting that we are still fighting to learn a second. But then we decided to divide up the globe, so no matter where we travel someone will know the local tongue. (Krisitn has Spanish and she'll have to take Portuguese for the team, Erinn has Russian, Mandie has German, I'm all about Arabic and Hindi....). How is this a bad plan?

I'm looking forward to actually finishing this book. From what I understand, this book is very easy to read. It's inspiring. It's true. And it's worth keeping around. It was a delightful way to end our WWII theme on a hopeful note, and we highly recommend this book to others.

Up Next: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

2010-05-24T08:53:00.001-04:00

This month, we continued with our theme and decided to read Dick's Hugo Award-winning 1962 alternative history, which considers the question of what would have happened if the Allied Powers had lost WWII.

Of the four people who came to the meeting, only one had read the book completely. One was nearly done and finished the last 20 pages during our discussion. One had only attempted a few chapters. And one wasn't able to start at all (though she brought amazing cupcakes. All is forgiven. *grin*).

For all the praise this book is given, we all thought it was dry, uninteresting, a bit disjointed, and...strange. Even by the end of the novel, the reader still has large questions about what Dick was trying to communicate. We chatted for a while about the different voice Dick tried to portray for different parts of the country -- based on whether the states had been controlled by Japan or Germany after the war. We chatted about the use/misuse of the I Ching throughout the book's plot. We chatted about some of the main characters.

And then we abandoned the strange book and played Dutch Blitz while we watched Glee.

Dutch Blitz is a card game that is part Solitaire, part Skip-Bo, part Speed, and part "Egyptian Rat Screw." The latter is what makes my sister so dangerous. She didn't join the Dutch Blitz game until the 4th or 5th round, but when she did she proceeded to stomp us. Soundly. (Which was mostly ok. Grrr. *wink*)

Imagine all that insanity with Glee as a backdrop. For one of us, it was her first Glee episode ever. She started out looking at us like we were all insane. "What?" And ended by laughing with delight that Neil Patrick Harris would guest star on an upcoming episode. "What?!"

Good times (and delicious cupcakes) were had by all.

Next month we will conclude our WWII theme with the book: In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Opdyke.

A Night of C.S. Lewis

2010-04-14T10:21:00.000-04:00

Instead of having a specific book this month, we had a specific author: C.S. Lewis. We each chose whatever book by Lewis that we wanted.

These were the books represented last night:

Regina - Screwtape Letters
Kristin - Pilgrim's Regress
Kate - The Dark Tower and Other Stories
Amanda - The Magician's Nephew

A few of our other members were reading Lewis's non-fiction works, but last night it was all about his imagination and storytelling.

It was actually a really interesting evening. Kate started by telling us about the short stories in her book. Her ability to summarize is quite fantastic. Her conversation flowed well into the themes I loved in the Screwtape letters, which led into the Pilgrim's Regress, which led.... needless to say, we could all see Lewis's personality and philosophy in all his works. Displayed differently of course, but it was all there. It would have been interesting to see how they were echoed in his non-fiction works. But we'll just have to catch up with those girls later.

We discussed the power and effectiveness of analogy -- a tool C.S. Lewis used very often. We also discussed time and perspective. Lewis wrote Pilgrim's Regress at the beginning of his Christian life. He included a forward (or afterword...I can't remember) that he wrote several years after he wrote the initial book. In it, he says that looking back, he can see all his book's flaws, but he still stands by it. That sentiment reminded me of a forward that Tolkien wrote for Lord of the Rings. We wondered last night if the two were related. After all, Lewis and Tolkien were friends. Perhaps after of banter and growth they both felt compelled to both acknowledge their flaws, but to embrace them and stand by what they did. In the case of Lewis, his honesty is one of the reasons his books have had so much staying power.

One of the prompt questions I found asked: What part of this book inspired you in some way? While it was supposed to be for a non-fiction book, we were all able to identify thoughts in Lewis's works that we found inspiring. This was especially true for me. I've tried to read Screwtape Letters several times in the past, and haven't made it past page 30. But this time, I couldn't put it down. There was so much that I wanted to mull over. As I shared with the girls last night, maybe this was just the right book for the right time.

All in all, it was a wonderful night.

Next month: We continue our WWII theme with an alternate reality - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2010-03-18T12:54:00.000-04:00

Hands down, "The Book Thief" was one of the best books we've read. It's unique. It's engaging. And we all decided that it actually lives up to the praise on it's cover: "BRILLIANT and hugely ambitious...It's the kind of book that can be LIFE CHANGING."

It's set during WWII, narrated by Death, and centers on Liesel Meminger - a young German girl with a huge heart, an indomitable spirit, and a love of books and words.

We were amazed by the structure of the story, the depth of the characters, and the obvious intention that went into putting this whole book together.

Read it. Savor it. You won't be disappointed.

After reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" and "The Book Thief", we've decided to stay with the WWII theme for a while. Next month, we're trying something new. Everyone is picking a book by C.S. Lewis, and we'll share our collective thoughts and reactions during April's meeting. Then we'll conquer a WWII fantasy, and alternative history, and a memoir. We'll conclude our theme with a trip to D.C. to visit the Holocaust Museum. I'm really looking forward to the next several months.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2010-02-25T16:46:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with this month's read while I was traveling in Europe. After a very busy week, I was ordered to sit and watch the world go by, armed only with a view of the Irish coast, and the delights of this book. In a letter to my friends at home, I described it as deliciously engaging and refreshing. Needless to say, it was immediately put it on the Paige Turner's "To Be Read" list.

And after our meeting on Monday, I can happily report that the other members enjoyed it as much as I did. *whew!* In fact, several ladies said it was one of their favorites from all the books we've read together as a group. High praise indeed!

Getting everyone together this month was no small feat. We had to cancel our original meeting because of Snowmageddon. And with so much snow remaining on the side streets, we were worried about having enough extra space to park in our normal neighborhood location. Enter our solution: invade Panera Bread. It was our first non-livingroom gathering, but I think it worked rather well. I'd definitely be open to meeting at an eatery again.

In any case, on to the book! We talked about what it was like to read an epistolary novel. We thought that the authors -- Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows -- did a wonderful job of capturing so many different voices. We talked about the characters, the ones we loved and the ones we loved to hate. I thought it was interesting that one of our members commented that she didn't feel very connected to the main character, Juliet. We talked about how that might have been because most of the letters are from her (sharing about others), or to her (again, sharing about others). There were very few letters that gave an outside glimpse of Juliet, sharing anecdotes, etc.

We talked about the different stories shared through the books letters - what life was like, how the war impacted people from both side, how the experiences of the war changed those who lived through them, and impacted those who came after. For example, could you imagine having to decide in one day between sending your child away to live in a foreign country or choosing keep them close knowing the invading army is on it's way? What would you do? How would you handle it?

We hope that this novel will survive it's current popularity and become a modern classic. It's smart, funny, clever, and warm and still finds a way to share important bits of the WWII era throughout the book.

Let's hope for warmer weather and clearer roads in March. Our next book continues the WWII theme. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

P.S. - If you'd like to read what the Storie Delle Sorelle book club thought of the Potato Peel Pie Society, click here.

A Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

2010-01-27T12:24:00.000-05:00

We started the new year off with a new location, and a new friend! (Plus, it was great to have Sarah back with us. She doesn't get to come often, but when she does it's always a treat.)

The book for this month was "A Change of Heart." For some of us (myself included), it was our first trip into the land of Jodi Picoult. I enjoyed how the book had many narrators, and how the characters and plot developed. With that being said, I found myself not really engaged in the book until about halfway through. Not everyone had that experience, but it was that way for me.

We talked about the core subject matter: muscle-memory and how that may impact organ donation. We talked about parenting, forgiveness, revenge and faith. We talked about how Picoult -heavily- borrows from the movie "The Green Mile," but how you almost excuse her for it. (We thought she was clever to acknowledge the influence by one character giving the nickname "Green Mile" to another. *wink wink nudge nudge*) We talked about the many 'changes of heart' that emerged through the book. ...We talked a lot!

And we also did a lot of laughing and catching up and rabbit trailing.

It was a good month, and a great way to start the year! Thanks to Katie for suggesting this one. I think I'd like to read more by Picoult. Any suggestions? I've been told that "My Sister's Keeper" and "Handle with Care" are particularly good.

Next up: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox

2009-12-09T13:34:00.029-05:00

First, let me give a very public "Atta girl!" to Kristin. She finished the book with time to spare (That's a big deal for Kristin. She's super busy and stuff. Go ahead and do a quick happy dance with her.)

On to the book. It was our first thriller, and could best be described as "Victorian Noir." It's written as a confession, so you spend the entire book inside one character's head. As the book progresses, you're able to make more sense of what that character is like, and in turn, that knowledge changes how you view the supporting characters. This is what I mean: Have you ever had a friend who exaggerates, and who usually views himself as completely innocent in every situation? That's the frame of the main character. So later in the book, when he's talking about how horribly unjust something is, or how terrible someone used to treat him, I gave those comments less weight because I had more insight on his character. I found that phenomenon interesting.

At the end of the day, we thought the book could have been a few hundred pages shorter and still included all the details it needed to work. (Translation: it gets pretty slow at times.) But I think we enjoyed it. Our conversation centered on the topics of justice, revenge, parental influence, self-centeredness, betrayal, and guilt.

Speaking of guilt, here's the thing we found most interesting about Cox's book. It opens with the murder of an innocent man. The main character then goes on a reminiscent journey to fill you in on all the factors leading up to that moment. Those factors and paths consume all the primary characters. The protagonist doesn't regret any of it. But at the very end, he admits that he feels guilt over the murder of that innocent man. It makes me wonder of that guilt was why he wrote the confession in the first place? Not just to share his story, but to absolve for the one crime he truly regretted. (That's a bonus thought for you).

Paige Turners, what do you think?

A Murder Mystery!

2009-11-17T13:09:00.031-05:00

Our next book choice was quite long, so we decided to take mercy on our reading schedules and have a party this month. I'd never hosted or even attended a Murder Mystery before, but I think our get together worked out quite nicely.

The plot of our story revolved around a death at the Annual Superhero Assembly. Due to a horrid oversight on my part, I don't have any pictures of the evening, but this was our cast of characters:

Electra (played by Regina) - Electrical powers - Electra is a medical doctor by day and a super hero by night. This healer is able to draw upon electrical energy to fight her foes. Electra is one of the preeminent superheroes in the Justice Confederation and some say she is the unspoken leader.
Shiver (played by Katie) - Powers of ice - This cold hearted hero is rumored to be in the superhero realm for purely selfish reasons…attention. There have been many recent reports in the news of Shiver not coming to the aid of victims around the city because she is out shopping, getting her nails done or doing self-centered things. However, when Shiver does come to help damsels in distress, her rescue rate is 100%.
Stingmata (played by Kristin) - Powers of poison - Stingmata’s toxic personality can be rather annoying to those around her. She is full of energy and sometimes loses herself in the moment. However, she is typically the first superhero on the scene of a crime and does her job with vigor and integrity.
Blue Blaze (played by Erinn) - Powers of fire - Blue Blaze is known for her fiery personality. An attorney by day, she is outspoken and can be quite callous on occasion. She is one of the most powerful superheroes in the Justice Confederation and sometimes she walks a fine line on what side of the law she is truly on.
Nerdon (played by Christine) - Powers of all things nerdy - Nerdon is the quintessential nerd with amazing but nerdy super powers. Nerdon is able to draw upon all things nerdy to battle enemies. So watch out for Nerdon’s flying protractorangs, robotic monkeys and her ergonomically created sword.
The Red Wonder (played by Mandy) - Magical rap lyric powers - The Red Wonder is a famous rap artist by day and super rapper by night! Her lyrics of iron will counteract any evil villain’s attacks. The Red Wonder is a force to be reckoned with…especially with her faithful microphone.
The Wisher (played by Amanda) - Powers of wishes - The Wisher is one of the most caring and accommodating superheroes in the Justice Confederation. However, watch out for her sneaky side if she tricks you into making three wishes.
Ms. Fabulous (played by Kate) - Powers of being completely fabulous - Ms. Fabulous is…well…she’s completely fabulous! Her perfect body, perfect hair, charismatic personality and trusty hand-held mirror are all that she needs to bring the criminals to justice. The lawbreakers stop in awe at the sight of Ms. Fabulous… just in time for the other superheroes to take control of the scene.
The Jester (played by special guest Laura) - Powers of humor - This comedian (comedienne) is a hoot to be around and was once voted everyone’s favorite super hero in the Justice Confederation. The Jester uses the power of humor to defeat villains. Criminals don’t know what’s hit them when the jokes start flying!

We had such a great time! Nerdon was the star of the show. Christine's costume was completely rockin', and she stayed in character the whole night. That was no easy task. After a few rounds of games and clues, we made our final predictions and found our killer. We thought the ending was a little "Scooby Doo"ish (meaning, you didn't quite have all the clues you needed to find the answer), but we certainly had a good time trying to piece it all together.

I hope the night of mystery and mayhem helped us all to look forward to our December book: The Meaning of Night.

Romeo and Juliet

2009-10-14T16:46:00.002-04:00

The timeless Shakespeare love story. Some of us had to read Romeo and Juliet in high school, others read it for the first time this past month...but all of us were familiar with the story. How can you not be?

What makes Shakespeare so wonderful to read is this: he can play linguistic gymnastics with a familiar story. In Romeo and Juliet, the chorus tells you the end of the story right off the bat. "A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life." But then you start reading, and laughing, and hoping... and becoming drawn into the comedy and drama of the story. It was very fun for our group to re-visit this story as adults... because we can read between the lines to get all the bad jokes! *grin*

Our conversation jumped all over the place (as usual), but we touched on all the major themes and topics of the play. Also, many of us associate "Romeo and Juliet" with the Baz Luhrman movie. It was interesting how we kept comparing what we read in the play to what we remember seeing in the movie. We love the Montagues and aren't really big fans of the Capulets. Tybalt is lame. Benvolio rocks. Romeo and Juliet have it bad. Paris really gets a raw deal in this story. And Friar Laurence wasn't doing anyone any favors with his meddling. Two of our favorite quotes: "You kiss by the book" and "By my heel I care not."

We concluded the night by finding a 9th grade final exam for Romeo and Juliet and testing our knowledge. I'm proud to report that we passed with flying colors! Whoo hoo!

Next month will be a bit of a treat. We are reading "The Meaning of Night" by Michael Cox, and will have a murder mystery theme to our next gathering. I've never done one of these before, so I think it will be lots of fun!

Till then... Happy Reading!!

While the Daffodils Danced

2009-09-09T20:36:00.002-04:00

After a busy Labor Day weekend, it was nice to sit down and chat with my book club pals. We were a slightly smaller group this month, and we stayed remarkably on topic. Even with some later arrivals and opening chit-chat, we were able to get through our thoughts in time to see the Nadal/Monfils match of the US Open. Not bad, girls! Not bad.

Our basic synopsis of "While the Daffodils Danced" -- it feels like a Lifetime movie written down. You can see major plot points coming, and everything wraps up in nice little bows. (While some readers may find that annoying, I think others don't mind.)

I loved the minor characters in this book. We thought most of the major characters remained the same throughout the story, but the journeys of the mother and father were quite beautiful. Another minor character that we all loved was Nurse Sarah. She comforts Cara just after she gives birth to the baby girl she is giving up for adoption. She tells Cara, "What a wonderful thing, to give someone life." As a group, we discussed adoption, and how this was a beautiful way to frame that decision.

One thing we giggled about: finding the chapter title in the chapter. You could make it a little game with yourself as you read. Kind of like waiting to eat your popcorn at the movies until the reason for the title happens. Example: In FoTR, halfway through the movie at the council meeting in Rivendale, Elrond makes the proclamation, "So be it. Nine companions. The Fellowship of the Ring." --> You are now free to eat your popcorn!

Looking ahead: Our next meeting is on Tuesday, October 13th. We will discuss Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.

November's meeting has been moved to Tuesday, November 17th. We will discuss The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox. I'm working on some fun things for this night. You won't want to miss it...or be late!

Cookout

2009-08-25T14:27:00.005-04:00

On Sunday, I hosted a cookout for the Paige Turners, and company. We had a full menu: burgers, grilled caesar salad (sometimes with ranch), greek pasta salad, potato salad, fruit, veggies…and dessert! Key lime pie and brownies. (Thank you everyone for all the yummy goodness). No one left hungry. Well done!

We sat and chatted. We played Balderdash in special honor of Sarah. (We missed you!) And then we moved inside to talk about important things. Like lists. And M.A.S.H. (Not the show, the game. Poor Kate. She ended up with most of the yucky options. But at least she got her dream job!) We wrapped up the day with an almost-finished-game of Disney Trivial pursuit.

Of course, the cutest part of the day was Charlotte. When we were eating lunch, she and Gallaudett got to know each other. They were chasing each other around and around the desk. My dog is 15 years old. He doesn’t interact with anything. In fact, he usually runs away. But for some reason, he fell in love with Charlotte. It was so cute. Then Charlotte discovered the BIG teddy bear. Partially because Erinn attacked her with it (good job). But she loved playing with that thing. It made her ecstatically happy.

And I love when people are happy.

I hope everyone else enjoyed the day as much as I did.

Looking ahead: Our next meeting is on September 8th. We are discussing While the Daffodils Danced by Cathie LaMarsh. Happy Reading!

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

2009-07-27T14:31:00.000-04:00

Our book club meeting this month was a casualty of summer schedules and Harry Potter. Of our nine girls, four came to the meeting, and only two had the chance to read the book. But we still had a lovely time, even with a smaller group.

Katie and I were able to talk about our reactions to the book. We both enjoyed reading it, but also both were of the opinion that it would make a perfect “bathroom” or “leave it in the car” book. There really isn’t an overarching plot, nor does the book grip you in such a way that you can’t put it down. The book is a conglomeration of little stories and filler chapters, and each one wraps up nicely before moving on. If the rest of the series is like this first book, we can understand why it has been translated to the small screen as a TV show. But the heroine is likable, and can be quite hilarious at times with her matter-of-fact approach to life and case solving. So for those whose schedules got the better of them this past month, this one is worth reading. Keep it in your car or on your dresser for those *cough* slow *cough* moments in your day. They’re bound to happen….sometime. :-)

The overarching lesson this month was: IPhones are quite nifty, and camel spiders are big and creepy.

Looking ahead: I know July is historically our slowest month, but after our meeting a few weeks ago I’ve been brainstorming. I’m planning some different things for the fall. Keep your eyes on your mailboxes. Good things are in your future.

Upcoming meetings/events: We will have no book discussion for August. Enjoy a reading vacation! We will have a cookout on Sunday, August 23rd starting at 1:30. I’ll provide the burgers/buns/ and the porch. Bring your family and a side dish or dessert, and let’s just enjoy the afternoon. Our next book discussion will be on Tuesday, September 8th. Stay tuned for more details.

The Shack

2009-06-17T15:18:00.002-04:00

I must admit that I was surprised by our discussion this month. Our book was “The Shack” by William Young. I put it on the list because I kept hearing about it: from various friends, from church programs, from Amazon, etc. In fact, the Amazon description is as follows:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment, he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

So I dutifully searched and found some discussion questions, and eagerly waited for our Paige Turner discussion.

And I was surprised.

"The Shack" is a polarizing book. Some readers really loved it, and others truly did not. More than not liking the writing style or the pacing or the (insert literary element here), they were genuinely bothered by the content -- The journey travelled and conclusions reached by the main character.

So our discussion that night went to some places I never would have guessed. But you know, that’s the great thing about our book club. I’m genuinely glad that we were able to talk about the different things we liked and didn’t like. I’m glad that our little group provides an atmosphere of openness and trust so that people can talk about negative responses and reactions. Kudos to us. (I hope everyone else felt the same sort of atmosphere I did.)

And in coming back to the book. There’s a lot to love. One of the things we all enjoyed: a recurring phrase used by the character portraying God. “I am especially fond of ____.” God says this about group of Californian Euro-funk musicians who have yet to be born, of Missy (the child murdered in the beginning of the book, of Mack (the main character), and of several other people along the way. In fact, God tells Mack to pass this message on to his best friend. When Mack gives the message, it’s incredibly apparent that these words touch a very deep place in his friend’s heart. And why wouldn’t they? As a group, we all agreed that this particular element is both true and encouraging. No matter who you are, or how you view yourself: God is especially fond of you.

I won’t list the things that gave us pause. Those worms can stay canned. Suffice it to say that “The Shack” reads like a parable. Therefore, there’s a lot of pictures, statements, and conversations can raise a lot of questions. So, dear reader, if you do pick up this book and you find that in reading it you have questions…please feel free to contact one of us and start a conversation. (You can find my email address on my profile page.)

For the Paige Turners – our next book is “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” by Alexander McCall Smith. Big surprise, they’re making this one into a movie! (Who’s surprised? Anyone? *wink*)

We’ll meet to discuss it on July 14th. (A date much anticipated by Harry Potter Fans….the sixth movie releases that day at midnight. Whoo hoo! You coming?)

Much Ado About Nothing

2009-05-19T15:57:00.005-04:00

Our group was a little smaller this month, but we were not lacking in discussion! Leave it to Shakespeare to whip our little group into a frenzy.

We opened our meeting with something a little different: a quiz! (I wish I could take credit for crafting it, but I just stumbled upon in during an internet search for good discussion starters.) But whoever *did* draft the quiz certainly had fun with making up the multiple choice answers. For example, one of the potential answers for “Why did Claudio refuse to marry Hero?” was “She smelled like a rotten orange.” Pretty funny stuff. Mandy squeaked out a victory and won the super cool prize of glow in the dark flip-flops. I found them at Michaels, and they’re pretty fun!

I don’t think it’s possible to read a Shakespeare play and *not* have something to talk about. And this particular play has lots of quippy lines and sensational characters. After laughing at chatting, we also watched the Kenneth Branaugh version of the movie. It stays very close to the text of play, although we were disappointed that only the first and last lines of this interaction were included in the movie:

Dogberry Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.
Don Pedro First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I ask thee what's their offence; sixth and lastly, why they are committed; and, to conclude, what you lay to their charge.
Claudio Rightly reasoned, and in his own division: and, by my troth, there's one meaning well suited.
Don Pedro Who have you offended, masters, that you are thus bound to your answer? this learned constable is too cunning to be understood: what's your offence?

For me personally, watching the movie dramatically impacted my view of one of the main characters. But I’ll save my thoughts on that for a Leakey Faucet post.

For this post, I will simply say adieu.

Thanks for a great meeting everyone. Next month we will meet on June 9th to discuss The Shack by William Young.

Explanation Required

2009-04-20T12:05:00.007-04:00

For the first time since November, we had all our Paige Turners in attendance. It was especially nice to have Sarah there, since it was her birthday…and she is not as giraffe-crazy as some of the other girls. But thanks to Erinn and Amanda, we had cupcakes and decorations. And thanks to everyone who came we had a night of smiles and laughs and chatter about our chosen giraffe books – Tall Blondes and Giraffes? Giraffes!

Tall Blondes was picked because it had several reviews like this one: “This book contains the most captivating journey through the history and lives of giraffes that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. As a giraffophile myself, I was amazed at the extent of new, fascinating information contained within each page. It has wonderful illustrations that complement and enhance the reading. "Tall Blondes" is a must-have for every giraffe lover; it's a graceful, distinctive work that is truly deserving of its unique subject matter.

As a group, we feel that the book falls very short of this review. It is very quote heavy. And the quotes aren’t necessarily all related to each other or arranged in a way that reads well. There are certainly some interesting facts about giraffes, but we wouldn’t call it “a captivating journey.” It isn’t until the last couple chapters when the author moves away from listing facts and quotes and actually creates something of a narrative. Those last chapters were ok, but it took a lot to get there.

Highlights from Tall Blondes:

We learned a giraffe can kick in all directions. With this skill, they can decapitate a lion. Can you imagine that?

We also learned that giraffes have amazing circulatory systems. Valves in their neck veins keep blood moving one direction so they can lower their head without all the blood rushing downhill and pooling there. Also, their leg veins have thicker walls, and their skin is stretched tight to keep blood moving back up toward their heart. Scientists are trying to use the design of giraffe’s legs to design space suits that will keep astronaut’s circulatory systems from weakening while they are in space. Pretty cool right?

The story of Victor – a giraffe who tragically passed away after he fell and did the splits in a Great Britain zoo in 1977. I’ll have to borrow a copy of Tall Blondes (mine went back to the library) and share the tribute that was printed in the paper. It’s quite something. Many of the girls who read Tall Blondes said they teared up as they read Victor’s story.

Giraffes? Giraffes! was picked because it looked ridiculous and hilarious. It definitely lived up to our expectations. It’s kind of like “Napoleon Dynamite” – you have to be in the mood for that kind of movie, but if you are, it’s hilarious.

My personal favorite correlation between the two books: space travel. As mentioned above, science is trying to take some giraffe wisdom to improve the design of space suits. This makes complete sense, since according to Giraffes? Giraffes!, these majestic creatures migrated to Earth from Venus by way of a conveyor belt. Coincidence? Most certainly.

Overall, I think it’s totally appropriate that the books this month were both a conglomeration of nonsequitors. Why is that? Because it was Katie’s month to pick our books. And as her own blog suggests…with Katie, there’s usually some explanation required.

Looking forward: It’s the last month of our round robin season. We will be reading Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Picked by Christine.

See you in May!

The Glass Castle

2009-03-26T15:42:00.003-04:00

This month we delved into the tale spun by Jeanette Walls describing her very interesting childhood. We decided as a group that the book synopsis/teaser on the back cover is a very inadequate portrayal of the misadventures shared in the book. With that being said, there was no shortage of conversation. We didn’t even need to be driven by a discussion guide…our own reactions directed a great conversation that covered every area suggested in a prompt. Impressive right? The Glass Castle has it all: parts that make you angry, parts that make you happy, parts that make you sad, parts that make you quite indignant, and parts that make you proud. We concluded the evening with a time of sharing stories from our own childhood. It was a lovely time. Thank you Kristin for suggesting this book for us all to read.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a book club meeting without a side sugary goodness. This month, Christine, Mandy, and I dove into the world of phillo dough, dates, and nuts. The result? Baklavah and Ma’amoul. Mmmmm…..

Next Month: We'll have a Giraffe theme with "Tall Blonds" by Lynn Sherr and "Giraffes? Giraffes!" by Doris Haggis-On-Whey.

Inkheart

2009-02-18T14:43:00.003-05:00

This month’s meeting started with a surprise. Regina attempted to make single-serving smore brownies. And for the most part, they turned out wonderfully. But this was the first time she used the “broil” setting in the new, gas-powered oven. And as she pulled the top tray out, she discovered that the pies were on fire!

Mandy, being a supportive friend tried to comfort Regina by saying, “Oh it’s not that bad.” But then she lightly tapped one of the burnt pies, and it disintegrated. Which made everyone in the kitchen disintegrate with laughter as Mandy tried to communicate, “Ok, maybe it –is– that bad.”

Thankfully, the rest of the batch was fit for human consumption, and the smore brownies were a hit.

Moving on to Inkheart. We all thought it was a fun read. There are lots of fun characters, and it will be interesting to see how they interpret the book into a movie. (An outing is planned for tomorrow night.)

One of our discussion points for the evening was around language. Inkheart was written in German, and then translated to English. We wondered what may have been lost or gained in translation. We talked about how even with an English to English translation (ex. Harry Potter series), certain words or situations may be received differently by different readers. It was an interesting thought to toss around.

We later got distracted by superstitions. One of the main characters – Basta – is a deeply superstitious person. Christine shared that at a recent family gathering, the women in her family had fun with the pencil test. So of course, we scrambled to find a pencil, a needle, and some thread…and the night ended with more laughter.

Looking ahead, our next read is “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls (Kristin’s Pick). A few of us also plan on reading the rest of the Inkheart series. Thank you Erinn, for picking such an enjoyable book!

Twice as Nice

2009-01-21T21:11:00.001-05:00

Two more months have passed for the ladies of the Paige Turner book club, and those two months gave us very different literary experiences.

For December, we read Blood Done Sign my Name by Timothy B. Tyson. It’s a memoir of the son of a white pastor who lived in the south during the height of the civil rights movement. Needless to say, it’s a book that gives great insight to a pivotal and important part of our American history…and from a unique point of view. Our meeting discussion touched on all sorts of issues: from black/white tensions to the struggles of Irish immigrants and indentured servants. One of the lasting thoughts of the night: it is important to remember the past, but the cycle of hurt doesn’t have to continue. By living color- and status- blind, and by loving and respecting everyone equally, we can break negative cycles and paradigms. It was a night of great discussion and as a group, we would highly recommend that you read this book. (Thanks for picking it Susanne!)

Our January book was Once Upon a Winter’s Night by Dennis McKiernan. It’s a retelling and embellishment of the Norse fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. McKiernan took the original story and expanded it to try and capture the type of story a wandering bard would tell. It’s an enjoyable ride through the “land of faery,” and a classic high fantasy story: Love, a curse, several riddles, an evil mother, a dragon, a sparrow sidekick, and an adventure to reunite those who have been separated. How can you go wrong? Though if I re-read this book, I will keep a running tally of the following words: ire, dire, peril and twilight. Seriously. They’re everywhere. We enjoyed the book though. It was a welcome break from some of the heavier books we’ve read recently. Thanks Amanda!

Now we’re looking forward to February. We’re tackling Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Unsurprisingly, the movie comes out this Friday, so I sense a book club outing in our future. (Take a look at our list of books. We have a habit of picking books that are made into movies. Most of the time we don’t realize it until much later. – for example, The Secret Life of Bees. In fact, I even discovered an old English film retelling East of the Sun and West of the Moon – It’s a very fun phenomenon to live out.)

Till next month...happy reading!

Why we all love reading...

2008-11-13T10:12:00.005-05:00

Amanda: First of all, I like to read because it entertains me. But I have also begun to realize that I enjoy reading because it takes me away. I stick mainly to sci-fi and fantasy books for the purposes that they take my imagination away. These books take me to another place and let me imagine how I would fit in to that particular world. Like for instance, in Lord of the Rings I am convinced that I would be a dwarf or a hobbit. (Hobbit because I like to eat far too much and have my laid back moments. Dwarf because they are stubborn as hell and are hard workers.) Or in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, I would be a wereleopard. Oh, and in the Green Rider series I could see myself as a rider. In fact, I dressed up as one for Halloween once. Anyway, that is why I enjoy reading so much. It allows my imagination to take flight to another world.

Christine: There are probably as many reasons why I like to read as there are genres of books to pick from. One reason is that I am not creative so I tend to be fascinated by other people’s creativity. I am also not particularly good at expressing myself so I am duly impressed by those who are brilliant wordsmiths. However, my favorite reason to read is that it allows me the possibility of endless adventures. I love to go new places and meet new people and to me reading is simply an extension of that. An extension that expands the possibilities beyond what I could experience in real life. Through reading I can meet someone who died years ago or I can travel to another world entirely by simply stepping through a wardrobe :) Books are doorways that can lead anywhere and that is why I love to read.

Erinn: The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn't know how to read. - Benjamin Franklin (I tend to do a lot of reading on rainy days…)

Kate: I love to read because to me, it is an escape, a mental break from everyday life. I get to experience life from someone else's point of view as it broadens mine. Also, I love a good romance/mystery/whatever. :)

Katie: I'll be the boring one who says, more than anything, reading is something I like to do to fill time. I don't read because I have a strong desire to become more well-read or to gain some great philosophical insight into the world or to escape the realities of my life; I simply read because it's something to do (which explains why I don't read when I'm busy). My friends and family can tell you that I'm not a particularly outgoing person. I'm perfectly content to sit at home and do absolutely nothing at all. Reading allows me to do that without others thinking I'm totally anti-social. Plus, it's a good excuse to soak in the tub for a while.

Kristin: One of my favorite quotes sums up why I love to read, "Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are." ~Mason Cooley I love to travel and visit new places, new cultures, new peoples. So, there are those books that allow me to go to those places when I am home. But some places are only allowed to be visited in the imagination. Reading takes me to those places, and I love the journey! The best part of reading is going to these places, living in the strange and adventurous situations and making friends along the way. You are right there, hearing, "Let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." ~Albus Dumbledore And then, there are the books that change me and impact my life. Those books encourage me through this lovely thing called life and help me grow into the person I am and will become. So, as a very wise man once said, "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island. ~ Walt Disney

Mandie: Why I Love to Read: A List (Because I Love Lists Too!)
1) Escape- I know it's cliche, but isn't it nice to escape the real world for a little while?
2) Great Words- In real life people don't use all the great words that are used in books. How often do you hear people use awesome words like indefatigably?
3) Creativity- I love being blown away by the sheer volume of creativity that some people possess. I'm mean, where did J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien come up with that stuff?
4) Details- Books don't usually face the same time constraints as TV shows or movies, so there is lots of rooms for details. Two hundred extra pages of back-story? Yes, please!
5) Trivia- I love trivia and I'm competitive. The more I read, the more questions I can answer. (Guess who is currently ranked #60 out of over 100,000 participants on the Goodreads.com book trivia quiz?)

Regina: Reading has always been a big part of my life. I remember well the days when I would hide under the covers with a flashlight, or hope for a car to follow us on the ride home so I could read by its headlights. When I discovered the land of storytelling, I was hooked. Stories have layers…at least they do for me. In a story, I can examine a hard issue from a different angle or learn to see through another person’s eyes. I have books that are just “comfort food”…but the ones that stick with me are the ones that surprise me with an “ah ha!” moment. And whether that moment comes from fiction or non-, I love when a story can surprise you with a thought you might not have thought before.

Sarah: For me, reading is a way to live a different life than my own and experience things that I will maybe never get the chance to do. Reading has allowed me to travel the railroads in a circus, witness breathtaking sword fights and shrieking eels, and fall in love with a family of vampires. This is why I read. Maybe one day someone will read a book about my life and be able to live vicariously through my own experiences, and for their sake, I hope those experiences are just as valuable to them.

Lovely Bones

2008-10-23T10:46:00.003-04:00

This month we discussed the book “Lovely Bones.” The book was Kate’s pick, and our meeting just happened to fall on Kate’s birthday. What a lovely coincidence.

Everyone was completely on the ball this month too. For the first time in Paige Turner history, all of us had completely read the book! (Even Erinn, who unfortunately couldn’t be with everyone on Tuesday night.) Whoo hoo! Everyone gets a gold star!

The general consensus on the book: The first 75-80% is great, but the ending let us down a bit. We liked how the book flowed. It was really easy to read either in segments or in larger doses. The mother was infuriating, but Buckley, Sam, Hal and Grandma make it to the top of our favorites list. We enjoyed the glimpses of heaven, and wish we could have seen more. Also, our advice to heavenly onlookers: If you ever get a chance to have a “Ghost” moment….we want you to enjoy it, but please use your time on earth wisely! Share your knowledge!

Next up: The Secret Life of Bees. (Sarah’s Pick). We will discuss it on November 11th. I think we decided that no one should see the movie before reading the book. So stay strong! I’m sure we’ll organize a movie outing at some point.

Picture time:

Here’s Kate with one of her presents: the new Twilight calendar.

This meeting was also special because we all made (or brought) masks. We’ll post more on that later…but for now, here’s lovely group shot.

Highlights from our interview with Liz Curtis Higgs

2008-08-14T17:04:00.002-04:00

Regarding Sommerled:
Alas and alak, I can think of many men in my life who have been like Sommerled so I didn’t have to reach too far to find an example. Sadly, they’re out there and most of us have dated one…But I should never have made him a musician; because nothing would win my heart like a guy who could play a cello well. And…he just won my heart! So then I had to kill him! And it’s like “Oh no! This is terrible!” You know because we’ve got him all turned around, made him believable. But of course the brothers weren’t in on all this turnaround. They just came in and did the dirty.
They must not have the same love for cellos as you do.
I think you’re right. Yeah, they didn’t. They didn’t actually get to hear him play cello. Only fiddle. Maybe that was the whole problem.

Choosing a mute heroine:
Now, you can tell I’m a very verbose person. It’s amazing I can be disciplined to write at all because I’d much rather talk. So imagine now a woman like me, a chatty Kathy, having as your lead heroine a girl who can’t talk. It was…scary! Originally I was going to get her back her voice. I had real clever ploy of how the brothers were going to seek grace from her by bringing home a professor from the University of Attenborough who was the first to invent the use of anesthesia. So he would come and do this iffy surgery on her throat, and “tada!” She would get her voice back. And it seemed very clever indeed, but the more I thought about it, the hokier it got. And, you just have to be so careful of that kind of thing. So I decided not to have that element in the book, and not to have this hokey “get your voice back” thing.

Traveling:
I am not as fun to travel with as you may think because I’m doing research the whole time. So I’m interviewing people. I’m hanging out in graveyards. I’m climbing through libraries. And things that aren’t quite so exciting.
That all sounds pretty exciting to me!
Well I have a good time, yeah. And all those men in kilts make it all worth while.

My husband has said, “Honey, don’t even think about starting a new series in France!” ‘Cause he knows me well enough, he knows that I’d have to go there several times. I’d have to do tons of research…actually that sounds like a really good idea. Yeah, then we’ll do a series in…I don’t know…Italy would be good. Not all novelists travel to the place once, let alone ten times. But I love it, and I’ve got lots of extra frequent flier miles and that’s the best way to spend them!

Writing Grace in Thine Eyes:
My initial thought is that the grace would be extended to Davina. Well, then I get into the writing of the book and I realized she’s a complete innocent so the direction grace needs to flow is not to Davina, it’s from Davina. The first draft that I wrote, I had her truly fall in love with, and express love to, Sommerled. And that was all well and good and fine, except that I realized that’s not the biggest gift she could give him. To love a man who has hurt you, sadly, is easily done. [Laughs] It’s just unfortunate that sometimes we love a man who is not good to us. I dated an abuser back when I was 19 so I know how this works. But to extend forgiveness to him is huge, and frankly, more difficult than love because it goes to a deeper, more sacrificial level. And of course it’s past anything physical, it’s at the spiritual level. In many ways the entire theme was turned on its head by the time I was done, and I love that. Although it requires a huge amount of re-writing, it’s so exciting when you as the writer learn something in the writing. You know, when you’re taught and you are stretched.

It was a very difficult book to write. It took 14 months. My books never take that long, but that one did. Partly because of the re-writing, but also because I could climb in Davina’s shoes having been right where she was. It was the front seat of a car, not a stable, but it was the same story. And so I was in her heart, and that was very painful to travel through again. Then I had to be in Leanna’s heart. And I am a mother, at the time of a 17-year-old daughter, and so I imagined “How would I feel as a mother if my daughter came to me and said this happened to me.” What would that be like?

So much tears and gnashing of teeth. I mean, I must have lost a pound in just water with this book. You know people say to me, “Oh I really wept reading your book.” It’s like, wow, you have no idea. I just soaked the keyboard. I’m lucky I didn’t electrocute myself. But hopefully that’s what makes a book connect with a reader. You don’t have to cry. Not everybody cries when they read. But I have to. You know in other words, if I’m not that involved how could I ever expect my reader to be?

Why she reads/writes fiction:
But most of the time, 99% of the time, people get something really meaningful [out of my books] that I didn’t put in there intentionally, that maybe isn’t even exactly there in an overt way, but it works through the process of their own heart. You know it’s a combination of their own experiences, of the Holy Spirit kind of working through them, and then this little story. And it always amazes me, and delights me. And it’s why I read fiction. I mean, I inhale fiction. And it’s to travel to a different place and think a different thought.

Breaking rules:
You are never supposed to have a character that’s mute. You are never supposed to have music or a musician as part of a book, because it’s oral and here you are on a flat page of words. So they say never have a character be a musician, and never have her be an artist. [Laughs] It’s just funny because, I of course am a bit of a rebel who thinks rules are there to be broken, but it does make a challenge. What can I say? I hope it worked.

Using Quotes:
Yes I love the epigraphs. I get really carried away. I spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to find just the right one. Sometimes I’ll choose one, write the chapter, decide it’s not quite perfect, and so spend another hour trying to find a different one. I’ll save the one I didn’t use for another chapter. So, yes, after all these books, I have a crazy collection.
Do you have any favorite quotes that you’re just like, “jones”ing to use, that you just haven’t written the right chapter for yet?
Well here’s one. I’d like to find a home for this. This is by James Thomson who was a 18th century Scottish poet: “The whole air whitens with the boundless tide of silver radiance trembling round the world.” Isn’t that delicious? You know it’s like, surely there’s going to be a use for that one.

Sharing our feelings about Jamie:
I found myself exactly as frustrated as you were about Jamie and the sons. I just wanted to say, “Come on dad! If can be this loving over here, what’s the problem over there.” But the truth is, I’m a mother…I’ve told you of course six times now of a 17-year-old daughter, now 19, and a son whose now 21, and I’m just trying to think if my son had caused an accident, had something like that happened to my Lily that took her voice away, could I absolutely forgive him and not in any way have that hanging over my relationship with him? I don’t have an answer for you. I hope. I hope that I could.

Sadly, there are lots of Jamie’s out there. Who, one thing goes wrong and they never can get over it. They, you know, grace is extended to them but they can’t seem to come up with a way to extend it back. It’s heartbreaking to see but it happens. Sometimes there are just people who are just hungry for grace, they’re going to sop it all up around them, but they’re not willing to turn around and give it to other people.

Sharing our feelings about Graham:
I think Graham is closer to a true hero in this book. I would love to write a book with just Graham. He’s a very special guy. I like him a lot.

Closing words:
It’s been absolutely a delight. Hugs to all and thanks!

July's Meeting

2008-07-09T09:58:00.002-04:00

Call it summer, call it a busy month, call it a “non-girly” read….we had a small gathering of Paige Turners this month. (And when all was tallied up, only two of the girls had read the whole book.) But never fear, cliff notes / synopsis / skim reading came through and we had a good discussion anyway.

Part of the discussion centered on another vampire series by an author named Stephanie Meyer. If Bram Stoker’s style didn’t suit your fancy, we highly recommend this series: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn (coming August 2nd). If you *did* enjoy your taste of Dracula, I would recommend that you also pick up The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

Despite our attendance, food was in abundance. Sarah brought an amazing fondue fruit tray…thank you! So we chatted, and ate, and just hung out. We also watched “Down with Love” and played Beyond Balderdash. (Speaking of which, Sarah is a very convincing liar! It’s amazing what you can find out at book club!)

Let’s hope our schedules cooperate with us this next month because our book for August is “Grace in Thine Eyes” by Liz Curtis Higgs. Liz will be joining our meeting via conference call, which is pretty nifty. So pick up this novel, soak up the sun, and enjoy some leisurely summer reading.

Dracula: Food for Thought

2008-06-25T11:30:00.003-04:00

I found the following on http://www.sparknotes.com/ I thought it might be good to get our literary juices running.

Themes: Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

The Consequences of Modernity
Early in the novel, as Harker becomes uncomfortable with his lodgings and his host at Castle Dracula, he notes that “unless my senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere ‘modernity’ cannot kill.” Here, Harker voices one of the central concerns of the Victorian era. The end of the nineteenth century brought drastic developments that forced English society to question the systems of belief that had governed it for centuries.

When Lucy falls victim to Dracula’s spell, neither Mina nor Dr. Seward—both devotees of modern advancements—are equipped even to guess at the cause of Lucy’s predicament. Only Van Helsing, whose facility with modern medical techniques is tempered with open-mindedness about ancient legends and non-Western folk remedies, comes close to understanding Lucy’s affliction.

In Chapter XVII, when Van Helsing warns Seward that “to rid the earth of this terrible monster we must have all the knowledge and all the help which we can get,” he literally means all the knowledge. Van Helsing works not only to understand modern Western methods, but to incorporate the ancient and foreign schools of thought that the modern West dismisses. “It is the fault of our science,” he says, “that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain.” Here, Van Helsing points to the dire consequences of subscribing only to contemporary currents of thought. Without an understanding of history—indeed, without different understandings of history—the world is left terribly vulnerable when history inevitably repeats itself.

The Threat of Female Sexual Expression
Most critics agree that Dracula is, as much as anything else, a novel that indulges the Victorian male imagination, particularly regarding the topic of female sexuality. In Victorian England, women’s sexual behavior was dictated by society’s extremely rigid expectations. A Victorian woman effectively had only two options: she was either a virgin—a model of purity and innocence—or else she was a wife and mother. If she was neither of these, she was considered a whore, and thus of no consequence to society.

By the time Dracula lands in England and begins to work his evil magic on Lucy Westenra, we understand that the impending battle between good and evil will hinge upon female sexuality. Both Lucy and Mina are less like real people than two-dimensional embodiments of virtues that have, over the ages, been coded as female. Both women are chaste, pure, innocent of the world’s evils, and devoted to their men. But Dracula threatens to turn the two women into their opposites, into women noted for their voluptuousness—a word Stoker turns to again and again—and unapologetically open sexual desire.

Dracula succeeds in transforming Lucy, and once she becomes a raving vampire vixen, Van Helsing’s men see no other option than to destroy her, in order to return her to a purer, more socially respectable state. After Lucy’s transformation, the men keep a careful eye on Mina, worried they will lose yet another model of Victorian womanhood to the dark side. The men are so intensely invested in the women’s sexual behavior because they are afraid of associating with the socially scorned. In fact, the men fear for nothing less than their own safety. Late in the novel, Dracula mocks Van Helsing’s crew, saying, “Your girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and others shall yet be mine.” Here, the count voices a male fantasy that has existed since Adam and Eve were turned out of Eden: namely, that women’s ungovernable desires leave men poised for a costly fall from grace.

The Promise of Christian Salvation
The folk legends and traditions Van Helsing draws upon suggest that the most effective weapons in combating supernatural evil are symbols of unearthly good. Indeed, in the fight against Dracula, these symbols of good take the form of the icons of Christian faith, such as the crucifix. The novel is so invested in the strength and power of these Christian symbols that it reads, at times, like a propagandistic Christian promise of salvation.

Dracula, practically as old as religion itself, stands as a satanic figure, most obviously in his appearance—pointed ears, fangs, and flaming eyes—but also in his consumption of blood. Dracula’s bloodthirstiness is a perversion of Christian ritual, as it extends his physical life but cuts him off from any form of spiritual existence. Those who fall under the count’s spell, including Lucy Westenra and the three “weird sisters,” find themselves cursed with physical life that is eternal but soulless. Stoker takes pains to emphasize the consequences of these women’s destruction.

Though they have preyed on helpless children and have sought to bring others into their awful brood, each of the women meets a death that conforms to the Christian promise of salvation. The undead Lucy, for instance, is transformed by her second death into a vision of “unequalled sweetness and purity,” and her soul is returned to her, as is a “holy calm” that “was to reign for ever.” Even the face of Dracula himself assumes “a look of peace, such as [Mina] never could have imagined might have rested there.” Stoker presents a particularly liberal vision of salvation in his implication that the saved need not necessarily be believers. In Dracula, all of the dead are granted the unparalleled peace of salvation—only the “Un-Dead” are barred from it.

Thunder can't cramp our style!

2008-06-19T10:06:00.006-04:00

Although...it can cause us to change locations. After a lovely meal outside, we took our party to the living room for movie time. Thank you to everyone who cooked and brought goodies to add to the feast. It was really nice to see everyone crowded around the table just eating and sharing.

We'll definitely have to try again for a movie night outside. But until then, enjoy reading this month's book: Dracula by Bram Stoker.

See you all soon. (July 8th for those of you marking your calendars)

P.S. - I recently finished reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I highly recommend it. It's a long read, but it's definitely one that you can pick up and put down as you have time to spare.

Pulling out all the stops for Summer...

2008-05-27T23:13:00.001-04:00

After several exciting months, we're trying something new. For the month of June, we're opening our "girls only" meetings to include some of the men who are in our lives. But wait, there's more! We're also going to have a cookout, and a movie outside!

It was decided that "The Princess Pride" would make a great boys-friendly read. The fact that it's also one of our all-time favorite movies is just a happy bonus. (cough cough, wink wink)

In any case, here's what you need to know:

Tuesday, June 10th
Regina's Back Porch
7:30 p.m. - Meet and Eat
8:00 p.m. - Talk about life, the universe, and The Princess Bride
9:00ish (whenever it gets dark) - Watch the movie!

As far as food logistics go, we'll declare it a pot-luck and make it up as we go along.

And as far as this blog goes...I thought it would be a good thing to try out as a group. It may become a place for us to directly post discussion questions, book reactions, etc. We'll see *grin*