June-July Reading Dates

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your great input about "The Phantom Tollbooth."  I enjoyed seeing what you all thought about the book.

Our next read will be "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

The discussion for this book will start July 27th.  Happy reading! :)

"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

I love "Alice in Wonderland."  It is one of my favorite books.  I found "The Phantom Tollbooth" to be in a similar category as "Alice in Wonderland."  One of the things I particularly liked about "The Phantom Tollbooth" in contrast to "Alice in Wonderland" was the sense of purpose in Milo's journey.  Alice's only quest was to find The White Rabbit, which leads to a sort of senseless adventure, whereas Milo sets out to save the Princesses Rhyme and Reason - learning all sorts of things along the way.  By the end of his journey, Milo has a new appreciation for things he used to not care about...numbers, words, sounds, etc.  Milo's journey helps him (and us) to find the beauty in everything, particularly the small things.  It showed him (and us) just how much time we waste everyday doing nothing.  I loved at the end of the book when he realized he had been gone for only an hour and it says how he had never realized how much he could do in such a short time.  And on top of that, when it said he would like to go back, but he was too busy with all the things to do and see and hear right in his own world.

The quirky characters in this book were so fun and likable.  I felt instantly connected with Tock and grew very fond of the HumBug. I was very impressed with the creativity of Juster in coming up with all the characters; people who grow down instead of up, the terrible Dynne, the orchestra that plays the colors...the eccentric mix of people really made this book enjoyable.

Juster's use of words was also very impressive - and very entertaining.  One example that comes immediately to mind is the Which/Witch.  The play on words in this book was very clever.

I think this book is an excellent read for people of all ages.  It has that fun, whimsical feel of "Alice in Wonderland" for children but is also equipped with plenty humor for the educated adult.  I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

What did you think?  

May - June Reading Dates

This month I will be reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. 

I will post my review, and the discussion will start, on June 8th. 

Happy reading! 

"The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt

I haven't got a very long review for this book, but let me share my thoughts with you.

I chose this book because it is one that I read when I was younger...well, started reading.  I never finished it and I figured that now was as good a time as ever.  I was wrong, back when I started it would have been a much better time. This book is clearly written for a younger audience and so I found that rather than enjoying it - I just sort of spent a lot of time scoffing at it.

The main thing that sticks out in my head is the three children's uncanny ability for saving people. I don't think I have ever actually saved a person's life before, but in the span of a year these kids saved a baby from a fire, an entire train load of people from crashing into an avalanche, and a boy in a red jersey from dying alone in a tunnel.  It's pretty amazing...and unrealistic.

It's a cute enough story about children with good intentions and has a nice happy ending, but it was little too perfectly ironic for me.

What did you think?

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

I quite enjoyed this book.  I saw the movie several years ago and remembered liking it, so I was excited to read the book.  I was surprised at some of the important plot devices I had forgotten about from the movie and was glad to be able to revisit this story.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the analogies Kidd used to help with visualizations and the beautiful way she was able to describe things and make you feel and understand completely.
Phrases like: "A girl could get lost on twenty-eight acres.  She could open a trap door and disappear."
"The first week at August's was a consolation, a pure relief.  The world will give you that once in a while, a brief time-out; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat up life."
And "It was the in-between time, before day leaves and night comes, a time I've never been partial to because of the sadness that lingers in the space between going and coming."
One thing I have always admired in writers is their ability to paint bright and vivid pictures with their words.

When I was in high school, I took an advanced drama class where we talked a little bit about script analysis.  One thing we were told to look for in a script was what is called a "spine line."  This is essentially the one line in the script that can summarize the entire theme of the play.  If I had to choose a spine line for The Secret Life of Bees, I would say it is when August states, "Every little things wants to be loved."
We see this is her instructions to send love to the bees, of course, but we see it more prominently in Lily.  The entire story truly revolves around Lily's need and desire to be loved.  It reached it's peak, I think, in that moment when she declares herself "unlovable" because of what happened to her mother.

Another thing that stuck out to me was when Lily said: "I don't mean to be a bad person.  I just can't seem to help it.  I do all the wrong things..."
How many of us have felt this way?  I know I have.  There have been times in my life where I get overwhelmed and feel like I can't do anything right.  I get frustrated when things don't go the way I want them to or think they should.  And although it was not her immediate response, I felt what August said at the end of the chapter was a powerful reply.
"There is nothing perfect.  There is only life."

I thought this was a beautiful story of love and forgiveness - particularly forgiving yourself, which I think is sometimes harder than forgiving others.  I hope you all enjoyed this book as much as I did.  Let me know what you thought!

March - April Reading Dates

The next pick for our book club is "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd.

                                

The discussion post for "The Secret Life of Bees" will go up April 6th, so be sure to have read it by then, so you can share your thoughts :)

After that, our next read will be "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbit.

                                

We will plan to have this book finished by April 27th.

Happy reading!

"Why Men Love Bitches" by Sherry Argov

I want to start by saying I worry that some of you are hesitant to read this book because A) the title has a swear, B) it doesn't apply to you because you don't and won't have sex before marriage anyway or C) you're already married. And that's fine, but I think it's a real shame to pass this book up for those reasons. I too, will never have premarital sex, but as a friend told me "just pretend they're talking about making out instead." And really, sex isn't the only tool to getting a man and Sherry Argov addresses so many other things.  This is not a book about sex. Also, there's lots in here about keeping a relationship interesting and strong. The principles in this book are still worth learning no matter your moral or marital status.

The most important thing I gained from this book was that a woman always needs to put herself first. The way to win or keep a man is not by catering to his every wish. This is something I have struggled with in relationships. This book was a HUGE eye opener to me. Sadly, I have to admit I have been a "nice girl."

I don't have any sort of chapter-by-chapter analysis of this book like I did the last. I can say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed "Why Men Love Bitches," and I learned a lot. I have always been that girl who cancels things to wait for a call, drops everything when he wants or needs me, and exhausts all my time and energy into pleasing him. Sure - I thought that's what guys like/wanted. So yeah, this book was a huge newsflash for me. I have A LOT to work on. 

I think it is so important for girls to remember to put themselves first. Halfway through reading this book, I found myself in a situation with a guy I quite liked. He seemed to really like me too - he flirted, he texted, he walked me to my car - but I kept hearing rumors that he was already in a relationship. In the end, because of what I'd read in this book, I was able to confront the situation and let him know that I would not be treated like that. The ties were severed and I felt fine. Actually, I felt great. I didn't feel any loss because I wasn't really losing anything.  I was able to keep my self respect and avoid a lot of wasted time and needless heartache.  The key to happiness in or out of relationships is remembering that you don't need a man. You need to be strong and happy on your own. And that makes a world of difference.

It is so important to take care of yourself, mentally, physically, emotionally, financially...If you know who you are and what you expect from yourself, it is easier to know what you need in a partner.  Don't waste your time on anyone who sees you as free time, a pass time or a one time.  Stick to your guns, lay down the law and do what is best for you.  Don't compromise your happiness just because you are lonely.  Get a cat.

This book was so empowering for me and has definitely changed the way I will act around guys - and even myself.

Let me know what you thought!