January's Choice 2009 -NEW BOOK FOR NEW YEAR

Was your New Year's resolution to read more? How about joining a book club? How about eating more breakfast? If any one of the resolutions would do for you, then come join our gang for reading & breakfast.

It's a new year, and a new book. For the month of January, we will be discussing "Chosen by a Horse," by Susan Richards.

A synopsis from barnesandnoble.com reads:

"The horse Susan Richards chose for rescue wouldn’t be corralled into her waiting trailer. Instead Lay Me Down, a former racehorse with a foal close on her heels, walked right up that ramp and into Susan’s life. This gentle creature—malnourished, plagued by pneumonia and an eye infection—had endured a rough road, but somehow her heart was still open and generous. It seemed fated that she would come into Susan’s paddock and teach her how to embrace the joys of life despite the dangers of living."

"An elegant and often heartbreaking tale filled with animal characters as complicated and lively as their human counterparts, this is an inspiring story of courage and hope and the ways in which all love—even an animal’s—has the power to heal."

This is a book for animal lovers, lovers of the human spirit, and readers all together. Enjoy January's selection. It's a new year, a new book! Happy Reading!

MEETING DATE: January 17th, 2009 Fat Man's 9:00am

Richard Paul Evans Christmas Collection Thoughts

The club met on Saturday, December 20th at Fat Man's to discuss the "Richard Paul Evans" Christmas collection. The collection included "The Christmas Box," "The Gift," & "Finding Noel." All popular titles in amongst Evan's works. It seems no matter he writes, it speaks to all kinds of people, in all different ways. With catching quotes at the beginings and throughout the book, Evan's makes it feel like the "Where's Waldo" of quote hunting. But, it makes it for a feel good read, something some people like around the holidays.


Ruth, the person who picked December's book, asked us to read one, two, or all three of the "Christmas Collection." After we read it, we were supposed to write down a quotes that stuck out to us, and memories that the book struck up for us. Like good little readers that we are, we all did so, and it made the discussion more interesting. Going around the table, and hearing what memories it brought up, and what quotes people liked, made you think "Oh, I liked that one too." Sometimes, we picked the same one that others had picked.

As a whole, I think that people liked "Finding Noel" the most, followed by "The Gift" and then "The Christmas Box." They were all good reads, but some struck people as a better read than others. People liked the books for there feel good potential. They were just easy reads for the holidays, and it seems that that is what everyone wants to read while it's a semi-busy time of year such as Christmas and New Years. Most of them got through all of the selections, but some did not get to read all of them, and said they will go back and read what they missed.

If you are looking for a feel good read for the holidays, or in general, any of these or other selections for Richard Paul Evans would suffice. I would say the ratings for the books would be as follow:

CHRISTMAS BOX *** out of *****
GIFT **** out of *****
NOEL ***** out of *****
(based on the three of what we read)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Check to see what the next selection is. It's coming soon...

Coming up 12-20-2008

Get your questions, your ideas, and thoughts ready. Book club is this Saturday, December 20th! Last book club of 2008.

DECEMBER'S CHOICES

In celebration of the CHRISTMAS season, yes...I said it...CHRISTMAS!!! The person who picked next decided to pick three of Richard Paul Evans Christmas books for December. In an interesting twist again, as she has in the past, we are reading one, two, or all three of the books for December. We then are to write down a meaningful quote from what books we read, and a story that might reflect what we are feeling after reading it.

“Whatever the reason, I find that with each passing Christmas the story of the Christmas Box is told less and needed more. So I record it now for all future generations to accept or dismiss as seems them good. As for me, I believe. And it is, after all, my story.” (richardpaulevans.com)

“The Bible says that God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. My story is about one of God’s weak things. His name is Collin, a frail, beautiful little boy with a very special gift.” -The Gift (richardpaulevans.com)

“There are stories, Christmas stories that are stored away like boxes of garlands and frosted glass ornaments, to be brought out and cherished each year. I’ve come to believe that my story is a Christmas story. For it has forever changed the way I see Christmas.” (ricahrdpaulevans.com)

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So all the members, and whoever wants to read with us, these are the three books that you should focus on. Pick one up. More stuff to come...HAPPY READING!

Philp Gulley Field Trip

In our very first field trip, book club went to Punxsutawney. No, not to see the groundhog, but to trek to the Presbyterian Church. In case some of you missed the picture, this is us with Philip Gulley. He gave a very nice, and funny talk about his book series "Home to Harmony."

He is a master storyteller, and is wonderful at what he does. We wish that more members could have came, but that's ok. The four of us had a good time with one another. It was a nice Sunday April evening with a good author, good friends, and listening to what we book clubbers love the most...books!

Thanks to CC for organizing the trip. We hope to have more in the future. In the words of the great Willie Nelson, "...I can't wait to get on the road again."

The trip was April 20th, 2008. SB, KR, MB, & CC

THOUGHTS ON THE TREE

This past Saturday, November 15th, we discussed "Family Tree" by Delinsky.
The consensus was that it was an enjoyable, and thought provoking book. The book isn't just about race, or skin color, but also about trust, and your history, and events surrounding one another.

In an interesting discussion brought on by a member, it was asked our personal stories of contact with interracial relationships, or family lineage. It brought a wonderful discussion by our members as to how we are affected by race in our personal lives.

I got from the members that it was a book worth reading. We welcomed a hopefully new member to our book club, and we weclomed one back as well, which we are happy to see return. You know who you are, if you read this, or if anyone reads this. We are happy to see you out and about, strong, and still full of life. It will be hard, but we know you will be better as time passes. =)

Anyway, overall, I think it was about a ***1/2 star book. It's reccomded that you go out and read it.

Coming up: Book club's first field trip, and December's "choices"

NOVEMBERS BOOK CHOICE

The book club choice for November is "Family Tree" by Barbara Delinsky. This is Mrs. Bechtel's choice. She has said that she looked extensively into what book she wanted to pick for us to read. For you Non-Fiction lovers, the book could have been "Mayflower" but it was more or less deemed to dry for November. Ok, so it might not be that dry, but it was in depth, and was thought that it might not be the right book at the moment.

Wanting a ~Thanksgiving Feel~ for November, it mentions on the book blurb, that someone's family members come over on the Mayflower, and the book is about families, which Thanksgiving is a family time.

A woman gives birth to a child, and then people, herself included, start questioning the babies features. She is a white, MARRIED woman, but the baby's features are African American. Her husband questions her actions, as to whether or not she had an affair. She denies it, but is she hiding something?

Grab a copy of "Family Tree" by Barbara Delinsky, and join us for what will seem to be a lively discussion on trust, families, and knowledge of a person.

The next book club will take place on November 15th, 2008...9:00am...Fat Man's.

Book discussion questions, and other posts to come. Happy Reading!

THOUGHTS ON BIFF

As I was fretting on whether or not it was a good idea to pick "Lamb" by Christopher Moore, I believe the general consensis is that it was liked.

Telling the story of Biff, Christ's childhood pal, is a daunting task Moore takes on. Her does it with get research and readings into the Bible. The one general thing that people said they could live without, myself included, was the language. It would make a surperior book, just TONE DOWN THE LANGUAGE. My only thought as to why the swearing was added, was that his following are used to the language that he uses in his other books. It was also mentioned that teenagers speak that way.

It was down the middle whether or not people cared what happened in the missing years. Some were curious, and others never really thought about it. Moore tells an interesting tale as to what MIGHT have happened in those missing years. To me, it was an interesting thoughts as to his view on the missing years. The beauty of the book is, it is FICTION. No one will ever truly know what happened in those years.

I had a few GREAT supporters. They seemed very interested, and glad that they had read it. One person was a real advocate for me (CC). She was very happy to have read it. Other members were fine with the story.

It was the first time that the book club has touched on religion. Who knows if we will go back to that topic. They say the two things that you are not supposed to talk about are politics, and religion. Ok...so who is going to be the one to pick something political. I picked something religious.

Another notch in my book belt. Hoped everyone enjoyed "Lamb." On with the next book choice for November.

OCTOBER'S BOOK CHOICE

LAMB: The gospel according to Biff, Christ's childhood pal by Christopher Moore

In order to lighten the mood of the last two books which were "Manic" and "A Map of the World," I have decided to pick something that is humorous. I have read about a hundred pages into it, and I think it's very funny. You have to put aside the fact that it deals with religion in a humorous way. I believe that if God didn't want humor, he wouldn't have created it. It's a fun and funny look on the gospel, religion, and life of God through the eyes of his "best friend" Biff. It is also educational, giving facts from the Bible that we already know.

I hope you enjoy reading this book. The next book club is October 18th, 9:00 am, Fat Man's. Keep watch for posts about the current selection.

Thoughts on MAP

The Breakfast Club discussed the book "A Map Of The World" on September 20th, 2008 at Fat Man's.

The general agreement was that the book was a good pick all in all. At times, not so much a happy book. It sparked up good conversations. One idea was what kind of a person the mother was who was supposed to be watching her best friend's children, didn't pay attention to them, and let the child drown.

Another topic was the idea of how a small group of people, clics if you will, can be so terrible, and not the ideal thing that makes things better. Like people gossiping and spreading runors about the mother, who is a nurse, doing wrong by others children in the school. It's sad that these clics do exisit, and the discussion said that they are all over.

Attitudes about the mother were questioned. Attitudes about before the accident, after, in jail, and in general.

Two members really liked the book, and said it was a good character piece.

My opinion is that it was a good book. It was difficult reading it, because I kind of kept thinking, "this could and more than does likely happen somewhere, at somepoint."

CLUB RATING: *** out of *****

Map of The World Discussion Questions

We get very little objective sense of the characters in A Map of the World in relation to each other and their environment; their accounts are extremely subjective and heavily tinged with emotion. How do you respond to this interiority?

1)How well do you feel you know Alice? Howard? Theresa? Does Alice come across the same way through Howard's eyes as she does through her own? How consistent is your impression of Howard?

2)Do you trust Alice and Howard's versions of the events of the novel? What do you imagine they seem like to the people around them?

3)What is the function of Howard's narration? Does his perspective change your feelings about Alice and what happens to her? Is it clear why he doubts her?

4)What do we learn about Alice from her interaction with the other prisoners? What does she learn about herself?

5)At the point of the novel when Alice is arrested, she is still completely overwhelmed and incapacitated by Lizzy's death and her role in it. How do the accusations against Alice and her time in prison change her and help her to deal with what happened to Lizzy?

6)Do you feel as though things are resolved at the end of the novel?

7)Which character in the novel do you respond to the most?

8)Compare the characters of Aunt Sid in The Book of Ruth and Aunt Kate in A Map of the World. Do they serve the same function for Ruth and Alice?

Map of the World Movie

CURRENT BOOK SELECTION-SEPT 2008

Map of the World is our current book selection. Please read this book, and if you would like comments to be sent to the book club, please comment by September 17th.

My thoughts, and possible our members thoughts to come.

Welcome to our book club page

First of all, I want to welcome everyone to the page. It's not that spectacular yet, but with a few adjusments, and a little bit of learning, I am hoping to get there. First off, this is a welcome. A welcome to our current book club members. Without the support of everyone, the book club wouldn't take place.

Also, this is a welcome for other people who may stumble upon the blog, and might want to read some of the things that we have read. Even see how things go. They can become a virtual member of our book club. They can see what we are reading, read the book, and then comment. It is encouraged. If you would like to do so...by all means PLEASE DO! I can take the comments to book club, and share with the members at the meeting.

The blog will be thoughts on the current book, and hopefully if our members want to participate, write something about their favorite books, the books we HAVE read, or whatever is on their mind. I will be posting what the club has said, as an insight to the site. Also, my thoughts on different books, the current club selection, and other fun stuff.

I hope you enjoy the web site/blog. Keep reading, and don't be afraid to comment. We like comments for our books!