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!