The "Insider's" Scoop

For the month of November, I have the pleasure of picking the next selection in book club, and it is also our 75th book. Yep, can you even imagine that? 75 books ago, was about 6 people, sitting around, talking about the book of the month. Now, it's an average of 12 people, and the discussions are lively every time. I am very happy with the group.

Back to my book selection. I have decided to do another first in our club, not only for myself, but for the club as well. In all of my selections, I have never picked a woman author. I thought, since it's book 75, why not make it something different for me, and different for the club. It's different for the club, because we as a book club, have never read a young adult novel. But what a young adult novel to pick?

Why not pick, the first ever "catagorized" young adult book. That's right readers. We are doing "The Outsiders," by S.E. Hinton for November. I do enjoy this book. It's not in my top three favorite young adult books, but definately in the top ten. You have to have the first young adult novel in your top ten favorite young adult novels. It's a must.

So, I am excited to share this book with book club. My favorite genre of books is young adult, and I am pleased to be the first one to select a young adult book. I hope everyone enjoys it. Discussion questions, and other things such as movie info are ahead, so you can read along with S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders." As always...HAPPY READING!

THE MOVIE

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUDlMBR-dQ

Take a sneak peak at the movie by going to the link for "The Time Traveler's Wife" starring Eric Banna and Rachel McAdams.

"Time" for Discussion Questions!

1. In The Time Traveler's Wife , the characters meet each other at various times during their lifetime. How does the author keep all the timelines in order and "on time"?

2. Although Henry does the time traveling, Clare is equally impacted. How does she cope with his journeys and does she ultimately accept them?

3. How does the writer introduce the reader to the concept of time travel as a realistic occurrence? Does she succeed?

4. Henry's life is disrupted on multiple levels by spontaneous time travel. How does his career as a librarian offset his tumultuous disappearances? Why does that job appeal to Henry?

5. Henry and Clare know each other for years before they fall in love as adults. How does Clare cope with the knowledge that at a young age she knows that Henry is the man she will eventually marry?

6. The Time Traveler's Wife is ultimately an enduring love story. What trials and tribulations do Henry and Clare face that are the same as or different from other "normal" relationships?

7. How does their desire for a child affect their relationship?

8. The book is told from both Henry and Clare's perspectives. What does this add to the story?

9. Do you think the ending of the novel is satisfactory?

10. Though history there have been dozens of mediums used for time travel in literature. Please cite examples and compare The Time Traveler's Wife to the ones with which you are familiar.

Have Wife (and book) Will Travel

This book seems to be an interesting read, as it surrounds a couple who loves each other very much. She has to love him, for putting up with what happens.

A different concept of a book, it does make you stop and thing what if this were happening to me. It couldn't, and is not humanly possible. But, we all know in the literary world, all things are possible.

A woman is married to a man, who can time travel back and forth though different periods of his and her lives. What would you do if you couldn't control yourself from traveling back and forth through time? Would you want to? How would you live with something like that? Many thoughts like these and more, come up while reading and trying to comprehend a book like this one.

Part romance, and part fiction, it really challenges the spirit of how much can you love someone, and what lengths will you go to hold onto that love. If you are ready to suspend disbelief, and sit back, and have a good read, this book is for you.

The book will be discussed on October 17th, 2009 @ 9:00am, at Fat Man's. Please join us. Look for book info, discussion questions, and other fun stuff up until the new book club date.

CLIVE ALIVE!

Clive Cussler's book was alive and well on September 21st, as ten of us came together to discuss "The Chase." It seemed to be a book, everyone said they might not have read, or that it was a nice break inbetween the crying books, and the not so happy. It was one last trip for the summer until you have to get out the fall coats, and put away the cargo shorts.

It was a interesting read, and it kept you going throughout. A few, they read it in a couple of days. Someone said it was the beat of a moving train. It started out slow, and then kept getting faster and faster.

It seemed to be a book that would please anyone who wanted a fun adventure book. The only thing that seemed to be negative about the book, is that he could have cut things out about the cars. If you have read the information on Clive Cussler, or read any of his books, you will know that he loves classic cars, and likes to insert the cars into the books.

It was a book that was enjoyed. Not a whole lot to discuss on it, but what was said was very positive. If you read this book, and you like it, a sequel of sorts will come out in December, and will have the same character in it.

Book club rating: ***1/2 out of *****

In just a week we will discuss Clive Cussler's book "The Chase." Here is a video with information about Clive.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2qZoY5a704

SEPTEMBER'S ADVENTURE!

The next selection and September's choice for book club is "The Chase," by Clive Cussler.

I don't recall, in our 73 books chosen so far, that we have read a real "adventure" type of a book. Mystery is thrown into Clive Cussler's books, and we have read that, but the new part is the idea of an adventure thrown in as a bonus.

Made famous by his Dirk Pitt character, Clive as written numerous books with that character in them. He's also written Numa Files books, Oregon Files, children books, and more. He is also a Doctor.

This is from the web site www.clive-cussler-books.com

Clive Cussler introduces an electrifying new hero, the tall, lean, no-nonsensedetective Isaac Bell, who, driven by his sense of justice, travels early-twentieth-century America pursuing thieves and killers . . . And sometimes criminals much worse.
April 1950: The rusting hulk of a steam locomotive rises from the deep waters of a lake. Inside all that remains of three men who died forty-four years before. But it is not the engine nor its grisly contents that interest the people watching nearby. It is what is about to come next….
1906: For two years, the western states of America have been suffering an extraordinary crime spree: a string of bank robberies by a single man who then cold-bloodedly murders any and all witnesses, and then vanishes without a trace. Fed up by the depredations of “The Butcher Bandit,” the U.S. government brings in the best man they can find – a tall, lean, no-nonsense detective named Isaac Bell who has caught thieves and killers from coast to coast. But he has never had a challenge like this one. From Arizona to Colorado to the streets of San Francisco during its calamitous earthquake and fire, he pursues what is quickly becoming clear to him is the best criminal mind he has ever encountered, and the woman who seems to hold the key to the man’s identity.
Using science, deduction and intuition, he repeatedly draws near, only to grasp at empty air, but at least he knows his pursuit is having an effect. Because his quarry is getting angry now, and has turned the chase back on him. The hunter has become the hunted. And soon, it will take all of Bell’s skills not merely to prevail…

ENJOY SEPTEMBER'S BOOK! HAPPY READING!