Book Club Blog

So I had an idea...

2009-11-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

So I was thinking - since I am so crappy at reading the books on our book club list- and hardly anyone EVER posts, that maybe we should use Book CLub blog as a place to promote books we like or that we are reading...

You may be thinking 'but sabrena, can't I just do that on my own blog?'

And the answer is 'yes'...

But I think we should post them here anywhere. (And you can just link your blog to here if you ever post something.)

After turkey day I will start...

Here is what I wanted to happen...

2009-08-01T20:52:00.001-07:00

I thought for sure that at some point at the end of their time together- he would do something different so that they could stay together in another time somewhere.

Did anyone else think that would happen?

Also, I never liked Henry. I just wish he was endearing in some way.

I'm Also Done

2009-07-31T10:19:00.001-07:00

OK so I finished this morning on my way into work. I am ready to start the palaver.

I'm done.

2009-07-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hurry and be done so we can discuss.

Henry Blows.

2009-07-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here is why:

She is way too good for him. He is a dirty alcoholic nympho. I keep trying to like him, but the more I read about him- the more annoyed I am. He is just like every other douche bag out there and the only thing interesting about him is time travel. And even that isn't that interesting. He's not doing any good- he's not helping people- in fact, if anything he is hurting people. I want him to be interested in something other than sex and drinking.

Am I the only one?

I hope for the sake of the book and for Clare that he gets better.

I've Started, Have You?

2009-07-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

I'm extremely excited about this book. Time travel/Romance is one if my favorite sub genres of science fiction. I've already started it and I'm loving every minute of it. I hope you all have started as well. I am listening to the book on CD and so far it is simply magical.

So far my favorite part was the analogy that the author uses to describe how TALL Henry's erection is the first time he hooks up with Clare. Writing at its finest. As you can see from the chart below, it was pretty tall.

July Book?

2009-06-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

Juddy said the Time Traveler's Wife? Is it so?

I saw a preview...

We are supposed to read the book and not just see the movie, right?

All the Pretty Horses.

2009-02-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

So...

Any thoughts? All I can think about is Matt Damon.

Welcome.

2009-02-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

Our newest addition to the Book Club Blog Family is Juddy.

Speaking of look-a-likes... Just pretend like JF is wearing a hat and has a half smile going the other way.

A New Book For February

2009-01-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

OK, so I guess not everyone was as jazzed as I was about reading The Choice, so I have decided to change my choice to All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. We've never read a western before so I think this is a good choice. It won the National Book Award back in 1992 which is a pretty big deal. McCarthy is considered by many to be the greatest living American author. I've read three other books by him and they have all be awesome. He was the guy who wrote No Country for Old Men and The Road.

Welcome Danny

2009-01-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

I wanted to give an official welcome to Danny, the newest member of our book club. Have any of you noticed that Danny looks just like Ethan from the all new 90210? Check it out

Not A Joke

2009-01-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

Cicely- I know you don't have a ban on Nicholas Sparks. Allison and I have a loving memory of hearing you sniffle and seeing you wipe snot on your sleeve while watching The Notebook with you and David at the Sugarhouse Movies 10.

I am serious. This is not a joke.

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

2009-01-27T08:54:00.000-08:00

Fellow Bookclubbers, its time we announced the book for February. After a few less than stellar picks, it has fallen upon my shoulders once again to find us another excellent book. I thought back to all of the books that we have read: Pride and Prejudice (teen romance), Coraline (young adult horror), The Shack (Christian Fantasy), The Christmas Box (Boring). It seems to me that besides Coraline, the only book that you all have really loved was Pride and Prejudice. So, I've decided to pick a book from the Jane Austin of our era, Nicholas Sparks. This month we will be reading The Choice. I can't wait. Here are a few words that from a review of The Choice that I picked at random, "emotional ups and downs," "choices," "beautiful love story," "car accident," "emotions," "weeping."

I can't wait.

Everyone spread the word about this awesome book so that we can increase the size of our book club.

Feb.

2009-01-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

Darth- what are we reading for February? Maybe this month we could actually discuss the book.

ps. I admit December's choice was not the best.

-Cicely

Button You Eyes

2008-12-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

A kickback to the 2nd best book we've read in Book Club. (I have fat pregnancy face right now so I tried to suck in my cheeks to look like the other mother.)

You can "button your eyes" too, by clicking here. I am so stoked we read this book Spence... great suggestion; the movie looks like it's going to be awesome. And the flash on the site is pretty cool! Check it out at www.coraline.com.

Delilah

2008-12-13T10:08:00.000-08:00

FYI: Last night I was listening to Classy 100 which is Erie's FM100 and Delilah was on. Guess what she put in her Christmas Gift Bad Giveaway...

The Shack.

I almost laughed out loud. You have to read the Christmas Box now.

The Christmas Box

2008-12-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

Ok. Sabrena and I made an executive decision and our book for December is:

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans.

You can read it in a few hours (or minutes if you are Sabrena) and seems appropriate for the holiday season.

Spence- I'm looking forward to your take on it.

ps. I'm making Dave read it too.

-Cicely

I am still waiting on the book

2008-12-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

It is taking forever. Do you want to count me out of this one?

When did Danny have such and influence?

2008-11-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

OK, so Danny saw me reading the book -- it's totally depressing... I started reading it and had to put it down because I felt like I was watching a Zoloft commercial:

"Do you feel lonely? Tired? Sad? Depressions is real. . . "

Like I said, I heard really good things about this book... I just hope it gets a little happier.

Anyway, um.... Danny saw my book "THE SHACK, by William P. Young" ... and said, "Hey, I read The Shaq Once... it was about Shaquille O'Neil." But um, seriously Darth... change the picture. It's creeping me out.

Since we're going to MCO (airport code for Orlando) in less than a week, I'm pretty sure I'll get some quality reading time.

I also told him (Danny) if he joins book club, he can pick the book... maybe we'll get our chance to read about "the shaqtus" (his words, not mine) down the road... but until then:

THE SHACK, by William P. Young (not the NBA player)

Also Cic, I think Coraline is a cool name... and so is Cora... but I think people would ask your daughter if her name was Caroline, a lot... but who cares?

Cora

2008-11-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

Ok. I don't know if this is due to my crazy obsession with finding a name for my baby, but I keep coming back to Coraline or Cora. I like the name and isn't "Cora Cain" adorable? But, for some reason I am nervous that I may wake up one morning and she may come into my room with Buttons for eyes.

Have you Guys Got the Book Yet?

2008-11-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

So just as a reminder, the book we are reading for November is: THE SHACK, by William P. Young.

Please tell your friends and servants...

And Cicely, I nominated you a long time ago to change out the photo of our new books... Maybe Spencer can teach us how to do that one thing that says "what we're reading now" and get more than one book up there?

I've never been in a book club before. And since Friday is my last day of work for while; I want to make sure my outlets are thriving. ;)

My Thoughts On Coraline

2008-11-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

Stardate 11-03-2008

First I must apologize for my absence. I need to be more vigilant at checking out our book club blog. Next let me clear up some issues (though it appears that you've already done that). Coraline was originally written as a young adult novel. That's the one that Sabrina and I read. Because of its sheer awesomeness, it was then converted into a graphic novel. I'm sure they turned up the creepiness for the Graphic Novel. I would love to read the graphic novel. The next media medium on the list for Coraline is a stop action claymation movie. I think the same people who did Nightmare Before Christmas and such are also doing Coraline. I also read that they are making it into a musical/play. Lets hope it makes it way to Shakespeare Festival in a few years.

This was my first time reading Coraline. I can't wait until Owen and Eli are old enough for me to read it to them. I thought the story was great and I loved the drawings that accompanied each chapter. I thought the story did an excellent job of playing on very deep fears that children have. The foremost of course are having our parents stolen from us and being kidnapped. Pretty freaky stuff for children to deal with. I once had a dream when I was probably 15 years old where President Hinckly told me that I had had enough time to live my my parents and that he had to take them away from me and that it was time for me to go to different parents. I remember waking up in tears. Yeah, I'm awesome.

I loved how brave Coraline was. Though she was terrified, she still saved her parents and the other kids that the Other Mother had stolen.

I still can't figure out the symbolism with the button eyes. Maybe its not supposed to be symbolic, just freaky. Any thoughts?

The Other Mother was referred to as "the Beldam." I looked up Beldam online. Here is the definition:
1. An old woman, especially one who is considered ugly.

Yay for me for picking this awesome book. Where do we go from here? Is there any more discussion involved?

Check this out. Its a short clip from the movie.

November's Book: THE SHACK, by William P. Young

2008-11-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

It's all in the title of the post... until Spence responds back to start the discussion on Coraline... we'll be reading "The Shack, by William P Young" (at least that's the book for November) and here's why.

It was a recommend by two people I adore:

#1 This amazing gay guy that I work with that wanted to be a minister like 30 years ago and went to theology school.. until he realized it (being a Christian Minister) was going to be a hard-sell with his sexual preference ... he's currently exploring Buddhism. He also worked in radio and owns property in Hawaii.

#2 One of my best friends from Indiana Wesleyan University (a private protestant school)... she's an evangelical "born again" ... but was singing it's praises. She also told me the other day that in no uncertain terms "I don't think you're going to hell for being a mormon" so she can be trusted." ;)

Also, it's a NYT Best Seller... not that that means anything, but I thought it would be worth checking out.

So read on, my friends....

PS. My Dad said Coraline was too creepy for my mom to read... I said it's a good read for October, so maybe next year Mama Suite will check it out. Cic, Dad said it's got the same feeling as "Nightmare before Christmas," which Mom didn;t like, but apparently you love...

Holy Crap.

2008-11-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

I just did a search for Coraline on the web to find a new pic per Sabrena's request and there is a book called Coraline, written by Neil G. only it is a book. Not a comic book! I'm mad. Stupid Erie County Library system. So- you guys read the book, not the "graphic novel" right? So- does that mean that all my questions were answered in the reading of the story? I'm pissed.

Creeps and a Half

2008-11-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

Alright. First of all, why didn't I know that "graphic novel" meant comic book? I grabbed it at the library and didn't look through it until I got in car. I was shocked. Especially when I saw crazy button eyes lady.

Now, maybe it's because I have never read a comic book before, but didn't the story seem to take random turns? I wanted there to be an explanation for the crazy sisters submerged in slime on the wall or the reason that Caroline could pass through the closet that held the spirits, but they couldn't or what was up with the rats. I don't know. How did Coraline know that she could find the souls of all the captured people? How did she know that they were going to be something tangible?

Is this just due to the comic book style that I'm not used to? Or was this book lame?

Oh, and Spence- did you read it before book club blog? And did you say that my father owns it?

Coraline the Strange

2008-10-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it appears that the three of us actually reading this book have completed it... if not "SPOILER ALERT" ... go find the book, give yourself an hour and 1/2 or so, and then join in the conversation.

****

I thought this book had mixtures of Alice in Wonderland, Emily the Strange, Chronicles of Narnia (Lion, Witch & Wardrobe), Where the Wild Things Are and something Alford Hitchcock would've put together for a 7th grade creative writing class... although I think there was some nice alliteration, as well as some great phrasing…

There’s a part in the book, can’t remember what page (I’ll look it up and get back to you) that talked about the emptiness of the “mist” … Danny and I went into Hot Topic the other night and I have to say, I think a lot of the inspiration for this book could’ve come from the feeling I get when I walk into that store…

So before I delve in and spill all my juicy insights here… I welcome your comments. Let the Book Club discussion officially begin:

(I told you I’d finish it by the end of the month…)

And good pick for Halloween Spence.

-ssm

Whats the deal?

2008-10-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Why haven't you two read it yet? I'm dying to talk about it, but I don't want to spoil anything. Hurry!

Try Again

2008-09-30T05:23:00.000-07:00

Ok everyone! There has been a request to start Book Club again. This month we are reading:

Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

Thanks to the reccommendation by Darth Spencer.

I'm quite excited to get this going again.

BOOK CLUB ANYONE?!?!?

2008-09-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

Cicely (and everyone else who has not written in this blog for ages);

Um, what book are we reading now? Spence said he was still working on the Vampire books... so um, are we going to revitalize this thing or what?

And we even had someone ask to join our book club (of course you can join). But if we NEVER spend time here then how are we even going to have a book club.

Right now I am reading "what to Expect" and "Touchpoints 1-3" but I am dying for a book that's a page turner that I can't put down and can easily be completed in a few flights (I used to be able to sleep on planes. Not so much any more).

So what's the deal, who's with me?!?!?!

What's our next book?

P&P was and is always fabulous... but it's been a few months so if you haven't finished Lizzie and William Fitzpatrick's big story, you might want to look into renting the movie (or movies. I prefer the extended 7 hour BBC version to Kiera Knightly's (sp?) bit... but it was still good.)

Love -

Mother of Holden

Juicy.

2008-04-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

So, I just read the part in Chapter Five where Lizzy promises her company never to dance with Mr. Darcy! Oh! I love this book!

I find it so interesting that just after Lizzy makes that promise Charlotte chimes in with this- "His pride does not offend me as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it." And that excuse is that he is rich. In those days, where marrying for money rather than love was not only accepted but encouraged, is it okay to agree with Charlotte? Is it okay to agree with her now or have times changed our view of what's important?

I, for example, am proud of my husband and my son. I have heard recently that to be proud is sinful, but I think of my pride for my family as a part of my love for them. I don't feel bad about it.

Any thoughts?

-Cicely the sinner

P.s. I also love Mary's quote about the subject at the end of the chapter. She says pride is a form of vanity, but I think that Mary secretly thinks higher of herself than those around her.

Who are you?

2008-04-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Take the quiz and report back.

Take the Quiz here!

I'm happy to be Elizabeth Bennet. In fact, I do remember in high school everyone thinking that David didn't like them because he was not very soical, but turns out he's the nicest guy ever. Sounds like another certain gentlemen we all know and love.

I'm totally Elizabeth Bennet.

-Cicely

What's Next?

2008-04-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

While I'm thinking about it- does anyone have any suggestions for our next read?

Momma Suite has suggested we read Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama.

I am also thinking about Kite Runner.

Or maybe something a little more upbeat? Anyone have any suggestions. Oh, and you can't suggest Ramona Quimby: Age 8, because I just read it before A Quick Bite. :)

Pride and Prejudice

2008-04-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ok team! While we are waiting for Spencer to finish A Quick Bite- I see no reason why we can't start Pride and Prejudice (especially since he won't be reading it with us).

So grab the best novel in the world and lets get ready to get romantic! If you have any thoughts or feelings along the way please feel free to post them.

Finished

2008-04-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

I am finished with A quick bite. Does anyone need more time? Or are we ready to discuss?

Ok. I've figured it out.

2008-04-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

I think I figured out why I don't like Lissiana- she's immature. I just can't believe that she is really a vampire and really two hundred years old. She is still 23 to me.

When something happens I want her to be all calm and cool (like some other handsome vamp we all know) and have things thought out but she is running about like a teenager who is afraid of her Mom. You'd think at 200 she'd be capable of making a good decision.

I can't wait to finish so I can talk more about it...

Lissiana- how do you feel?

2008-04-17T08:24:00.001-07:00

Maybe it is just because I am going to read Pride and Prejudice next, but I want Lissiana to be more likable- a better heroine. She gives me nothing. I don't find her interesting and I can't imagine her facial expressions or movements- I really hate that.

Is this due to the author? Or is this character just not as interesting as I want her to be.

Cass- what do you think? Do you identify with any of the characters in this book or anyone of Sands' other books?

Also, I posted a poll- so vote one way or another.

-Cicely

Cassandra Says:

2008-04-16T16:08:00.001-07:00

Well I actually suggested this book for Cicely to read because I was reading the series and found the #3 book "Awesome and Sexy". I hadn't read it yet and it ended up being #7 likable out of the 8 I have read so far. Sorry Cicely. You would really like Rachel and Ettinne okay maybe not but Celeste would.
I just found out our home didn't sell and so now I just want to drown my sorrows in vat of vanilla ice cream. wish I could write something happy but such is life. I feel now like I am one of the stories on NPR...this just in. thinking her life was fine and bills would be getting paid Cassandra Suite-Smith and her husband Wade decided to take a year off and head to Cincinnati for some extra training. Little did they know that there "homes" would be rented HAHAHA. And their "big Ship" would be coming in, in June. "well its really been stressful, I have been getting movies at the library and only going to free days at the museums and things around town. We switched cars because its $95 to fill up the BIG HUGE SUV we had to buy when Times Were Good. I feel really let down. And Wade is a giant ball of stress. I hope this recession doesn't turn into a depression. I dont think I could stand in the bread lines".
On a lighter or fatter note I think I will just go grab a pint of Graters. (a cincy institution)

A Quick Bite

2008-04-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Our first book is A Quick Bite, by Lynsay Sands.

I'm about half way done. It is my very first romance novel, but I am sort of surprised that Twilight seemed much more romantic than this book is. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, but it's not my favorite. I just don't identify with any of the characters.

The she-vamp and main character of the book is Lissiana. She does nothing for me. I'm just not sure she is interesting. And Greg- her sexy therapist seems like an actor to me and not a real person. I feel sort of like I'm watching a bad movie when I read it.

Also, I can stop reading it whenever I want. I love books that I can't put down. I don't even mind stopping mid-chapter.

I would love to hear some thoughts or comments...

Book Club Begins!

2008-04-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I have decided to start a book club using the blogging world. I am not going to be around much longer, so I have devised a plan to hold an ongoing book club meeting. If you would like to be a part of this- please leave a comment and I will add you to the list of blog authors.

Our first book is: A Quick Bite written by Lynsay Sands. If this doesn't interest you- don't worry. You can get a head start on our next book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (as if you didn't know).