July Meeting

We held our meeting at Healey's again, and Hanaleigh served delicious cookies and punch.  We sure appreciate her letting us meet there!

We had a fun discussion of The Princess Bride.  It's such a silly, funny book and was a nice change from some of the more serious books we've read.  And we were really glad to have Ruth back with us, looking much better and steadier.  She even walked to the meeting and back home.

Some books that were reported on were:
Traitor by Sandra Grey
Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino 
The Journal of Curious Letters (Book One of The 13th Reality Series) by James Dashner
Kite Runner
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter


Coming up:

Our book for August is Believing Christ

                                        For September it's Ender's Game

For October it's Christy.

Find those books at half.com or thriftbooks.com.  I can order a bunch for people if you want me to, but it's easier for me if you get your own.

Report of June Meeting

Hi Friends and Fellow Book-lovers!


We had a good meeting on Thursday night.  Hanaleigh was very gracious to let us enjoy her home, and even fed us home-made pastries.  Yum!


We discussed the book, Murder on a Girls' Night Out.  We agreed that it was fun to read and had some really enjoyable writing.  Some of the other books that were reported on were:

The Richest Man in Babylon

The Wishing Garden - Stansfield

Oldsoul

Princess of the Midnight Ball

The Hourglass Door

Left to Tell

Dragon's Bones

Mercy Thompson series

Stay Alive, My Son

Hearts Through Time

Nevermore

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

We also talked about planning farther ahead on our books and trying to decide how to do the ordering, if we continue to buy them from Thriftbooks rather than using the library book sets.  As I explained at the meeting, we can only get 6 books from the library in the bookclub sets, but there are 11 or 12 people who like to read what we're reading.  So there's a lot of passing around of books, and I have to try to keep track of who has them and try to gather them all up to turn in together.  It's been a little frustrating for me.


That's why I'm liking Thriftbooks, because the books are only $3.95 (unless we order a bunch from the same place, in which we get a discount of 50¢ per book.)


All of this is leading up to asking you if you want me to continue ordering books in a bunch and have you pay me for them, or if I should just buy them for those who specifically ask me to order them, and let the rest of you order your own if you want one.  If you have a preference, please email me or the group 16thwardbookclub@googlegroups.com or leave a comment on this post.


Here are some books we discussed reading next.  I'm suggesting we start with Believing Christ by Stephen Robinson for August.  Here are other books we decided should be in our queue:

• Christy by Katherine Marshall

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
• #1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Oh, I almost forgot, our book for July is The Princess Bride.  If you didn't get one yet, let me know.  I have a few left.  They cost me $3.50 each (OK, $3.45), but if you'd rather, you're welcome to share one, or borrow one from someone else.


Sorry that I went on and on.  And on.
Love you all.   Anne

May Meeting 2012

We were sad to miss several of our members at our May meeting, but we forced ourselves to have an enjoyable meeting anyway.  We all enjoyed Okay For Now a lot, and had a wonderful discussion of it.  The discussion included thoughts about abuse and how it affects people and about judging people when you don't know what in their life made them that way.

Some books that were reported on were these:

• This Dark Endeavor - Kenneth Oppel
• The Secret Journal of Brett Colton - Kay Lynn Magnum
• Here Lies the Librarian - Richard Peck
• The Teacher's Funeral - Richard Peck
• The Diplomat's Wife - Pam Jenoff
• The Alliance - Gerald Lund
• The Freedom Factor - Gerald Lund
• The Alloy of Law - Sanderson
• Eddie Fantastic - Heimerdinger
• Courage Covenant - Yorgason
• Stay Alive, My Son - Pin Yathay
• The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - Amy Chua - Demi told me about this one that her bookclub is reading.  Here's a blurb from Goodreads:  An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one mother's exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards-and the costs-of raising her children the Chinese way. 
• I Don't Have to Make Everything All Better - Gary and Joy Lundberg   This is the book Vi was telling us about.  Here's a blurb from Goodreads:  The Lundbergs address an all too common dilemma that arises when others expect you to solve their problems for them, showing readers how they can shed the no-win role of "fixer" and empower people to solve their own problems through validation--a simple yet profound communication tool that is essential to any healthy relationship. Refreshingly straightforward, this inspiring and entertaining work is poised to become a classic guide for anyone who wishes to improve relationships with their partner, children, colleagues and friends.
 

I've wondered if we might want to get this last one for our next bookclub selection.  What do you think?

 

April 2012 Meeting

Our bookclub selection was Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo.  We had a lively discussion and then talked about the books people had been reading.  Here's a list.  Please notice that the books contain links to Goodreads where you can read about them.
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum
Playing for Pizza by John GrishamDonuthead by Sue Stauffacher
Vanished Smile by R.A. Scotti
The Power of Less by Leo Babuata
Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs
Scott Westerfield's Midnighter's Series, which includes

1. The Secret Hour
2. Touching Darkness
3. Blue Noon

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
The Pearl Wars by James Nick
Darke by Angie Sage
The Evolution of Thomas Hall by Kieth Merrill
The Bishop's Bride by Elizabeth W. Watkins
West of Eden by Harry Harrison
Murder Runs In The Family, by Anne George
Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello
The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello

Reported previously:
Stones in Water
The Confession
My Life in Dog Years
The Absolute Value of Mike

Who Are Your Favorite Authors?

Misty brought up an interesting question at our last book club meeting.  A friend had asked her to list her five favorite books.

That might be a fun exercise for all of us.  I tried, but it's so hard cut cut it down.  It's like trying to list my five favorite friends!   I am afraid I can't even narrow down my favorite authors to five!  So, would anyone like to comment on either their favorite books, or favorite authors?   Shall we make it ten?

My Books (in no particular order)

1. Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
2. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
3. A Sudden Wild Magic by Diana Wynne Jones
4. The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck
5. Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt
6. Michael O'Halloran by Gene Stratton-Porter
7. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
8. Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate
9. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Annie Barrows
10. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

My Authors:

1. Orson Scott Card
2. Diana Wynne Jones
3. Lisa Wingate
4. Joan Bauer
5. Cynthia Voigt
6. Zilpha Keatley Snyder
7. Richard Peck
8. Gene Stratton-Porter
9. Robin McKinley
10. Katherine Paterson

Now it's your turn!

"Marching" to Good Books

We had a wonderful meeting last night.  It's always fun to get together and hear everyone's ideas and opinions.  And to hear the latest stories from Alicia's childhood.  Maybe if we can't get her to write a book about her life, we'll start taking notes of her stories and publish an unauthorized version.

Everyone had a great time discussing The Wednesday Wars.  We agreed that it was a really fun book, and Ronda read us a few of her favorite passages and we all enjoyed the imagery that the author portrayed in his use of language.  The book was just so much fun!

Then we each had a turn to talk about what we'd read in the past month.  Here's a list of the books:

The Message - Richardson

The Hunger Games - Collins

My Life in Dog Years - Poulsen

Charlie Brown Comics - Schulz

The Confession - Grisham

Alpha and Omega Series - Briggs

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - Grahame-Smith

Magic Hour - Hannah (I have a Reader's Digest clean version of this, if anyone is interested.  There's not that much in the original that's objectionable, but there is one scene.)

Heist Society - Carter

Foxfire Bride - Osborne

Two From Galilee, a Love Story of Mary and Joseph - Holmes

The Evolution of Thomas Hall - Merrill

Some good books are listed here, so click through on some of them and check them out.  Or go to the library and check them out.  I'm so witty today!

Rats! Rats! Rats!

I accidentally deleted all my posts! 

Here's what I just typed, which was a list of the books we discussed at our February meeting.  I'm leaving out some of the details because I'm frustrated.  Sorry, I shouldn't take it out on you.

I'm only listing the books and some of the authors, if I can find them.  No links this time.

• Wrongly Accused - Hunter
• The Eye of the World - Jordan
• Being in Balance - Dyer
• Moloka'i - Brennert
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
• Assassin - Myers
• Books by Gary Poulsen
• Iron King, Iron Daughter, Iron Knight
• Emeralds & Espionage - Gardner

Don't forget our meeting Thursday night at 7:30