Goodreads

I recently joined up at goodreads.com mostly to keep track of books I’d like to read.  I could try to update the list of books I’ve read, but that would take a while.  Maybe I’ll just update as I read.  Anyway, they sent this email of 2007’s top 10 most-read fiction and non-fiction books of the people who use goodreads.  These seemed like lists worth keeping, and sharing. 

Goodreads 2007 most-read fiction books
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Kite Runner
A Thousand Splendid Suns
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Catcher in the Rye
Middlesex
The Da Vinci Code
Water for Elephants
The Great Gatsby

Goodreads 2007 most-read nonfiction books
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
Me Talk Pretty One Day
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Running with Scissors: A Memoir
Freakonomics Rev Ed: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Into the Wild
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
The Omnivore’s Dilemma
The Year of Magical Thinking

Don’t forget, this Tuesday!

Bookclub will meet at Heather’s house this coming Tuesday the 8th at 7:30pm. We are reading The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. The library has plenty of copies, it’s a
quick read once you get into it and the movie with William Hurt, Geena Davis and Kathleen Turner was well done so you have plenty of time to get at least the gist of the story before Tuesday.  (this post taken from Heather’s email)

Christmas present ideas

In the past month I’ve started various books, too many, more than I will finish any time soon.  But one that I’m halfway through and enjoying is Madeleine L’Engle’s memoir Bright Evening Star.  Its nice because it combines discussing Jesus’ advent with her own story of coming to faith in Jesus.  She definitely had an unorthodox childhood.  Its amazing how God will use different upbringings in shaping us to become who we will be.  I think this year I’d like to read more autobiographies and biographies.  (any suggestions?)  I just love reading the stories of other’s lives.

As Christmas is so soon, I’d thought I’d remind you what books we’ll be reading in bookclub over the next year so you can ask for them for Christmas gifts or be watching for them at McKay’s. 

2008
January- The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler at Heather’s house
February- Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry at Karen’s house.
March- The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards at Laini’s House.
April- Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis at Melissa’s house.
May- Jane Eyre by by Charlotte Bronte at Heather’s house.
June- Saving Grace by Lee Smith (host TBA)
August- The Son of Laughter by Frederick Buechner at Michelle’s house.
September- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See at Sara’s house.
October- The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman at Betsy’s house.

 I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and in the midst of the busyness of the season that you get some quiet moments to snuggle up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea.

Book Club Dinner Party

Tomorrow night we’ll have our yearly book club dinner party at Karen’s house.  It’s at 7:00 and we’ll be discussing The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander Mccall Smith.  Our dinner is usually the time when we try to invite new people to come and join us.  So if you’ve thought about wanting to be a part of our book club please let me know and you’re welcome to come! 

CheapestBookPrice.com

I found this site, cheapestbookprice.com , from my friend Erin’s blog.  It looks like a really good resource for finding cheap books online.  I’ve seen bookfinder.com but I don’t think they search amazon or half.com, or at least it didn’t find as cheap of a copy of The House on Mango Street, as cheapestbookprice.com did.  (The House on Mango Street is this month’s book, get reading!)  So next time you need a book, check out cheapestbookprice.com.  (I added it to the links on the right under “find a book”)

Madeleine L’Engle

One of my favorite authors passed away this week.  Makes me want to get reading some of her books that I own but haven’t read yet.  As the article mentions, her most famous book was A Wrinkle in Time.  I haven’t read it for years now, but want to read it again with my kids someday.  Madeleine L’Engle has a way of writing that simply captivates me.  She always makes me feel like I’m settling into something cozy and yet not fluffy.  Her writing makes you think and she draws you in and will challenge you.  She is a Christian, yet doesn’t necessarily write Christian books.  But her books definitely will encourage you spiritually.  She has a unique perspective that is refreshing.  I love her Crosswicks Journals and want to read her Austin Family books that I’ve always heard about but never have read.  I haven’t read as many of her books as I’d like to.  And maybe haven’t realized how much I really like her writing until writing this post.  Do you have a favorite L’Engle book?  Leave a comment and tell me about it. 

My book ideas

When getting ready to pick books for our last book club meeting I made a list of books I want to read, possibly in book club or just on my own.  Some of the books were ones I pulled off of my shelf.  I didn’t realize I had so many books in my to read pile.  I don’t want to lose track of them, so I’ll list them here.  I looked up summaries or mini reviews on Amazon for some of them.  Warning, its a long list.  Let me know if you’d recommend any of them.

The Bondwoman’s Narrative

Book Review written by Karen J. 2003. 

The Bondwoman’s Narrative is an intriguing and gripping autobiographical account about a young slave woman’s tumultuous path to freedom in the 1850’s.  It is the only novel known to have been written by an African American female slave, and it may be the oldest novel ever to be written by a black woman.  The story is told in a fictional manner but it is most likely based on the author’s personal experiences.  The writer’s name is Hannah Crafts and her manuscripts have only recently been discovered, authenticated, and published by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.(2002).  The novel itself has been edited in such a way so Hannah’s original words, spelling, and punctuation can be seen, yet the text remains very readable.

Hannah was a young bi-racial house slave. Sympathetic neighbors from the North greatly influenced her in her early years; she was secretly taught many things which shaped her into a trustworthy, loyal, God-fearing woman.  Her character was one of inner and outer strength.  She was humble yet brave.  Her escape from slavery was made only when she could see no other way to continue living in her present situation.  Hannah’s road to freedom was a long one, with many obstacles along the way: slave traders, illness, captivity, and betrayal, not to mention fear and emotional turmoil.  She met more foe than friend.  Yet Hannah courageously moved forward in search of a new and better life, always keeping her eyes and heart fixed on her Savior.

The Bondwoman’s narrative is unique in that it gives the reader a first hand look at the physical and emotional trials of slavery.  Hannah Crafts gave a roving account of events, people, and places, and mostly omitted emotion and sentiment.  The reader, however, can not possibly read this novel without feeling and contemplating the injustice of a society which allows the institution of slavery to exist.  Emotions undoubtedly will be triggered.  It is a must read!

Good books to come

Thanks for hosting and leading our discussion on Tuesday Betsy.  It was interesting discussing our first non-fiction book.  I wish I had gotten to read the whole thing, but alas Harry Potter won out. (I read book 7 this month)

It was so great to have everyone bring book ideas.  I think we’ve picked some really good ones and am looking forward to diving into these.  I was at McKay’s last night and found some of them.  There are 10 or more copies of The House on  Mango Street for $3.25 there, or you could always check it out at the library. 

I didn’t write down a host for Saving Grace in June, did someone volunteer for that?  If not, we can pick a place down the road.  Just don’t want to leave anyone out. 

2007
October- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros at Gwen’s house. 
November- The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander Mccall Smith at Karen’s house with Dinner!
December- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster at Sara’s house.

2008
January- The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler at Heather’s house
February- Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry at Karen’s house.
March- The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards at Laini’s House.
April- Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis at Melissa’s house.
May- Jane Eyre by by Charlotte Bronte at Heather’s house.
June- Saving Grace by Lee Smith (host TBA)
August- The Son of Laughter by Frederick Buechner at Michelle’s house.
September- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See at Sara’s house.
October- The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman at Betsy’s house.

 And here are book suggestions that we didn’t pick to read this time around:

Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper
Feeling for Bones by Bethany Pierce
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
Jewel by Bret Lott

New Bookclub Blog

This book blog is a place to chat about books together as a book club.  We’ve met since June 2003 and have read many good and, ah, shall I say “challenging” books along the way (BetsyM., I know that you’re shouting out, “yeah like that horrible book A Confederacy of Dunces!”).  I hope this blog can help us remember good books we’ve read in the past and find some great books for future good discussions.  The entries can be anything bookish.  And I’m hoping that all of us will want to post reviews of books we’ve read and suggestions of books to read as a book club.  (just ask me how to post)  I’m sure I’ll be adding my own tidbits about books along the way.  Maybe even have a place here to collect some good children’s books ideas from all of us.  If you’re in our book club, I hope you’ll find yourself at home with this blog and feel free to comment often to promote good book discussion.  And of course if you’re not in book club, we’d still love to hear your good book ideas and comments.  This should be fun!