A Christmas Carol

Can you believe that Christmas is over already and January is just around the corner?  I cannot!  Oh how the time flies.  That being said, it was time to make a spot to talk about our December selection so we can start thinking about our January reading. :)  So go ahead and leave your comments here.  Happy reading.

Voting for February

We have our two options for our February book.  Voting will run through January 5, 2013.  I decided to leave voting open a bit longer this go round because of the upcoming holidays and I know we will all be busy with our families and possible travel.  Hopefully this will give everyone an opportunity to stop in and vote. 

 

Safe Haven

by Nicholas Sparks

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

(I wondered when we might have on old voting selection pop up again.)
 

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

January

After the end of the vote I had a couple of people express interest in reading "Two Kisses for Maddy".  We will go ahead and make this the January book selection. 

I will put up the two choices for our February selection in the next couple of days and will leave the voting open through the end of the month.  Things are busy with the holidays so hopefully this gives people time to stop by and vote.  The other option would be to make "Two Kisses for Maddy" a January/February selection and not vote again until the end of January.  Would you like more than one month to read a book?  If I don't hear back from anyone we'll go ahead and vote for February. 

Just a reminder as well that if there are any books out there you would like added to our list for voting make sure to leave them in a comment somewhere so I can add them.  It's always nice to have some new options.

Thoughts?

So no one voted for our January selections.  I need some input.  Is everyone burned out of this?  Is everyone just busy right now and didn't have a chance to vote?  Did neither of the book choices appeal to you?  Do we need to take a month off?  Do we need to make voting an every other month thing instead of monthly? Do we need to try some different books?  Do we need to call it quits? 

I have noticed our numbers dwindle month after month. I know we are all busy and that is OK.  I don't expect everyone to want to or to be able to read every book but it does take a bit of work to keep up the blog and the selections and the voting so if no one is interested in participating any more then I would like to know.  I am happy to continue on with the all of the above but only if someone is participating.  Otherwise I know I can find a use for my time else where.

I just want to know what your thoughts are, whatever they may be.  Any thoughts or suggestions for improvement or how you would like things to change?  We are all busy.  I would like to know if you are done or if you would like to see things continue.  Let's try to figure out where we stand and how we want to proceed.

Thanks for your input and your thoughts.

Divergent

Here is a post to leave your comments and thoughts on November's book, Divergent.

January Voting

Ok let's try this again... I didn't hear back from any of you so I am just going to reuse our first December set of choices for January.  For your considerationi again here are our 2 choices for the month of January.  We will vote through Monday, December 3.

Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love

by Matt Logelin

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Matt and Liz Logelin were high school sweethearts. After years of long-distance dating, the pair finally settled together in Los Angeles, and they had it all: a perfect marriage, a gorgeous new home, and a baby girl on the way. Liz's pregnancy was rocky, but they welcomed Madeline, beautiful and healthy, into the world on March 24, 2008.

Just twenty-seven hours later, Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and died instantly, without ever holding the daughter whose arrival she had so eagerly awaited. Though confronted with devastating grief and the responsibilities of a new and single father, Matt did not surrender to devastation; he chose to keep moving forward-- to make a life for Maddy.

In this memoir, Matt shares bittersweet and often humorous anecdotes of his courtship and marriage to Liz; of relying on his newborn daughter for the support that she unknowingly provided; and of the extraordinary online community of strangers who have become his friends. In honoring Liz's legacy, heartache has become solace.

 

 

John Adams

by David McCullough

 

In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life-journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot -- "the colossus of independence," as Thomas Jefferson called him -- who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second President of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history.

Like his masterly, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Truman, David McCullough's John Adams has the sweep and vitality of a great novel. It is both a riveting portrait of an abundantly human man and a vivid evocation of his time, much of it drawn from an outstanding collection of Adams family letters and diaries. In particular, the more than one thousand surviving letters between John and Abigail Adams, nearly half of which have never been published, provide extraordinary access to their private lives and make it possible to know John Adams as no other major American of his founding era. As he has with stunning effect in his previous books, McCullough tells the story from within -- from the point of view of the amazing eighteenth century and of those who, caught up in events, had no sure way of knowing how things would turn out. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, the British spy Edward Bancroft, Madame Lafayette and Jefferson's Paris "interest" Maria Cosway, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, the scandalmonger James Callender, Sally Hemings, John Marshall, Talleyrand, and Aaron Burr all figure in this panoramic chronicle, as does, importantly, John Quincy Adams, the adored son whom Adams would live to see become President. Crucial to the story, as it was to history, is the relationship between Adams and Jefferson, born opposites -- one a Massachusetts farmer's son, the other a Virginia aristocrat and slaveholder, one short and stout, the other tall and spare. Adams embraced conflict; Jefferson avoided it. Adams had great humor; Jefferson, very little. But they were alike in their devotion to their country. At first they were ardent co-revolutionaries, then fellow diplomats and close friends. With the advent of the two political parties, they became archrivals, even enemies, in the intense struggle for the presidency in 1800, perhaps the most vicious election in history. Then, amazingly, they became friends again, and ultimately, incredibly, they died on the same day -- their day of days -- July 4, in the year 1826. Much about John Adams's life will come as a surprise to many readers. His courageous voyage on the frigate Boston in the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits that few would have dared and that few readers will ever forget. It is a life encompassing a huge arc -- Adams lived longer than any president. The story ranges from the Boston Massacre to Philadelphia in 1776 to the Versailles of Louis XVI, from Spain to Amsterdam, from the Court of St. James's, where Adams was the first American to stand before King George III as a representative of the new nation, to the raw, half-finished Capital by the Potomac, where Adams was the first President to occupy the White House. This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.

December's Book

December's book is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

We will start voting for January's book Monday, November 26th. 

For January's voting would you like to vote on the books I originally posted for the month of December or would you like me to randomize our list again and have two all new selections?  Leave your thoughts in the comments here.

Also, we haven't had any new books added to our list lately.  I have added one or two that have come across my path but I don't want you guys always stuck with my choices.  If you have any books you'd like to read then let me know so I can add them to our list.

Happy Reading!

December Voting, AGAIN

Sorry everyone that the voting for December has been so crazy!  As if changing the choices wasn't bad enough, now the poll doesn't seem to be accurately tracking the votes.  That is why I changed the poll host.  Hopefully this one should work without a problem.  For those of you that had already voted, I apologize.  Please could you cast your votes again.  We want to make sure they are counted.

The Casual Vacancy

I am done with my internship and can finally read again! I finished this novel in a week. I didn't see a place where discussion was already happening so I thought I'd share my thoughts in the comments of this post.

December Voting Revised

So let's start this voting for December business again.  Here are two selections with a holiday theme.  Voting will continue until November 7.  We will vote on the previous two selections for the month of January.

A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens

The tale begins on Christmas Eve seven years after the death of Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner Jacob Marley. Scrooge is established within the first stave (chapter) as a greedy and stingy businessman who has no place in his life for kindness, compassion, charity, or benevolence. After being warned by Marley's ghost to change his ways, Scrooge is visited by three additional ghosts "each in its turn" who accompany him to various scenes with the hope of achieving his transformation. The first of the spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Scrooge to the scenes of his boyhood and youth which stir the old miser's gentle and tender side by reminding him of a time when he was more innocent. The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes Scrooge to several radically differing scenes (a joy-filled market of people buying the makings of Christmas dinner, the family feast of Scrooge's near-impoverished clerk Bob Cratchit, a miner's cottage, and a lighthouse among other sites) in order to evince from the miser a sense of responsibility for his fellow man. The third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, harrows Scrooge with dire visions of the future if he does not learn and act upon what he has witnessed. Scrooge's own neglected and untended grave is revealed, prompting the miser to aver that he will change his ways in hopes of changing these "shadows of what may be." In the fifth and final stave, Scrooge awakens Christmas morning with joy and love in his heart, then spends the day with his nephew's family after anonymously sending a prize turkey to the Crachit home for Christmas dinner. Scrooge has become a different man overnight, and now treats his fellow men with kindness, generosity, and compassion, gaining a reputation as a man who embodies the spirit of Christmas. The story closes with the narrator confirming the validity, completeness, and permanence of Scrooge's transformation.



The Christmas Box

by Richard Paul Evans

 

“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.”

So begins The Christmas Box, the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, are hired as caretakers and are welcomed into the Victorian home of Mary Parkins, an elderly widow, just before the holiday season. As the relationship between Mary and the family develops we learn that Mary’s past sorrows are compelling her to share an important message with Richard. But will he understand her message in time? A heartwarming story of parental love, healing, and Christmas.

December/Christmas

I was just checking in to see how the voting was going.  I noticed that there weren't any votes yet and then I realized we were voting for the month of December.  That is when I thought that maybe we would like to be reading something Christmasy in the month of December instead of one of the two selections we are currently voting on.  Any thoughts on this?  If anyone wants to read some Christmas type books and has some suggestions we could change the vote and save these two books for the January vote.  Thoughts and suggestions? 

November's Book

Our November book is Divergent by Veronica Roth.  I thought it was going to be a tie there for awhile but fortunately toward the end someone came and cast a tie breaking vote! Phew! :)

We will start voting for December's book November 25th.

Happy Reading!

November Vote

I lost track of time and forgot to put up the choices for our November selection.  Sorry about that.  It has been quite the busy week.  At least I remembered. Here are our choices.

The Violets of March

by Sarah Jio

 

In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.

Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line, The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.

 

 

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Voting will continue until Friday, October 5 at 5:00pm.

We haven't had any new titles added to our selection list in awhile.  If there is anything out there you'd like to read please leave a comment in this post and I will add it to the list for next time.
 

These Is My Words!!!

So with JK Rowlings book coming out I was worried that I would just go straight to reading that and not finishing the Sept book.  Especially since I didn't finish August's book until last week.  However, PLEASE read this month's book!  "These Is My Words" is not a book I would have ever chosen for myself, but I love, love it.  I give is 4.5 stars because I don't know if the ending is going to make me hate the book.  I am only 3/4 of the way through it.  I opened it up and I was hooked by just 20 pages into it.  I am only sad that I couldn't purchase it for my nook.  instead I checked it out from the Library.  I cried halfway though the book and when a book does that I know it is a good one.  I only hope it has a happy ending beauce if Sarah has to go through so much horror and pain in her life and ends up not happy I am going to be angry!

Laura-I know you probably will be reading JK Rowlings book, but just like how you told me how good Juliet was and I loved it and checked it our of the Library, You should get this one or check it out when I return it to the Library!  You all will be missing out if you don't read it :)
Happy Reading!

The Distant Hours

I have to admit that I am only about half way through this book but I am working hard to try to finish it because I can't wait to start our September book.  It was really quiet around here though, so I was wondering if anyone had read or finished this book?  I thought I'd get a post going for commentary on the book.  Can't wait to hear what people have to say.  I add my thoughts just as soon as I finish the book! :)

October's Selection

With a unanimous vote, our book for October is
The Casual Vacancy
by J.K. Rowling.

Voting

I couldn't get the blogspot poll to work so I found a website that allowed me to create a poll.  We are up and running and voting for October is now available! :)

Technical Difficulties

For whatever reason, I am unable to add a poll at this time.  I will continue to check back and try to add the poll so voting can get started.  If the problem has not been resolved soon then I will let you know and we can vote through post comments.  In the meantime, hold tight. I'm working on it.

October Book Choices

The choices for October's book are in.  As previously mentioned, with the expressed interest in reading JK Rowling's new book it was automatically used as one of the choices.  The other choice was determined by using the random generator and I took the first book on the list.  Here they are.

City of Bones
by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

The Casual Vacancy

by JK Rowling

 When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the town’s council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Voting will last through September 2.  Happy Reading. :)

Endings

Just a random vent that I REALLY needed to get out and since my husband thinks I am crazy I thought you ladies might understand.  I just finished a book.  It was a good book.  I really enjoyed it.  And then there was the end.  Really?  Really!  That's how it ended?!  That's all you've got?  After 400 pages you couldn't come up with maybe 5 or 6 more?  Maybe even less.  Just enough of a little epilogue to tie things up.  Actually in this book it could have probably been accomplished with one more paragraph or even just a couple more sentences!  I took a whole star off my rating because the ending irked me so much.  Now I know that not everyone likes things wrapped up with a nice, neat little bow but I am not one of these people.  I don't always have to have it all wrapped up though.  Sometimes I am happy with just enough of a wrap up to let me imagine what happened next.  This book though!  Argh!  Two more sentences.  TWO MORE! I would have been so happy.  Why is it that authors have this need to leave us hanging?  What is wrong with wrapping things up just a little, or even completely?  I just don't understand and usually it irks me just a bit but in this case it really did just squash the entire experience for me.  I read the book quickly, in about two and a half days, and the ending was a complete and total let down. I hate it when that happens!  Maybe I am crazy.  Maybe you girls will confirm that.  But really, am I the only one?

Erica

September's Book

There should be no disappointment this month as it was a unanimous vote for These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner, to be our September selection. 

Our voting for October will begin on August 26th and one of the choices will be The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling.  Be sure to check back for the other choice and to cast your vote!

Choices for September

I know there were some of you that wanted to read JK Rowling's new book "The Casual Vacancy" when it was released.  Since it's release date is not until September 27th, I decided that I would have it as one of the choices for our October selection.  I hope that's ok. 

Our choices for September are....

These is my Words

by Nancy E. Turner

A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon—from child to determined young adult to loving mother—she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her, and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.
Rich in authentic everyday details and alive with truly unforgettable characters, These Is My Words brilliantly brings a vanished world to breathtaking life again.

The Hobbit

By J.R.R Tolkien

A great modern classic and the prelude to THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

Voting will go through Sunday, July 29th.  As always if you would like another book added to the choices list please leave a comment and I will add it and just a reminder that any book that has been voted on but not selected is still on the list.

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Peppermints in the Parlor

Here's our place for thoughts and comments on July's Peppermints in the Parlor.

August's Book

We will be reading

The Distant Hours

by Kate Morton for the month of August.

Check back July 22 for the choice and voting for the month of September.

Happy Reading!

Voting for August

Here are our two choices for August's selection.

The Distant Hours
by Kate Morton

September 1940, and in the skies above the Weald of Kent the Battle of Britain rages. On a moonlit night on the grounds of Millderhurst Castle, twelve-year-old Queenie sits high in the branches of an oak tree waiting impatiently for the dog-fighting to begin. The unimaginable happens—an enemy plane crashes in the wood where she’s perched. The family takes in the injured pilot, expecting him to die that very night. But he recovers and his life will forever alter the family’s destiny.

September 1959, Queenie is now a successful playwright in London. She receives word that her father is dying and she heads home for the first time in nearly twenty years. Memories wait around every corner, including an unspeakable death and a heartbreaking disappearance.

Morton once again enthralls readers with a richly atmospheric story featuring characters beset by love and circumstance and haunted by memory.

The Paris Wife

by Paula Mclain

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.

A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.

Voting starts now and will go through June 30th.

Rating System

So I have been thinking that it would be fun to have a rating system for our books.  Something to just get a feel for what you thought or felt about it right off the bat.  I am a member of the website Goodreads and I thought we could just use their rating system.  So here it is (I am also going to post it on the sidebar for permanent reference.)

5 stars - I loved it!
4 stars - I really liked it.
3 stars - I liked it.
2 stars - It was ok.
1 star - I didn't like it.

Bloom Commentary

Who all has finished the book? I just finished it the other day. I would love to hear what everyone thought about it. Same thing, put our comments under the comment part so those who haven't read it can't see them!

Jamie

July Book Selection

Our July book selection winner, by a vote of 3 to 2,  is Peppermints in the Parlor by Barbara Brooks Wallace.

If you have any suggestions you would like added to our book list for future voting be sure to leave it in a comment and I will add it to the list.  Just so everyone knows, I have been putting the books that are not the winning selection back on our list for the chance of being selected again.  Voting for our August book selection will begin June 24th.

It has also been awhile, or at least it seems like it has been awhile, since we vote on our June selection, so just a reminder that (can you believe it?) it is June already and we are reading Bloom by Kelle Hampton.

Happy Reading!

July Selections

So I kind of forgot that this upcoming weekend is Memorial Day weekend and since I will be out of town and away from Internet and computers at the time I thought I would start our July voting a bit early.  Here are our two choices for July.

Peppermints in the Parlor

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

Emily Luccock is looking forward to living at Sugar Hill Hall...She
remembers her aunt and uncle's grand old mansion well. But this time things are different. Her aunt's once bright and lively home is now dead with silence. Evil lurks in every corner and the dark, shadowed walls watch and whisper late at night.

Emily is desperate to uncover the truth about what is happening at Sugar Hill Hall. But time is running out, and she must find a way to save the people and home she cares so much about.

The Night Circusby Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.



Voting will go until June 1st.

Thoughts & Favorite Quotes

Let's get a post started for your thoughts on What Alice Forgot.  Let's combine posts this time and feel free to leave your favorite quotes here as well.  Can't wait to hear what everyone thought.

July Voting

Voting for our July book selection will begin the week of May 27th.  As always, all previously mentioned books will be on the list to be randomly chosen from.  If there are any other books you would like added to the list please post them here and I will add them.

Happy Reading!

JK Rowling-The Casual Vacancy

I really like the books Erica has us voting on.  It is nice to be reading things I wouldn't necessarily pick on my own.  I don't want to change that, but I was wondering how many of you are anticipating JK Rowlings new book that comes out around September 27. It is her first novel for adults and when I read the descirption it makes me wonder how much it is like the movie Hot Fuzz.  If we aren't doing it as a book for the book club that month I will still be reading it also and wanting to discuss it with you all :)

Here's the Overview:
When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults.

Email Updates

I also just wanted to remind everyone, if you aren't already signed up, you can sign up for email notifications.  Every time a new post is posted you will be sent an email with the post content.  This is a nice way to stay in touch with what's going on without having to check back all the time.  You can sign up by entering your email in the space provided on the right hand sidebar or you can leave a comment here and I will be happy to set it up for you.  It only works with new posts, however, not with new comments.  You will have to check in and look at the posts to see the comments that are left.

June Selection

Our June book selection is Bloom by Kelle Hampton. 

Voting for our July selection will begin May 28th.  Keep yours eyes out for the selection post.  If there are any recommendations you would like added to the list before then please leave them in a comment.

Happy Reading.

Checking In

It's been awfully quiet around here this month so I thought I'd just check in and see how everyone is doing?  Was this a tough month for reading?  Who got to our April selection?  If there is something about the blog or the group that isn't working for you please feel free to leave suggestions.

Also, just  a reminder that there are only 2 days left to vote for June's book selection.  Be sure to cast your vote.

Happy Reading!

Voting For June

Here are the two book choices for June.  Voting will go until April 30.

After You
by Julie Buxbaum

When tragedy strikes across the ocean, Ellie Lerner drops everything—her marriage, her job, her life in the Boston suburbs—to travel to London and pick up the pieces of her best friend Lucy’s life. While Lucy’s husband, Greg, retreats into himself, his and Lucy’s eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, has simply stopped speaking. Desperate to help Sophie, Ellie turns to a book that gave her comfort as a child, The Secret Garden. As its story of hurt, magic, and healing blooms around them, so, too, do Lucy’s secrets—some big, some small. Peeling back the layers of her friend’s life, Ellie is forced to confront her own as well: the marriage she left behind, the loss she’d hoped to escape. And suddenly Ellie’s carefully constructed existence is spinning out of control in a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.

Bloom

by Kelle Hampton

Love me. Love me. I'm not what you expected, but oh, please love me.

That was the most defining moment of my life. That was the beginning of my story.

From the outside looking in, Kelle Hampton had the perfect life: a beautiful two-year-old daughter, a loving husband, a thriving photography career, and great friends. When she learned she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband, Brett, were ecstatic. Her pregnancy went smoothly and the ultrasounds showed a beautiful, healthy, high-kicking baby girl.

But when her new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew instantly that something was wrong. Nella looked different than her two-year-old sister, Lainey, had at birth. As she watched friends and family celebrate with champagne toasts and endless photographs, a terrified Kelle was certain that Nella had Down syndrome—a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Yet gradually Kelle's fear and pain were vanquished by joy, as she embraced the realization that she had been chosen to experience an extraordinary and special gift.



Reader's Guide Questions

At the end of my copy of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet I found a readers guide.  Since I like things all wrapped up with a nice little bow at the end these questions particularly struck me and are the ones I have been thinking about.  (I know they are a little shallow compared to the more political aspects of this book and subsequent questions but these are the ones that stuck with me for now.)  I thought I'd post them and see what your reactions were. 

1. Does Henry give up on Keiko too easily?  What else could he have done to find her?
2.What about Keiko?  Why didn't she make more of an effort to see Henry once she was released from the camp?
3. The novel ends with Henry and Keiko meeting again after more than forty years.  Jump ahead a year and imagine what has happened to them in the that time.  Is there any evidence in the novel for this outcome?

Favorite Quotes

I really enjoyed everyone's favorite quotes from last month.  I find it interesting to see what stands out to others while they are reading.  So what were your favorite quotes from Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet?

Thoughts On Finishing

I think how we posted on last month's book, in the comments section of a post so as not to give anything away to anyone that hadn't finished, worked well.  If you don't agree please let me know.  I figure we are getting towards the end of the month so it's time to make a place for thoughts and comments on April's book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.  I can't wait to hear what everyone has to say.

Book Suggestions

I will be putting up our 2 June choices for voting around the end of next week.  I still have all the previous mentioned suggestions on our list.  If there are any new ones you would like added please leave a comment and I'll add them.

Book Marks

I hope everyone's reading is going well! I'm doubled up on classes and studying for a licensure exam right now so I've only been able to read when I'm ready to feel guilty about it. :o)

I found these wonderful bookmark ideas. I don't have a spare second to make anything right now but I thought you all might enjoy the book related eye candy. 

The Vote for May

Voting has ended and our book for the month of May is What Alice Forgot. 

Hopefully this gives everyone more time to find a copy. 

I would also like to know when you would like to start voting for June.  Is the end of April/beginning of May soon enough or would you like more time?

The Vote is In

By a vote of 6 to 4 our book selection for April is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. 

Can't wait to get started.

On a side note, what are your thoughts?  Book Thief back in the pool or out?

New Book Suggestions

If anyone has any book suggestions they'd like added to the queue feel free to leave them here and I'll add them to the list for the next go round. :)

May Book Selections

Based on the feedback I read, most people would like to select our books a couple of months at a time, giving us all more time to find a copy of the book.  That being said, I randomized our list and here are our two options for May.  Voting will be open from today, March 21, until Wednesday, March 28.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
What would happen if you were visited by your younger self, and got a chance for a do-over? Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
In a Balkan country mending from war, Natalia, a young doctor, is compelled to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding her beloved grandfather’s recent death. Searching for clues, she turns to his worn copy of The Jungle Bookand the stories he told her of his encounters over the years with “the deathless man.” But most extraordinary of all is the story her grandfather never told her—the legend of the tiger’s wife.

How Soon Should We Choose?

It has recently come to my attention that perhaps 1 week is not enough time to acquire the upcoming book, especially for those hoping to check it out from the library. Would it be better to have more notice for the upcoming selection? Please leave me your feedback. I can think of a couple of options other than how we are doing it this month.

1. We can vote at the beginning of each month for the next month's selection, giving everyone a month to find a copy of the book.
2. We can vote for several books at a time, say three months, so we all know what is coming.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Please leave me your opinion in the comments on how you would prefer the voting on book selections to go. I don't want anyone to feel left out because they didn't have enough time to find the book.

Comments

Just a quick note....

If you aren't checking the comments left on posts, please do.  And remember to come back and check them again every once in awhile.  There are some great questions and conversations going on in the comments and we'd love to hear your take as well.

Also please know, you all have the capability to add posts whenever you would like.  If there is a conversation you would like to get started feel free to get a post going.  Just make sure to sign your post so we know who's talking to us. :)

Happy Reading
Erica

April Book Selections

Okay everyone, the time has come to select our book for April.  Using random.org, I entered in all of the book suggestions everyone left and after randomizing them took the first two from the list.  Books not chosen will go back into the randomizing list for next time, along with any other added suggestions.

Voting will start today and will go through Saturday, March 24th.  (You can vote using the poll in the right hand side bar and voting is anonymous.) This will give everyone a week to get their hands on a copy and be ready to read in April.  I hope this works for everyone.  Our two options, with their accompanying picture and synopsis, are:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
1986, The Panama Hotel The old Seattle landmark has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has made a startling discovery in the basement: personal belongings stored away by Japanese families sent to interment camps during the Second World War. Among the fascinated crowd gathering outside the hotel, stands Henry Lee, and, as the owner unfurls a distinctive parasol, he is flooded by memories of his childhood. He wonders if by some miracle, in amongst the boxes of dusty treasures, lies a link to the Okabe family, and the girl he lost his young heart to, so many years ago. With over a million copies sold worldwide, this captivating debut is a story of the sacrifices one boy makes for love and for his country.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

As a total side note: How intersting that both random picks are about World War II.

Book Selections

At the end of the week I am going to be randomly choosing two books for us to vote on for our April selection.  If anyone has any suggestions that they haven't shared now is the time to do it.

Favorite Quotes

I thought it would be fun if everyone shared a favorite quote or two from the book.  Here are a few of mine.

"You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness."

“I hope that one day you will have the experience of
doing something you do not understand for someone you love.”

“We talked about nothing in particular, but it felt like
we were talking about the most important things...”  

Thoughts After Finishing

Erica, I saw that on Facebook you posted that you finished...

To not spoil the book and it doesn't come up in the email, what are your thoughts after having finished it?

Put your response in the comments section.

Jamie

Email Updates

I just added a "Follow By Email" gadget on the right hand side bar.  If you would like to receive an email every time a post is made on the blog just enter in your email address and you're good to go.  This is a great way to stay up to date with what people are posting without having to remember to check back here all the time. 

Progress?

How's everyone doing with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close?  It's awfully quiet out there.  Any thoughts or comments?  Are you enjoying it?  Are you finished?  Having a hard time even getting started?  Let's hear how everyone is doing so far.

Book Selections

Okay everybody it is time for some book suggestions.  I would like to have the voting up for our April book selection in the next week or so, which means I need your suggestions.  Let's hear what you guys are wanting to read.  I will post two to be voted on at the beginning of next week.  Voting will be open for a week and that leaves another week for getting a copy of the book and being ready to get started in April.

Happy Reading.
Erica

Introduction-Susan Drossulis

I guess I am the last one to figure this thing out...so here goes. My name is Susan Drossulis and I must confess to have been an avid reader for most of my life. When I was young, I spent almost every penny of my allowance on buying the newest Nancy Drew Adventure. When the bank account failed, I could be found searching the aisles of the local libray in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake. I loved all of the Anne of Green Gables series (I know she is my kindred spirit). When I finished those books I started all of the Oz series books, and then turned to every book that I could find about horses, dogs, and adventure. As an adult I read almost everything, from Harry Potter to Sue Grafton to the Fablehaven series. As a busy nurse, I am finding myself reading less and less and I hope this book club will get me back on track!

I am the nursing manager of a 20 bed acute care specialty Oncology unit. I have the opportunity to work with some of the best nurses I have ever met. They are kind, caring, compassionate, and very, very smart! (yes Holly, I am talking about you.) I have worked in cancer care my entire career (almost 17 years) and I love what I do. I am just a thesis away from a Maters degree in Nursing Education. The completion of this is my big goal for 2012.

My family is what balances out my stressful career choice and I am grateful tht they keep me grounded. I am the mother of 3 grown children and am the proud grandmother of 1 and 8/9's grandchildren (Kaelyn Sophia is due in just 4 weeks!!!) I am married to the love of my life of almost 35 years but recently he went to be with our Heavenly Father. We met in high school, even holding hands in Drivers Ed. I am so grateful that I have a strong testimony of the Gospel and Forever Families.

I look forward to good books, good conversation, and getting to know each one of you just a little bit better.
Susan

Intro - Aubrey

Hey! My name is Aubrey Williams. It has been a long time since I was in a book club so I am super excited to be participating in one again! I love so many books and am excited to be introduced to some new ones. A little about me, I currently live in Mesa with my husband and my daughter. We moved here almost two years ago for my husband to finish his Mortuary Science degree. I work as a chef for the public school system here, and I LOVE IT!!! I love to craft and create, watch movies, play outside, decorate cakes and run with my dog. Oh, and I like to read!! That's about me in a nutshell, can't wait to get to know you all better!

Post Emails

I recently found a feature that sends you an email anytime a new post is posted.  If you would like to be included on this email list, and not have to continually check back here for posts, please let me know and I will get it set up.

Erica

Introduction-For all of you who thought you were last, wrong I am the true slacker here.

My name is Rebecca Howard.  Laura Pesja and I already started talking about books we like and I am always interested in what others think are good books to read.  I have not participated in a book club before mainly because I am the slacker in actually reading on time with everyone.  I hope I can stay on track with you all.  I really only read a lot during school vacations.  I am a high school math teacher and during the summer I probably read a new book every two days.  But I will read on other vacation times so now I will try to read the book for the month.

I have been married for 15 years and I have four kids.  Three girls and one boy ages 10, 7, and twin girls that are 2.  I read mostly sci-fi fantasy but I will read almost anything.  Here is a list of some of my favorite books/authors:

Hero and the Crown-Robin McKinley
The Blue Castle-L M Montgomery (The best book even better than Anne of Green gables)
Elantris & WarBreaker -Brandon Snaderson
Book of a Thousand Days-Shannon Hale
Harry Potter-J K Rowling
Little Women-Louisa M Alcott

I love Jane Austen and JR Tolkein but I have recently really enjoyed everything by Brandon Sanderson.  The authors above you cannot go wrong.  If you have not read Brandon Sanderson then start with Elantris because it is a singleton book that is easily checked out of the library. I also like his childrens books that I want to read more that the first of "Alcatraz vs the Librarians".  The Blue Castle I lost my copy of and it is out of print so I am really sad about that because I read it so often it was falling apart.

I have a nook now, sorry kindle people on this blog, but my family all has nooks and I wanted to be able to read their lend me books.  I am like the others who also buy the book when it is their favorite.

Other things that I have on my nook that I have always wanted to read and I haven't yet are Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" and I am currently reading Gulliver's Travels because they are free nook books and I have always wanted to read those classics.  If you like classic literature then you also need to read Alexander Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo".  This is the book that lead my father to reading the Book of Mormon.  It's a long story but because of the Count of Monte Cristo my father became an avid reader and hence he read everything in the library and had nothing left to read except the Book of Mormon.  So this book has a special place in my heart.

Intro - Rachael

I certainly hope that I am not the last person to introduce myself! After Erica's request for all of the slackers to do this, I am certain she was specifically talking to me. I have been married to my husband Scott for 12 years and we live in Sparks, NV. I am a stay at home mom of 4 children. Three boys and one daughter, Carter 7, Nolan 4, Lewis almost 3, and Jenna 1.

I didn't discover that I loved reading until long after I was done with school. I am ashamed to admit that although "To Kill a Mockingbird" was assigned reading more than once for me in school, I have never truly read the book through. I realized I just hated being told to read a specific number of chapters and then I would be tested on them. I much prefer reading what I want on my own schedule.

I went to pick Carter up from school the other day, and I brought my book to read while I was waiting for school to get out. One of the moms saw me and asked how I find time to read with four kids. I told her the truth, I ignore them. I guess that is a partial truth. When I read during the day I do sometimes ignore them. But I also stay up way too late at night/morning reading. I tell myself that the book will still be there the next day, but for some reason, I just can't seem to listen to myself. Those days I pay for it! But, that night after only a few hours of sleep, I manage to stay up WAY too late, again...

I love being a part of book clubs because I never know what books to read. If I stumble upon a good book to recommend, the other person has usually read it a long time ago. I might as well say, "I just read this great series...'Harry Potter,' have you heard of it?" I look forward to reading many new books and chatting about them!

Making Book Selections

Here is what I am thinking about how we will select our next book.  At first I thought everyone would just take a turn picking but I am thinking that with so many of us involved that a voting system might be better. 

If everyone would please submit 2 or 3 books they are interested in reading, in the comments of this post, then each month I will randomly select 2 of those books and post them here on the blog where we can all vote.  The book with the most votes will become the book we read and the one not chosen will go back into the hat (so to speak) to be read at a later time.

I think this will give us the most variety while allowing everyone the most involvement in the selection process.  I know it seems easier for me to read if I have picked it in some way. 

I would like to start the voting process for the next book in the middle of each month so we can have our selection by the last week of the month.  That should give everyone plenty of time to acquire the book before the start of the next month. (Does that make any sense because I think I just confused myself.) 

Happy Reading!
Erica

Just a Few Thoughts....

I've been having a hard time finding time to read but I think I have finally settled into this book and am excited about reading again.  (Hooray!)  At first I had a hard time with this book, and was often confused and had to reread pages to get a full understanding of what I had read.  I still have to go back sometimes but it has gotten easier and I find I like the stream of consciousness style.  It helps me to get to know Oskar.

 Here are just a couple of my other thoughts I thought I would share with you guys and I will do my best to not give anything away if I am a bit ahead of where you might be.  If I do, I am sorry.

First of all, my heart breaks a little every time I read the sentence "I gave myself a bruise."  I feel for Oskar.  I hurt for him.  I see a little boy trying to make sense of a world that he doesn't understand.  I see a little boy that is misunderstood himself, or often overlooked by those that love him.  He has had to face such grown up things at such a young age and I am sad for his loss of childhood.  At the same time, I really like him.  I like his inquisitive nature.  I like his drive.  I do wonder where his mother is and how she is not curious or aware of what he is doing.  However, maybe it doesn't really matter to the story in the end.  It's just something I have wondered.  I am also amazed at the amount of miscommunication that happens between the characters and how easily things could be "fixed" or understood if only they would communicate.  Isn't that story of most of our lives?

Second of all, I am interested by the second story line that seems to be unfolding with the mute man.  I am interested to see how, or if, his story will intersect with Oskar.

And finally, just a couple of quotes that really struck me...
* “I hope that one day you will have the experience of doing something you do not understand for someone you love.”   - As a parent this resonates with me.  How often do we do things for our children, out of sheer love, not really understanding the why but wanting to be there for them.  Is there anything better than unquestionably loving and supporting someone?
* “We need enormous pockets, pockets big enough for our families and our friends, and even the people who aren't on our lists, people we've never met but still want to protect. We need pockets for boroughs and for cities, a pocket that could hold the universe.”    - This quote represents the weight that Oskar is feeling on his shoulders and I am saddened that he feels such a responsibility to protect those around him when it should be the other way.

Alright, that's all I have for now.  I hope you are reading and enjoying yourself as much as I am.

Happy Reading!
Erica

Intro - Allie.

Slacker here. This is a little intimidating, but I'm excited. I'm Allie Lanenga. I grew up in Northern California with the Pratts. Jamie and I did sports/school together up through high school and then went to the same college. I'm a certified Athletic Trainer, though not working, I'm at home with my son. For the past 3 years I've been living in Central NJ with my husband and 2 year old son, Kaden (though we will hopefully be leaving NJ in the near future). My husband is applying for grad schools to get his MBA.

I love reading--there's something about getting lost in a book, and I agree with whoever said it's my "me" time. I'm currently in another Book Club, but I just love reading, thank goodness for public libraries! I have yet to get a kindle, though my husband tries to convince me...

My favorites (to name a few) are:

• Lord of the Rings


• Jane Austen books (any)


• To Kill a Mocking Bird


• The story of Edgar Sawtelle


• Killer Angels


• Les Miserables


• Historical fiction (probably my fav. genre)

I look forward to reading with you all, and sharing thoughts!

Intoduction - Ash

I'm Ashley, mother of 2, wife to 1 silly man, student for life. I'll have my teaching degree soon. Shortly after my graduation party I'll begin work on my masters because, as much as I love teaching all children, I really love the kiddos with special needs.

My real love affair with reading began with The Hobbit. My mom would sit with me and we would read pieces of it together. You know those crazy people that felt compassion for Gullum before the LoTR movies came out? No? I might be the only one.

Since those early days, I've continued to search for authors that offer characters I can feel for. My favorites have even created characters I wish were in my life, just so I could know them a little better. Some of these authors are:

• Ann Fairbairn
• Diana Gabaldon
• Jane Austen
• J.R. Tolkien
• Laura Kinsale

It's been nice reading about all of you. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about our future readings.

Introduction: Laura P.

Hi everyone!

My name is Laura and I live in northern California. I've been married to my husband, Daniel, for almost 7 years now. We have a 5 year old little diva (Aubrey), and a 3 year old super-hero-wanna-be (Ryan). Those two keep me laughing and on my toes constantly.

I work from home for Blue Shield of California. I've been with them for about 10 years but have only been working from home for the past 4. I spend my days buried in hospital contracts and reading workflows, yet can't wait to pick up a book at the end of the day!

I don't think that I have a specific genre that is my favorite..but lately I find myself reading mostly chick-lit or fantasy. I am really excited for this book club and can't wait to broaden my literary horizons!

Nice to meet you all :)

Edited to add:
I thought I'd come back and add some of my favorite books/authors since others have as well. I like seeing what I have in common with others and its a good way to get new ideas too.

Authors: Shannon Hale, Jane Austen, Orson Scott Card, R.A. Salvatore, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kristin Cashore, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to name a few..

Books: The Hobbit (my first love), LOTR, Ender's Game, Sarah, The Graceling, Hunger Games, The Great Gatsby, Catch-22,The shopaholic series (and just about anything written by Sophie Kinsella or her other pen name Madeline Wickham), The Actor & the Housewife, Twilight (books; I haven't watched the movies beyond half of the first one)..... and if I can venture back to my elementary school days: The Babysitters Club! haha