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?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
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. :)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
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.
What Alice Forgot by Liane MoriartyWhat 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 ObrehtIn 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.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
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.
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
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.
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 Ford1986, 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 ZusakIt’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.
Monday, March 12, 2012
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 fromhappiness."
“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...”
"You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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
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
Sunday, March 4, 2012
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
Happy Reading.
Erica
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