The Bridal Wreath and When the Elephants Dance

For May we conquered two books. No secret, no breaking it up, just two full books. I am not sure if this was a great idea, because May is crazy busy for families, moms, and teachers (which we have in our club) but we did it anyway.

Our first pick was The Bridal Wreath, by Sigrid Undset

There was some personal investment in this pick as one of our members was raised in a life rich with Swedish heritage. We met at book club surrounded by by Swedish food and talked of traditions. The food was a great way to start our discussion, which focused on both the story, which tended to be a little bit dreary, and the culture, which was historical and foreign to so much of what we know.

Kristin Lavransdatter is A Norwegian coming of age heroine, juggling the life of appearances, family, and love. Her life with her family is one of hardship and the story is not a happy one by any means. This book is also only the first part of the story, which is usually now found as a trilogy. The language of the book at times was difficult, as well as the names of the characters, but the story is considered a classic to many.

Our group was really divided on whether or not we enjoyed the book. Many felt the wording and names made it difficult to enjoy the flow. A few didn't care for the story and disliked the book, while still some loved the cultural exposure and historical journey the books was, in spite of it's depressing nature. For readers who love books with a classic feel, aren't afraid to tackle a language style that may feel foreign to them, and are interested in the general historical setting and myths this book would be an interesting choice. It was a good pick for us and being split on a book sometimes adds to the discussion.

Next we discussed When the Elephants Dance, by Tess Uriza Holthe.

This book depicts the survival of a Philippine family and their friends as they are trying to hide from the horrors of WWII and it's affect on the Philippines. As Japan and America seek control over the land the cruel means of war ultimately ruins all they have. This book has two main plot lines: the first being the survival of the family. They are searching for food, searching for each other and trying to avoid the cruel Japanese. The second plot line is the stories they begin to share with each other while in hiding. Both mythical and heart wrenching, each one brings a history to the table. The war is violent, riddled with torture, rape, and violent killings. The book is not afraid to depict these scenes. The stories shared and personal and strange, beautiful and fun, varying from each story teller.

We pretty much all were just amazed by the book and the stories told. It is a story of hope and family and love amidst horror and violence. It will open your eyes to a part of Philippine history that most of us live unaware of. The book is well written and characters very rich. This was a great discussion book.

Next month will be reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and stay tuned for a few snapshots from our reading retreat!

Three Cups of Tea- March Read- plus the SECRET book

Well, we finished Three Cups of Tea (or most of us finished Three Cups of Tea) with a lot to say about it. We loved the story of Greg and his drive to accomplish his task- fulfill his promise to build a school after failing to climb K2.

We were amazed with some of the side notes of the life of a mountain climber. The months without showering, the cold weather climbs, and the mangy lifestyle off the mountain. But then again, the determination, the goal setting, the fearlessness of the lives is equally stunning.

His story is filled with obstacles and problems, enough to stop a regular person in their tracks- but not Greg. He makes it happen.

The biggest debate over the book was the writing. I felt like it was reading a really long report written by a smitten high schooler. Some of the members felt the writing was too scattered, and the absence of a first person narrative kept us fro really connecting with the main character. Some felt the writing wasn't great, and the author seemed to dollop just a little too much praise on the hero of the story. Others, however, had no problem getting caught up in the story and enjoying it for what it really was- a triumph of one person truly making the world a better place.

Our second book, also our secret book (no bashing allowed) was The Violent Bear It Away, by Flannery O'Connor.

Here is the advice form our book club on this book. Do your homework first. The book is littered with symbolish, types, and spiritual messages on different levels. If you read it straight as a Southern-Gothic (do I feel kind of cool saying that? Of course I do) you will miss what the author is trying to create.

You will question yourself on the many symbols of confession, baptism, Christ and the sacrament, and the call to destiny. It will not leave you unaffected as the violence of the novel will grab your attention as it whispers the message along the way. All of this being said, however, needs to be post scripted with another tip; don't take the book to seriously. When and uncle is telling his nephew to just roll his dead body down the stairs to get momentum to his future gravesite it is okay to laugh to yourself. There a lot of sarcastic and funny moments to be enjoyed.

My personal note is to remind you to read this with a friend. You will need to discuss it, pick their brains, and bounce off ideas form each other. I still find myself pondering this book and why the author chose to write it the way she did. When that happens weeks after I have finished a book I know I read something special. This is a departure fro your typical read, and we all appreciated that.

For next month: read Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls and our next secret book, The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve. (Chills just went up my spine).

Come ready to argue, cry, or cuss. But come ready to discuss.

Escape From Rwanda with John Bizimana

Our January book club was a special event that included dinner and a discussion with the author of Escape From Rwanda, John Bizimana. I knew it would be an interesting discussion when he walked in, surrounded by many friends, and quietly whispered to the girl next to him..."wow, this is so weird. They are all holding my book. " Yes, John...that's how we roll!

John's story (working title A Wayfaring Man tossed out by publishers) is one of adversity, but amazing hope. John was just a boy as his mother gathered up her children and a few precious belongings and trudged out of the genocide smitten land of Rwanda. The details of the story are what followed after. Living one life while dreaming of more. Struggling to find a place to fit in, struggling to find something to believe in. In spite of the horrific event from his childhood you could say he really just struggled with the same things we all do, and that is what makes his story so universal.

This little memoir style book is very inspirational. If a man can be as gentle, kind, and humble as John is after what he has seen, then can't we all be that way? We discussed the tragedy of Rwanda, the lands where he lived, the languages he speaks. We discussed his memories and our own feelings, and the little miracle it is that someone heard his story, encouraged him to share it, it crossed the desk of a publisher (without an agent attached to promote it) who also felt it was a story that needed to be told, and now it can be found on the shelf at the book store.

While John softly concludes "I'm not a writer" we all have to disagree. There are different types of writing, and different reasons to read. If someone can write a book that inspires you to have more hope, to dream a little bigger, and to remember to thank God for the miracles we sometimes call coincidence then I say you have earned the title.

If just one reader (like me) picks up his story and walks away determined to learn more about Rwanda and the reasons why something so maddening could happen, then you've done your job. In learning how something like this can happen we also learn some other critical information......how to keep it from happening again.

For this reason, I will be forever grateful I read this story- and met the life behind it.

you may also like to read another member's review at My Way. Click for more insight!

What is a "Secret Book"?

You are dying to know.

But first let me tell you we met today for our usual flurry of year end reviews. We pass around favorite Christmas books- laugh about not-so-favorite books (sorry, Richard Paul Evans, but Promise Me has almost become a one title joke and punch line in our club), and talk about other books that have left an impression on us this year. Oh yeah....and we eat. We had lots of brunchy yummy food, cookies, rolls, even bottled Cream Soda in a throw back to Christmases long ago. It is always one of our favorite get togethers. We discussed our December book, The Screwtape Letters, which will be included in a later post.

Now.... the secret book......

Our club has a secret book we throw in every once in a while. It didn't start on purpose, it was just that while we were reading our book of the month someone would start gabbing about a book they were utterly enjoying and we all had to read it, too. We all kind of snuck it in on the side, never officially picking it, but reading it and discussing it.

One rule of the secret book is you are not allowed to bash it. Someone is invested in the secret book. Someone loves it so much, that bad mouthing it would just be cruel. So we, as a group, abstain. Thus it becomes a "secret" read.

Our first secret book

What a book it was. I definitely recommend it if your club hasn't read it yet. Extremely touching, yet hilarious and heart breaking all at once.

Last year we all seemed to find time to read this pick, without picking it

and the books that followed. They were all part of our discussions, as the year passed. I personally LOVED the journey Suzanne Collins took us on (and intend to use it to preach to my children about the importance of self-reliance every chance I get.)

This year we are picking a couple of secret books....we are feeling very ambitious, so quite a few more books than usual have wiggled there way into our To Be Read pile. I will share our first one with you now, which we may not quite get to until Feb or March, by Flannery O'Connor.

I'd love to tell you more about it....

but it's a secret.

November Discussion 2- In the Woods

In The Woods by Tana French

First, let's get this off our chest- is it equally offensive when the Brits drop the f-bomb? Just wondering.

In The Woods.

Did you hate it? Did you love it? Did you throw your book against the wall when you were done (like me)?

When Rob Ryan and his spunky, tough-but cute- partner take the case of a murder he is brought back to the scene of his kidnapping (?) and disappearance of his two best childhood friends. The case brings up anxieties, tensions, and night sweats as he tries to piece his memory together in a way that may help the present investigation.

The case has it all.....rape victims, rape witnesses, strange families with weird relationships, weird work site employees, a history of beast like folklore, missing persons, and a beautiful, troubled sister.

We picked it for more of a thriller for our Halloween read (How did it do? Did it keep your attention?)

French did an excellent job in character portrayal. That was her strength for me. It was hard, though, to slowly dislike the main character (and perspective voice) as he revealed himself to be just a commitment phobic, scamming kind of a guy as the story unfolded.

I don't want to include any spoilers here, in case you haven't read it yet, so I am again including a link to LitLovers for their In The Woods discussion guide (please scroll down for the publisher discussion questions).

I will leave you with one question.....
will you be reading book 2?

I am not sure if I trust French enough to go on another joy ride.

November Discussion- The Fountainhead

The month is finally here- we have finished our "Semi-Annual" book, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

Last year we read both Atlas Shrugged and Anthem, also by Rand. We were kind of surprised how much we enjoyed the books and the discussions as a group, so this year we added Fountainhead to our picks.

In talking to the members of the group it was agreed this book was a harder read. The characters, while great at symbolizing their chosen quality, were completely unrealistic, and many members of the group had a hard time sympathizing with them. The bulk of the book, for me, towards the middle lost momentum. As the conclusion drew near, and the characters began to reveal their true motives in their words, it helped book come together and the spotty conversations make more sense.

There was no lovable Francisco, and Dominique had none of the spunk we loved out of Dagny, but really- does that matter?

I am wondering why I, as a reader, tend to always compare books to each other- especially by the same author. In reality, each book tends to be it's own unique journey and universe, and I am now questioning if this tendency hindered my enjoyment of Fountainhead....but enough about that. Let's get to the discussion.

Here is a great little background and a few questions you can refer to before book club. If you have a little more time to spend you can get into Google books and search all sorts of Rand commentary. I am going to just leave a few of my general thoughts and we will put it all together at club. There are many, many discussions, essays and articles about the book online.

I absolutely loved the theme of the producers vs. the takers. It ran parallel to the idea of the individual vs. the objective, and to be a true producer we must remain true to our integrity as an individual. Did Roark take this too far? What about Toohey- as a "Second hander' how far could this take him? Is it true that the greatness of one man can diminish those around him?

How did you feel about the idea of buildings being viewed as a living being? Roark had to rescue a few of Peter's sketches, as 'he would have had to rescue a drowning man'. Did this symbol of a man draw you in or push you out as a reader?

Did you envy the relationship of Wynand and Roark? (how did it compare to Galt and D'Anconia?) What about a male/female relationship in the book? How did Rand choose to portray romantic love, if at all?

Also, think on the following ridiculously simplified definitions

altruism- the unselfish regard or devotion for the welfare of others- in animals, this regard can be at their own demise as it is harmful to themselves, but not for the species (do you feel Rand views humans as mere evolved animals?)

objectivism-reality exists independent of conscious, and we have contact with reality through sense perception, we can gain knowledge through reasoning and pursue happiness and self-interest, and socially should be allowed individual rights. (much more here on the definition) Also at the previous link are definitions for reason, ethics, politics and more as viewed my Rand.

These two themes propel the 3 books we have read so far. Which one best conveyed the message to you?

Finally, if you really want to dig deeper and find out more about objectivism and Rand's philosophy please go to the Ayn Rand Institute (trust me and give yourself some time, this is a very interesting website).

Finally, I am still experiencing PTSD from the loss of my copy of the book. I had it tabbed, highlighted, scribbled up and ready to go. So many pages filled with amazing quotes.....I am mourning my loss. Do not stop me from ordering large amounts of chocolate and Diet Coke at our dinner. Thank you.

My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.

—Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged^[4]

Let's Swap

If you are a local you may want to clean off your shelf and stop by Court's Paperback Exchange. It is like walking into your best ( book hoarding) friend's attic, and talking her into swapping books with you. Well, maybe your best friend won't charge you 60 cents a swap, but we feel it is well worth it.

Here is what you can expect-
Books. Lots and lots of books. The back room, we call the Harlequin Hallway, has more modern romance tales than you can even fathom to have been printed. (Sorry, to whoever that sweet lady was in the back, that we snickered at the titles as we browsed).
It is technology at it's simplest. A Casio calculator and tax sheet taped to the counter. You take in your old books and they add up the cover price value (so peel off any sale stickers) and then you are eligible to take that value of books out for a small fee. There are also cash books for sale, at just a fraction of the cover price. They may be new- or highly desired books.
Good Reads. Okay, so you may have to be patient on this. The shelves literally change daily, and you can't have a specific in mind. If you are in the mood to browse and have a huge wish list like mine, you won't be disappointed. But be prepared to go a few times to get what you want.

I love this little spot, which has the hometown feel of a family business doing what they love. Honestly, working in that little book crammed place would be my dream job. I have never come out of there empty handed. The bigger problem I have is finding the time to read all the great books I find.

(so, I am super happy in this photo because I scored The Heretic's Daughter, which has been on my lust/must read list for sometime. Who ever took that in...I thank you kindly)

Stay Tuned. Our Fountainhead and In the Woods posts are up next!