Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Glass Castle gets 5 Stars and Our New Selection!

It was a great night for our book club. We discussed a five star book and we have two new members, Julie and Carolyn. I am happy to see how Julie and Carolyn got right into the discussion. They are both a good fit for our group. We are happy to have you both along for the ride. Welcome!

We also had a special visitor. Baby Max accompanied his Mom Sidney. Max is so good looking and a perfect angel. Join us any time!

Thank you Maggi for your selection and for hosting tonight. Great job!

Our next selection:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sloot

Optional Book:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Our next host is Julie Cook.

Annette has volunteered to host in June. June will be our one year anniversary.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Monday, April 11, 2011

Optional Book for April

My Formerly Hot Life by Stephanie Dolgoff is our optional book this month!

The Glass Castle Discussion Questions

1. Though The Glass Castle is brimming with unforgettable stories, which scenes were the most memorable for you? Which were the most shocking, the most inspiring, the funniest?

2. Discuss the metaphor of a glass castle and what it signifies to Jeannette and her father. Why is it important that, just before leaving for New York, Jeannette tells her father that she doesn't believe he'll ever build it? (p. 238).

3. The first story Walls tells of her childhood is that of her burning herself severely at age three, and her father dramatically takes her from the hospital: "You're safe now" (p. 14). Why do you think she opens with that story, and how does it set the stage for the rest of the memoir?

4. Rex Walls often asked his children, "Have I ever let you down?" Why was this question (and the required "No, Dad" response) so important for him -- and for his kids? On what occasions did he actually come through for them?

5. Jeannette's mother insists that, no matter what, "life with your father was never boring" (p. 288). What kind of man was Rex Walls? What were his strengths and weaknesses, his flaws and contradictions?

6. Discuss Rose Mary Walls. What did you think about her description of herself as an "excitement addict"? (p. 93).

7. Though it portrays an incredibly hardscrabble life, The Glass Castle is never sad or depressing. Discuss the tone of the book, and how do you think that Walls achieved that effect?

8. Describe Jeannette's relationship to her siblings and discuss the role they played in one another's lives.

9. In college, Jeannette is singled out by a professor for not understanding the plight of homeless people; instead of defending herself, she keeps quiet. Why do you think she does this?

10. The two major pieces of the memoir -- one half set in the desert and one half in West Virginia -- feel distinct. What effect did such a big move have on the family -- and on your reading of the story? How would you describe the shift in the book's tone?

11. Were you surprised to learn that, as adults, Jeannette and her siblings remained close to their parents? Why do you think this is?

12. What character traits -- both good and bad -- do you think that Jeannette inherited from her parents? And how do you think those traits shaped Jeannette's life?

13. For many reviewers and readers, the most extraordinary thing about The Glass Castle is that, despite everything, Jeannette Walls refuses to condemn her parents. Were you able to be equally nonjudgmental?

14. Like Mary Karr's Liars' Club and Rick Bragg's All Over But the Shoutin', Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle tells the story of a wildly original (and wildly dysfunctional) family with humor and compassion. Were there other comparable memoirs that came to mind? What distinguishes this book?

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Poll for our optional April Book

There is a poll to the right for our optional book. Since it will be a second book, I thought I would choose some of the shorter selections. Please vote for one book. The last day to vote is Friday the 8th. Vote for whatever you would like even if you suggested the book.

Thanks R&B!

Michelle

Ideas for possible upcoming titles to read! Leave suggestions here please!

Outliers by Gladwell
Life WIthout Limbs by Nick Vujicic
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Any Chua
Little bee by Chris Cleave
Sun Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Jon Krakauer's Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez,
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez,
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegu
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck,
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger.

2012 Monthly Book Club Tips to think on!

taken from: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/roundtable/tips.asp

March

As this is Women's History Month, think about reading a biography that celebrates a famous female.

Write a list of books that have meant something to you as a woman and share it with your fellow book club members.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, think about reading something from an Irish author or something about Irish history.

Take a blank book and fill in the pages with some of your group's favorite recipes from your meetings. It will be another way of charting your group's "history."

February

In honor of Black History Month, share lists of titles from some of your favorite African-American authors.

Since winter can be cold and blustery in so much of the country, think about reading a title set in a warm place or with a summer theme to think about warmer, carefree summer days.

No matter how you feel about it, Valentine's Day invades our world in February. With that in mind we have collected five titles with "Red" in their titles and five titles with "Love" in their titles that you might want to explore.
January

Have each member of the group make a yearlong reading resolution. This can be something like vowing to read new authors or explore a new genre. Write these down and re-visit them in December to see how many have been kept!

Empower yourself for the new year by reading a biography of someone you admire and then share something you never knew about that person with your group.

Share your favorite title about self-improvement with members of your group.

Each month, have each member bring a book that he or she has read beyond the group's book club selection. Tell other club members about it in a couple of lines. Once you go around the room sharing your selections, think how many books you will have learned about.

Readers and Breeders