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Violence, Pain, Suffering -- Necessary in Meaningful Books?
Submitted by Barbara on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 14:52
Books speak the truth and truth can sometimes be awful, terrifying, violent. We, as readers, come to the "table" willingly to grow and learn in the painful truth of books. When does it get too much? That the author is creating violence, sex, and heart-break that has no meaning in the characterization, plot, and style of the work.
Have you found a work (maybe one that was read for your book club) that turned you off because of gratuitous scenes of meaningless pain and suffering? How about sex and swearing?
What are some books that have pain, suffering, sex that counters and supports the true meaning and theme of the book?
Robert's Reflections: Movies for Reading Groups Part II
Submitted by Barbara on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 12:31
Robert Segedy (previous post of books into movies, in general) has another idea to a book-to-movie discussion for reading groups.
"So what books/films do I consider enticing enough to venture that a book club may be persuaded to do a compare and contrast? Here is one selection that I can easily endorse for both their literary value but also for their success in meeting some of the standards that I have explained earlier.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Winner of two Oscars, and nominated for five more; masterfully directed by John Ford, with Henry Fonda cast as Tom Joad. Ford does an amazing job of telling this tale of Great Depression hardship; the astonishing black and white cinematography vividly captures the dust blown destruction of family farms."
Winners in Very Valentine Giveaway
Submitted by Barbara on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 12:44
Winners in Very Valentine Giveaway! Thanks so much for entering.
Denise, Joyce, Suzanne, Anne, and Kelly. I will be emailing you! A early Valentine's gift to all of you!
Don't forget the Brava, Valentine giveaway coming soon!
Thanks to HarpersCollins and Adraina Trigiani!
Booking Through Thurday: Snowy Day Read
Submitted by Barbara on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 11:51
Booking Through Thursday The question today!
"The northern hemisphere, at least, is socked in by winter right now… So, on a cold, wintry day, when you want nothing more than to curl up with a good book on the couch … what kind of reading do you want to do?"
After I helped my husband shoveled the driveway (ha!), I'll make myself some tea (with milk, of course), sit in my favorite chair and read!! Decisions, decisions! Do I read my current book or skim through old favorites?
Most of my time will be spent looking my children's cat books! I love my cats books and many of them illustrate cold, snowy days and nights beautifully!
The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside by Cynthia von Buhler
Santa's Snow Cat by Due Stainton and Anne Mortimer
The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes and Tasha Tudor
Other good ones: Holly by Ruth Brown, A Kitten Called Moonlight by Martin Waddell and Christian Bormingham. All well-told and well-illustrated!
And, BTW, a chance to win One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, A Man From Saigon by Marti Leimbach, and The Hungry Season by T. Greenwood! Good luck!
What's your snowy day read?
Waiting on Wednesday -- Solar by Ian McEwan
Submitted by Barbara on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:55
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I'm jazzed about Solar by Ian McEwan (March 30, 2010). Atonement, Saturday, On Chesil Beach, Amsterdam -- loved them all. All McEwan's books are filled with characters, themes, on-going personal and world issues that produce lively conversations for reading groups and book clubs!
Michael Beard is a Nobel prize–winning physicist whose best work is behind him. Trading on his reputation, he speaks for enormous fees, lends his name to the letterheads of renowned scientific institutions, and half-heartedly heads a government-backed initiative tackling global warming.
While he coasts along in his professional life, Michael’s personal life is another matter entirely. His fifth marriage is crumbling under the weight of his infidelities. But this time the tables are turned: His wife is having an affair, and Michael realizes he is still in love with her.
When Michael’s personal and professional lives begin to intersect in unexpected ways, an opportunity presents itself in the guise of an invitation to travel to New Mexico. Here is a chance for him to extricate himself from his marital problems, reinvigorate his career, and very possibly save the world from environmental disaster.
Can a man who has made a mess of his life clean up the messes of humanity?
A complex novel that brilliantly traces the arc of one man’s ambitions and self-deceptions, Solar is a startling, witty, and stylish new work from one of the world’s great writers. -- publisher summary
What's your "can't wait" read?
Teaser Tuesday 2/2 An Unfinished Score
Submitted by Barbara on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 01:19
My teaser for this week is from An Unfinished Score by Elise Blackwell (Unbridled Books, April 2010)
"The applause approached wildness and the stage shook with it when Alex, again staring at her, both of them already consumed, turned his open hand for her to stand as St. Louis bid her farewell. Because she wanted to halt time but could not, she experienced the coiled happiness and remorse as though the moment had already passed, as though she was looking back on an earlier time."
The love of music, the music of love, friendship, loss, secrets, betrayal -- enough fodder for reading groups to engage in a lively conversation.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
I love music in books -- some of my favorites are The Student Conductor by Robert Ford, Good Things I Wish You by A. Manette Ansay
What's your teaser this week? Or, what books do you like that involve music?
Chris Bohjalian's Secrets of Eden Video!
Submitted by Barbara on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 12:09
Chris Bohjalian has a video just for Reading Group Choices readers! Secrets of Eden has just been released and Chris is offering a chance to win a copy. Listen to Chris as he tells you about Secrets of Eden. Thanks, Chris!
In Publishers Weekly's starred review of Chris Bohjalian's Secrets of Eden: "Bohjalian (Law of Similars) has built a reputation on his rich characters and immersing readers in diverse subjects—homeopathy, animal rights activism, midwifery—and his latest surely won’t disappoint. . .This is a masterfully human and compassionate tale."
Developing characters, interesting issues and themes, and, of course, secrets revealed. What more can a reading group want!
What book of Chris Bohjalian's did you like the best? What intrigued you about that book?
Musing Monday, Apples and Oranges
Submitted by Barbara on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 11:25
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a random book.Go to your bookshelf and pick a random book. No cheating now, just reach out and pick one.
Now tell us about it – where did you get it? Why? Was it a gift? Does it hold any special memories? Did someone recommend it to you? etc.
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog).
My random selection is Apples and Oranges: My Brother and Me, Lost and Found by Marie Brenner.
A gift from Marie. I was in Nashville in October for the Southern Festival of Books attending the National Reading Group Month panel. Marie was an panelist and rode with with me to the panel. What a lovely person! We talked about women authors' place in the writer's world.
Apples and Oranges is Marie's memoir on how her brother and herself grew up the same and turn out so differently and with such opposing views on life's issues. By the end of the book, Carl and Marie come to terms with each other and actually like and respect each other. Excellent book and highly recommended!
I'm on the Advisory Board for the National Reading Group Month. Come join us nationwide next October and start the conversation!
What's your Monday random selection?
Friday Finds 1/29
Submitted by Barbara on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 09:48
Friday Finds! What did your find in the bookstore, in the library, on your TBR stack, talking with friends this week!
I found 3 gems this week! Reading groups and book club should find lots of conversation starters with these books -- history, women's lives, love, betrayal, secrets, passionate sometime violent love, intimacy, loss, spirituality.
Hester: The Missing Years of the Scarlet Letter by Paula Reed
Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa
The Journal Keeper by Phyllis Theroux
MizB of Should Be Reading hosts this weekly event!
Booking Through Thursday -- Twisty Endings
Submitted by Barbara on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 13:02
Do you have a favorite book that has a twist at the end? That is the question today from Booking Through Thursday.
One of my favorites is Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. The twist is unbelievable. Posted the hardcover image because it shows the mood and character of the book! I believe Lehane writes literary fiction with a mystery/thriller incorporated in the story. Great characterization, good action, excellent themes (Mystic River -- family theme, for sure!) Reading groups should try one of Lehane's books -- you will be quite surprised the number of discussion ideas. I met Dennis Lehane 4 years ago at a library show. He is funny, dry, intelligent, and very Boston!
On February 19, Shutter Island, the movie, will been released. We will see if the movie does this incredible book justice.
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian is another favorite. Check it out -- really great conversation starters for book clubs.
Do you have a favorite twisty?
