The Glass Castle Discussion Questions

1.  Did you like The Glass Castle?  Which scenes were the most shocking, the most inspiring, the funniest?

2.  What kind of man was Rex Walls?  What were his strengths and weaknesses, his flaws and contractions?

3.  What kind of woman was Rose Mary Walls?  What did you think about her description of herself as an "excitement addict?

4.  What is the "glass castle" and what does it signify to Jeanette and her father?

5.  Though it portrays a hard life, The Glass Castle is never depressing.  How did the author achieve this?

6.  Did you find it easy or difficult to be nonjudgmental toward Jeanette's parents?

Book of the Month for June

I've recently discovered how much I enjoy young adult fiction, particularly fantasy. That's one reason I chose "The Princess and the Hound" by Mette Ivie Harrison. Don't be mislead by the title. It is more about a prince and is written from his perspective. Also, keep in mind when you finish it that there is a sequel. Amazon recommended this book to me I think because I bought Twilight. I was interested in it not only for its story but for its reviews. There is a very complimentary review on the cover by Orson Scott Card. So, I gave it a try. It's an interesting story about a prince who has the animal magic, which is punishable by death. He is betrothed to a strange princess in a neighboring kingdom who has an unusual bond with her hound. They both have secrets they've kept from the world, and these secrets will either bring them together or keep them apart. I liked it very much, and I hope you will too.

Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf

I have a recommendation: "Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff" by Jennifer L. Holm. This is the most unique and creative book I have ever read. The story is not told the conventional way. It is literally told through stuff like the title says. Each page tells the story through various things like Ginni's (the main character) to-do-lists, shopping lists, school class schedules, report cards, English essays, notes from her mom, etc. It was such a fun way to get to know Ginni and her 7th grade year of middle school. I think all of us can sympathize in some ways with Ginni. Shannon Hale recommended the book on her website, and it got rave reviews on Amazon.com, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. It was a very fun read. With no interruptions, you could probably read it in an hour or so. I had a hard time putting it down because I was so drawn into the story and how it is told. It is a very clever book and very well done too. If you're interested in something light, fun, and interesting you should give this book a try.