Book for April

Alright you closet Jane Austen fans, this is the book for you (and also the book I've chosen for April). It is called Austenland by Shannon Hall. A fun book that reflects a little bit of each of us. It's short and not too deep so it will allow you time to read other books of your choosing as well. Happy reading and we'll talk in April.

A Tribute to Frank McCourt

Browsing through the books on CD at the library one day a long time ago I came across a familiar title, Angela's Ashes. I hadn't seen the movie but figured since it was made into a movie it must be pretty good. As I began listening during my daily commute I realized this book isn't just 'pretty good' it is the best book I have ever read (or listened to). Angela's Ashes is Frank McCourt's recount of his life growing up in Ireland--"A miserable childhood" which he points out in his opening statement.

Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize winning story is read in his own voice, which makes listening to it a beautiful cultural experience. He even sings! If you decide to read this book based on this blog entry, please listen to it instead. Again, the story is so much better when hearing his voice and inflection.

Frank McCourt has written two additional memoirs: 'Tis and Teacher Man. Both are wonderful. There is a part in 'Tis where I laughed so hard tears came. If anyone has ever tried teaching teenagers they will be able to relate wholeheartedly to Teacher Man--I read it when I was attempting to teach life skills to criminal teens at an alternative high school. He has also written a children's book, about Christmas, Angela and The Baby Jesus.

Frank McCourt's reflection of his life has made such a difference in my life. Though I cannot relate to the degree of suffering he has experienced, I can very much relate to his emotional experience and reaction to the irony, humor, and humanity of of the world. I am so grateful I picked up his book that day...

You can learn more about Frank McCourt a this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_McCourt

Questions for Eragon

Just a few easy questions.

What was your favorite part of the book?
Would you read the next books in the series?
What do you think about the author being so young when he wrote it?

Hope you enjoyed it.

Book for March

Ok… when Ruth asked me if I would like to choose a book for March, I was supper honored and I thought of 15 different books that I had enjoyed reading. When I had to narrow it down, I could not decide between a classic, a novel or a history fiction. So, based on the books read previously on this blog, I decided to go with a fun read book that makes you think a little and makes you feel good by the time you are done. I hope you all enjoy this as I did. The book is Street Lawyer, by John Grisham. It is an older book and if most of you have already read this or prefer another type of book, let me know and I will choose another book. Have fun reading….

Breaking Dawn

For those of you who don't know, Breaking Dawn (4th book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer) will be available August 2nd!!! This announcement this week has me looking forward to August instead of dreading it (since I'll be turning 30! Agh!). As soon as I told my husband the news he said, "Great! That can be your birthday present!" Personally, I think he just wants me to read it so he can find out what happens to Bella. But really, who can blame him? I've told him the whole story & I don't think a week goes by that we don't discuss something from the book. He used to try to find the flaws with the fabulous world Stephenie created. But now I think he's resigned to the fact that I'll keep reading these books over and over again. Hey, at least I'm not as addicted to them as some people I know. . . :)

Jane Austen Quiz

Look who I am:

Take the Quiz here!

Book for February

I know that Fantasy is not everyones cup of tea but since it is my favorite genre I chose a fantasy book. The book is Eragon by Christopher Paolini. What is most amazing about this book is that the author wrote it when he was 16 years old. Funny but that actually made me love the book more because I was impressed with the level of writing skill from one so young. If you have already seen the movie do not be deterred from reading the book. There is alot more to the story then they could include in the movie. It may even explain a few things. Also if you have already read this book and liked it you may want to read the next books in the series, Eldest and Brisingr.

Happy reading.

Questions for discussion of the Alchemist

Here are some questions I found on-line that might help to guide the discussion of this month's book. Feel free to comment on some or all of them, or to comment on other aspects of the book not mentioned here. Also, check back after commenting to see if someone else has something to say about your opinion. Just like a regular book club, it's okay to make more than one comment.

1. At the start of his journey, when Santiago asks a Gypsy woman to interpret his dream about a treasure in the Egyptian pyramids, she asks for one-tenth of the treasure in return. When Santiago asks the old man to show him the path to the treasure, the old man requests one-tenth of his flock as "payment." Both payments represent a different price we have to pay to fulfill a dream; however, only one will yield a true result. Which payment represents false hope? Can you think of examples from your own life when you had to give up something to meet a goal and found the price too high?

2. Paulo Coelho once said that alchemy is all about pursuing our spiritual quest in the physical world as it was given to us. It is the art of transmuting the reality into something sacred, of mixing the sacred and the profane. With this in mind, can you define your Personal Legend? At what time in your life were first able to act on it? What was your "beginner's luck"? Did anything prevent you from following it to conclusion? Having read "The Alchemist," do you know what inner resources you need to continue the journey?

3. One of the first major diversions from Santiago's journey was the theft of his money in Tangier, which forced him into taking a menial job with the crystal merchant. There, Santiago learned many lessons on everything from the art of business to the art of patience. Of all these, which lessons were the most crucial to the pursuit of his Personal Legend?
When he talked about the pilgrimage to Mecca, the crystal merchant argues that having a dream is more important than fulfilling it, which is what Santiago was trying to do. Do you agree with Santiago's rationale or the crystal merchant's?

4. The alchemist tells Santiago "you don't even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is to contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation." With this in mind, why do you think the alchemist chose to befriend Santiago, though he knew that the Englishman was the one looking at him? What is the meaning of two dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis? At one point the alchemist explains to Santiago the secret of successfully turning metal to gold. How does this process compare to finding a Personal Legend?

5. Why did Santiago have to go through the dangers of tribal wars on the outskirts of the oasis in order to reach the Pyramids? At the very end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it?

6. Earlier in the story, the alchemist told Santiago "when you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed." At the end of the story, how did this simple lesson save Santiago's life? How did it lead him back to the treasure he was looking for?

7. Are omens really out there and are they important? What are omens? Are they just illusions that we see to justify something we feel or want to do, or are they something more?

8. What was the point of finding the treasure close to where it was first dreamed about?
Was the journey or finding the treasure more important? What does this mean about life? What happens in life when one actually achieves their personal legend?

9. Does the simplistic and primitive style of this book add or detract from the main goal, what ever you think the main goal is?

10. What does it mean to say "the universe conspires to help you achieve what you want"?

Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry

For those of you who liked The Giver, this book is a must-read! It is advertised as the sequel to The Giver, but does not continue the story. Therefore, you can enjoy this book even without ever having read the first.

Lois Lowry explains that, "in the distant future, after the world we know has wrecked itself, . . . new kinds of societies will emerge." Gathering Blue is about a girl named Kira who lives in one such society. The story begins with Kira mourning her mother's death. She is left with nothing: no house, no money, no family (her father died before she was born). Kira's story is one of courage as she does what's "right" in the midst of danger.

Lowry's writing is so simple yet captivating that you will not be able to put the book down. With 215 pages and having been written for young adults, you can easily finish it in one day. The concepts portrayed are thought-provoking and applicable to our own lives, despite the sci-fi genre.

I highly recommend Gathering Blue and look forward to reading its own sequel, Messenger.

Twilight. . . again!

Okay, so I just wanted to admit how ridiculous I am. Today I bought a copy of Twilight again! Yes, I already have a copy. And yes, I already read it. But I read it before I got here to the UK. And then I left it in the storage unit in Ogden. And then I read New Moon. And then I read Eclipse. And then I got addicted. So now I had to buy another copy so that I can re-read the series. It's not like I could just re-read the other two without starting at the beginning of the story.

So if you still have not read this series, now is the perfect time! Why? Because the 4th book, Breaking Dawn, should be available sometime this year and the movie Twilight is scheduled for release Dec 12, 2008!