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 1st The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus |  2nd Brother I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat |  3rd The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman |
Strawberry Sherbet
5 months ago
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Next Meeting
Let's set the next meeting for November 14th
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18 comments:
Here is my suggestion for our next book: Brother I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat. It is the story of a Haitian family's immigration to the US. Nancy
Also, November 15th is a Saturday. Should we set it for the 14th?
My book suggestion is Grace by Richard Paul Evans. He is one of the authors at the luncheon this year. I went on Amazon and I was able to copy the beginning of the first chapter. I tried to copy paste a picture of the book in but I am not quite that savvy yet.
Chapter
One
My memory of her has grown on my soul
like ivy climbing a home until it begins to tear and
tug at the very brick and mortar itself.
ERIC WELCH'S DIARY
DECEMBER 25, 2006
It's Christmas day. There is Christmas music playing from the radio in the other room. Mitch Miller's "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." It's a little late, I think; Santa's come and gone, as have our children and grandchildren. They've left an impressive mess in their wake, but I don't care. As I get older I've come to treasure any evidence of family. Snow is falling outside and all is peaceful and still. In such moments it is possible to believe that the world could still be good.
Something profound happened to me today. It started innocently enough -- as most life-changing experiences do -- with a request from my grandchildren to read them a Christ-mas story, "The Little Match Girl." I've never been a fan of the tale, but, like most grandparents, I'm not one to deny my grandchildren. As I read to them, something happened to me; by the end of the story I was crying. Four-year-old Ebony Brooke tried to console me. "It's okay, Grandpa," she said. "It's just a story."
It's not just a story, there really was a little match girl and she changed my life in ways I'm still trying to understand. Even the grandchildren sitting before me wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. As important as she is to me, I've never shared her story. It's finally time that I did.
My memory, like my eyesight, has waned with age and I pray I can get the story right. Still, there are things that become clearer to me as I grow older. This much I know: too many things were kept secret in those days. Things that never should have been hidden. And things that should have.
Who was she? She was my first love. My first kiss. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She was a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.
There is pain in bringing out these memories. I suppose I don't really know why I feel compelled to write at this time, only that I am. Maybe I want those closest to me to finally know what has driven me for all these years. Why, every Christmas, I occasionally slip away into my thoughts to someplace else. Or maybe it's just that I still love her and wonder, after all this time, if I can still find grace.
Copyright © 2008 by Richard Paul Evans
Ok gals in starting this blog I came across the very first book we read that actually started this book club...remember 1,000 White Women by Jim Fergus. Anyways, he has a new book out called The Wild Girl (it's in paperback). Wouldn't it be fun to read a book from our first book club from 2001? Just a thought see what you think.
The books all sound great. I truly cherish these book nights! I am hoping to read Nineteen Minutes this week while up north. Is this next book club meeting at my house? Let me know please. I would love to read the book by the author of 1,000 White Women. I wasn't in the club when you all read this, but it was a favorite of mine and I'd love to see what his next book is like. Have a wonderful break everyone! Again, Kate, dinner was wonderful - surpassed only by the company seated around the table. Erin
November 14th works for me and cannot do November 15th
My vote is Jim Fergus's new book next...(Flagrant/obvious ploy of trying to get back on Ariane'side regarding this author...)but it looks like a LL book too!
Yes on Brother I'm Dying and no to Grace. Grace is not in paperback yet and also looked at Amazon'a negative views and didn't seem too promising...
I LOVE this blog -- thanks Ariane for keeping us on the "cutting edge"
Does everyone agree to The Wild Girl? I went ahead and ordered in on Ebay for 7.52 total with shipping. It's not at the library.
I am okay with reading anything, but if we choose Wild Girl, can someone lend me their copy? I really disliked 1000 White Women and don't want to purchase another book by the same author. ;) Are we set with November 14th as the date? I will double check my list and confirm who is hosting. Erin, if it is you, do you need to pass until your construction is done?
I will read anything. I can meet either date too.
I could probably host that meeting if needed. I think I will be moving within the next two weeks, but I am not sure yet. Life is crazy here!
Ok I'm making a decision.
1st Wild Girl
Next Brother I'm Dying
Next Zookeeper's
Erin and Tiffany might have conflicts so let's skip them and have it at Cathy's if that's with you Cathy.
I'm up for the book by Jim Fergus (The Wild Girl). I loved his first book and this one is inexpensive via Amazon. I'm sorry I cannot host the November meeting all....our remodel/addition seems to go on forever. I will be happy to double up on meetings once we finish it that will help. Thanks! Erin
I'm up for the book. I should know in the next 3 days if we are moving this week. If all works out we will move Thursday or Friday of this week. If not this week, then most likely next week. Anyway, I could host the meeting in November.
Hey I just figured this thing out! When I tried reading this from school I couldn't figure it out. But from home it has all of these really nice little windows for everyting.
I just bought the book and am looking forward to reading it this week.
I think I was in a mystery mood when I picked out books and was trying to stay away from the strong women books.
A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr - it is a movie with John Travolta and a true story.
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
Web London was trained to penetrate hostile ground and coume out alive. Then ten seconds in a dark alley cost him everything: his friends, his fellow agents, his reputation. Among his super-elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team, Web was the sole survivor of a high-tech, devastating ambus.
Without Mercy by Jack Higgins
Sean Dillon and his allies beat back a terrible enemy., but at an equally terrible cost. One of them was shot, another run down in the street. Both were expected to survive - only one does.
Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott
Did Sir Isaac Newton's ambition drive him to murder? A haunting literary thriller in which a contemporary Cambride murder story becomes entangled with a true-life historical mystery involving Isaac Newton's alchemy
Thank you for agreeing to host the book club this week Tiffany. I want to run something by you all to see if you're agreeable/interested. The HEAL (Happily Ever After League) wants to know whether groups would be willing to sponsor a family for the holidays (Christmas). If the group is willing to do it, we would seek a small family given the size of our group. Let's discuss on Friday night, okay?
I like all of Cathy's suggestions except for Jack Higgins. I would pass on him but the others look fun!
See you Friday...
I thoroughly enjoyed "The Wild Girl". Jim Fergus' first novel, "1000 White Women" was one of my favorite reads in a long time. While this was a much shorter book, it pulled me in and it read very quickly. I love historical fiction - and this one, being set in Arizona and the desert Southwest, made me feel as if I was stepping back into time.
This was my first Richard Paul Evans book, and I did enjoy it. I must admit I had never heard the story of The Little Match Girl! I found the fictional story easy to read, and I was chagrined to learn that she had died, though I did anticipate that she would. Anyone who has witnessed or been touched by abuse of any kind would feel pained to know of what Grace had tried to escape, naive as her and Eric's attempt to flee the situation had been. I loved Eric's efforts to help Grace realize some of her dreams - the birthday celebration, the Hawaii celebration. I would definitely read another of his books, I loved how quickly it read, especially in the hectic holiday season!
I am probably the only one of us who actually enjoyed The Crimson Petal and the White! I know that there were editing issues, and yes, he does write on and on. I also was left wondering what that special sexual act was that only Sugar could do so well....
I did enjoy the book however, and having recommended it to the club, I am sure I will take many an arrow tonight and in the meetings to come :-)
However, what I did find interesting is that of all of the people I have recommended this book to, everyone else loved this book! I have recommended it to previous book club folks, to relatives and friends, from their 30s to their late 80s, and we all loved it. Not sure what that says about me or them, but I will be curious to learn more about the issues that turned everyone off so much!
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