A.M. & P.M. discussions in May

Sorry everyone!  It’s been such a hectic month.  The end of the school year, the beginning of summer … and lots of reading.  I think I’ve been on a reading binge & I’ll try to profile some of the great books I’ve read over the past few weeks.

In the A.M. group discussion of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, we talked about how easy it is to look at this novel and apply our “modern” perspective to events from 1964 and judge David harshly.  Did the culture of the time play a role in his decision?  We never really resolved any of this - but we had a good discussion. 

 I had the opportunity to hear M. T. Anderson speak at the 2007 Printz Awards on Monday evening.  He accepted a Printz Honor award for his book The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation.  In his acceptance speech, he talked about how we have a tendency to look back at events in history and say “I would never do that” when we can’t really say what we would have done.  When I find a copy of his speech online, I’ll post a link because it was incredibly powerful.

The P.M. group read The Glass Castle.  The discussion for this book was both lively and thought provoking.  It is always amazing to me that 20 people can share a book and have such different interpretations.  When I first read this book, I kept thinking that these parents really loved their children but were just ignorant or didn’t take care of them the right way.  I thought that maybe love wasn’t enough.  One thread of the discussion centered on this.  One member disagreed with the idea that Jeannette’s parents loved their children.  She insisted that their behavior was not love.  Very interesting discussion.

Snowflower Discussion - Redux

What a great discussion!  Everyone had something to say about Snowflower and the Secret Fan.  I initially put off reading it - it just didn’t sound like something I’d like. I was [pleasantly] surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 

I promised everyone in the group I’d send out a letter with member phone numbers & reviews of the titles suggested at the meeting.  I hope to have those titles & reviews posted here by Friday, so check back.

Harry Potter

Of course, with all the HP hoopla going on (HP & the Deathly Hallows will be available on 7/21/07), I’ve been re-reading the series.  I’m reading The Goblet of Fire this week.  It’s amazing to me how many details I’ve forgotten since first reading the series.  I know many people who turn up their noses at Harry - it’s not great literature.  But it’s really good! J. K. Rowling has created a wonderful world with characters that you can’t help caring about.  One thing I’m finding in my re-reading is that when I picture characters ore settings in the book, I don’t really think of the movie.  I’m still imagining Hagrid’s hut as it’s described on the page, not remembering it from the movie.  I think that’s kinda cool.

Vampires?

OK - I have to admit to a yearlong obsession with vampires.  I generally don’t read horror - too scary & I have to leave the light on all night, which bothers my husband.  I tried to read Joe Hill’s Heart Shaped Box - but couldn’t.  The characters were great - but I just got too scared.

Back to vampires - last year, I discovered this great book by Stephanie Meyer.   Twilight, tells the story of Bella (a junior in high school) and Edward (a vampire who doesn’t hunt people).  Edward and his family feed off animals rather than people. Bella seems to attract danger and Edward tries to save her.  This unlikely love story is continued in the second book, New Moon  when Bella and Edward encounter evil vampires and werewolves.  On August 11th, Eclipse (the third book in this suspenseful series) will be released. 

While I’m waiting for Eclipse, I’ve been reading other not-too-scary vampire books.  You Suck by Christopher Moore was ok.  It seemed a little too west coast for me.  I’m not really happy with the ending. 

Policy Changes @ the Library

Several changes to library policy were approved by th Library Board and went into effect on Tuesday, May 1st.  All of them are positive - but things that will particularly appeal to bookgroup members are:

• No more “processing fee” for interlibrary loan
• New books now have a loan period of 14 days (instead of 10) and if no one has the book on hold, you may renew it!

If you’re looking for a book we don’t have, please request it!  There are forms at the front desk & we’ll soon have a request form on our website.  Of course, you can always email me (lcarr@seymourlibrary.org)!

Catching Up on Reading

As many of you know, I always have a pile of books next to/under my bed.  The pile never gets any smaller since I constantly add to it.  I did my best this weekend to whittle away at it.  I finished The Glass Castle and  Never Let Me Go - both titles I’m anxious to discuss with you! 

I also read Calvin Trillin’s About Alice [sigh].  I have to admit I finished that one this morning and was late making the kids lunches for school.  For those of you who haven’t read Mr. Trillin’s ode to his late wife, it is a wonderful read.  My parents recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary and I can say that my dad loves my mom the way Calvin loved Alice.

Looking for something to read?

You might be interested in perusing the blog written by Sarah @ TCPL.  It’s called “What’s Sarah Reading?” She’s trying to read 100 books and her blog will chronicle this challenge.  Go, Sarah!!

Snowflower Discussion - rescheduled!

Everyone I’ve talked to has something to say about this book!  We will discuss this for our May meeting & push the others out a month.  See the updated 2007 schedule for dates!

Snowed in…

Since the library was closed yesterday afternoon due to the weather, I took advantage to read!  I hope all of you enjoyed some reading time & didn’t spend the whole day shoveling the driveway.  I thought about posting a list of books about being snowbound…but I’m getting REALLY tired of snow.  Then I thought about garden books - that was just depressing as I looked out my window at my snow covered garden.  I finally thought of the perfect theme:  Books about wine!  I went on a tour of some Finger Lakes wineries on Sunday & (despite the weather) thoroughly enjoyed myself.  At Bloomer Creek, as the woman poured the Gamay Noir, she said “picture yourself on a beautiful spring day, on a picnic near the lake” and you know, for a brief time it did feel like spring.  Here are a couple of suggestions of books the somehow relate to wine (courtesy of St. Charles Public Library) :

Blackberry Wine by Joann Harris:  A tale narrated by a 1962 Fleurie.  From the author of Chocolat.

The Vintner’s Luck by Elizabeth Knox:  An interesting story of the friendship between a man and an angel.  The friendship begins in Burgundy in 1808 & lasts a lifetime. 

Snowflower Discussion Cancelled!

Sorry we weren’t able to meet last night.  What would you like to do?  Schedule a separate meeting for Snowflower - or try to include it (briefly) during our next meeting?  Email or call me to let me know your thoughts.  We could try posting comments here….