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.

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)!

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….

Books, be free…

Woohoo… new books are no longer locked behind glass in the two display cases.  They are processed and put in the “new books” section in the fireplace room.  Patsy & others:  I know you are excited about this.  Celebrate by stopping in and picking out a new book for the weekend!

Reading Group Guide’s Top 10 Discussion Books 2006

Drum roll, please!

#10: Year of Wonders (Tie)
#10: Water for Elephants (Tie)
#9: Red Tent (Tie)
#9: Pope Joan (Tie)
#8: March (Tie)
#8: The History of Love (Tie)
#7: The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night- time
#6: The Devil in the White City
#5: Snow Flower & the Secret Fan
#4: The Glass Castle
#3: The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
#2: My Sister’s Keeper

And The Top Discussible Title of 2006 Is

#1: The Kite Runner

Books we might consider for discussion

I received a suggestion from one of our book group members to read and discuss Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout.   Here’s the bookjacket blurb:

In her luminous and long-awaited new novel, bestselling author Elizabeth Strout welcomes readers back to the archetypal, lovely landscape of northern New England, where the events of her first novel, Amy and Isabelle, unfolded. In the late 1950s, in the small town of West Annett, Maine, a minister struggles to regain his calling, his family, and his happiness in the wake of profound loss. At the same time, the community he has served so charismatically must come to terms with its own strengths and failings–faith and hypocrisy, loyalty and abandonment–when a dark secret is revealed…

Don’t forget to email me (lcarr@seymourlibrary.org) or call with other suggestions!

Snow Flower & the Secret Fan

The Monday Evening group will discuss this book next week.  For those of you still waiting for a copy of the book – don’t despair!  I’m still looking for additional copies!  Make sure you’ve placed a hold on existing copies – because that’s what I work with when I get the additional copies in. There are three copies at Waldenbooks for those that want to purchase their own book.

For those of you who have read the book, I’ve done a little background research for our discussion.  Please visit Lisa See’s website for interesting biographical information. 

Discussion Questions (from ReadingGuide.com)

More Discussion Questions (from BookBrowse.com)