new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: book club, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 26 - 50 of 75
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: book club in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
By:
admin,
on 10/30/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Christian,
book club,
Catholic,
Summer/vacation reading,
ethics/morality,
children's,
character,
homeschooling,
homeschool,
classroom,
homeless,
children's lit,
character education,
young readers,
generations,
differences,
indigent,
teachers/librarians,
character formation,
review,
reading,
kids,
children's books,
books,
winter,
teaching,
family,
courage,
generosity,
friendship,
childrens book,
book,
fiction,
ethics,
book review,
juvenile,
primary,
Uncategorized,
young children,
justice,
nurse,
young reader,
poverty,
poor,
parent,
morals,
reader,
special education,
teach,
virtue,
single parent,
marginalized,
Add a tag
Warren, Jill. (2011) Abe’s Lucky Day. Outskirts Press Inc. ISBN 978-1-4327-7305-2. Age 8 and under.
Publisher’s description: Any day can be a lucky day. Abe is a homeless man who lives in the alley behind a bakery and winter is coming. What will happen on his lucky day that will change his life?
Our thoughts:
Introducing us to the varied faces of distress and homelessness, Abe’s Lucky Day reminds us that , while food, warm clothes and dry beds feel great, helping others feels even better. Illustrations permit the child to imagine themselves in the story, and so can feel the heartwarming rewards of selflessness…definitely good for your Litland.com family book club or a preschool classroom. Part luck and lots of kindness, Abe’s Lucky Day infuses a desire for kindness and generosity into its reader’s mind and heart, and is sure to strengthen bonds within the family reading it as well :>) Great for gift-giving, pick up your copy in our Litland.com Bookstore!
By:
admin,
on 10/30/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
railroad,
train,
morals,
highway,
wagon,
roads,
steam engine,
children's books,
book reviews,
books,
Uncategorized,
history,
children's,
non-fiction,
character,
folklore,
children's lit,
book club,
young readers,
generations,
automobile,
middle readers,
advanced reader interest,
Summer/vacation reading,
teachers/librarians,
review,
reading,
family,
kids,
literature,
ethics,
teaching,
environment,
homeschooling,
homeschool,
green,
classroom,
Add a tag
Nordhielm Wooldridge, Connie. (2011) Just Fine the Way They Are: From Dirt Roads to Rail Roads to Interstates. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek of Boyds Mill Press. ISBN 978-1-59078-710-6. (26 pgs) Author recommends grades 4-6; Litland adds excellent for younger advanced readers.
Publisher’s Description: Change. Who needs it? We do! Mr. John Slack, the keeper of a tavern beside a rutted dirt road in the early 1800s, thought things were just fine the way they were. So did Lucius Stockton who ran the National Road Stage Company in the mid 1800s. So too, did the owners of the railroads when the first model T appeared in 1908. Yet with each new innovation, Americans were able to move around the country more quickly, efficiently, and comfortably. Connie Woolbridge offers an informative, yet light-hearted look at how the dirt roads of the early 1800s evolved into the present-day U.S. highway system. Richard Walz’s gorgeous paintings capture both the broad sweep and the individual impact of change and progress.
Our thoughts:
What a great overview of American history focused on transportation! Told in a folky style, the narrator’s storytelling voice reminds us of sitting on the front porch and listening to elders of the family recount the same stories over and over again. And even though we already knew the story, we enjoyed hearing it once more. Only for 8-11 year olds, these stories will be new :>)
Just Fine the Way They Are has lots of potential uses:
* reluctant readers, particularly boys, will find an easy and entertaining style holding their attention.
* a discussion tool for talking about feelings or conflict, making it great for family book clubs or class discussions.
* illustrations are brilliantly eye-catching—I was sitting in a diner reading this, and the waitress walked over saying “What a cute book!”. As such, it would surely keep the students’ attention if read to the class, whether reading to a traditional classroom or homeschool kids around the dining table.
* While intended for 4th, 5th & 6th grades, it also would be great for accelerated students writing their first book report.
An added touch: it comes complete with a historic timeline, bibliography, and list of relevant websites. Plus the author (a former elementary school librarian) has lesson plans on her website too (see http://conniewooldridge.com/ )! This is one of those unique books that provide diversity on the bookshelf, catching the eye of the reader looking for something a bit different, and being enjoyed many times over :>) Pick up a copy at our Litland.com Bookstore!
You can read all the online book reviews in the world, but nothing beats real-world conversations between readers, and authors. To help our community grow, we will host our second West Coast edition of the Mediabistro Book Club on October 11th in Los Angeles.
If you are an author or publicist looking to participate, you can follow this link to apply. The deadline is September 5, 2011 at 11:59 PM (PT). If you are a reader, mark your calendar–the next installment of our free book club will feature four authors from different genres, tons of book giveaways and plenty of practical conversation. The location will be announced soon.
Here’s more from the application: “Mediabistro.com is proud to bring the mediabistro book club to Los Angeles, where authors can highlight their latest work to mediabistro party attendees. At the event, four authors will mingle and share drinks with mediabistro.com’s influential audience and read a five minute selection from their work.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
admin,
on 7/31/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
ya,
young adult,
war,
young adults,
teaching,
teen,
review,
science fiction,
reading,
family,
kids,
literature,
fiction,
ethics,
God,
teens,
children's books,
book reviews,
books,
Uncategorized,
adventure,
book,
children's,
character,
homeschooling,
apocalypse,
classroom,
children's lit,
book club,
sci fi,
android,
artificial intelligence,
Bernard Beckett,
apocalyptic,
advanced reader interest,
Summer/vacation reading,
ethics/morality,
teachers/librarians,
science or nature,
Adam & Eve,
philosophy,
homeschool,
evil,
evolution,
creation,
novella,
post-apocalyptic,
morals,
good,
intellectual,
Genesis,
consciousness,
intelligence,
Original sin,
Quercus,
man-made,
Add a tag
Beckett, Bernard. (2006) Genesis. London: Quercus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84724-930-2. Author age: young adult. Litland recommends age 14+.
Publisher’s description:
The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea. Fourteen-year-old Anax thinks she knows her history. She’d better. She’s sat facing three Examiners and her five-hour examination has just begun. The subject is close to her heart: Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. In a series of startling twists, Anax discovers new things about Adam and her people that question everything she holds sacred. But why is the Academy allowing her to open up the enigma at its heart? Bernard Beckett has written a strikingly original novel that weaves dazzling ideas into a truly moving story about a young girl on the brink of her future.
Our thoughts:
Irregardless of whether you are an evolutionist or creationist, if you like intellectual sci-fi you’ll love this book. How refreshing to read a story free from hidden agendas and attempts to indoctrinate its reader into a politically-correct mindset. And while set in a post-apocalyptic era, the world portrayed is one in which inhabitants have been freed from the very things that sets humans apart from all other creation, including man-made. Once engulfed in the story, the reader is drawn into an intellectual battle over this “difference” between man and man-made intelligence. The will to kill; the existence of evil. A new look at original sin. And a plot twist at the end that shifts the paradigm of the entire story.
Borrowing from the American movie rating scale, this story would be a PG. Just a few instances of profanity, it is a thought-provoking read intended for mature readers already established in their values and beliefs, and who would not make the error of interpreting the story to hold any religious metaphors. The “myth” of Adam and Art, original sin and the genesis of this new world is merely a structure familiar to readers, not a message. The reader is then free to fully imagine this new world without the constraints of their own real life while still within the constraints of their own value system.
Genesis is moderately short but very quick paced, and hard to put down once you’ve started! Thus it is not surprising to see the accolades and awards accumulated by Beckett’s book. The author, a New Zealand high school teacher instructing in Drama, English and Mathematics, completed a fellowship study on DNA mutations as well. This combination of strengths gives Genesis its intrigue as well as complexity. Yet it is never too theoretical as to exclude its reader. See our review against character education criteria at Litland.com’s teen book review section. And pick up your own copy in our bookstore!
By:
admin,
on 7/11/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
A Fairy Tale Retold,
authentic relationships,
dorms,
Regina Doman,
same sex attraction,
review,
ya,
teens,
book reviews,
books,
reading,
adventure,
book,
literature,
gay,
fiction,
fairy tale,
novel,
young adult,
ethics,
young adults,
fairy,
God,
teaching,
college,
Mystery,
character,
hospital,
teen,
depression,
therapy,
fire,
Christian,
healing,
abuse,
book club,
mental illness,
Sleeping Beauty,
freshman,
morals,
Catholic,
pro-life,
gender identity,
Briar Rose,
sexual assault,
nun,
vigil,
scholar,
Summer/vacation reading,
ethics/morality,
teachers/librarians,
Add a tag
WAKING ROSE: A FAIRY TALE RETOLD
Doman, Regina. (2007) Waking Rose: a fairy tale retold. Front Royal, VA: Chesterton Press. ISBN #978-0-981-93184-5. Author recommended age: 16 +. Litland.com also recommends 16+. See author explanation for parents at http://www.fairytalenovels.com/page.cfm/cat/116//
Publisher’s description: Ever since he rescued her from Certain Death, Rose Brier has had a crush on Ben Denniston, otherwise known as Fish. But Fish, struggling with problems of his own, thinks that Rose should go looking elsewhere for a knight in shining armor. Trying to forget him, Rose goes to college, takes up with a sword-wielding band of brothers, and starts an investigation into her family’s past that proves increasingly mysterious. Then a tragic accident occurs, and Fish, assisted by Rose’s new friends, finds himself drawn into a search through a tangle of revenge and corruption that might be threatening Rose’s very life. The climax is a crucible of fear, fight, and fire that Fish must pass through to reach Rose and conquer his dragons.
Our thoughts:
It is difficult to capture the essence of this story coherently because it touches upon so many aspects of life. There is the mystery, of course, and continuing depth of family loyalty amongst the Briers. The craziness of those first years experienced when young adults leave their nest and venture into the outer world of college life, whether as newbie freshmen or advanced graduate students. Unlikely friendships as the strong nurture the weak with Kateri mentoring Donna in her mental illness, and Rose guiding Fish through abuse recovery. Fish’s loyalty to Rose, taken to the extreme, becomes unforgiving. But then self-denigration turns into enlightenment and hope.
And after all of that is said, we are left with the relationship of Fish and Rose finally reaching a neat and tidy conclusion :>)
The girls have progressed in the series to young adults. Blanche just married Bear and Rose is off to college. Fish continues in his college program too. Doman shows us the challenges young adults face when they first enter the world on their own, particularly in making friends and exploring crushes. We can imagine ourselves engaged in the chit chat and horseplay typical in budding relationships. Important also is the picture implanted in our mind of courtship.
Throughout the story, we can see the existence of three pillars: faith, family and friends. Whenever one of these pillars is weakened, internal conflict and unsafe situations arise. Maintaining the balance, we see Rose’s keen ability for discernment that has been honed as a result of consistency in faith life, family home “culture, and choice of friends. Her discernment is key to good decisions, keeping safe, etc.
Going beyond stereotypes, the dialogue paints a clear picture of the perceptions held by non-Christians against Christians, countered with a realistic portrayal of the passionate young Christian student. Previous books portrayed ac
By: Lauren,
on 5/24/2011
Blog:
OUPblog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
*Featured,
the pale king,
Matthew Gallaway,
The Metropolis Case,
gallaway,
Seth Colter Walls,
word for word,
30pm,
avenues,
hagar’s,
overusing,
45pm,
free books,
blog,
Literature,
Current Events,
New York City,
book club,
Leisure,
matthew,
Reading Room,
bryant,
Bryant Park,
Add a tag
Have you heard the Word…for Word? Oxford University Press is proud to partner with the Bryant Park Reading Room in support of the Word for Word Book Club. The series kicks off today, with six more Clubs scheduled throughout the summer. Be sure to stop by the Reading Room early for a FREE* copy of the book club selections.
The Bryant Park Blog posed to following questions to resident OUP Law Editor and acclaimed novelist Matthew Gallaway, author of The Metropolis Case, who will lead today’s Word for Word Book Club, along with Seth Colter Walls. This first discussion of the season will focus on The Pale King, the posthumously published novel by David Foster Wallace.
You can meet Matthew Gallaway today, May 24th, at 12:30pm in beautiful Bryant Park. The outdoor Reading Room is just off 42nd St, between 5th and 6th Avenues in New York City. In the event of rain, discussions will relocate to the The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, 20 West 44th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenues).
Where do you do your best writing? In airports.
Did you have an “a-ha!” moment that made you want to be a writer? When I read Against The Grain, by JK Huysmans.
Which author do you wish had been your 7th grade English teacher? Oscar Wilde.
What is your secret talent? I’m very good at growing ferns.
What is your favorite book? In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust.
Who reads your first draft? My partner Stephen.
Do you read your books after they’ve been published? No.
What book are you currently reading? All Aunt Hagar’s Children, by Edward P. Jones
What word or punctuation mark are you most guilty of overusing? The em-dash.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? A gardener.
For more information on Matthew and his new book, check out this episode of The Oxford Comment podcast.
*Yes, by “free” we mean free. Actually, truly, really free. Register to reserve your complimentary copy, or take your chances and get there early; books are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Word for Word Book Club
Tuesdays , 12:30pm – 1:45pm
May 24, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23
Reading Room
By:
admin,
on 5/22/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Vatican,
priest,
space ship,
ya,
teens,
book reviews,
science fiction,
reading,
adventure,
fiction,
young adult,
teaching,
space,
homeschool,
teen,
Christian,
anthology,
book club,
sci fi,
Catholic,
Add a tag
12 days of sci-fi: The end!
Our final story is a bit of a mind-bender from the view of physical existence as well as spiritual beliefs…
Dyads by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen
Editor’s note: “The Church has not yet spoken definitively on whether or not the Christian faith applies to aliens… The current thinking is that God will manifest Himself to intelligent species in a specific manner that makes sense to them. In the case of the Thalendri–fox-like sentients who mate for life–God has revealed his sacred Trinity as Husband, Wife, and Eternal Dance. They also make it very clear that what is holy and right for Thalendri is not necessarily holy and right for humans…”
It is a time of post Vatican VI; post Islamic wars which desecrated all physical signs of the original Christian church including the Vatican. A post-apocalyptic religion story that portrays those of a sincere faith contrasted to self-possessed fanatics. Bucky Bible refers to himself as Christian but clearly acts contrary to the foundations of his faith; extreme Muslims who cause the Islamic wars, exterminating even their Muslim brethren; and fuzzy aliens who take revenge in the name of their fuzzy religion. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from Fr. Heidler’s travelogue, the insights of which set the tone. Read the various litanies of saints closely too, to see which are real and which are of a time not yet seen!
As indicated in the editor’s notes, this story purports that God manifests himself to aliens in a way that they understand. However, the attempt to demonstrate the alien religion is unacceptable for humans is based upon physical differences of the two species, and not theological error of the alien religion. This leaves the reader open to considering God’s relationship with his creation in a manner that differs from God’s revelation to us through scripture and tradition. As such, some readers may be offended. Given the general belief today that people do not develop solid judgment and decision making abilities until after age 20, this story might have been better placed in an adult anthology rather than one aimed towards teens. Therefore, parents are advised to consider this within their own family values.
(Alan Loewen lives near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, three children, a Sheltie, a homicidal parrot and way too many cats. A pastor for two small country churches and a writer, he is working with fellow author Ken Pick on a trilogy that will further expand the adventures of Father Eric Heidler and Jill Noir, a character that appeared in Mask of the Ferret in Infinite Space, Infinite God I. His blog documenting his writing adventures can be found at http://literary-equine.livejournal.com/ .
Ken Pick (“Dyads”): Ken Pick is a computer programmer and moderately-practicing Catholic layman from Southern California. Cursed with a hyperactive imagination, he writes (among many-many other things) in an attempt to stay sane. He is currently working with co-author Alan Loewen expanding “Mask of the Ferret” (Infinite Space, Infinite God I) and “Dyads” into a braided novel, the first book in a projected trilogy. An additional story in the same arc, “Down to Cathuria”, appeared in the small-press anthology Different Worlds, Diff
By:
admin,
on 5/14/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
advanced reader interest,
Summer/vacation reading,
ethics/morality,
space ship,
teens,
children's books,
book reviews,
family,
kids,
adventure,
book,
literature,
fiction,
ethics,
God,
children's,
character,
bible,
homeschool,
classroom,
Christian,
children's lit,
anthology,
book club,
sci fi,
Catholic,
ya,
science fiction,
reading,
young adult,
teaching,
mystery,
space,
morals,
Add a tag
12 Days of Sci-Fi, Day 11:
Having stories centered either in outer space or on earth, we now have both. Frankie in space returning to earth…
Frankie Phones Home by Karina Fabian
Responsibility
Editor’s comment: “God’s calling or no, she should have honored her parents by telling them personally what was going on…”
Rather than a story, this is more of an amusing intermission. Carrying on from the story first presented in ISIG volume I, we are to imagine its main character, Frankie, finally returning home. Imagine, after a two year absence in outer space, what it would be like to call mom and try to explain it all to her…well, I’ll let you read for yourself in Infinite Space, Infinite God II http://ow.ly/4F48e .
(Karina Fabian writes a wide variety of fiction involving characters with faith. Her first anthology, Infinite Space, Infinite God I, won the EPPIE award for best sci-fi. Her humorous fantasy involving a dragon and nun detective team, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, won the 2010 INDIE for best fantasy. She’s also written a small devotional with her father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, Why God Matters. Visit her website at http://www.fabianspace.com .)
By:
admin,
on 5/9/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
ethics/morality,
ya,
science fiction,
reading,
kids,
young adult,
teaching,
homeschool,
teen,
morals,
priest,
space ship,
teens,
children's books,
book reviews,
family,
adventure,
ethics,
God,
historical fiction,
character,
bible,
classroom,
Christian,
book club,
sci fi,
Catholic,
Basilica,
advanced reader interest,
Summer/vacation reading,
Add a tag
12 days of sci-fi, day 9:
Once again, we’ve taken off to parts of the galaxy that even Spock and Captain Kirk never imagined! Basilica gives an interesting “take” on space ship architecture…
Basilica by John Rundle
Good vs. Evil
Editor’s comment (quoting author): (Rundle) “A hero is the architect of his own salvation; that is the very definition of a hero. If a hero can’t do that, he becomes a supporting character with no one to support, an empty suit.”
I agree with the editors: Basilica was a great story. Not a syllable wasted in description that created a fast paced adventure in a short amount of “space” (pages, not outer), the protagonist’s moral dilemma only exists because of his strong moral character. Loyalty to authority of admiralty, choosing to protect civilizations from evil even at the cost of their own lives, all of this heightens the dilemma. The characters know from the outset they must sacrifice themselves for the good of all civilizations; acting in a self-serving manner just isn’t a choice for them. As we are flooded with modern entertainment in all forms (film, book, cable, games) that simply offer “empty suits”, it is refreshing to have such a strong hero at the helm of this ship.
Nine stories, nine excellent reads! Don’t miss them in the anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God II http://ow.ly/4F48e .
(John “Fish” Rundle (“Basilica”): After graduating from college summa cum laude, John turned to writing fiction simply to relieve stress. It became a wonderful outlet for his imagination and he eagerly wrote first plays and then detective fiction then novels and finally short stories. A lifelong Christian, he enjoys writing religious fiction at every opportunity and is no stranger to writing for a Catholic audience. John lives a quiet life in the wilds of Arizona with Iris, his long-suffering wife of almost twenty years.)
By: Michelle,
on 5/9/2011
Blog:
OUPblog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
sexual politics,
read bossypants,
Literature,
summer,
cover,
book club,
Leisure,
Tina Fey,
saturday night live,
Bossypants,
*Featured,
TV & Film,
fancypants,
How Literature Works,
John Sutherland,
Add a tag
By Michelle Rafferty
Summer heralds many important things: 3D movies, involuntary camping trips, and sidewalk distribution of ice cream samples in tiny disposable cups. But the greatest tradition of all is, of course, book club (or your local library’s summer reading program). If, like me, you’re the weakest link in your coterie, you’re probably looking to contribute more than, “The ending was awesome,” or “Favorite character. Ok…go!”
This summer will be different. We’re going to trick our bookclubs into thinking we’re a literary geniuses. Let’s begin with a few key concepts from John Sutherland’s How Literature Works, applied to the book that seems to be on everyone’s reading list.
How to Read Tina Fey’s Bossypants (like a literary critic)
1.) Irony
Saying one thing and meaning another. Typically accompanied by the four ‘s’s: sarcasm, satire, subversion and skepticism.
Fey makes excellent use of irony in the chapter “Dear Internet,” in which she responds to message board bullies:
From tmz.com
Posted by Kevin 214 on 11/9/08, 11:38 a.m.
“Tina Fey CHEATED!!!!!! Anyone who has ever seen an old picture of her can see she has had 100% plastic surgery. Her whole face is different. She was ugly then and she is ugly now. She only wished she could ever be as beaufiul as Sarah Palin.”
Dear Kevin 214,
What can I say? You have an amazing eye. I guess I got caught up in the whole Hollywood thing. I thought I could change a hundred percent of my facial features and as long as I stayed ugly, no one would notice. How foolish I was.
Keep on helpin’ me “keep it real,”
TA
And on page 161:
I have thus far refused to get any Botox or plastic surgery. (Although I do wear a clear elastic chin strap that I hook around my ears and pin under my day wig.)
2.) Imagery
What one sees while reading or what Wordsworth called “the mind’s eye.” Or simply put: the pictures in your head.
From the chapter “Secrets of Mommy’s Beauty”:
By nineteen, I had found my look. Oversize T-shirts, bike shorts, and wrestling shoes. To prevent the silhouette from being too baggy, I would cinch it at the waist with my fanny pack. I was pretty sure I would wear this look forever.
In literature imagery is not always visual; one can “taste” or “smell” with the mind. See page 247:
If there’s on thing my husband’s hometown has that St. Barts does not, it’s the water. “Legally potable” doesn’t quite capture it. Straight from the tap it smells like…How can I describe it? – if you boiled ten thousand eggs in a prostitute’s bathwater.
3.) Allusion
When literature connects with other works, enlarging (and complicating) the perspective. Very common in titles (for example, James Joyce’s Portr
By:
admin,
on 5/5/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
God,
teaching,
character,
bible,
homeschool,
teen,
biology,
classroom,
Christian,
anthology,
military,
book club,
cell,
morals,
aid,
sci fi,
Catholic,
android,
refugee,
humanitarian,
Ghana,
UN,
missionary,
droid,
priest,
Summer/vacation reading,
coupe,
military contractor,
rebel,
renegrade,
revolt,
ya,
teens,
book reviews,
science fiction,
reading,
family,
kids,
adventure,
fiction,
young adult,
ethics,
war,
Africa,
Add a tag
12 days of sci-fi, day 8:
Back on earth again, we switch gears to a story with a modern day setting that seems it could be straight out of today’s news…except the humanitarian aid workers aren’t quite what they seem to be. Parents should be advised that one of the themes to the plot is the abuse of very human-like female droids as sex slaves.
Tin Servants by J. Sherer
Patience
Editor’s comment: “He’d (the author) read a lot of stories about robots trying to act human, but humans acting as robots?”
This is a solid, fast-paced action drama set in Ghana nearly 50 years from now. The trauma and tragedy of a war-torn African nation, as well as risk to the protagonist, are realistically told almost as if we were watching an award-winning film. The beauty to reading stories instead of watching them in film is that the reader has the benefit of the character’s self-talk. We sense Paul’s, a/k/a TK-19’s, yearning to help the refugees with every cell in his body. Or at least the ones that are still human…
Don’t miss out. Pick up a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .
(J Sherer lives in Southern California and works as a marketing supervisor for a large credit union. When he’s not writing, he enjoys playing sports, catching up on his favorite stories, and working with others on business strategies and tactics. His blog, Constructing Stories (www.jsherer.com), is a place where writers of all levels can engage in meaningful dialogue about the writing and storytelling process. He also partners with Nathan Scheck to present a free online science fiction adventure experience called Time Slingers (www.timeslingers.com). J Sherer’s past publication credits include Infinite Space, Infinite God; Dragons, Knights, and Angels Magazine; and the West Wind.)
By:
admin,
on 4/27/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
teens,
children's books,
book reviews,
science fiction,
reading,
family,
kids,
adventure,
fiction,
young adult,
ethics,
teaching,
character,
homeschool,
teen,
classroom,
Christian,
anthology,
book club,
morals,
sci fi,
Catholic,
advanced reader interest,
Add a tag
12 days of sci-fi, day 4:
At about 10 pages in length, next is a short, short story but don’t let length fool you. Author Tamara Wilhite succeeds in bringing out a wealth of emotions in Cathedral…
Cathedral: Truth
Editor’s comment: Karina likes to think that, though Katarina may not have realized it, there was someone at the end to catch her.
Our society today is experiencing the onset of social engineering. The laws no longer assume an inherent right of well being of the citizen, so society no longer strives towards its preservation. Instead, the rights of individuals have been separated and elevated above their well being. As laws are reinterpreted from this view, we transition into a new form of social disorder where, no longer having the legal right to attend to one another’s well being, citizens are forced to merely exist and comply while the government must increase its social services to fill in the gap previously fulfilled by sheer human kindness.
As moral truths become relevant and absolute standards of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil wash away, we see science begin to transition into defining what is human and what is not through new medical research and genetic engineering. Thus reading Cathedral, written from the perspective of the near-perfect genetically-engineered “human” forced out into the world of mundanes (normal folks), science fiction does not seem to be very far-fetched at all. “We never let emotions or sleep or relaxation get in the way of work. Just get as much done as possible in your life…” could even describe the lives of many people today as family “quality time” is now spent in the minivan driving from one activity to another, and businesses demand robotic-like perfection from their employees. Read closely and you will hear how the seeds of this fictional society are found in our very real world today. And you might find yourself asking the same question as Kat, our protagonist: “Was I participating in a delusion, trying to enjoy a moment here like I was like everyone else?”. Pick up a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .
(About the author): Tamara Wilhite is a professional technical writer and the “IE in IT” blogger for the Institute of Industrial Engineers. She is also the author of Humanity’s Edge; Saving Money, Time, Sanity and Yourself; and Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell. Her work has also been included in the Bonded by Blood, Genres, and Universe Pathways anthologies. Print and Kindle editions of her books are available on Amazon.com. www.myspace.com/humanitysedge )
By:
admin,
on 4/26/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
ya,
teens,
book reviews,
science fiction,
reading,
family,
kids,
adventure,
literature,
fiction,
young adult,
teaching,
religion,
character,
space,
homeschool,
teen,
classroom,
universe,
Christian,
ad,
anthology,
strategy,
book club,
alien,
sci fi,
Catholic,
planet,
logic,
nun,
commander,
advanced reader interest,
space ship,
Add a tag
12 days of sci-fi day 3:
Nuns are people too, and we are given a view of the diversity of personalities who are called to the religious life as the stories move from Antivenin to An Exercise in Logic. Parents should be apprised that the salty ship commander engages in mild cussing akin to a John Wayne style character, but only a few instances…
An Exercise in Logic by Barton Paul Levenson
RESPECT FOR OTHERS
Editor’s comment: “She holds herself with the dignity of her position as both a nun and a diplomat, yet is willing to bend–whether that means by sneaking out in defiance of the mission commander’s orders or going to her knees to pray when logic seems to fail her. “
How many times, when trying to get a point across in a conversation with someone of a totally different life experience, we have said it to be alien or foreign to them? In this story, trying to explain Christianity to people raised in secluded colonies is a bit like trying to explain a life of freedom to someone whose lifelong existence has been dictated under communist rule. But even more difficult is being the foreigner…the one who cannot comprehend the faith belief being explained. A nun and expert on alien religions, Sr. Julian is called in to negotiate with a group of aliens whose obedience to the decisions and words of their ancestors is taken to the extreme, and she has a short time to learn their religion in order to prove them illogical. Aristotle is oft quoted as saying “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”, and this story demonstrates how respectful discourse rather than angry debate can lead to Truth. For those who like stories of intellect and strategy, this one is for you! Pick up the entire anthology at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .
(About the author: Barton has a degree in physics. Happily married to genre poet Elizabeth Penrose, he confuses everybody by being both a born-again Christian and a liberal Democrat. His work has appeared in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine, ChiZine, Cricket, Cicada, The New York Review of Science Fiction and many small press markets. His e-novels, “Ella the Vampire,” “Parole,” and “Max and Me” can be downloaded now from Lyrical Press or amazon.com, and his first paperback, “I Will” is available from Virtual Tales (or amazon). Barton was prohibited from entering the Confluence Short Story Contest again after winning first prize two years in a row.)
By:
admin,
on 4/23/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
reviews,
family,
adventure,
young adult,
teaching,
character,
homeschool,
classroom,
Christian,
anthology,
book club,
alien,
sci fi,
Catholic,
outer space,
Karina Fabian,
nun,
priest,
utopia,
advanced reader interest,
space ship,
authors & guests,
editor,
author,
ya,
teens,
children's books,
book reviews,
science fiction,
reading,
Add a tag
Introducing Karina Fabian!
After being a straight-A student, Karina now cultivates Fs: Family, Faith, Fiction and Fun. From and order of nuns working in space to a down-and-out faerie dragon working off a geas from St. George, her stories surprise with their twists of clichés and incorporation of modern day foibles in an otherworld setting. Her quirky twists and crazy characters have won awards, including the INDIE book award for best fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem), and a Mensa Owl for best fiction (World Gathering). In May 2010, her writing took a right turn with a devotional, Why God Matters, which she co-wrote with her father. Mrs. Fabian is former President of the Catholic Writer’s Guild and also teaches writing and book marketing seminars online.
Let’s hear what Karina has to say about science fiction writing…
Why Science Fiction?
By Karina Fabian
Rob and I have a confession to make: Neither of us likes literary fiction much. Oh, we can appreciate the classics like Dickens and Twain, and I was impressed by the beauty of the language in the Secret Lives of Bees, but when it comes to angst and personal reflection, we’d like to have that mixed in with some aliens or a rip-roaring space battle.
Too often, however, science fiction gets a bum rap. People see only the aliens or the fantastic battles in space, or they classify science fiction with “Godless” fiction, and doubt it has any redeeming value beyond entertainment.
The truth is, science fiction is often used to examine the big issues in an entertaining and “safe” environment. Star Trek, of course, is well known for this, but it’s not unique. Aldous Huxley’s 1984 is a classic example–an examination of a future world where comfort and security have taken supreme precedence over individuality. This book, written in 1931, still informs our political decisions, as we balance our own needs for security against letting our government become a “Big Brother.”
Another great example, made into a movie not so long ago, was Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot. The crux of the story (and of many of Asimov’s other robot stories) were the Three Laws of Robotics:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
At the heart of the stories lie the questions: Can you legislate morality? Is Right more than a set of rules to follow?
Science fiction tackles other big issues, too–prejudice (against aliens rather than a particular race–check out the TV show Alien Nation); conflict of cultures and the origin of ethics (Patchwork Girl by Larry Niven); Little Brother by Cory Doctorow looks at the opposite side of 1984–people banding together in reaction to the “Big Brother” state. Naturally, it also looks at the impact technology has on our lives–a good one for that is Rainbow’s End by Vernor Vinge, where Alzheimer’s patients are cured and must reintegrate into a radically different society from the one they remember.
It is true tha
By:
admin,
on 4/22/2011
Blog:
Litland.com Reviews!
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
advanced reader interest,
review,
ya,
teens,
books,
science fiction,
adventure,
literature,
fiction,
God,
children's,
historical fiction,
short stories,
space,
teen,
Church,
Christian,
anthology,
book club,
new release,
sci fi,
Catholic,
nun,
priest,
utopia,
space ship,
Add a tag
Fabian, Karina & Rob, editors. (2010) Infinite Space, Infinite God II. Kingsport, TN: Paladin Timeless Books, an imprint of Twilight Times Books. Author recommended age: teens. Litland.com recommended age: 14+ but appropriate for slightly younger, advanced readers.
Looking for something new to read? New to science fiction? Consider an anthology such as Infinite Space, Infinite God II edited by Karina and Rob Fabian. Twelve short stories, each can excite the mind yet bring it to closure in one sitting. Read it on the bus or in-between classes. Do you find that you cannot sleep at night when reading a great novel because you want to keep reading until its end? Then read short stories: go to bed with your imagine satisfied and mind at rest.
Anthologies are great for book clubs too. Rather than progressing a few chapters per meeting, the club can complete entire stories together which leads to fuller, more dynamic discussions. This can be especially fun for a family book club, or mother-son/father-daughter reading duos.
Final thoughts: Just because the stories have virtuous underpinnings, don’t presume these are soft kiddie tales. These stories are core sci-fi taking the reader emotionally from apocalyptic doubt to Flash Gordon-like adventure. Some are thought provoking and some are just fun. Enjoy the trip!
Let’s begin the trip with a visit by author and editor Karina Fabian tomorrow. For today, a little bit about the book first…
Publisher’s Description: Infinite Space, Infinite God II The history of the Catholic Church is full of heroes: men and women of courage and conviction. Not only did these Catholic heroes live and die for their faith, but they saved others, fought valiantly, inspired the masses, and influenced nations.
Now, Infinite Space, Infinite God II honors that legacy with twelve science fiction stories featuring Catholic heroes. Meet a time traveler who sacrifices his life to give a man a sip of water, and the nun who faces venomous snakes to save a friend. Share the adventures of priests who battle aliens and machines in order serve the greater good.
Infinite Space, Infinite God II spans the gamut of science fiction, from near-future dystopias to time travel to space opera, puzzles of logic to laugh-out-loud humor and against-the-clock suspense. A great read for any science fiction fan!
(Litland’s Note: Tomorrow we’ll hear from author and editor, Karina Fabian. During the book tour, Amazon has kindle and hard copy editions on sale for both the original ISIG and the new ISIG II…don’t miss out! Buy here: http://ow.ly/4F48e )
By: Michelle,
on 4/18/2011
Blog:
OUPblog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Music,
Literature,
Multimedia,
book club,
My Bloody Valentine,
wagner,
anna,
metropolis,
The Oxford Comment,
oxford comment,
crown publishing,
*Featured,
Audio & Podcasts,
Matthew Gallaway,
The Metropolis Case,
Tristan and Isolde,
age—anna,
her apartment,
her career,
her future,
the tristan—before,
gallaway,
Add a tag
How do you write a smash first novel? Author (and OUP Law Editor) Matthew Gallaway comes to Oxford book club to discuss his book The Metropolis Case. Topics include: Pittsburgh, advice for writers…and what’s up with the incest scene?
Want more of The Oxford Comment? Subscribe and review this podcast on iTunes!
You can also look back at past episodes on the archive page.
Featured in this Episode:
Matthew Gallaway, author of The Metropolis Case and this tumblr (featuring some of the best personification we’ve seen in ages!)
“So well written — there’s hardly a lazy sentence here — and filled with such memorable lead and supporting players that it quickly absorbs you into its worlds.” -The New York Times on The Metropolis Case
and
Book club members Michelle Lipinski, Grace Labatt, Michelle Rafferty and Justyna Zajac.
To accompany this podcast, we also present the following excerpt from the The Metropolis Case:
Through Its Street Names, the City Is a Mystic Cosmos
NEW YORK CITY, 1960. Anna Prus stepped out of her apartment building onto Seventy-fourth Street, where she paused to glance back at Central Park, which looked opaque and grainy like an old newsreel. It had been snowing for days, but a sallow, expectant glow emanating from the crenellated perimeter of the park told her the storm was nearing an end. While she did not relish the idea of negotiating a trip downtown, the transformation of the city into a tundra, with squalls of powder and amorphous mounds where there had once been cars, mailboxes, and shrubs, struck her as the perfect accompaniment to the magic, improbable turn the day had taken, now that she was about to make her Isolde debut at the Metropolitan Opera.
Though Anna was not an unknown, she had to this point in her career been relegated to smaller houses and (except for some minor roles) hired by the Met as an alternate to the type of leading soprano she had always wanted to be. But as sometimes happened with singers her age—Anna was forty—her voice, after six years at the conservatory and over fifteen more of training, auditioning, and performing, had at last blossomed, giving her reason to believe that she had found her calling in the Wagnerian repertory. Which is not to say her future had been unfurled like a red carpet; if anything, her reputation as a dependable but hardly breathtaking talent still preceded her, and for this current production, she had been brought in only to “cover” the Isolde and so had expected—as she had always done in the past—to spend her nights in the wings, anxiously hoping and not hoping (because she was not one to wish ill health or
By: Maryann Yin,
on 4/5/2011
Blog:
Galley Cat (Mediabistro)
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Publishing,
Videos,
Editors,
painting,
Sara Gruen,
Atlanta,
Algonquin Books,
conversation,
Water for Elephants,
book club,
social media tools,
gift,
acquisition,
Kathryn Stockett,
The Help,
video series,
Chuck Adams,
Ask an Editor,
Michael Taeckens,
Add a tag
Algonquin Books has launched the ‘Ask an Editor’ video series on their blog. Executive editor Chuck Adams stars in the video embedded above and answers the question: “How did you acquire Water for Elephants?”
Marketing director Michael Taeckens explained how it will work: “For this series, readers who have any questions about the publishing process can submit them on our blog or on our Facebook or Twitter accounts. Every two weeks a different Algonquin editor will select and answer one of the questions submitted.”
The next Algonquin Books Club will feature a conversation between Gruen and The Help author Kathryn Stockett on April 26th. Those interested can check out the website for a reader’s guide, essays by Gruen, and her recipe for oyster brie soup.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By: Maryann Yin,
on 4/5/2011
Blog:
Galley Cat (Mediabistro)
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Publishing,
Videos,
Editors,
painting,
Sara Gruen,
Atlanta,
Algonquin Books,
conversation,
Water for Elephants,
book club,
social media tools,
gift,
acquisition,
Kathryn Stockett,
The Help,
video series,
Chuck Adams,
Ask an Editor,
Michael Taeckens,
Add a tag
Algonquin Books has launched the ‘Ask an Editor’ video series on their blog. Executive editor Chuck Adams stars in the video embedded above and answers the question: “How did you acquire Water for Elephants?”
Marketing director Michael Taeckens explained how it will work: “For this series, readers who have any questions about the publishing process can submit them on our blog or on our Facebook or Twitter accounts. Every two weeks a different Algonquin editor will select and answer one of the questions submitted.”
The next Algonquin Books Club will feature a conversation between Gruen and The Help author Kathryn Stockett on April 26th. Those interested can check out the website for a reader’s guide, essays by Gruen, and her recipe for oyster brie soup.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
L. M. Baldwin,
on 3/15/2011
Blog:
Color Online
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
algonquin books,
book club,
julia alvarez,
edwidge danticat,
heidi durrow,
tayari jones,
the girl who fell from the sky,
terry mcmillan,
in the time of butterflies,
silver sparrow,
Add a tag
Alqonquin Books is launching a new book club series beginning March 21.
We’ll be featuring four Algonquin Book Club selections a year for dynamic literary events held around the country and simultaneously webcast on our site. For each event, an Algonquin author will be interviewed by a notable writer.
I am mentioning the book club at Color Online because in this inaugural year two of four books are written by female authors of color. Its not often that women authors of color make up fifty percent.
March 21 Julia Alvarez (In the Time of the Butterflies) interviewed by Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, I’m Dying
April 26 Sara Gruen (Water for Elephants) interviewed by Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help
August 18 Heidi Durrow (The Girl Who Fell from the Sky) interviewed by Terry McMillan, author of Getting to Happy
October 20 Robert Goolrick (A Reliable Wife) interviewed by Patricia Cornwell, author of Port Mortuary
Anyone who has read In the Time of Butterflies is encourged to Join the Conversation.
Want to chat with other readers about In the Time of the Butterflies? Each week, we’ll be giving away Algonquin Book Club tote bags, autographed Julia Alvarez books, Advance Review Copies, brand new titles hot off the press, and other swag to people who join in the conversation by:
Posting comments on the In the Time of the Butterflies discussion section on our Facebook page.
Sharing thoughts on Twitter using #AlgBookClub.
Contributing feedback to our In the Time of the Butterflies book club discussion blog posts leading up to the event.
Do you have a question for Julia Alvarez? Submit it to the discussion section on our Facebook page, or post about it on Twitter using #AlgBookClub, and yours may be asked during the March 21 live webcast, where you’ll be able to chat with other viewers from around the world.
Check out the user friendly
Algonquin Book Blog to learn more about the book club series.
I've read Alvarez before but not In the Time of Butterflies. Now I am looking forward to reading it though Alvarez is going to have to get in line behind Tayari Jones. Tomorrow I will start Jones upcoming novel
Silver Sparrow which is published by Algonquin books.
This post originally ran February 16, 2010
When pulling together my after-school book club lists, I made sure to include plenty of my childhood favorites. I thought it would be especially fun to share these classics with young readers starting to form their own opinions about literature. And the chance to discuss books that shaped my childhood with my own boy was too special to pass up.
This month, the third grade read HENRY AND RIBSY. Fourth and fifth-grade read Laura Ingalls Wilder's ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK. It has been such a delight to return to these books I read several times in childhood and again in college (while studying to become a teacher and beginning to toy with the idea of writing myself).
I loved reading again about the earnest hard work of Henry Huggins, his sweet relationship with his dog, and those silly Quimby neighbors. Beverly Cleary writes in a voice fully connected with childhood.
Those of you who've known me forever (or just since the beginning of this blog) know I have a soft spot for the Ingalls family. I love the loyalty, hard work, love, hope, and gratitude that run through all the Little House books. All those difficult things their family experiences, and they still make it work somehow. As one of my book clubbers said, "They're so nice. No matter what happens, they're hopeful."
I've coined a new phrase for those old titles we keep returning to: Comfort Books. What are yours?
A couple of friends and I have started a local book club. Our first meeting was this week and it was a great success. With food and wine, we all chatted about this lovely book. And I was pleased to discover that there will be a movie version of this book released in theaters this summer starring Anne Hatheway and Jim Sturgess, book club field trip!!
I will be posting my review each month of the book we discussed and if you have read it and have any thoughts feel free to comment and maybe we can have our own discussion too!
Next month we are reading Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen.
Publisher: Vintage (June 15, 2010, originally published 2009)
Paperback: 437 Pages
Genre: Adult Romance
From Goodreads. It's 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. They both know that the next day, after college graduation, they must go their separate ways. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. As the years go by, Dex and Em begin to lead separate lives—lives very different from the people they once dreamed they'd become. And yet, unable to let go of that special something that grabbed onto them that first night, an extraordinary relationship develops between the two.
Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.
Review by Kate
ONE DAY, by David Nicholls, is a uniquely structured romance that focuses on July 15 of every year starting from 1988 through the early 2000s. July 15th 1988 was the beginning of the tumultuous Em and Dex (Dex and Em; those who read the book will get the phrase) relationship. This was the beginning and turning point of their lives that caused these two weave back and forth through each other's lives.
At times I forgot that this book was written by a male author. He completely understood Emma and created a hilarious and real character that I bonded to immediately. Her sarcasm and self-consciousness made her endearing and I wanted to jump into the book to give her a big hug. This is the type of girl I would be best friends with in real life.
And then there is Dexter...oh Dexter. Drop dead gorgeous model looks, womanizer, self-absorbed typical male. As with most women, Em was completely smitten with him. But as Dexter filtered through his girlfriends, Emma was always the constant in his life. She was never afraid to call him out and I yearned for the day that they would both be together.
As much as I liked this book, there were times that the long descriptions of the past years events got to me. I felt discouraged and if this wasn't for the book club I would have stopped reading halfway through. But for those who are discouraged, do not stop! There was a lot of day to day activities in some of the years July 15's but I think that was the point. The same day every year is not a monumentous occasion but it was nice to sometimes get filled in on the past year. At the end of most of the chapters I really wanted to know what would happen July 16.
Overall an awesome book. I was happy this was suggested to me because I can't imagine having
It has been awhile. I've been busy. Sick kids, sick me. Tobogganing, visiting, playing, visiting, celebrating, helping, sharing, loving... and all good things. But, now things are ramping up career-wise again.
It is ALMOST Literacy Week - which means a very busy time for me. I am excited this year, because I get to spend two days with an ENTIRE school, working on a very exciting project. I will be visiting The Marysville Public School on Wolfe Island for a book workshop. I am also visiting the Belleville and Napanee Early Years Centre's for stories and crafts.
Here is a bit of (AWESOME) news - In the Snow is in the January ELF Scholastic Book Club order. This is seriously something I have dreamed of my WHOLE life. Ever since I got my very first books from Scholastic - all new and shiny - just for me... I have wanted this. I am so excited, I hope it does well enough they will also sell In the Garden - we will see.
On the home front, we've decided that the best use for our back room is... drumroll please.... a STUDIO for me, and the kids. I could not be more thrilled. We were going to make it an adult space, but well - that is impossible right now, so we are moving me back there... it is magnificent, and almost done. Right now all my craft/art/easels are in our living space, my workspace had to move when baby #2 moved in - I happily obliged. But now, I get my very own work space, with room enough for a large work table and Mo's very own invention desk. Pictures to follow soon. Thank you to my dear husband who is doing the all of the work (and he is oh so talented). WAHOO!
Mo is reading, Zaley is walking and life is moving oh so fast. but fun.
Since I abandoned this blog to the cold winds of internet neglect, I've started officiating some book clubs for kids. One of them is a group of 2nd grade boys who vary wildly in reading level, so aside from the fact that planning a discussion for a handful of 8 year old boys is kind of like trying to choreograph cat herding, we also struggle to find books that every one can relate to. Below, are the books we've read so far.
|
my preferred cover |
I started us off with
The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes. It was originally titled
The Iron Man: A Story in 5 Nights, but the title was changed when the superhero superceded Hughes' novel in popularity. Now there's a
movie, which is AMAZING and every one should watch it, but is totally different than the book. And even if you've seen the movie (which I agree, is awesome) you should still read the book and hopefully you'll like it even a fraction as much as this group of boys did. I started off the discussion simply, by asking what their favorite parts were. The boys then clamored with their answers, revisions to their answers and dramatic readings of their scenes of choosing. It was the perfect book to get us started. Fun, simple, full of startling and direct symbolic imagery,
The Iron Giant is a great book for reluctant readers obsessed with Star Wars and the kids who can already read Harry Potter (with a parent). I decided NOT to bring up the fact that Hughes wrote it to comfort his children after his wife,
Sylvia Plath, had a run in with her oven.
|
the current edition since changing publishers |
Second, we read
Whales on Stilts by MT Anderson, the first in the
Pals in Peril series (previously called MT Anderson's Thrilling Tales). Anyone who's listened to me blather about books knows that MT Anderson's basically my favorite, and I was really excited to have a chance to force his book on a bunch of kids subjected to my literary whims. Unfortunately, the sense of humor was a little beyond a few of our readers, and while we still managed to have a lively discussion rich with dramatic readings we also spent a lot of time clarifying vocabulary and plot points for some. Jasper Dash's character, particularly, who speaks in a hilariously outdated vernacular, left some of group behind. But I was really pleased to find that the kids who could keep up with Jasper and his chums
loved the book, and took to the absurdity nicely. One of the readers has even continued on with the series on his own, and had already completed the second book by the time we met. And, being the group's only Jew, I was pleased to explain what gefilte fish is to the general disgust of all our members.
I love books. Obvi.
And I love talking to people about books. However, I haven't been in a book club since high school.
There are soooo many books I want to read, and I kind of dislike the idea of other people dictating what I have to read next. On the flip side, I read quite a few books in my YA lit class that I wouldn't have picked up on my own... and I loved them. So I readily acknowledge that it's always a good idea to branch out of your reading comfort zone.
Lately, I have really had the urge to start a book club. I would love to read, meet, and discuss with a group of people who read "grown up" books, and I could certainly use recommendations in that area! I found this post a while ago on Book Lust Forever and I think it may have been the catalyst for my current train of thought. I love Nancy Pearl and she offers some solid guidance for book clubs.
So here's my question for all of you: Do you Book Club? How did your current group get started? How do you choose what to read? How do you guide the discussions? What advice would you give to a book club that was just starting out? I can't wait to hear what you think!
And for your viewing pleasure... Did you know that Nancy Pearl, the ultimate Book Lover, has her very own action figure? Amazing.
(Honey, if you're reading... hint, hint!)
by Michael
With all the reading I have to do for work, I’ve turned down a few requests to join book clubs. Plus, in my spare time, I want to be sure I’m reading the things I really want to read, not a book chosen by committee. But if I were going to join a bookclub,
I’d love to be in this one. I can dream, can’t I?
View Next 24 Posts
Indeed, this is lovely news.
It is and I just finished Silver Sparrow. Loved it, it was so good.
Nice article, thanks for the information.
sewa mobil