Happy New Year!

Thanks for the sweet Christmas cheer Erinn! I thought I better start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year too! What a great holiday that was: I finished Room and Cocktails for Three and am halfway through Escape...and the best part is that I love all three!

Cocktails for Three ended in the predictably happy way that the rest of her novels do, but it was a pleasure reader and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I just love the way she writes (as a Brit) and uses smart language that makes me giggle and sometimes has me reading with an accent in my head...LOL - have you ever done that?!

Anyway, I'm well into Escape right now and cannot put it down. I was up past midnight last night (after heading to bed at 10) and had to force myself to stop so that I could be a good, patient teacher today! What an interesting story - Carolyn Jessop really opened the doors to what was/is happening in the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and it is quite scary to read. To wonder why and how anyone would want to stay in such a "cult," yet you read the chapters on her childhood, and when you really don't know any better from birth, or believe that anyone or anything beyond your walls and beliefs are evil, what difference does it make to you? As a school teacher, I am especially touched by the beatings which occurred in the schools and the deliberate alterations of fact and science. As a woman, I am touched by the whole story - her dreams of becoming independent like her aunt and working as a pediatrician, her enslavement in an arranged marriage to a man her grandfather's age and her courage to escape.

Powerful stuff...looking forward to discussing further at book club. Click here for a link to Carolyn discussing her story and book.

xoxo R-Fab

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope was Santa was good to all of you and that you are getting lots of rest and relaxation!!

See you all either on New Years or in the new year!!

Erinnnnn

Wishin' and hopin'

Hi BFabers...well I finished "Room" and really enjoyed the whole story (in fact, I could have read more and want to know what happens next). I'm so looking forward to talking about it at club with you!

I decided I needed a break from the heavy stuff and am now half way through a Madeleine Wickham story (she also writes under the name Sophie Kinsella..."Shopaholic" books) called "Cocktails for Three." It's not as funny as her previous books, but in my opinion, the characters are truer and you really start to feel for them as their stories unfold. It's a cute and easy read...the perfect little escape during the holidays!

I was also reminded of another fun read I devoured in a day last Christmas from my fave author Wally Lamb - it's called "Wishin' and Hopin'" and is a Christmas story told from the perspective of a little mischevious boy - I loved it and you will too!

Anyways, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope you all got some new good reads under the tree this year ;)

xoxo

Thoughts on "Room"

Hello BFABers...so glad our condo here in Arizona has Wi-Fi, so I can bring you my little updates!!! I am about 75% through our first selection "Room" (and I know this thanks to the amazing Kobo..an early birthday gift from my bro!)and am absolutely loving the story. I can't put it down and need to know what will happen next. I was worried about following along in the voice of 5 year old Jack (as I remember how annoying the speech of the same aged boy in Little Bee was); however, it is equally unique and cute in this novel. I love how he refers to objects as people (even capitalising their names: "Bed" "Table" "Dresser") and how he thinks...it really is amazing how close I believe the author got into the mind of a true 5 year old. I think of conversations I have with my grade one students and the tangeants they go off on...soooo funny!

I think too of the amazing courage and resiliance of Ma who educates him incredibly well (in all "subjects" including phys ed..yes, such a teacher comment) and comes up with awesome little games to build Jack's vocabulary. I am a little creeped out by her breast feeding and hope this will stop at some point?! Besides that, I can't wait to head back to the pool and finish it this afternoon. I don't want to say too much more so I don't spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet!

Sending you all extra warm wishes,
xoxo
P.S. I like this book cover better than the one I have because it shows the little shed with the skylight...sooooo chilling...what a concept...

Crazy Book Blogger

So I came across this blog http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/

This girl has posted all the books she read in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She reads 3-400 books per year...thats 1+ books per day!!!!!!!!!!

The blog can be used to select books though, she has organized all of her posts so you can search by number of stars she gave the book.

I did a little digging and found what she rated all the books we have read or will be reading to get an idea if she has similar taste. The ones where I give the star rating she has a review if you are interested in getting a feel for how the book is going to pan out.

Secret Daughter 5/5

Little Bee no review

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie 4/5

Escape 4.5/5

The Room 4.5/5

Three Cups of Tea-- no review

For Renee and Nat--Hunger Games 4.5/5

Now the only problem I see here is she gave Sweetness 4 stars, but if you read the review she says she found it very hard to get into and may not have finished it. We can see if we agree when we read the next 3 books.

Happy reading!

ninnnnn

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie--Not so sweet!

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was definitly not a favourite among our book club members. Of those that were at Tara's only 1 had read the book...way to go Natalie!! You are a trooper! Since hardly anyone had read the book the conversation about it was minimal. Tara served stinky cheese in honour of a stinky book! As always the food and wine was delicious! Thanks Tara for a great evening.

We made a few executive decisions during book club. We decided that when we select out trio of books every 3 months that we would try and stick to a theme. The next theme is non-fiction. The 3 books we have lined up are:

Escape, Carolyn Jessop, January 11, Amy's house--Previously described on Nov. 5th.

The Room, Emma Donohue, February 8, TBD

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It's where he was born and where he and his Ma eat and play and learn. At night, Ma puts him safely to sleep in the wardrobe, in case Old Nick comes. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it's the prison where Old Nick has kept her for seven years, since she was nineteen. Through ingenuity and determination, Ma has created a life for herself and her son, but she knows it's not enough for either of them. Jack's curiosity is building alongside Ma's desperation -- and Room can't contain either of them for much longer...
Told entirely in the inventive, often funny voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of the resilient bond between parent and child, and a brilliantly executed novel about a journey from one world to another.

Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson, March 8, TBD

Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.” -Tom Brokaw

This was a reading guide I found on the website--there are likely spoilers (is it possible to have spoilers in non-fiction??????) so save it for later:

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/wp-includes/documents/3CTReadingGuide.pdf

Merry Christmas and hope to see you all over the holidays!

New record?

So there is one benefit to being home sick - I actually read two books yesterday! (Yup - 633 pages!) The type of books you need to read after "The Sweetness" too...I got through two of the L.A. Candy books - "L.A. Candy" and "Sweet Little Lies" - by reality TV star Lauren Conrad and have to admit that they're pretty addictive.

When I first started reading yesterday morning, I didn't think I would make it through the first book (let alone two). With an opening paragraph that reads, "Jane Roberts leaned against her dresser, studying the way her white silk nightie looked against her sun-kissed skin. Her loose blonde curls cascaded softly over her shoulders as she pretended not to be interested in the guy in her bed." I mean, come on, could you add any more cheesy adjectives to the sentences? Even for me, a proud cheese-lover, this was a little much, but it did turn out to be a cheesy dream that the narrator was having and she actually wakes up next to some guy who reeks of armpits and pot (her roommate's hook-up who couldn't find his way back to the roommate's room after using the washroom!!!)

Since I actually was a devoted "Hills" fan, it was fun to read about what production is like behind-the-scenes of these "reality" shows; however, I would recommend these books to anyone as a great escape from reality and maturity!

I'm just happy I ordered all three in the series together - I have one more to go! Don't worry, I'll keep you posted!