December Book Club--two seasonal short stories

Pardon my lateness for those of you I haven't spoken to already...

We are meeting this month, but we have chosen two short stories to read due to the fact that I know all of us are super-busy at this time of year--not the best time to dive into a big book.

The first story is one I know everyone knows of but perhaps few of us have actually read: The Gift of the Magi by O Henry. This one is available lots of places online (the link below is one option) and is absolutely delightful.

http://www.online-literature.com/o_henry/1014/

The second one is a Hanukkah story Shelley found for us that is also wonderful: "Menashe and Rachel" by Isaac Bashevis Singer. We have a pdf copy that I will email everyone on the email list as an attachment (send me an email if you are not on that list and I'll be sure to send it to you--emilyeyringrobertson@gmail.com).

It can also be found in the book, The Power of Light by Singer which is a collection of his stories, several copies of which can be found at the Athens library. The stories all tie somewhat together, so you may want to check it out and read more than one!

We are meeting at Lee Anne Pope's house (thanks Lee Anne!) which is a great central location close to Athens and Watkinsville:

Tuesday, Dec 1st

7 pm

1431 Lakewood Manor Drive

Athens

706-850-6477 (Lee Anne)

Finally, we asking everyone who would like to to bring a Christmas goodie to share. Shelley is leading our discussion, which is always very enlightening and, um . . . exciting. :) Just kidding, Shell. She's amazing. We all know it.

Looking forward to it!!!

URGENT: Still looking for a few good books...

All right, most of you have heard that we're compiling a new list of books to read for the next 9 months or so. But I've gotten very little feedback!

So I want everyone who reads this to take a second to leave a comment with one book they'd like to read. Otherwise we'll be stuck with all of my and about 2 other people's choices, which I guess I wouldn't entirely mind.

And here are some of the suggestions so far:

The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Literary Society
Daniel Deronda by George Elliott
Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman (scheduled many months in advance to give us time!)
Les Mis by Victor Hugo (also scheduled well in advance)

Thanks!

A Poem For Your Reading Enjoyment

I ran across this poem the other day, and I really liked it and thought I'd share it.

The Dream

O God, in the dream the terrible horse began
To paw at the air, and make for me with his blows.
Fear kept for thirty-five years poured through his mane,
And retribution equally old, or nearly, breathed through his nose.

Coward complete, I lay and wept on the ground
When some strong creature appeared, and leapt for the rein.
Another woman, as I lay half in a swound,
Leapt in the air, and clutched at the leather and chain.

Give him, she said, something of yours as a charm
Throw him, she said, some poor thing you alone claim.
No, no, I cried, he heates me; he's out for harm,
And whether I yield or not, it is all the same.

But, like a lion in a legend, when I flung the glove
Pulled from my sweating, my cold right hand,
The terrible beast, that no one may understand,
Came to my side, and put down his head in love.

Louise Bogan (1897-1970)

My Sister's Keeper meeting and please post suggestions for new books

We have a plan for our next book club meeting.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009
7pm
Ruth Monson's house at 579 Milledge Circle

Looking forward to having a fun time discussing this book. Also, we'd like to make a 9-12 mo. schedule of books for this meeting so please bring your suggestions or email them to me if you won't be able to make it. We won't plan a lot for the next few months due to the holidays (maybe one holiday-related book to discuss in November) and then we'll have a monthly book after that starting in Jan.

I'd like to be better about having a meeting every month, perhaps back to always having it the first week of the month. I know for most of us, obtaining and completing the book club book every thirty days is a bit much, but we also have such a variety of genres people are interested in. I think if we have a book for every month but have different types of books then people can read the books they're most interested in and still be able to participate regularly. Plus there are a few long books that people would like to do but that would require us to know about well in advance to get them done in time (Rough Stone Rolling, Les Mis). I hope getting a schedule will allow us to fit in some of those longer works as well.

Maybe what I'll do is make another quiz on the website after our next meeting with all the books we've recently discussed and the ones that come up then, we'll have it open for a week or two, and then I'll put together a schedule based on the top ones. Please don't forget to also volunteer to host us if you're willing to. If we have you scheduled for a date that, as it gets closer, won't work for you, we can always change it later.

Thanks. Looking forward to next Tuesday!

And a few things I forgot...

I was going to mention this last night and forgot:

First, Greg Mortensen is scheduled to be the Forum speaker at BYU on Oct. 27th. I wish I could go! I'm telling all my family there to have read his book by then and try to go. I'm sure the Marriott Center will be packed. Just thought you'd find that interesting.

Also, they're working on a second book (not with Relin as the writer this time though) that's due out in December. It's like, "Stones into Schools" and sounds like it follows up the progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan since the last book.

Oh, and we need a location and discussion leader for next time. Volunteers???

Three Cups of Tea...and some fruit and dip, crackers, homemade bread, etc.

Thanks to everyone who came to last night's Book Club. Thanks so much to Debbie for allowing us to have it in her beautiful home. Seriously, it was worth coming just for the wonderful smell of her famous homemade bread that hits you when you walk through the door. Amazing! We had 3 hrs. of great discussion and I think we covered just about EVERYTHING, in the book and out of it. We all agreed that Greg Mortensen certainly is cut from a different cloth and we're glad he is and able to do what he does (and that his amazing wife supports him).

I think we all are a little more committed to doing what we can do in our own spheres of influence, and heaven knows there is plenty of need for service and promoting education in our own community. It was very interesting to hear Kathy's experience sharing it with her 4th grade class. And we got some money together to pass onto Bozeman to support the cause. If any of you who weren't there wanted to contribute, two others will be bringing me something on Sunday and I'll be sending it in next week.

So, just a reminder that next month is, "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Piccoult, well liked by several who have already read it. We'll aim to meet mid-Septemberish so get reading! :)

(And by the way, any of you can just let me know when you want to have a girls' movie night at my house for "Shopaholic." Or "The Magic Flute" for that matter.)

Happy reading!

TUESDAY NIGHT! Aug 18th

Book Club meeting to discuss "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortensen and Mr. Relin

7:00 pm

Debbie Stephens' (new) house

Please call for address/directions

706-621-3775 (Emily)

Refreshments will be provided.

I know all of us have been really moved by the story in this book. It's amazing how one person willing to serve and with a little financial help, can make such important changes in the world. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the "Pennies for Peace" campaigns where schoolchildren pool all their pennies together to raise money for the Central Asia Institute (Kathy, didn't you say that your class did that together?).

Anyway, I thought we should do a "Pennies (and spare change) for Peace" drive at our Book Club meeting. What if all of us empty out our couches, dressers, purses, and cars and bring it to the meeting and see what we can easily pull together to pass onto Bozeman without putting anyone out? Every little bit helps--even if we just scrape together a group check for $20. I'll put a jar by the door if you have some you want to drop in.

Not only are we going to have a larger than usual group this time from what I hear (because everyone loves this book!), but we may even have a representative or two from the opposite sex. Just passing that along in the chance that any other spouses/friends/coworkers would care to come along. We're more than happy to make exceptions. :) It'll be a fun meeting, a good one to invite someone new to.

See you there!