This month's book group selection -

When the book group chose this last November - we are "dark" in December - I was sure it would be some fluffy romance that I would have to wade through.

I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. It's a pretty well-wrought mystery tale with historical overtones. I thought I had it "figured out" several times - and was off a bit each time. It's nice to be "off the mark" now and then so that you want to keep reading.

The story is really 3 stories going one in a parallel fashion - 1909-1913, 1975, and 2005. I wonder how the author keeps track of all those details??

Latest read

My book group selected this for November - I had not even heard of it.

It is historical fiction based on some facts uncovered by the author. She has researched some of the events portrayed too. It deals with slavery in the 1700's - and an Irish girl who joins them as an indentured servant.

The quality of the book is uneven, but the story is compelling. My biggest complaint was that there were some obvious threads that were introduced - and then just left hanging!!

Maybe we are just supposed to make up an ending for ourselves!!

But it's a pretty good read.

Don't bother!

My book group chose this - or rather someone suggested it and I didn't object strenuously enough!! (I was pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy anything by Richard Paul Evans!!)

I went to get it from the library and it was on hold until 2 days before we were supposed to meet. Then the reference librarian called and said it was at the Sierra Madre Library. I was going to drive over there but decided that with gas prices the way they are, it might be cheaper to get it from Amazon. So I did. That was Tuesday - I ordered it that night - and it came today!!

Harry is working late, so I sat down and started reading it - broke for dinner and then finished it. (It's a very skimmable book, btw!!) I think I read it in 3 1/2 hours - 3 1/2 hours that could have been better spent surfing the net!! Or maybe playing Solitaire!!

I often joke around about books of this caliber and say "I could write that." But you know, I couldn't write that. I could never come up with such drivel!!

It's in diary form - a man loses his wife, his business, his house, his cars - and then decides to walk to Key West, Florida. There are the de rigeur "other-worldly" elements. There are panic attacks, a homeless man without hands, a suicide survivor who "understands," and it looks like there's a female interest on board - something for the sequels I am sure.

And her name is Angel!!!

A great read

The title for this book comes from the Hippocratic oath which admonishes the physician against "cutting for stone," and refers to the practice of cutting out bladder stones. Apparently these developed from the drinking water. They were fairly easy to remove also. However, the surgeons, who were often just barbers, were not hygienic in the practice. Many died the next day from severe infection. Hence the oath warned against a medical practice that was unsafe, and possibly unnecessary.

One of the reviewers I read explained the significance of the title, and then criticized the author for not fully developing the idea of unnecessary surgery. Although the story is not about unnecessary surgery, it is about unnecessary loss - that ultimately appears to be redeeming.

It's also a fascinating geo-political history treatise that alone would make for compelling reading. The story of conjoined twin boys born to a nun and a surgeon - you're thinking it's something you want to read aren't you??

The author is a physician - and a fine writer also. I have noticed that frequently doctors who become writers seem to do well with the skill of writing. Perhaps the attention to detail that is the hallmark of good medicine spills over onto the pages of the story.

Let me know what you think.

Newest read

This book has been recommended to me by a large and disparate group of friends, family, acquaintances. And it's the pick for next month's book group discussion - which will be at my house.

It's not great literature - but it is a good read. It belongs to that ever-growing body of "Southern women regional writers" that I am wont to bring up from time to time.

I have often said that if I ever went back to finish my master's degree, my thesis would be about this particular category of female authors. I often wonder why there isn't a category for "Southern California women regional writers!"

I wonder how many men would enjoy it. Is it truly just for women talking to other women? Somehow these women know how to capture our interest. The stories are somewhat removed from my own personal experience, but I can still relate. This one does deal with the 60's and all that entailed, but actually in a somewhat superficial way. But the superficiality isn't a stumbling block.

It's certainly a popular book. And as I said before, a good read.

And sometimes that's all I want from a book!

A must read!

Talk about random!! I was in Vroman's months ago looking for something that they ended up not having. But the clerk had been so helpful, I felt like I should buy something. There was a display near the Customer Service counter, and this book was on it. The cover was intriguing. And I had seen the title a few times. So I bought it.

I took it and another book to my book group that night. We were trying to decide what to read next - and so we picked it. Pretty random. (the clerk had told me it was an adolescent novel - which it certainly is not - so we all thought it would be a "quick read." Wrong again!)

Although it was certainly not a "quick read," it was indeed a worthwhile read! Check it out - or buy it - or borrow it from me. I actually have two copies, and Bonny has one of them. And then let me know what you think.

Be prepared for some very advanced vocabulary - you could stop and look them all up if you are consumed with curiosity. But you can easily divine meaning from context. Also, lots of references to Russian literature, classical music, film - foreign and American, and philosophers.

But it still works. Don't give up - it starts ever so slowly - but when you finish, you will realize why it had to start that way. A few fave quotes to pique your interest:

"What charms me about the whole business is that he stubbornly insists on remaining a dog, whereas his mistress would like to make a gentleman of him."

". . .particularly when you think that such a destiny should surely have doomed her to the eternal worship of Barbara Cartland."

"For years my inevitable conclusion has been that the films of the seventh art are beautiful, powerful and soporific, and that blockbuster movies are pointless, very moving, and immensly satisfying."

"When illness enters a home, not only does it take hold of a body; it also weaves a dark web between hearts, a web where hope is trapped."

"When something is bothering me, I seek refuge. No need to travel far; a trip to the realm of literary memory will suffice."

And my favorite, and you will love Manuela:

"If you have but one friend, be sure you choose her well." (Manuela is Renee's friend.)

The amazing thing is that what makes this book great is the writing - the words chosen - and it's a translation from the French!!

At least it's worth AR points

This is a Newbery Honor Book - but I didn't find it all that great. For one thing, it moves ponderously - a death sentence as far as I'm concerned. There were long passages where legends were told - and I ended up skipping most of them.

The basic story had some merit, but the ending was precipitous - and not even very clear. There is a sequel, but I think I will skip it.

We use the Accelerated Reader program at our school - students read books, take quizzes and earn points. Mr. McClure and I decided we wanted to compete, so Mrs. Hoopes gave us user names and passwords, and the race is on.

Mr. McClure got a head start on me - but I plan to catch up - I have 30 points already and I just started Wednesday.

I'll keep you posted!!

So, should you make a book into a movie?

The reviews are mixed on this film. And I can see why.

There is some charm to it - especially when Max is on the shore with the wild things. They are pretty well done. But it does drag in places. And the main message seems to be that Max doesn't know how to behave - doesn't understand all the conflicting emotions he is experiencing. But what little kid does??

I have to agree with Kenneth Turan in the Times that, "In Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are," less - 10 sentences, 37 pages, 338 words - became more: a much-loved children's book that's sold more than 19 million copies worldwide, 10 million in the U.S. In the new film version of Sendak's classic, more - admired director Spike Jonze, smart co-screenwriter Dave Eggers, top-flight actors including Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker, and a budget estimated at $80 million to $100 million - has paradoxically become less: a precious, self-indulgent cinematic fable that not everyone is going to love."

He goes on to say that the film makes "explicit what was implicit," and I think that's where I think it falls apart. Sometimes it can be tedious to have everything spelled out.

But it's certainly not the worst film I've ever seen - and there were some highlights . So I don't want to spoil it in case you plan to go see it. (Hint: Look for the chicken arm.)

Eve and Porter stayed with it pretty well - but often asked "Why did he say that?" or "Why are you laughing Grandma?" Baby Harry had a harder time staying with it - but did a pretty good job of behaving well even when a little bored. They all appreciated the "knock, knock" joke sequence however!

So, I'm hoping they never try to make a film out of "Ask Mr. Bear," or "Outside Over There," or "Rain Makes Applesauce!!"

Latest "good read!"

I read about this book on cjane's blog - and it sounded like something I might enjoy - so I ordered it. The guy from the site later commented on her blog that "now he knew why he'd had 25 orders in the last hour!"

If you've read it - cjane said they were going to have a discussion on it, but said discussion has not occurred yet - I'd be interested in your take. It's not a typical "Mormon novel" by any stretch. But I wonder if a non-Mormon would read it and find it enjoyable.

Basic premise is about a young "hippie" in Colorado who comes in contact with the church via a young woman named Annie.

Let me know - if you haven't read it, I think you'd find it a "good read."

Getting going

Since I'm leading a "book discussion," I thought a "school pix" of me might be apropos. (Actually couldn't think of any other image - and it's nice to have images on a blog now and then!)

I confess that as I started reading this book, I figured out some of what was going to be happening. And in my own impatient style, I skimmed through the book to the end - and my suspicions were confirmed.

But as always happens when I skim that way, I do find out some major details that I suspected - and then realize that the ending has some minor details that I don't understand.

And in addition to being impatient, I am also very curious. So I have to go back and read for the details.

Which is why I love Gone With the Wind - I read it the first time when I was young - and didn't know about "skipping ahead" so I read all the details and wasn't impatient. Now I can just read the "good parts!"

Which leads to my next question - that I want everyone to consider as they read - why does the author "set us up" so blatantly? Or do you even think that she does? (I do.) And many books do this - is it just "bad writing?" Or am I expecting great literature when the author was just intending fiction?

Your thoughts??