Park Grove Library Book Club

Thank You Cindy, our Blogger

2012-02-13T15:06:00.001-06:00

We have been so fortunate at our Park Grove Book Club to have Cindy M. posting to the blog. Cindy has taken a leave at this time, and I, Natalie S., will be completing this new task. I know I speak for all of us at our Book Club that we have been so thankful to Cindy for all her work over the years of keeping up with this blog. She has done an excellent job!

Thank You Cindy M for your years of direction & volunteer work!

Updated Reading List for 2012

2012-02-06T14:35:00.000-06:00

Hello Book Clubbers!

These two books have been selected for this year's reading:

For meeting on Feb. 28: A Place to Land, by Rebecca White
For meeting on Mar. 27: Ava's Man, by Rich Brags

In April the meeting will include selecting books for springtime reading. This is a good time to suggest titles of those books you've been wanting to read.

Book Awards News

2011-03-15T17:18:00.000-05:00

It's not too late to take Natalie's advice: Vote for your favorite author in the Minnesota Book Awards. Votes will be accepted until the end of March, but only one vote per person. Use this link to the voting page. (You will need to login on that page to vote.)

This coming Friday, the 18th, is a special Readers' Choice Event. This is FREE! It is being held as an opportunity for readers to meet the authors whose work has been nominated. Wine and refreshments will be served. Use this link for all the details of where and when.

And, of course, the winners will be presented at The Awards Gala, to be held on April 16th. Reservations and tickets are required for this event. Use this link for more information and to make ticket purchases.

Now is the Time to Read

2011-03-10T13:23:00.000-06:00

Whoa, the next book club meeting is less than two weeks away. And this weekend we need to 'spring forward' to enact Daylight Savings Time. So that chops out another hour.

But there is still time, I think, to read this month's selection, The Tall Pines Polka, by Lorna Landvik. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22nd, 6:30 p.m. at the library. Be sure to mark your calendars.

Also, for those who like to plan ahead: April's book will be A Private History of Awe, by Scott Russell Sanders. Meeting for discussing this book will be on April 26th.

Readers Weigh In on "Wives"

2011-02-28T15:39:00.002-06:00

Emails were flying fast and furious after a reminder was sent out for last Tuesday's meeting. Several book club members were forwarding their regrets of not being able to attend, but having read the book, their messages included comments about it.

The book chosen for discussion in February was The Wives of Henry Oades, by Johanna Moran. The book tells the story of Henry, who moves his family to a distant land when he is relocated by his job. Turmoil in that country separates him from his family, and in time he becomes convinced they are dead. He moves back to California, meets a woman and remarries. His first wife and children, still alive, escape and return to California. Henry then becomes husband and father to two wives and all of their children. The story is based on a true case of bigamy.

Char said: "Loved the book . . historical fiction always a pleasure to read . . a real page-turner for sure . . loved the strong, compassionate women . . Margaret and Nancy were amazing, were they not?"

Diane said: "I loved the book . . especially Margaret, who made the most sacrifices in my mind. The book stayed with me all week after reading it. I wonder what I would do in this situation?"

Kelly said: " Loved the book. Loved the women. At first I wasn't crazy about Nan, but then she grew on me as she showed her compassion to Margaret!"

Cora said: "I did enjoy 'Wives . .', to think it is based on fact is remarkable!"

Ginger said: "I enjoyed the book, but I was so frustrated with Henry. I'm not sure what I expected him to do, but it felt to me as though he abandoned Meg emotionally, which didn't set well with me at all."

Learn more about the author at her web site, www.johannamoran.com

See the U.S.A. . . .

2011-02-02T14:58:00.000-06:00

January's book, Queen of the Road, by Doreen Orion, met with mixed reviews by members of the book club. Ten of the members loved it, two didn't, and two others were on the fence.

The book tells the true story of a woman who helps fulfill her husband's dream of traveling the country. They do so, with their pets, in a full size bus, covering 47 states and encountering numerous adventures.

An excerpt of the book can be found on the author's web site, (www.doreenorion.com). The writing is personal and humorous, and descriptions of their travels are enjoyable to read. Doreen also maintains a blog on her web site, posts photos of the places they've been, and gives away free, signed bookplates to those who ask. (It could be fun to request one just to see what postmark they're mailed from.)

For those who want to know more about the author, Women on Writing include an interview with Doreen Orion on their web site, (www.wow-womenonwriting.com/33-FE3-DoreenOrion.html).

Another interview (made by email exchange), can be found on www.liveworkdream.com/2009/02/08/queen-of-the-road-drink-it-in/. The live-work-dream web site is from another married couple who sold everything they had to take to the road. They travel and work with their pets from the comfort of their own RV, and supply helpful travel information from their site.

Meeting Announcement

2011-01-13T14:11:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to Everyone!

The next meeting of the book club will be on Tuesday, January 25th at 6:30 p.m. We will be getting together at the library as usual.

This month's book is Queen of the Road, by Doreen Orion. Freda will be the discussion leader.

We'll also be having an annual book exchange at this meeting. Bring in books you've read (that you own of course), and trade them for some new ones. The more books that people bring in, the more there will be to choose from. What better way is there to spend these snowy days than with an armload of recommended reading???

We're Number One!

2010-12-17T16:13:00.000-06:00

Results of the 2010 U.S. Census are being released and provide some very interesting findings.

Here are some facts:

The great state of Minnesota ranks No. 1 in high school graduation rates. 91% of residents aged 25 or older have the minimum of a high school degree.
Our own Washington County ranks No. 1 within the state, boasting a rate of 96% of residents obtaining that diploma.
Washington County residents be proud! We are ranked at being the 15th highest in achieving high school diploma status out of more than 3,000 counties nationwide.

Cheers to those hardworking teachers, librarians, parents and grandparents who help instill the love of learning. Kudos to those who continue to read and to learn, and to those who offer others encouragement and support.

See the December 15th article of this news from the Pioneer Press at: http://www.twincities.com/ci_16860230?IADID,
or view the American Community Survey on the Census Bureau's web site at: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/ .

Holiday News

2010-11-29T12:54:00.000-06:00

With Thanksgiving just behind us, the book club choice for the month of December is You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas, by Augusten Burroughs.

There are two changes to the meeting for December. Note the change in date to Tuesday, December 14th. Kelly has again offered to host our group for the annual holiday meeting. We will meet at her home at 6:30. Please bring an appetizer or treat to share.

The November meeting was held to plan the reading list for the upcoming year. For those thinking ahead, (or while shopping find some really good coupons from bookstores), here are the selections for the first few months:

January - Queen of the Road, by Doreen Orion
February - Wives of Henry Oades, by Johanna Moran
March - The Tall Pines Polka, by Lorna Landvik
April - A Private History of Awe, by Scott Russell Sanders

More snow is on the way! Stay warm and happy reading!

A Piece of History Comes to Life

2010-11-10T13:54:00.000-06:00

Memoirs are a popular form of non-fiction reading. Now there is one that has been one hundred years in the making.

What? How can that be?

Recently published is The Autobiography of Mark Twain, an unedited memoir left by the author, with the strict instructions that it not be published for a century after his death. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, Mark Twain died of a heart attack on April 21, 1910, at the age of 74. An excerpt from the book as presented by Newsweek reveals the content contains writings of personal anecdotes and stories of experiences in his life.

A note of interest: Mark Twain's birth coincided with the arrival of Halley's Comet in 1835. Later in his life, it was his expressed desire to "go out with Halley's Comet." His death occurred one day following the comet's return and closest approach to Earth. (See wikipedia for more details.)

Our Opinions of Olive in October

2010-10-28T11:19:00.001-05:00

Last Tuesday night we met to discuss the book, Olive Kittredge, by Elizabeth Strout. We had a good turnout of readers, and two new women joined the group.

Reactions to the book were mixed, although there was no one who totally disliked it. Many in the group commented on the great writing, the fully developed characters, and the well defined visuals that made the story come alive. These remarks were counterbalanced by several people describing the story as dark and depressing.

Or, I should say, stories, since the book is written as separate tales within every chapter instead of as one continual plotline. Many of us found that to be confusing. Many of us found the abrupt endings to the chapters frustrating.

Our conversations about Olive herself allowed for a lot of laughter in our meeting. We all admitted to knowing someone who was as brash as she seemed to be. Some of us saw a little of ourselves in parts of her. And the author did a good job of showing us Olive's tender side, so that little by little, as we began to know Olive better, we began to understand and like her more.

This was the first book we have chosen in our club that some readers found a second reading to be more meaningful, and others are planning to reread the book for a deeper understanding.

Read more about the author at her web site: http://elizabethstrout.com
View the awarding of the Pulitzer Prize for this novel at: http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2009-Fiction

Time to Help the Library

2010-10-25T14:43:00.000-05:00

Be part of helping the Washington County Library system grow and prepare for the future.

Until November 14th, the library is seeking your input through an easy, seven (with multiple parts) questionnaire, online or by paper copy at any county branch. You can rate the importance of the library's current programs and help with the Strategic Planning for the future.

This is an easy way for you to voice your opinion on what direction the library should go. You will find a link to the survey on the Washington County Library web site, or here: www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/library/.

And, by the way, the survey does include a question on the importance of a book club . . . .

A Famous Cat Close to Home

2010-10-12T14:46:00.001-05:00

Remember the book we read about the library cat? It was Dewey, a small town cat that touched the world. And then we talked about Oscar, a famous cat who could predict when people would die. Well, it turns out that we have a similar cat right here in our midst.

According to a story printed in the Pioneer Press (Sept. 27, 2010), there is a cat named Ollie who lives as the official pet of Gilbert House, an Episcopal Church Home here in St. Paul. This cat, too, is known to provide a presence of peace when a resident of the home has reached the end of their life.

Could it be an inherent trait in some animals? Doctor Dosa, who wrote the book about Oscar, thinks that Ollie is not that unusual. Cats have long been thought to have special traits, but not all of them are as perceptive as these two.

Read more from the newspaper's web site: St. Paul cat seems to know when nursing home residents will die, by Molly Guthrey. If you want you can add your views to an ongoing conversation, with the ability to read comments made by other readers, or leave one of your own.

Nobody Liked Hillie

2010-09-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

It is easy to see why The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is such a popular book. Ten of us met on Tuesday night for a discussion of it. Everyone present either 'liked' or 'loved' the book, with two members who were unable to attend expressing their 'loved' opinions by proxy.

We passed the time quickly at our meeting, as the book contained so many dimensions for us to discuss. Our conversation included topics of civil rights, prejudice, poverty, and morality, to handy kitchen tips and super-sized hair curlers of the sixties.

In discussing the characters we found that a lot of us differed on having a favorite character in the book. Top among the most well liked were Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter. We found Celia to be a sympathetic one. But nobody liked Hillie.

Visit the author's web site at: www.kathrynstockett.com
See the Official Book web site at: us.penguingroup.com

Surprising Facts About Books

2010-09-28T16:01:00.000-05:00

Question:

What do the books:

The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell, and
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

have in common?

The Surprising Answer:

They are all books that at one time or another have been banned from schools, libraries, or bookstores.

Today is right in the middle of Banned Books Awareness Week, September 25th thru October 2nd of this year. "Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates the freedom to read, draws attention to banned and challenged books, and highlights persecuted individuals." (Taken directly from Wikipedia. Emphasis mine.)

Half Price Books provides a link from their web site to DeleteCensorship.org, where you can learn more about the hundreds of books that have been considered improper to read at different times and places. You are likely to find several of your favorites and wonder why they are listed.

For example, Huck Finn was banned due to the informal style of dialogue the author used. Concord, Massachusetts considered it "trash and suitable only for the slums."

Even the dictionary itself has at one time been considered improper reading material. On the list of objectionable books was The American Heritage Dictionary, banned by a library in Missouri and a school board in Alaska. The book's offensive material was some of the words it contained. Words like 'bed', 'knocker', and 'balls.'

I don't know. All of that seems sort of tame by today's standards.

Free! Meet an Author!

2010-09-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

Here is an exciting opportunity for anyone who likes to read. Copy this bookmark: www.clubbook.org

With funding from Minnesota's Art and Cultural Heritage Fund, and organized through Metro public libraries and the Library Foundation of Hennepin County, authors will be attending public libraries this fall to meet readers and speak about their books.

The events are free and open to the public. They are scheduled for libraries across the metro area. (So far nothing is listed for our very own.)

Some of the authors scheduled are: Terry McMillan, Colson Whitehead, Faith Sullivan, and Alison McGhee. Alas, readings by those we know well, Garrison Keillor and Patricia Hampl, have already been held. But this is an excellent way to learn more about . . . books!

Happy Anniversary . . . To Us!

2010-09-07T14:17:00.001-05:00

Happy Anniversary!

It is hard to believe, but this month is the fourth anniversary of our first meeting of the Park Grove Library book club!

We have been a busy group, too. A glance at our list of 'Books We Have Read' shows evidence of that. As a group, we have introduced each other to new and different authors, new and different types of books, and so many new and different ideas and perspectives on what we have read. How many times has one of us liked a book, and then admitted, "I would never have thought to choose that one on my own."

So, this month we will be meeting at the library, Tuesday the 28th, at 6:30 p.m. Our selection is The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. This book is sure to generate a lot of conversation.

The Help has been called by Amazon, "The word-of-mouth fiction breakout of the year." It has been ranked at #5 on a list of Amazon's bestselling books of 2009, (see marketingcharts.com), and continues at the top of the bestseller lists for 2010. The New York Times places the book in the top 5 for bestsellers of 2010.

This is a book that has attracted a lot of attention and has a lot of longevity. We will likely be having a very interesting meeting this month.

Review of August

2010-08-31T14:13:00.000-05:00

Anyone making a quick search on the Internet could easily conclude that the author of our book selection for August, (Nickel and Dimed in America), Barbara Ehrenreich, is as controversial as the books she writes.

Visiting the author's web site, you will be greeted with announcement of her newest release, Bright Sided, a book about the effects of positive thinking in America. Elsewhere on her site is a list of the books she has published, many of them along the same lines as Nickel and Dimed, in exposing realities within American culture. Also on her web site is a link to her blog, where she voices her opinion on topical subject matter. There is also access to a forum of internet conversation about her books.

Barbara's biography is presented in Wikipedia, identifying her as a "widely read columnist and essayist . . . the author of nearly 20 books." She is also described as an "American feminist, democratic socialist, sociologist, and political activist."

Not all authors are considered for quoting from, but that is not the case for Ms. Ehrenreich. It is easy to find several web sites with numerous quotes taken from her writing, some of the sites allow visitors to comment. See an example of this on Goodreads.com

Library Day at the Fair

2010-08-16T14:32:00.000-05:00

Read and Ride Wednesday is scheduled for September 1st this year at the Minnesota State Fair.

This means that if you present a valid public library card at the gate that day when you buy a ticket, you will receive a discount on the price of admission!

The Fair also promises discounts on Midway and Kidway rides that same day, all-day. Read more on the Fair's web site at: http://www.mnstatefair.org/tickets_discounts/admission.html

An August Update

2010-08-10T12:49:00.002-05:00

Diane has generously offered her home as meeting place for this month's meeting. It will be held on August 24th, just two weeks from today. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a pot luck - please bring a dish to share.

The book selection for the month is: Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich. Freda will be conducting the discussion.

This will be our last meeting of the summer, (already!), and only days away from the State Fair. Meetings will resume in September at the library.

Featured Book for July

2010-08-02T15:42:00.000-05:00

During the month of July, the book club selection was Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. The book is about a woman who develops Alzheimer's disease. She is a university professor. So there is the reality: Alzheimer's can happen to anybody.

In my own life, I have experienced the illness in close relatives twice. In the first, I was caregiver for my mother. In those days we didn't have the volume of information that is available now on the internet. The Alzheimer's Association, (at www.alz.org), now has a web site that is very comprehensive and even includes a helpline phone number that is 24/7.

A memory walk to raise money is being organized for September 25th out of Bloomington, Minnesota. Sign-ups for people to walk or for donations can be made through the Alzheimer's Association web site.

Visit the author's web site, www.lisagenova.com, for information on the author, Still Alice, and news about the author's newest book, Left Neglected, due out in January 2011. This web site also contains access to a discussion forum with ongoing conversations about the book and the illness.

Some Summer Reading Suggestions

2010-07-15T13:04:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't written anything on this blog for awhile, but I've been so busy reading! The long, hot, days of summer are made for relaxing with a good book. So, if you are looking for some ideas on what to take on that vacation, here are some suggestions.

Two of the books I've recently finished were by authors I was introduced to through the book club. I read Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult, an author whose writing has a way of involving the reader in the characters' lives, people who seem real enough to be neighbors on the same block. This book took on the sensitive subject matter of a high school shooting in a relatively small town. The event exposes the frailty within human relationships, and the many ways our lives are intermingled. This book was hard to put down once I started to read it.

Another author, Bill Bryson, we had read as a group some time ago with the selection of A Walk in the Woods. This time I chose The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, a book described as a memoir of the author. While it had some of the same sense of humor that made reading 'Woods' so fun, it did not have the same sense of adventure, and in the end I was a bit disappointed.

However, I had picked up a copy of Marley and Me, by John Grogan, a bestseller about "life and love with the world's worst dog." Who doesn't like puppies? Anyway, I had not seen the movie based on the book, but while reading it thought that I would like to. This was an engaging story, not only about the dog, but about the family that grows up around the pet, a pet that seems bent on creating disruption and havoc. You can expect some examples of love and loyalty within the pages of this book.

So, happy summer! happy reading!

June Meeting

2010-06-28T13:15:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone. I missed the June meeting, and the discussion of Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky, so I have little to report about it.

Maybe someone who had been to the meeting could leave a comment of how it went?

Otherwise, we are starting into the July book-of-the-month selection, which will be: Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. This had been previously scheduled to be the book for June, so if you read it in advance, you will be that much more ahead!

For July we will be having to make some alternate accommodations for meeting, since our usual room will be unavailable. Stay tuned for more info as things become settled.

May Meeting Follow-up

2010-06-03T13:19:00.000-05:00

Our book for the month of May was Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks. Nine members were present for a great discussion of the novel, best described as an historical fiction about the bubonic plague.

Having not attended the meeting, I am not able to provide many details about the discussion. If you are interested in knowing more about the book, I would refer you to the author's website: www.geraldinebrooks.com/wonders.html. While you are there, be sure to read more about the author, who began a career in journalism before rethinking her future goals after being jailed for doing her job.

A previous book on our club's reading list was the novel, March, which was written by the same author, and many in the group found to be entertaining.

Taliesin News

2010-05-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

Because of the popularity of Loving Frank: A Novel, (our book selection for last February), Taliesin has initiated a new tour of the grounds specifically related to the details of the book.

Called the Loving Frank Tour, it is to be held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month from May through October. It will include readings from the book and a stop at a nearby cemetery to see Mamah Borthwick's grave.

Learn more from the Taliesin web site at: http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/visitors-guide/our-tours/loving-frank-tour

According to a news blurb in the Pioneer Press, (April 26, 2010), visits to the home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright had record attendance last season to the tune of about 28,500 people. The surge in interest has been credited to the novel by Nancy Horan.

Important Update

2010-05-06T13:31:00.000-05:00

A couple of changes have been made to our meeting schedule due to members planning summer vacations. The books for the months of June and July will be flipped, so that the revised summer schedule will be:

May 25 - Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks,
June 22 - Suite Francaise, Irene Nemirovsky
July 27 - Still Alice, Lisa Genova, and
August 24 - Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich

Also, our current plans for the July meeting will be to assemble outside of the library. Look for us that month enjoying the summer evening air.

The Other Hand

2010-04-28T14:05:00.001-05:00

Everyone LOVED this month's selection, Little Bee, by Chris Cleave. And this says much for the book since we had a sizeable turnout of readers at last night's meeting - maybe our largest group yet.

Originally titled The Other Hand, (although admidst much speculation, none of us were able to determine why), the book provided us with many topics of discussion. Comments ranged from ways we pamper ourselves during times of stress, to defining right and wrong relationships, to current immigration policies, including the status of new immigration laws in Arizona.

We touched on topics of courage, sacrifice, hope, maturity, faith, fear, and guilt, among others. We all found the character of Little Bee to be delightful and enjoyable to follow. She taught us that our scars are a thing of beauty, because they are proof of being a survivor. We were saddened at the end of the story. This is a book that helps the reader to learn a little bit more about themself.

More about the author, his blog, and his other projects can be found on his web site: http://www.chriscleave.com.

Upcoming Reading List

2010-04-07T14:25:00.000-05:00

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, April 27th, 6:30 p.m., at the library. We will be discussing the book, Little Bee, by Chris Cleave.

Books for the summer will be:

May - Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks
June - Still Alice, by Lisa Genova
July - Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky
August - Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich

We look forward to some inspiring reading! Come join us.

After the Snow Melts

2010-03-25T15:13:00.001-05:00

We were a slightly smaller group that met on Tuesday to discuss the book Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson. But, then, it was one of the more perfect beginning-of-spring afternoons.

Our overall opinion of the book was favorable, but a few people thought that the story moved too slow, or did not go far enough into certain scenes. Several comments were made about the book having a disappointing ending. A few of us read the book a second time for the meeting and found it more appealing to reread.

Our conversation was lively, however. It was interesting to compare our perceptions of the story. As we discussed different parts, such as the relationship of Trond's father with Lars' mother, we found ourselves clarifying portions of the story to each other. Some of this was due to the order in which the story was told, which someone aptly described as the unfolding of memories as they happen in life.

For us, living in a similar climate, it was easy to relate to the story that takes place in Norway and Sweden. And to those of us, like Cora, who have Norwegians in their family, the characters were understandable and lifelike.

Visit Per Petterson's web site and blog for this and more books authored by him at http://perpetterson.com. View more reviews of the book as a featured staff pick from the famous Powell's books web site.

The Famous Cat Named Oscar

2010-03-15T14:02:00.001-05:00

When we met to talk about Dewey the library cat last December, other cats in the news were brought up in the conversation. One of them was a nursing home cat, who accurately predicted when residents of the home were soon to pass away.

Now there is a book about that cat, titled Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat. The book was written by David Dosa, M.D., a geriatrician working at the home where the cat's predictions took place.

Originally, Dr. Dosa had written a short article about Oscar the cat which was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. (Read the excerpt by following this link.) When much publicity followed, the doctor compiled more his own experiences working with Oscar and his special gifts, to write this book.

If you are interested in learning more, visit the author's web site: www.daviddosa.com, which contains links to more things about Oscar, including articles and videos. Reviews of the book include comments from Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants, a book previously on our reading list.

March Springs Forward

2010-03-03T12:02:00.002-06:00

Just a reminder that our next meeting is scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of this month, March 23rd. This will be after Daylight Saving Time takes place, since it is scheduled for Sunday, March 14th this year. Don't forget to set your clocks!

In my memory, Daylight Saving Time has usually taken place on either the first or last Sunday of April. This year is different, but it will bring us later sunsets two weeks earlier than we are used to. With this wonderful springlike weather we are having this week, I am all for having more daylight!

To be perfectly accurate, however, I should mention that news announced yesterday stated how our days have been shortened by the power of the earthquake in Chile. According to NASA, Chile's earthquake not only shortened our day (by 1.26 millionth of a second), but it also shifted the Earth's axis.

If you want to read more on the topic, one suggestion is an article from Time magazine: "How Chili's Earthquake Shortened Earth's Day."

Or, see the story in National Geographic: "Chili Earthquake Altered Earth Axis, Shortened Day."

Or, if you are just interested in knowing the current accurate time, visit the official U.S. Time web site at: www.time.gov, which includes links to interesting information about clocks, calendars, and time keeping, plus facts and figures about Daylight Saving Time.

Oh, and our meeting will be 6:30 p.m. at the library. Our book this month is Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson.

See you there.

A Valentine Tome

2010-02-25T14:56:00.002-06:00

We met to discuss Loving Frank, a fictionalized biography of renown architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair with Mamah Borthwick Cheney, written by Nancy Horan Drew.

The book gave us much to talk about. We marveled at the author's writing skills in blending fact and fiction to bring the story to life. We were impressed at the amount of time she had spent in research for the book. And many of us thought the facts of the story would be more palatable as fiction, and the fiction may be better to be read as fact.

The slogan of 'life as truth' that was central to the main characters' attitudes provided us friendly debate about the essence of the story. Were Frank and Mamah being true to themselves, in spite of the destruction they created to those around them? Or, should societal mores play the larger role in each of our lives? Is being true to yourself also selfish? Is it better to be selfish than unhappy?

The subject of women's rights was a strong theme throughout the book. We compared the differences of what women struggled with one hundred years ago versus how we struggle today. Some things, such as voting rights, significantly differ. Other things, such as equal pay, women are still trying to achieve.

This book gave almost all of us an eye-opening perspective on the man regarded as one of the world's greatest architects. We talked about whether privilege excuses eccentricity, whether fame excuses entitlement, and whether someone's artistry and drive excuses their responsibilities to uphold societal rules. It was easy to introduce names from today's headlines for comparisons.

There are a lot of online resources for more information:

Loving Frank, the web site,
Frank Lloyd Wright, on wikipedia,
Taliesin, the book's location,
Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, on Architecture Week, and
most importantly,
Pictures and Story of the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed gas station, right nearby us in Cloquet, Minnesota!

The Catalog is Here!

2010-02-03T13:19:00.003-06:00

Have you received your District 833 Community Education catalog yet? (If not, a pdf version is available on the website www.cecool.com). It is chock-full of fun and interesting classes and programs for youth and adult enrichment.

Some of the classes, particularly in exercise and dance, are offered as a series of two to six sessions. But most of the offerings are from one to four hours of time! This is a great way to test the waters for developing a new hobby. Or, attend a seminar for inspiration on changing a lifetime habit.

Learn to make soap, bake a Shepherd's Pie, write your own will, or design a bonsai tree! There are so many things to pick from.

If you haven't tried it before, I would really like to direct your attention to the Laughter Workshop session. Who knew that so much fun could be so healthy? This is a class that no one should miss - no matter what kind of day you've been having, you will leave feeling great. Take a friend, a family member, or go by yourself, you won't regret it.

Find out more about laughter workshops (also known as laughter yoga), at the following websites:

Laughter Yoga International - www.laughteryoga.org,
Our local laughter professor - www.yogamn.com, and
A Star Tribune article

Have fun!

Cold Snow and Frazzle

2010-01-27T15:14:00.003-06:00

We greeted two new faces at our gathering Tuesday night, meeting to discuss Smilla's Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg. We relocated to an area behind the children's section in the back of the library for the night, and carried on in spirited and lively conversation. The book gave us much to talk about, even allowing us to venture into suggestions for casting a remake of the movie based on the book.

Our opinions of the book ran the full gamut, from those who loved the book, many who liked the book, and a few who hated the book. Most everyone agreed that it was a difficult read, for reasons of wordiness, confusing plot structure, and too much scientific detail.

The story seemed to stray from its plot so often that many of us could not follow its intent. One of our group admitted to falling asleep whenever she started reading the book. More than once we questioned whether part of the problem with understanding the story was due to the book being translated from the author's native Danish.

But, even with the difficulties, most of us felt that reading the book presented a worthy challenge, and all but one, (who happens to be me), finished reading it to the end. The story line twist at the book's conclusion caught most everyone off guard, resulting in reactions that a mystery thriller turned into a science fiction story.

Many positive comments were made on the value of learning so much about Greenland, Denmark, and the Inuit people of the Canadian Arctic.

If our reactions whet your appetite to know more, a comprehensive description of the book, more details, information, and other links can be found on Smilla's own page of wikipedia, just by clicking here.

Winter Jackets to Start Soon!

2010-01-07T13:05:00.001-06:00

The transition to January is often a time for making New Year’s resolutions. While the snow piling up outside of our windows is a reminder that now might not be the best time to begin those outdoor exercises, we can always stay warm and cozy inside. This is a good time for reading!

Our book club has a great selection for this month, Smilla’s Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg. (Which we will meet to discuss on the 26th at the library.) But, don’t forget about the library’s Winter Jackets program. Find out more on the library’s web site, (link here).

And, best of all, each book review you submit is an entry for a possibility to win a prize!

In the Spirit of Christmas

2009-12-17T14:43:00.001-06:00

Our annual Christmas meeting was held on what turned out to be the coldest night of the season. But inside of Kelly's home it was warm and cheerful as we gathered around her decorated tree, sipping at tea and munching on hors d'oeuvres both nutritious and sweet.

Eventually we got around to discussing this month's book selection, Dewey: a small-town cat who touched the world. Most of us enjoyed the book as an easy and light-hearted read for the busy month of December. A number of us commented favorably on the story and memoir combination, mixed with historical information about the small town of Spencer, Iowa. Only one of us put the book down after the first few chapters. She found the book to be 'too cheerful,' but may pick it up again at a future time.

The book sparked a lot of discussion between us about the cats in our lives, from rescued kitten stories to an anecdote about a dog who puts the cats to bed every night. And several people shared stories about the small towns where they grew up. We discovered, again, that the world is a small place, after all.

Mary did some research and located some video about the legendary Dewey. It can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jGpvvLmwbs. For anyone who is a cat lover, this book is highly recommended.

New Year's Reading

2009-12-03T13:59:00.002-06:00

Diane has finished compiling the book list for the year ahead. For Deborah, who has asked, (and is welcome to meet with us), I am including the following list for the first four months of 2010:

Jan: Smilla's Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg (fiction)
Feb: Loving Frank, by Nancy Drew Horan (fiction/factual)
Mar: Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson (fiction)
Apr: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave (fiction)

We will be returning to our usual meeting schedule of the fourth Tuesday of the month, meeting at the library conference room at 6:30 p.m.

There will be more titles to come. We have a selection that also includes historical fiction and non-fiction books. Authors in the upcoming year's readings also include Geraldine Brooks, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Kathryn Stockett.

It's December!

2009-12-03T13:55:00.002-06:00

The cold has arrived and the holidays are approaching. We are all set to meet on December 15th, (one week earlier than usual), at 6:30 p.m. for our Christmas party meeting. Kelly has graciously agreed to share her home with us for this gathering, a discussion of the book Dewey, the Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, by Vicki Myron.

We will be sharing treats, so please bring a tasty goodie, and also a book or two to exchange with others. For every book you bring to leave, you need to take one home with you. This year we should not have any books leftover.

Leftover treats? Is there such a thing?

November

2009-11-19T15:21:00.003-06:00

We met on Tuesday with no specific book to discuss, so we spent our time talking about an assortment of novels.

Our meeting this month was held for planning our book list for the next year. Ten of us met, with everyone contributing suggestions of between two and five, (or six?), book titles. As we went around the table, each person explained why they were making their suggestions, and after they finished, everyone voted on which book to include on our list. It worked out very well. As a result we have a reading list for 2010 that even includes a Christmas selection!

A benefit to this process was that so many other books were researched and presented, we learned about some great reading resources for non-book club reading.

So, thank you, those who let me know you are reading this. And, to you, who are reading now, Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

A Question for Readers

2009-11-11T13:09:00.002-06:00

Hi,
Maybe you've noticed that entries on this blog have been slowing down and becoming more intermittent. Maybe you haven't noticed.

That is what I would like to know. Is anyone reading this? If you are out there and periodically checking for information, would you please let me know?

I would really appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

Autumn Advances

2009-09-23T14:21:00.002-05:00

We expanded our meeting table once more as we welcomed one visitor and one new club member (aptly named Susan), for the discussion of: Stalking Susan, by Julie Kramer.

All of us liked the book! Cora thought we must have set a record on agreement.

We liked the story itself, the author's style of writing, the main character, and all of the references to the Minneapolis area. A few people in the group commented on the fact it was a likeable mystery. What most of us found appealing was that it managed to be a mystery about murders that didn't include graphic violence, foul language, or descriptive lovemaking.

It was fun to compare our different perceptions about the supporting characters - the newsman ranging from a stern authoritarian to a bumbling egotist, and Riley's boss more than one of us have experienced working with, a harsh business woman somewhat akin to The Devil Wears Prada.

At least one of our members is in ownership of Ms. Kramer's follow-up book, Missing Mark, with other members signing onto the libraries waiting list for the book. More about the author can be found on her web site: juliekramerbooks.com

The Great Park Grove August Get-Together

2009-08-26T12:16:00.002-05:00

We welcomed some new readers to our regular group last night when we met to discuss The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski.

The book was a sizeable read, for a summertime tome, and a couple of people in our group had not had a chance to finish before the meeting. Nevertheless, they did not mind our discussion which resulted in an almost unanimous opinion of 'thumbs up', with only one person expressing a dislike of the book, or a 'thumbs down.'

There was so much to talk about with this book. We mostly enjoyed the author's writing style, being so beautifully descriptive with his words, being able to draw us, as readers, into the story as if it were taking place around us. Many of us found the description and actions of the dogs to be so true to life; we were able to exchange stories of our own pets. (Even Diane's especially courageous bird, who bravely skirted around the household's cat and dog to sit with and play with her child.)

More than one of us, though, expressed disappointment with the ending. But, gradually through the discussion we came to realize the reasoning behind it. Some of the research for discussion questions led to speculations by others that the book's storyline and plot is borrowed from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Is it to be?

It Pays to Read!

2009-08-17T14:43:00.002-05:00

Next week marks the start of the legendary ten days of fun and food at the Great Minnesota Get Together - the Minnesota State Fair!

This year the organizers have added an extra day for discounted admission tickets. And the theme for the savings is: Read and Ride Wednesday! (September 2nd).

See the State Fair web site for complete information, but the concept is that anyone who purchases an admission ticket at the fairgrounds, and shows a valid public library card, will receive a discount on the price of their ticket.

How much fun is that??

July July July

2009-08-10T13:25:00.001-05:00

What a remarkably pleasant summer we have been having. Just right for reading a good book.

So, sorry, I was away on vacation during July's book club meeting. I missed the discussion - though I am sure it went well.

June Reading Wrap-Up

2009-06-24T14:41:00.002-05:00

Ahhh, you can easily tell that it's summer - our group of readers was much smaller than usual this meeting.

It couldn't have been the book that chased people off, because of the five who attended to discuss Middlesex, (by Jeffrey Eugenides), everyone found things about the novel to like. Some of us were more impressed with the opening historical content of the story, and some of us enjoyed the personal story of the narrator during the second part of the book. But, overall, the book was well received.

Our planned leader for the evening, Mary, was absent due to illness. But pages of questions were found for discussion, and we were kept engaged for the total time allowed us at the library. In fact, the librarian was knocking on the door with reminders of the earlier closing time to be sure we knew to leave.

The questions covered the gamut of material within the book - while applying them to the reading we found ourselves making insightful discoveries about the themes within the story. Central to everything was the concept of searching for identity, whether it be historically, culturally, environmentally, or biologically. Several people commented on the best part of all, that so much could be said while writing with such an enjoyable sense of humor.

May; We Meet Again

2009-05-27T14:53:00.002-05:00

And in complete honesty I must admit that I did not attend the meeting that was held this month.

However, I have email from Diane that states: "We had a unanimous opinion on The Other Boleyn Girl. Everyone liked it and we had a great discussion led by Freda."

So, I suppose I should have made a greater effort to attend.

Coming up next is the book Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, because summer is a great time for reading too!

April Flowers

2009-04-30T12:04:00.003-05:00

A small group of us met on Tuesday to discuss the book, The Florist's Daughter, by Patricia Hampl.

Opinions ranged from favorable to unfavorable. A couple of readers were disappointed, having had higher expectations set by the reputation of the book and its author. One person in the group lamented not having more of a story to the book, and others agreed that the book would be meaningful primarily to people with a great deal of interest in the city of St. Paul.

While the subject matter of the book did not bowl people over, many of us commented favorably on the writing style and prose. A few people were familiar with the author's reputation as a poet.

Patricia Hampl is currently a Regents Professor and McKnight Distinguished Professor at the University of Minnesota. She will be one of three featured speakers at a Memoir Writing Festival being held May 16th and 17th at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

More Items of Interest

2009-04-01T12:11:00.002-05:00

Minnesota author Lorna Landvik, (whose book Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons was well received by our book reading club), will be visiting, in person, neighboring Woodbury on Saturday, April 4th.

She will be discussing her latest books: The View from Mount Joy, and Tis the Season.

Lorna's visit is co-sponsored by the Washington County-Stafford Library, in Woodbury, and she will be speaking at the Central Park Amphitheatre in Woodbury. The event is free and open to the public.

Our book club reading for April is by another Minnesota author, Patricia Hampl. Entitled The Florist's Daughter, the book is a biographical memoir of growing up in St. Paul. Annette will lead the discussion when we meet on April 28th at 6:30 p.m. in the library. See you there!

March Meeting

2009-04-01T11:58:00.002-05:00

Many thanks to Diane, who offered the following summary of our book club meeting in March:

Eight members of the Park Grove Library Book Club met (March 24th). We were led in a discussion of Choosing Civility, P.M. Forni, by Cora. Mostly the book was well received and everyone commented that they learned some new pointers or were reminded of courtesies they had forgotten. One comment was that the book would be just right to be used in schools to teach social expectations and the importance of considering others first. Some thought the book was textbookish and was "preaching to the choir."

The author will be at the Woodbury branch of the library on April 21 at 7 p.m. The event is free but requires a ticket, which must be picked up from the library prior to the event. Several members of our club plan to attend. The event is part of a county-wide initiative sponsored by the library. More information on the One County, One Book event is available at the library web site.

Read more about the Civility Project from the author's web site at John Hopkins University.

February Review

2009-02-26T12:10:00.003-06:00

We were pleased to welcome two new members to our meeting on Tuesday. The ladies arrived prepared for discussion by having read our book choice for the month: The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs. Some of the more ambitious readers continued on with reading the sequel, Knit Two, and brought even more information about the characters and continuation of the story. Almost everyone enjoyed the story; it was the ending where we responded differently.

We had a pleasant time exchanging our perspectives on the book, comparing the story of women meeting regularly and building friendships around knitting to our own experience of meeting regularly to read and discuss the latest in best-selling novels.

More information about the author and the knitting series of books, (as well as tips and techniques on knitting, and online discussion with others who had similar reactions to the story) can be found at:

Next on our agenda is a specially selected book for March, Choosing Civility.

Library News

2009-02-04T13:19:00.003-06:00

February is the month for Ground Hog's Day, Presidents' Day, and Valentine's Day. It is also a good month to check into the new programs at our library, specifically regarding winter reading.

Washington County Libraries are celebrating reading with WINTER JACKETS. This is a reader-reviewer program that allows you to let others know your opinion on a book you have recently read. More information is available on the library web site. (Including how to receive your goodie package with a coffee cup filled with info, reading suggestions, and a Dunn Bros. coffee card.)

While you are there be sure to look at the new web site features. These include book letters, a bio of Lake Wobegon's favorite librarian Grace Grady, book kits, and a place to sign up for a newsletter about books.

January Meeting

2009-01-29T11:58:00.002-06:00

A lot of discussion was sparked by the book, The Broken Cord, by Michael Dorris. There were eight of us in attendance, and the earlier meeting time worked out fine.

The book identified one of the tragedies of our society, the impact of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Our conversation bounced around the questions of what can be done about the problem?, whose rights should be protected?, how prevalent is the problem?, and, how much of an influence is heredity in continuing the problem?

We talked about the changes the book may or may not have brought about, by bringing the issue to public attention. Many of the group remember being told to drink a glass of wine or a beer during pregnancy in order to relax, by their doctors.

Several of the group had done some online research about the author, whose own life had a tragic ending. The information posed the question on, what are the real facts in these stories, and what are we to actually believe?

On a lighter note, our February meeting will be on Tuesday, the 24th. We will be reading The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs.

Some Official Business

2009-01-05T14:15:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!!

As we begin this new calendar year of book club meetings, we are confronted with some changes. Due to budget cuts, the library hours have been revised, and for our Tuesday nights, the building will be closing at 8:00 p.m. instead of the 8:30 p.m. we have grown accustomed to.

So, our new meeting schedule will be:

The fourth Tuesday of each month,
From 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Exceptions to this schedule might still occur, but we will have plenty of notice if that happens. Otherwise, we will be meeting on January 27th to discuss The Broken Cord, by Michael Dorris. See you then.

A Season to Be Merry!

2008-12-18T14:14:00.002-06:00

The snow began falling in early afternoon, but it did not deter our little group from getting together to discuss A Redbird Christmas, by Fannie Flagg. As Diane put it: "Cora was so detail oriented that she had mother nature coordinate the weather to enhance the story; it looked like a snow globe outside".

Through the cold and snow, some of us arrived by carpool, (thanks JoAnn!), and were greeted by Cora as she so graciously shoveled a path for us to her door. We shared books, treats, and stories, for an evening of holiday cheer.

Oh! And we did share our thoughts about the book of the month. All of us enjoyed the book. We delighted in the characters and we were pleased by the story. We found the book to be heartwarming, and a perfect lead-in to the holiday season.

Many of our members have read other books by Fannie Flagg, the most well-known of which is Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. She has a pleasing writing style that mixes humor with sensitivity, and more than one member of our group commented on how real the people in the books seemed to be.

More information on Fannie Flagg is available on her web site.

p.s. Don't miss the link to Fannie's recipe page. It includes some wonderful southern hometown favorites.

Holiday Meeting News

2008-12-04T12:46:00.003-06:00

For the month of December, we have chosen to read A Redbird Christmas, by Fannie Flagg. This book was chosen for its holiday theme, which we will honor this month by adapting our regular meeting schedule in the following ways:

Cora has graciously offered her home as a meeting place. She has suggested we could scoot up our starting time to 6:30 p.m. to allow time for sampling treats.

Our meeting will be held on December 16th, one week earlier than our regular schedule.

Members are asked to bring an appetizer or dessert. After all, it is the season for good things to eat.

And members are asked to bring in books for a book exchange. We will share our already read books among each other, and mail a selection of books to our troops. Kelly says they all love and need books, and she has addresses for our soldiers in Afghanistan and Walter Reed Hospital.

So, we are looking forward to this exciting time!

November Meeting

2008-11-26T14:19:00.002-06:00

Two days prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, we had a lively discussion of this month's book choice: The Feast of Love, by Charles Baxter.

Most of us found the book to be enjoyable, with likeable characters and a well written, interesting presentation. While the book did have content that was generally spicier than what we normally choose, a few members found it to be a little too 'hot'. (Warning to potential readers: this book is not for children.)

JoAnn came well prepared with thought-provoking questions, and shared information about the movie version of the novel starring Morgan Freeman. She told us about a number of changes that were made to the story in the on-screen version, but left undisclosed the movie's solution to a lingering question in the book, what happened to Harry's son, Aaron?

October

2008-10-30T14:10:00.002-05:00

Our meeting was held one week prior to election day, and with almost all of our reading group gathered, we met to discuss the central themes of this month's book: politics and religion.

Nevertheless, we had an enjoyable evening, sharing our reactions to the book's content, and look forward to the next few months of more cheerful topics.

September Meeting

2008-09-24T14:05:00.005-05:00

It was a dark and stormy night . . . but six of us braved the lightning and thunder to come together and discuss The Gun Seller, by Hugh Laurie.

Overall we had a pretty unanimous opinion about the book, noting the author's wit but having a great deal of uncertainty about what the story was about. One of our members found the reading so laborious she put it down after the second chapter. The rest of us finished the book, but were confused about who the characters were and what the plot had been. We wondered if the story would be better understood by a reader familiar with spy novels.

More than one person in our group noted their recognition of the author by his photo on the book cover, none other than the character of "House" on a popular television show.

Reading Update

2008-09-04T14:20:00.002-05:00

Diane says: We are flexible!

The book kit for The Infidel, our original choice for discussion on our next meeting September 23rd, is not available at this time.

So, the books selected for September and October will be reversed, and when we meet this month, it will be to discuss The Gun Seller, by Hugh Laurie.

Many thanks to Deb and the library for assisting in obtaining as many copies of this book as possible.

July Meeting

2008-08-18T14:02:00.004-05:00

We met on July 22nd not to discuss a book, but instead to make up our book reading list for the upcoming year. Two recommendations were taken from each member, the titles were written on slips of paper and a drawing was held for the final selections. Some of the twelve titles were arranged to coordinate the subject themes with the months of the year. So, at this time our new reading list will be:

September: The Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
October: The Gun Seller, by Hugh Laurie
November: The Feast of Love, by Charles Baxter
December: Red Bird Christmas, by Fannie Flagg

January: The Broken Cord, by Michael Dorris
February: The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs
March: March, by Geraldine Brooks

April: The Florist's Daughter, by Patricia Hampl
May: The Other Bolyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory
June: Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

July: Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion
August: Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Woblewski
September: Stalking Susan, by Julie Kramer

Books chosen for the first September and for May reading will be available in library book club kits. And some alternates are possible for times when our chosen books may not be available.

Summer Schedule

2008-05-30T14:23:00.004-05:00

Anytime is a great time to read! Here is our list of books for the summer:

For May 27th - Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. Joanne will lead the discussion.
For June 24th - A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. The discussion leader will by Char.
For July 22nd - No book. Our selection for August is so large, we are allowing two months to read it. We ARE still planning to meet, but it will be to plan our book list for the next several months. (Okay, and gab a little bit too). Bring a list of suggestions for books you would like to read.
For August 26th - Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett. No discussion leader has been chosen.

April Meeting Update

2008-04-24T12:24:00.003-05:00

Hi Book Club Friends,

Seven of us met this month to discuss The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. We all agreed that the characters were likable and the prose so well-written that the book was one of the few we all enjoyed. Cora led us in a discussion that included the sensitive topics within the book as well as some biographical information on the book's author. Information on the author's newest novel is available on her web site: www.alicesebold.com

Two reading kits were available at the library and we decided to take advantage of their availability. Our reading schedule has changed to the following:

May: Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe,
June: A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini,
August: Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

Because our August selection is an especially long read, we decided to allow two months to read it. We will plan to meet in July and can spend the time building a book list for the months ahead.

Titles Wanted!

2008-03-12T14:06:00.002-05:00

Use this post to add your ideas. Please suggest any titles you would like to have our book club read and talk about.

February meeting update

2008-03-12T13:47:00.001-05:00

Hi book club friends,

What a cozy meeting we had at Kelly's home! What a good time to sit around in soft chairs and sip tea, eat goodies and talk about a good book, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Freda led the discussion. If you didn't make it, you missed a great time. Thanks for your hospitality Kelly. We also were introduced to Freda's new beautiful baby boy who was born the morning after our last book club. Freda didn't miss a meeting!

We will meet again at the Park Grove Library
March 25 - THE RED TENT, Anita Diamont. Char will lead the discussion.
April 22 - LOVELY BONES, Alice Seebold. We still need a discussion leader.
May 27 - A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, Khaled Hosseini. Did Kelly volunteer to lead???

See you in a few weeks,
Diane

Elephants in the News

2008-02-06T11:49:00.000-06:00

Once more we have a selected a book of the month that has newsworthy interest. Currently there are two stories in our local newspapers that relate to this month's book:

First is an article about a possible ban on allowing circus performances in the City of Minneapolis. At issue was a controversy over the treatment of animals, particularly - - - the elephants! Follow this link to read the results of the City Council's vote.

Second is a report suggesting that baby boomers are the first generation to refuse to accept aging. Read more on that here. Is it true?

January Meeting Update

2008-01-25T13:31:00.000-06:00

Despite the frigid cold of the evening, several members of our group (including one new reader) met on Tuesday night to discuss our opinions of the book, The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck. Our overall impression of this classic was favorable; many of the questions provided food for thought about cultural differences.

Next on our list is the New York Times Bestseller, Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, which we will read to discuss at our February meeting.

Local Author to Visit

2007-12-06T12:10:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder that this Tuesday, December 11th, at 7:00 p.m., local author Kathleen Winters will be at Park Grove Library to read from and discuss her book, Anne Morrow Lindbergh: First Lady of the Air.

Read an excerpt from the book on Kathleen's web site, www.kathleenwinters.com, and you will soon find yourself passenger to Charles and Anne Lindbergh as they navigate a flight from the west coast of Africa to Brazil.

November Meeting News

2007-11-30T12:38:00.000-06:00

At our regular monthly meeting for November we had the privilege of a personal appearance by local author William Kent Krueger.

The author discussed his award winning mystery series of novels, all of which utilize titles of two words, feature main character Cork O'Connor, and take place in our local surroundings of northern Minnesota and the upper peninsula of Michigan. He was available to sign purchased copies of his book, Thunder Bay, and included a reading from his newest project.

We were joined by other members of our community to hear Krueger speak, telling us about his writing habits, his current projects, and the work he plans for the future. More information about his is available at his web site: www.williamkentkrueger.com

All in all the evening was entertaining and enjoyable!

November News

2007-11-19T11:58:00.000-06:00

Hi book club friends,

November brings a couple of opportunities for us:
1. Park Square Theater presents OF MICE AND MEN for 99 Cents on Tuesday, November 20th. Unfortunately this is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The Preview special is 99 Cents on a first come basis. We need to be in line at 5:30 at the theater to get a ticket for the play which is at 7:30.

(See more information in "Mice and Men for less than a buck", from the Pioneer Press.)

I will not be able to attend this one this time. But if you are interested please let me know by email this week and I can let everyone know who will be going. Perhaps those interested could meet at the library at 5 pm and drive together to the ParkSquare Theater, on 7th place across from the Macy's parking ramp.

2. Book club this month will be attending an author visit at the Park Grove Library. On Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. William Kent Krueger will be talking about his books in the library meeting room. We agreed to read any of his mysteries so we are familiar with the characters which are in the Cork O'Connor series. If anyone is interested in talking about it more we can go for coffee following the author visit.

3. No book club in December.

4. Author visit to Park Grove Library on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. by local author Kathleen Winters, biographer of Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

5. January book club: THE GOOD EARTH, Pearl Buck.

6. February book club: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, Sara Gruen.

Thanks, Diane

Shades of Kavalier and Clay

2007-10-31T13:41:00.000-05:00

Hello Bookmates,

Here we go again - another example of life imitating art, or art imitating life, and right in our own backyards.

Take a look at this link to local illusionist and escape artist Jonathon Bryce. (Then follow the link to W.E.A.R. 2007). Just over the past weekend Jonathon set out to accomplish 24 escapes in 24 hours here and around the Twin Cities and eastern Minnesota, and he did it!

Upcoming Events

2007-10-22T12:38:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone-

This information has come in from our helpful and friendly local librarian, Deb. She says:

I just wanted to let you all know about a few upcoming author events at PG. From the WCL website:

"Two authors will visit Park Grove Library, Cottage Grove this fall to talk about their books and writing: Minnesota author William Kent Krueger, writer of the Cork O'Connor mysteries, on Tuesday, November 27 at 7 p.m., and local author Kathleen Winters, biographer of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, on Tuesday, December 11 at 7 p.m. Both events are free, all welcome. Authors will have copies of their books available for purchase."

One of the events will take place on the night of our next meeting - November 27th. This is a perfect opportunity to read and meet an well known author of mystery novels.

The second author, Kathleen Winters, is a neighbor! She lives in Cottage Grove, and wrote: "Anne Morrow Lindbergh: first lady of the air". The Washington County libraries currently have 6 copies of the book, so put in your request early if this is something that interests you.

October Meeting

2007-10-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

Hi Book Club friends,

Just a reminder that we meet this Tues., Oct. 23 at 7 pm at the Park Grove Library for discussing POPE JOAN. I don't remember us determining a group leader this time. Is anyone doing this, or will someone volunteer to do it? I have questions in the back of my book I can bring along. If we have no volunteers I think we will just pass the questions around and share the leadership.

Let's think of a process to select our titles for upcoming months. I think we have bogged down on our decision making for book selection. Originally we determined we would always be three months out on book titles. So come with book title ideas, I will bring our previously generated title lists also.

POPE JOAN will be a wonderfully thought provoking book to discuss on Tuesday.

See you then,
Diane

Book Selections Update

2007-09-10T13:17:00.000-05:00

Hi Book Club Friends,
Deb checked on availability of the books we were interested in for the next months. Perhaps we could do both of these titles. I propose we do this:

October - POPE JOAN
November - THE GOOD EARTH

Let me know what you think. Let's make this decision this week so people can get their hands on the book. I will let you know what the consensus is of those who respond. We can just go ahead with the one the most select, if that is ok with all of you.

See you on Sept. 25 for the next book club meeting to discuss, OF MICE AND MEN. We look forward to information on the possibility of attending the play OF MICE AND MEN this fall.

Sincerely, Diane

August Meeting Update

2007-09-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

Hi bookclub friends,

Our next bookclub will meet at the Park Grove Library,
Tuesday, Sept. 25, 7-8:30 p.m.,
OF MICE AND MEN, John Steinbeck,
Discussion leader will be Freda.

Our October book selection has not been made. If we can get the book set from the library we will read POPE JOAN. If not we will read THE GOOD EARTH, Pearl Buck. I will let you know as soon as I get the info on the book bag availability.

Stay tuned,

Thanks,
Diane

Where the Bears Are

2007-09-04T12:22:00.000-05:00

Neighbors! Have you checked your bird feeders lately?

Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz did not come across many bears on their hike of the Appalachian Trail in A Walk in the Woods. But we have them here!

Check out this link about bears and bird feeders in nearby Afton.

After A Walk in the Woods

2007-08-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

Everyone at our meeting Tuesday night seemed to agree that A Walk in the Woods was an enjoyable and fun book to read. So, for those of you who are interested in refreshing your memory of the book with an excerpt, or, of reading excerpts from other books by the same author, visit the Official Website of Bill Bryson through this link.

Open Comments

2007-08-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

Readers! Feel free to talk to the rest of the book club here. Just click on the 'comments' link below and leave a message.

More on Webster Cummings

2007-08-10T12:49:00.001-05:00

For the readers of The Free Fall of Webster Cummings who enjoyed the book, (and most all of us did), there are a number of other books written by the same author, Tom Bodett.

Visit Tom Bodett's web site, www.bodett.com, to find out more about the books he's written, as well as regularly updated notes about his life on his blog.

About the Free Fall of Webster Cummings

2007-07-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

While discussing the book, a couple of people in our book club remembered reading about an event similar to Webster's free fall in a recent newspaper. Here is a link to the true story about the experience of Chris Fogg: Man Sucked out of Plane at 20,000 Feet.

July Meeting Update

2007-07-25T12:25:00.000-05:00

Hi Book Club friends,

We had a fun evening at our July book club. Just for a change we went to Diane's home, shared yummy treats we all contributed (NO Fast Food Nation items here), and talked about good books while sitting outside. Ahhhhh, summer books and summer outside discussions.

Pat led us through a wonderful discussion of THE FREE FALL OF WEBSTER CUMMINGS, Tom Bodett. She constructed her own thought provoking questions as there were none published! This is the first book that ALL members liked! We also talked about what other things we had read this month, suggestions others had given to us, and possible titles from the Washington County Library book sets.

Tuesday, August 28 is our next book club meeting. We will meet at the Park Grove Library at 7 p.m. where Jo Ann will lead the discussion of A WALK IN THE WOODS, Bill Bryson.

Tuesday, September 25 we will discuss OF MICE AND MEN, John Steinbeck. This is a library book kit. The books will be passed out at the August meeting.

We need ideas for October, November and December. We are still looking for a Christmas book to read. Any suggestions for the fall books can be posted in our new blog.

Sincerely,
Diane

Welcome!

2007-07-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

Hello book club friends!

Summer is a great time for reading, and such a great time for vacations too. Not all of us have been able to get together every month.

So, we welcome you to learn to use this space - our book club space - online, to keep up with our meeting news, add your comments on our current monthly pick if you can't make it to a meeting, and post suggestions for books to read in the future.

If you have some ideas, we'd all like to hear from you, so keep in touch.

Ideas - Books to Read - Ideas

2007-07-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

At this time we have a book selection for July and a book selection for August, and then . . . . a big blank.

Post your ideas here and we can have some discussion. We've had a request for a Christmas-themed story for reading closer to the holidays and talked about reviewing an old classic, so if you know of any specific titles, let us know.