Book Seventeen

8/27/2008 – The Shack by William P. Young ***
Why: Stacey Prestegaard gave it to me when she was out for my mom’s funeral
First Impressions: This was my first religious genre book and I was intimidated before I started to read it. That said, I was completely caught up in the story. I’m not sure I liked how they kept referring to the “Great Sadness” as if it was some sort of cliché and yet I understood how Mack felt and how overwhelmed he was in the years after Missy’s death. Emotions Felt: Surprise at how modern some of the religious thought seemed to me: that God would be depicted as a humorous African American women and that Sarayu was an Asian women and Jesus a homely Middle Eastern man. I appreciated the discussion on God’s perspective on following rules instead of living in him. A lot of it just really made sense. The middle of the book was a bit dense for me and I feel like I would have to re-read the passages with a highlighter if it were my book. While this book was clearly trying to get across a message, the message resounded with me. He’s not an incredible author and yet he did something profound. His book made me feel like I could have a different, more intimate relationship with God.
Remaining Questions: Wish I could hear a pastor’s perspective on the book and how it would be interpreted by the ELCA.
Favorite Quotes: pg. 56 “In one day, he had spent a year’s worth of emotions, and now he felt numb, adrift in a suddenly meaningless world that felt like it would be forever gray.” Pg. 80 “I’m done God. I’m tired of trying to find you in all of this.” My favorite quote said again and again, I am exceedingly fond of you.
Who Would Like This Book: Anyone who shares my spiritual thought. Sarah, I guess.

Book Sixteen

8/10/2008 – The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver ***
Why: Not sure. Was recommended by lots of independent bookstores and it was really cheap on half.com
First Impressions: This book is really, really long and a sad knock-off of the Sliding Doors movie with Gwyneth Paltrow. And yet, it was fictiony enough that I was very interested in the characters and wanted to know how it would end up with Lawrence Trainer and snooker player Ramsey Acton. The characters were exceptionally well developed. Interesting that Irina did not come across as an evil, unfeeling character even though she was a cheat in one storyline. She was a very real character. At first, I was very clearly wanting Irina to end up with Lawrence and thought I would get that conclusion. However, the novel seemed to say that neither outcome was better or worse, just different.
Emotions Felt: Much anger for Ramsey when he was being emotionally abusive, sadness and surprise when the couple became broke and Ramsey died of cancer and surprise that in both endings Lawrence and Irina did not get back together. In Irina’s & Lionel’s novel, the ending is not a Hollywood finish but requires more thought. I think this would be a great book club to discuss if it were not so long and naughty. Some of the fantasy scenes were quite indulgent for some readers.
Remaining Questions: Thinking about my own decisions and what my parallel universe would look like.
Favorite Quote: pg. 474 “Funny how you’re always waiting for your life to begin” pg. 483 when Ramsey apologizes and Irina answers back with the best moments of her life pg. 194 “But these moments were the stuff of life and they were the stuff of a good life (running out with the raincoat Lawrence forgot)
Who Would Like This Book: Maybe Kate but not sure. If you can get through the first 100 pages, the novel is a real winner.

Book Fifteen

8/5/2008 – Twilight by Stephanie Meyer **
Why: Everybody is doing it.
First Impressions: I knew that this would be the book to get me out of my slump. It worked. I finished the book in two days. I was initially embarrassed to have the book with me in public despite the fact that a million other adults are reading it too. This book is not the next Harry Potter. Not even close. It’s Sweet Valley High with a dark side.
Emotions Felt: Anger at Bella and the author that her character was such an insipid, love sick fool. I couldn’t get into the romance and that Bella would compromise her life wanting Edward to turn her into a vampire. I think the action towards the end of the book would make a great movie though. Jury is still out.
Any Remaining Questions: Wishing that Jacob had played more of a part in Book One. Hoping that he does in Book Two and that Meyer develops a compelling character. Not sure that Book Two is worth my time or my money though. What is the deal with Rosalie? And what are they going to do with Bella after her senior year?
Who Would Like This Book: not very cultured teenagers and those who have not seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer which is much, much better

Book Fourteen

7/14/2008 – Atonement by Ian McEwan ***
Why: It was cheap on half.com and a book I’ve always wanted to read.
Winner of the 2002 National Book Critics Circle Award, Fiction
Shortlisted for the 2001 Booker Prize
First Impressions: It took a few chapters to get into but the writing was absolutely wonderful and I immediately was drawn into a grand like (Cecilia) or dislike (Briony) of the characters. The book drew me right in as I wanted to know what happened with Robbie and Cecilia until the very end. The characters were exquisitely drawn out and I loved how the story was told during 3 different decades.
Emotions Felt: Anger at Briony and anxiousness for Robbie & Cecilia. I was a bit surprised that their love lasted throughout the war. I felt certain Cecilia would turn away from Robbie. It was sad to learn that they both died without ever really getting the atonement that they hoped for (because Briony’s novel could not come out until after the death of the Marshalls). I feel like I missed some of the ending in my rush to finish the novel and perhaps this would be a good book club to glean other thoughts.
Any Remaining Questions: I wanted to know more about the secondary characters (Leon, Emily, the dad, Paul Marshall and Lola). Each character was a treat.
Who Would Like This Book: Certainly Erica and perhaps others

Book Thirteen

7/7/2008 – Our Kind by Kate Walbert *
Why: I think it was a Barnes and Noble Har Mar book club selection
First Impressions: It was short and I thought it should be an easy read. Not so.
Emotions Felt: Bored. Kate Walbert writes comically about a group of women (divorcees from the 1950’s) that I care nothing about. And still, in her writing, I cared nothing about them. Not sure if there were too many characters strung together or I was just being negative in my reading of this story. I just didn’t feel it. Some of the chapters were compelling. The women who got photographed naked pregnant – and then had her child ?!@# and the fact that one women ended up in the hospice, another daughter committed suicide. It seemed a shame that the author wrote this as a short story. Her writing was so authentic and witty that I might have been entertained in a novel. Then again, maybe not.
Any Remaining Questions: Nope
Who Would Like This Book: The Har Mar book club, retired women who have been there and done that

Book Twelve

6/30/2008 – Amsterdam by Ian McEwan **
Why: Erica bought me the book for Christmas and it was impossibly short so I chose it to get some books of my to-read shelf.
First Impressions: I tried to read it months ago and in the initial pages the characters just did not warm to me. However, the plot line was quick and once I delved in, it was a better book than I expected. Incredible writing but not sure if it has a lasting impact. Nothing in particular spoke to me
Emotions Felt: Nothing in the way of morals came up for me. Rather, it depicted these two men who were rather self-absorbed and amoral. Perhaps I am not cultured enough (and the novel goes into the materialisticness of our society) but I did not enjoy the parts where Clive was creating his symphony. I think it was all a little too deep for me.
Any Remaining Questions: Like other readers, I wished that the author would go more into Molly’s character. It was an upset that she died in the very beginning of the novel. I knew from the beginning I would not learn more about her.
Who Would Like This Book: Erica

Book Eleven

6/29/2008 – The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz ***
Why: The 2008 Pulitzer Award Winner. Wanted to keep up my collection.
First Impressions: Wasn’t sure I wanted to read another novel about the Dominican Republic. I’m getting tired of historical fiction. But this was more a novel about a family. The pacing of the book was nice delving back and forth between generations of the family. The swearing and the Spanish kept it interesting and I liked the narrator – Yunior. All of the characters were deeply compelling.
Emotions Felt: I guess I felt shocked by the atrocities that happened in the Trujillo regime. I felt bad for Oscar, Abelard & Beli and the beatings in the canefield. I can’t imagine living in that kind of environment.
Any Remaining Questions: Most of the questions were answered in the end. I was sad that Yunior did not end up with Lola but it also made sense. I kind of want to know what Yunior’s story was and why he ended up smoking so much dope and cheating on Lola. I would guess there is a back story there. I would have liked to read more about any one of these characters – Lola’s future, Beli’s struggle with cancer, La Inca’s loss of her husband. There were so many pieces to this plot.
Favorite Quotes: “But if these years have taught me anything it is this: you can never run away. Not Ever. The only way out is in. And that’s what I guess these stories are all about.” Lola pg. 209
Who Would Like This Book: I have to believe that my Stillwater book club would find it intriguing if a little risqué. Kate and Sarah, I hope, would love it.

Book Ten

5/31/2008 – The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls *
Why: Suggested at our last Vanaheim book club, I think by Jess. Unfortunately, our book club never meets. I finished the book and the meeting got canceled. Oh well.
First Impressions: The book was very hard for me to get in to. I started finding it interesting when she came into her teens and they had to move to Arizona and then Welch, West Virginia. I wanted to hear more about how she made the transition out of poverty and moved to NYC. After a very long build-up, the end came fast.
Emotions Felt: The book reminded me of students and families I work with in Stillwater (the Wrobel family especially and Samantha Thompson). I felt terrible about how the kids rooted through the garbage for food and especially when Dad took her to the bar and she was almost raped. And when Uncle Stanley tried to take advantage. Though she described her parents with a great deal of love, it was clear that there was generational poverty at play and a history of abuse and mental illness. You could see that in how Maureen developed as a character later on.
Any Remaining Questions: Is this all true or just a James Frey phenomenon. Will it be made into a movie and who should play the characters?
Favorite Quotes: None that come to mind
Who Would Like This Book: I did not like this book nearly as much as all the reviewers seem to. I seem to be in the minority though because it appears to be beloved by all.

Book Nine

5/10/2008 – The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch **

Why: Was suggested by several people. Jess Olsen brought it up at the last book club. Can’t remember the context. Janell (Mom’s cousin) mentioned it on the Caring Bridges blog. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it, at first, but given the situation with Mom thought I should give it a try.
First Impressions: The first thing that struck me was the respect with which Randy spoke about his parents. I could instantly identify with how he had “won the parent lottery.” I took a highlighter out and started marking down sentences, paragraphs and ideas that spoke to me. I liked the titles of the chapters, “An Injured Lion Wants to Roar” and I like how Randy didn’t sugar coat his personality, his disease and his relationships. He was unapologetically himself.
Emotions Felt: Understanding and yes, at some point, I cried. Profusely. I was touched by the times Randy spoke of brick walls. “the brick walls are there for a reason..” I am feeling a lot of brick walls in my life right now and wish I knew what was on the other side. It’s really hard to see what may come.
Any Remaining Questions: I wish his wife would write a book so I could grasp her strength and how she got through it. I can’t imagine . . .
Favorite Quotes: pg. 26“Kids need to know their parents love them. They don’t need to be alive for that to happen” pg. 62 “no matter what news we get about the scans, I’m not going to die when we hear it. I won’t die the next day or the day after that or the day after that. So today, right now, well this is a wonderful day. And I want you to know how much I’m enjoying it.”
Who Would Like This Book: Any one who liked Tuesdays with Morrie. Tuesdays with Morrie might be a better book though . . . .What was amazing was seeing him speak in person on the Oprah show. I really admire his attitude toward life. His computer stories are boring. Matt might really like this book though .

Book Eight

4/12/2008 – Fire in the Blood by Irene Nemirovsky ***

Why: Because Matt bought it for me for Christmas 2007 instead of Suite Francaise. Because it’s short and I am terribly sick in bed and bored.
First Impressions: The first two chapters are hard to get into. The author always shocks me with the number of characters and not knowing how they all fit in. After about 50 pages, I was completely consumed. Easily readable. I love how the chapters are all of different lengths. First and last impression is that Irene Nemirovsky is a masterful writer.
Emotions Felt: Surprise at the developments in the last 25 pages. I could not believe that the narrator who I came to see as an old has been was the passionate lover of Helene. I never would have imagined that Colette and Brigitte were actually sisters. This is the difference between Patchett and Nemirovsky. Patchett is writing a plot. Irene is writing a novel full of meaning. I absolutely got what the title Fire in the Blood was all about and how we look at life so differently in our twenties than we might later on. And how we all have secrets that shape our families and our destinies.
Any Remaining Questions: What happens? Irene always leaves novels cut short. In the end, “I had already started to love her less.” Was Silvio’s conquest of Helene just about passion and nothing more? What happens after Silvio opens the pandora’s box of his emotions? Does he confront Helene? Did Helene actually love Francois or does she still love Silvio? Do Helene and Brigitte ever reconcile and does Brigitte know that Silvio is her father? Do Helene and Francois break up? Does Marc go to prison? Does Colette ever find the predictable happiness that she feels she wants? And does Colette realize that perfection cannot be attained and that her parents have not attained it? It was like reading a soap opera but knowing that these characters are real people with real problems. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Can’t believe so much happened in so few pages.
Favorite Quotes: Every sentence is poetry but particularly pg. 18 about youth versus wisdom. Pg. 57 The way a man drinks in company tells you nothing about him, the way a man drinks alone, without him realizing it, reveals the depths of his soul. How profound is that? Pg. 188 The description of how love finds you
Who Would Like This Book: Kate Nelson and any other readers that I admire