Next month is my pick for bookgroup. I am at a loss. I think that they read some pretty dry stuff and I want to pick something entertaining, yet worthwhile.
Here are my ideas so far...
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (one of my favorites)
Crossing to Safety by William Stegnar (I know some of the Concord groupies will protest(Janelle), but even Camellia liked this one and it was a hit at the Davis bookgroup.)
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns (Just an old favorite)
The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis
I am also open to suggestions and am willing to read something new that I haven't read. Just keep in mind that this group is on the conservative side, so The Red Tent might not go over so well.
17 comments:
I just finished I Capture the Castle yesterday.
I'd suggest a few of the other ones I've read lately, but they're major brain candy--Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason and Confessions of a Shopaholic. Yeah I know, pretty awful, but fun. Lots of British stuff lately.
Next on the pile by my bed is The Kite Runner. I've never heard anyone say that's not good.
Also, I just finished a re-read of Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. I _love_ that book.
Awhile ago I read a book called, Cage of Stars by Jacquleyn Mitchard and I liked it. Another one I really liked but probably everyone has read it is, The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls (it's a memoir).
Is it an LDS book group? I Capture the Castle is a good one, but Ladies Auxiliary offers a lot of food for though - Mormons and Jews have lots in common.
My group is doing Flags of Our Fathers.
I'm reading the bio of Charles Lindbergh - it's pretty interesting.
My book group pick is the holocaust memoir "night". I'm worried about that.
we just did "Indefensible" which is a public defender's story of working with indigent clients in Harlem. Lots to discuss re: broken social systems.
If the group weren't so conservative, I'd say "Ursula, Under". Fabulous.
Phoebe--
All I have to say is my social life has been pretty dry since you left town. I was missing book group just last night. Even thought I only read a handful of them, I loved having the book suggestions and got a lot of exposure to some great reads! I'm still convinced there's nothing you haven't read.
Ixchelle and I did go out to dinner tonight but it's the only "girls night" I've had in Davis for awhile. We had fun!
So sorry to hear about the car saga--I have felt your pain! I didn't let it get me down either, especially since it made the prospects of a new car even more reasonable!! Looks like the perfect holiday otherwise!
We did "I capture the Castle" in my book group (conservative also). Another one we just read is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. Amazing story, very inspiring.
I think "Night" was a good pick, Cchrissy. If I remember correctly, it was a real story with a lot to discuss about faith and forgiveness.
You know, Lolly, the Davis Bookgroup is still in circulation. Talk to Andie.
And itis an LDS book group. I am leaning toward the Ladies Auxilliary. It seem slike there is a lot to talk about and usually thatis the biggest problem with book picks. The discussion ends after 10 minutes because there is nothing left to say.
then i guess time traveller's wife would be too racy for them - although it is a beautiful book.
how about a short story?
and we did the hiding place as well - excellent book.
Loved Bridget, Kite Runner and Time Traveler. All are too racy for a church book group. Memoirs of a Geisha caused a lot of turmoil in my sister's ward. One woman sent an email to all the other book group members about how scandalous it was for this young mother (who hadn't even read the book yet) to even suggest such a book to the RS book group. I thought it was way more scandalous to backbite.
So in keeping with the churchy theme: Glass Castle is good. So is Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio. Ladies Aux. was not my favorite read but I reflect on it often so maybe it was a good book overall. The No.1 Ladies detective agency books are extremely clean but still leave some room for good discussion. I think my favorite book from book group last year was Count of Monte Cristo. Fav book last 7 years: Poisonwood Bible.
I just read the Uglies Trilogy. They are easy to read and written for young adults. However, there would be lot to discuss.
ooooh - how about twilight by stephanie meyers - also YA lit - very addictive and slightly silly - but i loved it.
_Silence_ by Shusako Endo is amazing. Speaking of faith and forgiveness--it's all about that. It's about (if I remember right) a Portuguese priest working with Japanese converts to Christianity several hundred years ago (similar to the movie _The Mission_)--very much like a few Book of Mormon martyr stories. You could probably find tons to compare and contrast and it might strike a chord with a few people. It did with me. Then again it might be too scandalous.
Hannah and I read it for a history class at BYU. So good. I cried.
For the same class we read _Things Fall Apart_. Also good.
There have been a lot of suggestions (thanks! I'm sure I'll read quite a few of them.) I have no idea what your style is or what you consider dry - but I have a suggestion.
"After Anne" by Roxanne Henke
It's actually the first in the series, but it stands up great on its own. I've only read book 1,3 & 5 of the series and was able to follow each book without a problem.
My group just read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. It's a nonfiction book about the instantaneous first impressions we make about the world -it was kind of an interesting discussion.
Our first pick was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and everyone loved it.
This month's pick is Strangling Your Husband Is Not An Option......I'll let you know....
I also loved Crossing to Safety and I Capture the Castle. Haven't read The Ladies Auxiliary.
It's also great for a church group. Nothing scandalous.
I was also going to suggest Twilight by Stephenie Meyers. It's very fun and fast -- a page turner. The author went to BYU.
The Tipping Point by Gladwell is also great.
"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" was funny. Just skip the parts where he goes off on random tangents, has unsafe sex with a lot of people, pokes fun at religion, rants, raves, and is generally self-obsessed and self-flagellating.
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