A Strange Case

I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoyed our little break from the norm this month; and getting into the Halloween spirit.

Since this is such a classic story, I, as I'm sure you did, knew that Jekyll and Hyde were the same person, but it was interesting to read how it came about and how it was discovered by others. And I loved reading it the way it was written. There is something about the formal, classic, way that Stephenson writes that trumps all the versions of the story that I have heard and seen.

I also read Frankenstein with my kids this month (well the Children's Illustrated Classic version, anyway,) and in reading two "classic horror stories" I came to the conclusion that I didn't find them "horrific" as much as sad.

In the case of Jekyll and Hyde, I found it sad that selfishness can get people into so much trouble. Sad that the story had to end the way it did. Sad that man can be so prideful, that they have no one to turn to when they desperately need help. Sad that the one and only person Jekyll did confide in, didn't help, but instead chose to be appalled and reject him. Sad that people can fall so far through temptations.

When I first read Jekyll's letter to the Utterson, I couldn't believe the way that he described why he chose to continue to become Hyde. Such selfishness upset me. But after thinking about it for a little while, I realized how tempting that could be. I think, to a point, we do have two people inside of us. Who of us hasn't, at one time or another, felt a little rebellious, or angry, towards someone else? Most of us don't act on those urges because of the consequences that follow. But if you did have a disquise that would be impossible to track down, I think a lot of people would take advantage of the opportunity to release some anger, resentment, or revenge. How dangerous life would be if that was the case.

I liked the nature of the book, and the lessons I could take away from it. But in the end, I was especially glad it was fiction.

So what did you think?

(Poll for December's book is in the side bar. I decided to go with less "classic" and more "present" since this will be one of the last polls for the 1600-present time frame.)

Man's Meaning

Well the poll is closed and the winner for November's book selection is... Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Franko.

I must say I'm a little excited. I didn't vote for this one, but it's the only one of the options that I haven't read yet, so it will be interesting to compare it to the others.

Happy Reading everyone! Next discussion starts on Nov. 5th (on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)

What a Treasure

So, I am the worst club manager ever. Family has been sick and computers have crashed and I am really late getting a discussion started on Treasure Island.

I did however, really enjoy reading the book. It was an easy to read while taking care of a million other things, kind of story. I found it fast paced and attention grabbing, even though I sometimes struggle with Stephenson's language.

It definitely makes you think twice about "treasure hunting". I think it's a great statement about how money doesn't bring happiness. I think that by the end of the story everyone one the voyage would agree that it wasn't worth what they went through to get it. A lesson that I think too many people don't believe.

While reading the story I also did some reading on Stephenson's background and upbringing. Because of that, I found his attitudes regarding religion interesting in the book. What I read said that he was an unbeliever (something that tore up his family) yet I felt he did a very good job at portraying the feelings and actions of those that did believe in the book, as well as the feelings of those that did not, like Silver.

I also couldn't help but think about Jim's part in the whole story. He isn't much older than my son and I couldn't imagine my son dealing with betrayal, work, and danger, of those magnitudes. I realize that we don't give our children as much responsibility, as early, as people did back then- but I still can't imagine sending my young teenager off on a ship of men, of which I only knew one, to search for a treasure that belonged to a deplorable man. It actually made me sad that he had to lose his innocence as early, and in the way that he did. Especially when he was forced to take a life to save his own.

So how did you enjoy the story?

(I also hope you are enjoying Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And don't forget to vote for Nov. book in the side bar.)

Good Ole Robert Louis

I really hope that you are all enjoying Treasure Island, or at least the way the Robert Louis Stephensen writes, because he won the choice for Oct.'s book too. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde won the vote for next months book. Hopefully it will help get you all in the Halloween mood. "OOOooohhhhhhh."

It's a Sin to Kill a Mocking Bird

I had always wondered where they came up with the title to this book. Now, I'm glad that I know.

I learned so much from reading To Kill a Mocking Bird, this month. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it in the, "it made me mad" sense. (Sort of like Uncle Tom's Cabin.) I was appalled at the things that I considered wrong, but I loved how the story was told and the people and things that were good.

I also "enjoyed" seeing the evils of the world through the eyes of a child. It once again reminded me that our children are ALWAYS listening and watching us. They understand so much more than we give them credit for, but they also need our guidance and example for the parts that they don't understand yet.

Of course there were lots of parts that weren't easy to read. Parts that made me angry, parts that confused me and made me wonder what I'd have said in that situation. (like when they find out about Tom's death in the Missionary lunch). But there was a lot of good I found in the book as well.

With the narrator being a child, I found this book a very easy to read, story, yet every once in a while they would throw in a comment by a character that was so profound and eloquent. Like when Atticus gave his closing statements in court and brought up Thomas Jefferson and that "All men are created equal" can be taken so many different ways, but that the one place that it is absolutely true is in a court room.

Or the way that Mr. Raymond confessed to putting on an act of being a drunk to make it easier for the town not to like him, because he knew that they wouldn't accept his life style.

I adored Atticus' sense of character. How he always thought of what his children would think of him before he did any actions. And how he could make sure that they heard what he wanted them to hear, even when they thought they shouldn't be listening.

I really enjoyed the lesson learned from Mrs. Dubose. And I love the quote about walking in other people's skin before you pass judgments on them.

I also enjoyed Miss Maudie's way of peacefully and lovingly telling the truth, especially to the children.

Most of all I thought that the book was very nicely summed up in the closing statements when Scout and Atticus said:

"...Atticus, he was real nice..."

"Most people are Scout, when you finally see them."

I don't know if I've ever read a book before that when I was finished I had both an upsetting pit in the bottom of my stomach and a longing to read more of the good.

(Leave your comments here, I can't wait to read what you thought too.)

Grapes ...

I wish I had a cleaver title for this post, but to be honest, I didn't get both the books read like I had wanted too. However, I know that this book is supposed to take place around the same time as the Great Depression, and I would love to hear what similarities and differences were found to our times.

If you chose the Grapes of Wrath, please leave your comments to this post.

Let's Find a Treasure

The Poll has ended and Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stephenson came out on top. Looks like Sept. should be full of adventure.

Happy Reading!

Let's Try Two

We really seem to like ties around here. Every month I've tried to come up with a new way to break the ties that we end up with on reading selections, and this month I've decided to do something new yet again........ I'm not breaking the tie.

We will have two books for the month of Aug.

To Kill a Mocking Bird AND The Grapes of Wrath

So here's how it will work: Everyone will pick one of the two books and read it in Aug. I will TRY to get both of them read and we will have a discussion for BOTH books on Sept. 5. You can participate in the discussion for the book(s) that you read.

This way we should have more happy readers.... we'll see how it goes anyway.

Happy Reading.

(I'll see you all back here on Aug 6th for the discussion on White Fang.)

So What is Courage?

I must admit that I had a love/hate relationship with this book.

First of all it moved very quickly, I actually read it casually, in about 3 days.
Secondly I loved the pictures that were painted and how you could really "see" what was happening in the battles. I thought there were some beautiful analogies.
As far as the story itself, I had very mixed feelings. I loved how honest the book was. For example I thought it was so true to life, how "the youth" had dreamed of battles all his life, had fought with his mother for months about enlisting, gone on to enlist without her blessing and then when the battle actually came, he had never wanted this, he was forced to join and he was disgusted by his stupid commanders.
I also found it true how he had so many flash backs of his previous life in the heat of different circumstances.
I appreciated his self doubt about whether he could be brave in battle or not, or if he would run. I saw so much of how I would be in his trying to get others to admit to something, without he himself admitting he was scared. But I thought that he would get to the battle and adrenaline would take over and he would perform just fine. His running did surprise me. Although, I was first inclined to do some justifying myself. He had followed others, he thought that everyone would run. He wasn't the first to take off. But the way he handled things afterwards very much upset me. I was especially appalled by the way that he left the injured man, how he hated him, just because he wanted to know where his wound was. A dying man was trying to care more about the youth than himself and in return he was left to die a lone. I was disgusted. And later when he returned to his regiment and they assumed that he had fought, been separated and shot and he actually had the audacity to think of ways to make fun of the "loud soldier" because he hadn't died; well, I wanted to reach into the book and smack him!

When he did finally meet his battles and went to another place in his mind and fought very hard, and at times valiantly, I was glad and rejoiced that he had over come his weaknesses.
As a very patriotic person, I was almost moved to tears when he took it upon himself to carry the flag. When he realized how much that it meant to him and never again gave it up.

And I was happy with the ending; how he was able to look back at all he had done honestly. How he was able to admit his mistake and feel guilt without trying to make excuses and justifications, yet he was able to push it aside by seeing the good he had ultimately done as well, so that he was able to move on and go back to a "normal" post military life.

I also believe that there are great life lessons in personal character that can be learned from this book. I think that it might be a little much for my 11 year old, but it is definitely on my list of "my son must read this." (Just a couple years of maturity down the road.)

I'm also glad that we ended up extending the reading time for last months book. Because I tried hard to finish it before starting this one, I ended up reading/finishing it during Independence day weekend and I couldn't help but liken what the battles of the Civil War had to have had in common with those of the Revolutionary War. It made me appreciate again, and all the more, what so many others have sacrificed for me in all the wars that have been fought for my country.

I hope that you enjoyed this quick read as well and I can't wait to read your thoughts on the book.
I hope you had a WONDERFUL holiday.

Jack London Wins It

Well the poll is now closed, and by an overwhelming margin, White Fang, but Jack London was chosen as July's book.

I'll see you here in a few more days (July 5th) to discuss June's book, The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane.

Happy Reading!

Did Anybody Finish?

May and June turned out to be much busier months than I thought. And I have to be honest, I haven't finished the book.  So this is turning into more of an announcement post for me.

If you did finish, let everyone know what you thought.  It is my goal to finish Anna K. and The Red Badge of Courage this month.

On a happier note, "CONGRATULATIONS!" are in order.  Mrs. and Mr. Mordecai welcomed their newest family member .  They had their 1st girl (2nd child) on June 9th.  Visit her personal blog at:http://be-it-ever-so-humble.blogspot.com/ to see the cute pics and get all the details.

Congratulations again!  I am so happy for you and your family.

Also the poll is going up today for July's book so don't forget to cast your vote.

I can't wait to read your thoughts.  Sorry, again, that I don't have many yet.

Some Extra Time

After reading the comments about how far everyone is on Anna K...  and seeing what book was chosen for June, I've decided to push our discussion back two weeks. 

The Red Badge of Courage will be our next selection and it's not very long so I think that most of us can easily read it in a few weeks.  So our next book selection discussion will happen on Friday, June 19th instead of the 5th. Hopefully this will help everyone to finish it without any stress. (We will still discuss ..Red Badge... on July 5th.)

Happy Reading!

Will We Be Able To Finish?

Hi all,

I was emailed today by a member of the club who, due to personal circumstances, isn't sure they will be able to finish May's book in May.  They have read the book before, so they don't want everyone to change their plans just for them, however, I am currently on chapter 7.  So I thought I'd put my feelers out there and see how everyone else is doing.

Are you plugging right along?  Will you be ready for a discussion on June 5th?

Are you struggling with a book that's every bit as large as Moby Dick?  Do we need to give ourselves an extra month, or even two weeks to finish the book?

My opinion is that I can handle it either way. (Whatta cop out I know.)  

I have already decided to continue our current theme through part of 2010, so adding one more month to the books I have planned isn't going to be a big deal.  

I also know, that one or two quiet Sunday's after church will get me caught up on my reading, so I can still start a discussion on time if that's what everyone wants to do.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

(And don't forget to leave your thoughts on Around the World in 80 Days, and vote for June's book.)

And the Winner Is...

Well, we did get a couple more votes and the book selection for May will be....

Anna Karenina by Tolstoy.  

The Three Musketeers came in a very close 2nd place and will be added to my list of previously voted on books to be chosen from again early next year.

I hope that you are all enjoying this months read, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne.

Happy Reading.

We Like Ties Around Here Don't We?

Once again it looks as if this months voting is going to end in a tie.  If you have not voted yet PLEASE do so. If the result is still a tie when the poll ends tomorrow, I will remove my vote to break the tie.  (The only reason I didn't vote for the other favorite is because I've already read it, but I can read books twice *wink*)

Apparently I'm Not Very Good At This Job

You all have my apologies.  I don't usually do blog posts on Sundays and totally spaced off that yesterday was the 5th.  And as of the moment I don't have my review typed up yet.  

Please feel free to start leaving your comments on Uncle Tom's Cabin and I will ad my thoughts to yours in the comments.

(And don't forget to vote for May's book in the side bar.)

A Very Close Race and Some Questions

Apparently I chose three very interesting books to decided between for April's book. By one vote the winner is:

Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne.

However, all three books received more than one vote, which has lead me to ask some questions that have been on my mind lately:

About 2 weeks ago, I started looking into the book choices for next years time frame, and to be honest I'm having a hard time coming up with enough classic novels, and I've been wondering how to remedy the situation.

Here are my ideas for fixes so far and I would appreciate your inputs.

1. We can have an assigned book, instead of voting. (for example we could say Jan. book IS the Odyssey, by Homer- no voting)

2. We can have both books and authors to vote on. (for example in Jan we can read the Illiad by Homer, however in Feb. the topic will be Plato and you comment on which ever of his works you found and read that month during discussion time. This is a much more you have to do some work alternative.)

3. We can combine the Ancient-400 time frame with the 400-1600 time frame. (getting through all of these books in one year instead of two.)

4. We can spend the first 3-6 months of 2010 continuing this years era and read some of the books that have narrowly escaped the votes, like: Great Expectations, Les Miserables, Bleakhouse, The House of Seven Gables, and others that I'm sure will come close later this year, etc. before moving on to the ancients the second half of the year.

I realize that you have all been very kind in letting me run the show since I took over for Mrs. Brooke, however, I really do want you to feel like this is YOUR book club too. So please let me know your feelings about how we should keep the group going next year.

Got Time?

So, I think this is the longest book we've read so far and I know that most were having a hard time getting through it. Will we all be ready by Thurs. or do you want to postpone the discussion until the 10th-15th?

(Normal schedule will still apply, for March's book.)

There Wasn't a Tie!

By 4 votes to 1 the book for March is: Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Hope you are enjoying Moby Dick.  Happy Reading.

The Tie Has Been Decided

I wrote the two books on pieces of paper and had one of my kids draw it out of a hat. The winner was... Moby Dick.
Sorry for the delay. (For those of you who don't know, my oldest put his hand in a snow blower and severely broke his finger. He goes in for surgery to reconstruct it on Wed. So please forgive my randomness lately. I'll be back to normal in a week or two. On the plus side I should be able to get lots of reading done in the waiting room.)

Thanks to everyone who voted and Happy Reading!