Book Club 2008
A couple years ago, my friends and I decided to get smart and start "reading for fun." Some of my friends had probably already been doing this but, I, the constant slacker and constant recruiter, decided to make a thing of it. "We'll read books! And then we'll trade and read each others' books! And then we'll talk about it! But first, let us go to the bookstore, buy lots of books and have a photo shoot!"
We are such serious readers.
That photo was taken June 23, 2006 which was conveniently almost a year exactly since when I had last read in college. It took me a whole year to get over the college has ruined books for me forever thing. Of the four books featured in the photo I only ever finished two and one of them was actually before this picture was taken. The other one I finished about two months ago. I tried reading the other two (Confessions and J.A.P.) but they were really quite boring and I regret buying them.
I had to quit buying books in early 2007 because I had a ton that I hadn't read yet. Then I struggled with the unreading thing for another year until I recently dove back in. Which you all know because I've forced you to read about it over and over and over again. (See how I didn't link to those posts? I'm so gracious.) Then I joined the library and bam! I was all chatty and bookish again!
The thing is, I don't really know what to read. I'm very bad at perusing the bookshelves and picking things that I've never heard of that are good. I need you to tell me what's good. Of course, I will tell you if I come across anything good too. We'll be a very cute internet book club.
Here are the rules (that I've just made up):
-recommend books in the comments section OR, EVEN BETTER, leave a link to a review on your blog
-periodically I will compile the reviews into a blog post and tell everybody to read them
-I will also talk about what book I'm reading and whether or not I like it
-sometimes, we can mail each other books! Like our very own library!
Clearly, I am making this up as I go, so if there's interest (you know you want to) I will make it more formal and easy to read. I promise. For now, let's start with the first rule above. Yay!
Our mascot, Heather "I'm Blogging Again" Dodds, begs you to consider!
Comments
perhaps you could mention how the looks of wonderment play into the plan. because i kind of look like an asshole.
If by asshole you mean TOTALLY INTO BOOKS!
Posted by: Heather Nicole | February 3, 2008 10:14 PM
i'm really bad at picking out books, too, so i've pretty much been trying to plow through time magazine's list of the best 100 novels of the 20th century.
Lists like that always really overwhelm because a) they are way long and b) they are mostly books liked by people I am nothing like.
So! Please tell me which you've loved. kthnx.
Posted by: kat | February 4, 2008 5:42 AM
Suddenly I have forgotten every book I have ever read.
Then you know what your homework is tonight.
Posted by: Jennie! | February 4, 2008 5:44 AM
I cannot believe that the book club was a year and a half ago.
Read Into the Wild. There is camping (kind of).
Can we watch Center Stage soon? I still haven't seen it and feel like I shouldn't without you.
I don't think I read that book. I was scared by Jack London's "To Build A Fire."
Very yes on Center Stage. Email me days that are good for you.
Posted by: Cate | February 4, 2008 8:04 AM
goodreads.com. do it.
interesting. sounds foreboding.
alright, i went to the site (in spite of the fact that it has a facebook application that is constantly poking me) and it overwhelmed me. standard.
do you have a profile there that i can read? that seems safer and less foreboding.
Posted by: Anna | February 4, 2008 8:28 AM
I called the library yesterday like you said, and you were right, they have no idea I stole that book when I was six.
Are you a PINES now?
Posted by: heather anne | February 4, 2008 8:35 AM
how about we postpone that center stage night until March when I am there? and also, read Naked in Da Nang - it's about Vietnam and it's really funny and interesting, PLUS the next time somebody mentions 'Nam, you'll have some witty insights to share.
(Now, uh, what do you know about vulcanized rubber?
Spock's birth control.)
Okay. It's on my list. Where does the Pope live?
Posted by: heather nicole | February 4, 2008 9:28 AM
It depends on what kind of books you like....because I probably have more recommendations for you than I know what to do with. Romance? Sci-Fi? Teenybopper? "Serious"? Mystery?
Well, I don't like SciFi. I like all the rest as long as they're good. I'm not a fan of depressing but I usually end up raving about it. And my library always has like 50% of the books I'm looking forward so I always ask for twice the amount of recommendations.
Posted by: Ashley | February 4, 2008 10:38 AM
You should read The Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton. It's an auto-biography that is amazing. I'd post a review of it on my blog, but I don't even know how to encompass the splendor of the book.
Alright, I will try to read it (if my library has it) but I doubt my ability to read a book that even you can't describe.
Posted by: becca | February 4, 2008 5:46 PM
I just remembered I read Water for Elephants a while ago. It was good. There's this circus and it's awesome. Also, there's an elephant in it that likes to drink booze.
Um, that sounds amazing. Sign me up.
Posted by: Jennie! | February 4, 2008 6:14 PM
Dude! That's exactly what I said. BUT Jack London wrote Call of the Wild, not Into the Wild, which isn't nearly as scary and a totally different book. So excuse over.
Whatever. Same category. Sad ending.
Posted by: Cate | February 5, 2008 8:21 AM
Well lets see, there's The Lovely Bones, The World According to Garp, What is the What, anything by David Sedaris, The Book of Lost Things, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay, Atonement, etc. I could go on and on and on.
I've been working my way through Sedaris. Love him.
(and am adding all the other stuff to my list.)
Posted by: Ashley | February 5, 2008 8:30 AM
I second "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer -- I was skeptical but my husband insisted, and now I'm glad he did. It was really fascinating.
Also, I really liked "The Time Traveler's Wife", and if you haven't yet read Eragon and Eldest, you must read those before the third one is released this year. I know, I know... kid-lit, but it's REALLY GOOD kid-lit and I liked them. A lot.
Time Traveler's Wife! A book I've actually read! I really liked it too, and surprisingly haven't forgotten it (unlike most books I read).
Posted by: shari | February 5, 2008 12:49 PM