Sunday, May 27, 2012


Turn Up The Heat


"A book is the only place where you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face." --Edward P. Morgan, American journalist



Do you enjoy a heated discussion about...books?

Years ago, after choosing T.C.Boyle's "Tortilla Curtain" for a library-based book discussion group, I had a woman fly into the room, slam the book on the table and declare she'd hated it. Then she proceeded to rage about the book almost nonstop and practically hijacked the group discussion.

I felt I had made a really good choice.

Yes, she said she hated the book; however, the plot and characters profoundly affected her. As a group, we talked about whether the book made us feel uncomfortable.

Boyle's story demands the characters meet, head on, with people that make them nervous. Was it Boyle's assertion that merely writing a check or verbally supporting a group (or an idea) simply isn't enough that made the reader uneasy?

When talking about books, we often reveal our true selves. Which characters made us laugh or weep? Did we sigh or roll our eyes at the end? Mock or defend?

There are books guaranteed to provide the fire and get the conversation started with any book group.


Books for Heated Discussions 


Tortilla Curtain - Boyle, T.C. Published in more than 24 languages, Boyle's crowning achievement shares the story of various segments of society converging. (F)

Dear American Airlines - Miles, Jonathan. This is the grouchy complaint letter you wish you could/would write. Throughout the novel, we learn about the life of Bennie Ford. I dare you to not feel uncomfortable at times. (F)

Going Gray - Kreamer, Anne. To go gray or not? As baby boomers continue their march into the middle ages, the questions pile on. Author Kreamer was surprised by people's reactions to her decision to stop coloring her hair and going naturally gray. (NF)

Middlesex - Eugenides, Jeffrey. Arguably one of the best opening lines in many years..."I was born twice: first as a baby girl on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan in August of 1974." Please read the story of Cal Stephanides. (F)

Destiny of the Republic - Millard, Candice. You will be thankful for medical breakthroughs of our lifetime after reading the story of President James Garfield's death. Garfield was shot by a would-be killer, but what really shortened his life? (NF)

You Know When The Men Are Gone - Fallon, Siobhan. A series of connected short stories that tell the story of life at Fort Hood, Texas. Well-written and poignant without being sentimental. (F)

Paris Wife - McLain, Paula. I've never been a huge fan of Papa Hemingway and this book doesn't change that feeling. However, McLain's skilled storytelling brings to life the acclaimed author, his wife, Hadley, and their life in Paris. I'll be reading Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" this summer. (F)

Invisible Bridge - Orringer, Julie. One of my favorite books of 2011. Orringer tells the story of a Europe on the brink of WWII through the eyes of a young man dreaming of being an architect. Beautiful writing! (F)

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Skloot, Rebecca. Ms. Lacks' cells have lived on long past her death from cancer in 1951. Great medical strides have been made from using these cells; however, no consent was requested of Ms. Lacks and no monetary compensation was offered. (NF)

Lucy - Gonzales, Jeffrey. Lucy is a bonobo chimp with an interesting past. Discover the shocking truth along with Jenny Lowe, primatologist, as she struggles with the question of what truly makes us human. (F)

Mall - Bogosian, Eric. Described as "outrageous & dark," this is the story of five people at a suburban mall. A young man with serious mental problems heads to the mall with a weapon. Guess what happens next... (F)

Mrs. Kimble - Haigh, Jennifer. A winner with my book group. If you have ever wondered why a smart woman could ever fall for such a questionable guy, this is the book for you. (F) 

Independence Day - Ford, Richard. My book group had a lively discussion after reading this Pulitzer Prize winner. Ford's character, Frank, produced strong feelings among us. Will you find Frank flawed but likeable (as one woman did) or an exasperating character (as another woman did)? The second book in a trilogy. (F)

Thanks to Hilary Price for her lighthearted look at book groups and for her
willingness to share this on the blog. Please check out Hilary's website: www.rhymeswithorange.com.
    


     

Thursday, May 17, 2012




Forever Young


Be wise. Be brave. Be tricky.

--Neil Gaiman
author of "Coraline"


A recent cartoon (Mallard Fillmore) took a swing at middle-aged women for allegedly pretending to be young by reading young adult fiction. I wondered what was behind this cheeky attitude.

I am one of those women of a certain age who has read the "Hunger Games" trilogy. How about the idea that we are just enjoying the book series?

If you are not familiar with "Hunger Games," Katniss Everdeen is a young woman who volunteers to take her sister's place in the diabolical Hunger Games which are held annually for the entertainment of maniacal political leaders and the downtrodden general population.

The trilogy, which includes "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay," gives readers a cold, hard look at a dystopian society. Katniss lives in what used to be the United States. Author Suzanne Collins named the new capital, Panem, from the Roman term Panem et Circenses. In English, it translates to Bread and Circus, and refers to a population that willingly turns over its political power in exchange for a full stomach and cheap entertainment.

This isn't the first time that books written for children or young adults have become best sellers across the generation divide. Or that adults learned a thing or two from a "junior" book.

Years ago, my husband and I were knee-deep in building a house. Suddenly, construction terms were being tossed around in our conversations. I knew I'd feel smarter if I could find a book that took me step-by-step through the building process. Voila! I found Gail Gibbons' "How a House is Built." Adults may chafe at the idea of looking in a children's reading section for information. Stop feeling that way!! Well-written children's books can help us wade through forgotten or never understood science or math lessons. Or learn construction terms. Or help navigate the night sky.

Best of all, they can entertain us.


"Junior" Books Adults Should Read

Magic Treehouse series - Osborne, Mary Pope. Brother and sister discover they can travel to far off places (including time travel) when they climb into their magic treehouse. Osborne offers good history lessons.

Extraordinary Mark Twain - Kerley, Barbara & Clemens, Susy. Author Kerley had some help with this book from an unusual source - young Susy Clemens' journals which include tales about her famous dad.

Harriet the Spy - Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet writes down everything she sees, good or bad. Her journal is read by friends who, understandably, have a hard time digesting Harriet's funny/harsh/questioning views. I love this book!!

Walk Two Moons - Creech, Sharon. With help from her one-of-a-kind grandparents, Sal begins her search for her long lost mother. 1995 Newbery winner.

How a House is Built - Gibbons, Gail. Extensive writer of children's nonfiction books. Check them out!

Small World of Binky Braverman - Wells, Rosemary. Young Binky is quite bored while visiting his aunt and uncle until he discovers magical friends, especially Ike.

Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt, Natalie. Would you want to live forever at a certain age? Young Winnie must decide for herself. A perfect story for book groups of all ages.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Kinney, Jeff. I wondered what the fuss was about and finally read the first two books in the series. Hilarious! 

Queenie Peavy - Burch, Robert. Queenie doesn't allow her terrible home situation to get the best of her. She strikes back (literally) against anyone who tries to bully her.

Fever 1793 - Anderson, Laurie Halse. A fictional account of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

Celia and the Fairies - McQuestion, Karen. Do fairies really exist? Celia needs help from the magical creatures to help stop the destruction of her house.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Riggs, Ransom. The title, photos and plot (and even the author's name) are all highly creative. Visit the "home" for some odd tales.

Coraline - Gaiman, Neil. The story of a spunky girl who steps through a door in her house and finds herself caught in another world. Is it a better world than her own? 

Northern Light - Donnelly, Jennifer. Mattie Gokey, a hotel worker in 1906, is given letters that may help solve a murder mystery. Based on Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy."

Life as We Knew It - Pfeffer, Susan Beth. When an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, life is turned upside down. This is a gripping story of how Pennsylvania teen Miranda and her family deal with their much-changed lives.

Hatchet - Paulsen, Gary. You won't be able to put down this absorbing tale of a young boy being stranded in the wilderness with very few supplies.

A Day No Pigs Would Die - Peck, Robert Newton. Which part is fiction? Which part is memoir? Peck shares his story of growing up in Vermont.

Classics - read again or for the first time:
Nancy Drew's Secret of the Old Clock - Keene, Carolyn.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Smith, Betty
Grimm's Fairy Stories - Wilhelm & Jacob Grimm

Other ideas include:
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. Any book by Beverly Cleary. Young adult thrillers by Lois Duncan or Carolyn Cooney. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Through heavy static Ike's voice faded in and out. "We're heading out of range for now," he said, "but if in your true heart you are ever lonely again, why just set your sights on the blue horizon, get on the radio, and we'll read your signal loud and clear."  *
                                                                    "Small World of Binky Braverman"
                                                                                               --Rosemary Wells


*This book list is dedicated to the memory of Terry Endy, a wonderful children's librarian who loved picture books. A thoughtful friend, Terry always reminded me of Binky Braverman's Ike.