Hey Guys!
Well I have some sad, but not surprising news today for the book club, Taylor has dropped out. Tanna- are you still out there and planning on blogging?
So far I like the book. Sometimes I get annoyed when authors over-desribe though...i dont care too much about the tree in your front yard, or the way the fence is...but i do like the book so far. only on chapter 3 however, i say we choose this book for Jan. as well.
strickland
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
book for December
The book for this month is called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
I chose this book because a good friend gave it to me in college with high recommendation. I have heard so many people say it's a wonderful classic and they really enjoy it.
Since this month is such a busy time, I'd be willing to say we could stretch this book out over Dec and Jan if you girls want to!
Here are 2 little reviews that I found online if you're interested:
Betty Smith's first novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, became immediately popular when it was published in 1943. The book sold 300,000 copies in the first six weeks after it was published. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is now considered an essential part of American literature. As an indispensable classic, Smith's book appears on reading lists across the country. It has profoundly influenced readers from all walks of life--young and old alike. The New York Public Library even chose the book as one of the "Books of the Century."
The book follows Francie, her two siblings, her mother Katie and her sisters, and her drunken singing waiter father Johnny Nolan from before their birth till 1918 and the First World War. The book opens with Francie at eleven years old, and we get a sumptuous introduction to her world- the neighborhood she lives in, the children she knows, the dying man who is a neighbor, her wacky extended family, and the shops and shopkeeps that inhabit it. Francie is what would now be called a gifted child and her desire for wordplay evidences itself early on. Later in the book she will show insights into things beyond her years- a preference for factory work over office work to not stifle her creativity, her recognition of a grade school teacher’s, Miss Garnder’s utter lack of understanding of what constitutes good writing - in a prescient precursory glance at what later became known as Political Correctness.
kaufman
I chose this book because a good friend gave it to me in college with high recommendation. I have heard so many people say it's a wonderful classic and they really enjoy it.
Since this month is such a busy time, I'd be willing to say we could stretch this book out over Dec and Jan if you girls want to!
Here are 2 little reviews that I found online if you're interested:
Betty Smith's first novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, became immediately popular when it was published in 1943. The book sold 300,000 copies in the first six weeks after it was published. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is now considered an essential part of American literature. As an indispensable classic, Smith's book appears on reading lists across the country. It has profoundly influenced readers from all walks of life--young and old alike. The New York Public Library even chose the book as one of the "Books of the Century."
The book follows Francie, her two siblings, her mother Katie and her sisters, and her drunken singing waiter father Johnny Nolan from before their birth till 1918 and the First World War. The book opens with Francie at eleven years old, and we get a sumptuous introduction to her world- the neighborhood she lives in, the children she knows, the dying man who is a neighbor, her wacky extended family, and the shops and shopkeeps that inhabit it. Francie is what would now be called a gifted child and her desire for wordplay evidences itself early on. Later in the book she will show insights into things beyond her years- a preference for factory work over office work to not stifle her creativity, her recognition of a grade school teacher’s, Miss Garnder’s utter lack of understanding of what constitutes good writing - in a prescient precursory glance at what later became known as Political Correctness.
kaufman
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
another book down!
I just finished the book and I really enjoyed it too. Like you Strickland, I was really happy with the ending. I could tell that the 93 yr old Jacob still had the heart and spirit of a 20 something yr old, and I loved that the book ended with him sneaking away with the circus again! It was perfect! It almost made me tear up about the manager who took him in and kept him from having to go back to the nursing home. And also that the manager recognized what an important man Jacob was and treated him with such respect. Loved that.
I, too, was so sad about Walter and Camel. I wonder if that red-lighting thing was a regular practice in these traveling circuses! so sad. It was cool to see how the image of Walter (Kinko) really changed from the beginning to the end of the book. You start off kinda being disgusted by him, to seeing how caring and kind he really was. I loved relationship with his little dog, Queenie, too.
Jacob's relationship with Marlena was really interesting. Although I definitely don't agree with sleeping with someone while you're married to someone else, I was of course really glad that Jacob and Marlena ended up together. He adored her so much. I was glad the old Jacob talked about their life together in the end.
One of the main things I enjoyed about this book (I kinda said this in an earlier post too) was how it kept changing perspectives of Jacob between being an old and young man. I think that really helped develop his character and make it all the more interesting to me. I loved his nurse, Rosemary....I basically loved every part where Jacob talked about life in the nursing home.
I did come away with a question (maybe the answer is really obvious, but I must have missed it)...... why do you guys think this book is called "Water for Elephants"? And why was the old Jacob so upset when the other old guy in the nursing home said he used to carry water for elephants? I understand that Rosie the elephant is a large part of this book but I just didn't get the carrying the water aspect. I don't remember the author saying much about that.
great choice, Tanna! I will post about the book for December this week.
-Kaufman
I, too, was so sad about Walter and Camel. I wonder if that red-lighting thing was a regular practice in these traveling circuses! so sad. It was cool to see how the image of Walter (Kinko) really changed from the beginning to the end of the book. You start off kinda being disgusted by him, to seeing how caring and kind he really was. I loved relationship with his little dog, Queenie, too.
Jacob's relationship with Marlena was really interesting. Although I definitely don't agree with sleeping with someone while you're married to someone else, I was of course really glad that Jacob and Marlena ended up together. He adored her so much. I was glad the old Jacob talked about their life together in the end.
One of the main things I enjoyed about this book (I kinda said this in an earlier post too) was how it kept changing perspectives of Jacob between being an old and young man. I think that really helped develop his character and make it all the more interesting to me. I loved his nurse, Rosemary....I basically loved every part where Jacob talked about life in the nursing home.
I did come away with a question (maybe the answer is really obvious, but I must have missed it)...... why do you guys think this book is called "Water for Elephants"? And why was the old Jacob so upset when the other old guy in the nursing home said he used to carry water for elephants? I understand that Rosie the elephant is a large part of this book but I just didn't get the carrying the water aspect. I don't remember the author saying much about that.
great choice, Tanna! I will post about the book for December this week.
-Kaufman
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Finished.
Hey guys-
First off, I am very excited that Tanna has commented, even if it is not a new post, a comment is a great start! (Tanna i will help you ASAP).
I really like this book alot. I finished last night around and I loved the ending.
Kaufman- I agre with you in that I enjoyed hearing Jacob as an old man because he reminded me of a patient and it helps to see their perspective. It also makes me depressed to get old.
I enjoyed Jacob alot. He seemed like a great guy, a quiet yet strong person. I have never been a huge animal rights activisit or anything, but this book really made me feel bad for the animals and get quite upset with dumb ol August, who is an ass by the way. I never agree with adultry, but I am happy how it ended :) and technically there was no adultry.
I would have been very sad if nothing good happened with old-man jacob at the end, so I can rest easy now knowing he is in the circus again :)
Overall I loved this book, great choice Tanna- you did redeem yourself from you lack of posts earlier. If I had to choose a part I did not enjoy it was probabaly Walter and his little fiasco with the 8-pagers...however i grew to love walter and was extremly disappointed he had to get red-lighted in the book.
Strickland
First off, I am very excited that Tanna has commented, even if it is not a new post, a comment is a great start! (Tanna i will help you ASAP).
I really like this book alot. I finished last night around and I loved the ending.
Kaufman- I agre with you in that I enjoyed hearing Jacob as an old man because he reminded me of a patient and it helps to see their perspective. It also makes me depressed to get old.
I enjoyed Jacob alot. He seemed like a great guy, a quiet yet strong person. I have never been a huge animal rights activisit or anything, but this book really made me feel bad for the animals and get quite upset with dumb ol August, who is an ass by the way. I never agree with adultry, but I am happy how it ended :) and technically there was no adultry.
I would have been very sad if nothing good happened with old-man jacob at the end, so I can rest easy now knowing he is in the circus again :)
Overall I loved this book, great choice Tanna- you did redeem yourself from you lack of posts earlier. If I had to choose a part I did not enjoy it was probabaly Walter and his little fiasco with the 8-pagers...however i grew to love walter and was extremly disappointed he had to get red-lighted in the book.
Strickland
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
watering those elephants
hey friends. I've been really enjoying this book, thanks Tanna. minus the few questionable scenes (ha, some of the them were just plain weird), it's been so good. I really love the parts when Jacob is telling of his experience as a 93-year old man in the nursing home. I like that the author throws those parts in here and there. It's real interesting to me, especially as a nurse to hear from the patient's perspective, plus he just seems like an adorable grumpy old man.
That's all for now, hope you all are enjoying it too! I want to see the movie when it comes out!
BK
That's all for now, hope you all are enjoying it too! I want to see the movie when it comes out!
BK
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Strickland is laying down the law.
Ok everyone here is the deal-
we are going to read Water for Elephants through November. Tanna chose this book and we WILL finsih it :) However, she wants to pass along she is sorry about the lude sex scenes, I assured her though , that we do not mind ;) haha...joking. Anyways, this month that is what we are reading, for December Bethany will choose.
Now- everyone better start commenting on this thing, myself included.
strickland
we are going to read Water for Elephants through November. Tanna chose this book and we WILL finsih it :) However, she wants to pass along she is sorry about the lude sex scenes, I assured her though , that we do not mind ;) haha...joking. Anyways, this month that is what we are reading, for December Bethany will choose.
Now- everyone better start commenting on this thing, myself included.
strickland
Friday, October 8, 2010
I love the Amazon
Hey guys-
I just bought Water for Elephants for $0.97 on Amazon.com! I'll start readying it as soon as I can.
I just bought Water for Elephants for $0.97 on Amazon.com! I'll start readying it as soon as I can.
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