Reading list

I've read the Bronze Bow enough, so I'll probably read the Immigration one next . . . but still join in on the Bronze Bow discussion.

I did go find that revised list. Are they all nonfiction after this? I still want to keep The House of Sixty Fathers on the more recent list, if we can.

Julia

Timeline

In my head I gave myself one month with Hamlet and that seemed about right. So--for April we're doing The Bronze Bow.

If anyone disagrees, feel free to voice your opinion.

After Hamlet

We're reading The Bronze Bow next and then the Immigration book.

Yeah, I thought the main character in Brooklyn was annoying.

Thanks for explaining yourself. I was just curious.

I finished watching Hamlet last night and have some thoughts. I'll be posting soon.

Brooklyn and Year Down Yonder

I remember you LOVING the Peck books. I felt "bad" giving them only 3 stars. They just didn't do anything for me. They were great reads, I laughed out loud a few times, but I wouldn't say "You have to read these" to just anyone asking for a good book to read. Maybe I should have judged them higher, but they just weren't on my favs list.

As for a Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I have to ask YOU why you didn't like it before I defend myself. I LOVED that book. I guess it really made me think a lot more about the early 1900's in America, an era I haven't read much about and so it was intriguing to me. I fell in love with Francie and her family. I thought it was a very insightful and personal book.

I guess you could say I judge books according to the emotions and feelings they invoke inside of me. The Peck books were great stories, but no feelings. Brooklyn got much more personal for me. The key from Brooklyn I got was this quote, "Suffering is good . . . it makes a person rich in character," and I think that's what the book did for me. Through Francie's struggles I think may own character was strengthened. Character traits such as not judging those with less, working hard despite my own circumstances to reach my own potential, family unity & love, value of an education (another of my favorite sections of the book pp. 203-204); these are the qualities that sunk into my heart as I read. I will say that the analogy of the tree was a little far-fetched, but I love the title anyway. I took it more metaphorically of Francie being the tree, weak in her surroundings but made strong as she grew.

Is that a good enough explanation for you? :-)

+++++++++++++

So, I still need to watch Hamlet, I still need to write my own essay on the play as well.
What was the next book we decided to read? Isn't it different than our sidebar list? Let me know what you're reading.

JULIA

Good Reads Update

Julia,

I got a good reads update from you and you gave 5 stars to a Tree Grows in Brooklyn which I never liked at all and only 3 stars to two of my favorite books by Richard Peck--A Year Down Yonder being one of my very favs.

So--explain yourself. I'm totally curious now.

What I'm reading...

Hey guys!

How goes the reading? I have re-read the entire Anne of Green Gables series (too much time sitting on the couch nursing a baby!), I read "Inkheart", and a book my daughter's reading called "Ida B." that was pretty cute. I'm not reading anything too deep right now because I can't take notes while nursing and I just want to be able to relax and not think!

The baby is great! Thanks for asking. She'll be 1 month old on April 1st (no joke). She's a cutie and a pretty good baby!

Andrea - Julia told me about your blog publishing so I went and looked at the program you used. I am trying it with a blog made up of letters and photos from my sister-in-law while she was on her mission. I'm hoping it turns out! I was glad to hear that you liked the finished product - I'd been looking for some way to publish all those letters!
KELLY

Hamlet

I am finishing Hamlet this weekend and watching it on Sunday (I hope). I'll be posting about it on Monday or Tuesday so I'll be ready to discuss it then.

And while we're discussing Hamlet--I'll be reading the next one. I think one a month is about where I'm at right now in my life. We'll see how that goes.

Kelly--how is that baby doing??

Another Book to Read

This book isn't for our book group to read, but it is an EXCELLENT love story with a twist of mystery. SO GOOD! It is called "The Season" by Sarah MacLean. Try it out . . . you'll read it in a day!
Julia

Baby

CONGRATS KELLY!!!

Hamlet Finished

I finished Hamlet. I forget how much I LOVE Shakespeare! I will be posting more on that later.

Have any of you read "The Willoughbys" by Lois Lowry? I'm reading it right now and it is HILARIOUS!!! Every child would laugh out loud at this one. Anyway, just thought I'd pass that on in case you haven't read it yet.

I'm trying to read a biography of Ann Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife.
The book "Ophelia" (a spin off of Hamlet) was okay . . . kind of melodramatic, but I guess so is Shakespeare, just Shakespeare has a more beautiful way of saying things! Anyway, it might be worth reading. Then again, probably not. :-)

I want to read another math book together (like Fermat's Enigma) someday, too.

OH! And for those who don't know, Kelly had her baby! A little girl, Natalie Grace was born on March 1st. So, she may be out of commission for a bit. Hope you're all doing well!

JULIA