Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomspon

"There is no formula for finding yourself in Vegas with a white Cadillac full of drugs and nothing to mix with properly." (page 156)

About the Book: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page. It is also the tale of a long weekend road trip that has gone down in the annals of American pop culture as one of the strangest journeys ever undertaken.

"Old elephants limp off to the hills to die; old Americans go out to the highway and drive themselves to death with huge cars." (page 18)

My Thoughts: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson (Flamingo, 1971) is a representation of Thompson's "Gonzo Journalism," a blurring of lines between fiction and non-fiction, based on two trips to Las Vegas with attorney and Chicano activist Oscar Zeta Acosta. This is not a book for anyone who is easily offended by language or lewd behavior. The is told through the perspective of Raoul Duke, "Doctor of Journalism" and Thompson's alter-ego.
     The first trip to Vegas is centered around Duke's assignment from a motor sports magazine to cover the Fourth Annual Mint 400 in 1971. Thus begins the drug-induced journey with his "attorney," Dr. Gonzo, who makes the arrangements and accompanies him on the journey that is designed as an opportunity to experiment with a variety of recreational drugs. Following their survival of that trip, Dr. Gonzo quickly arranges another assignment to bring the duo back to Vegas. This time it is for Rolling Stone magazine to cover the National District Attorneys' Association's Third National Institute on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. While law enforcement officials are attending the conference to learn how to handle the drug epidemic and drug-related crimes, Duke and Dr. Gonzo continue their quest to discover the "American Dream," a concept that had radically shifted over the past decade.
     The book is illustrated by Ralph Steadman and the graphic art adds another element to the chaotic feel of the story. Throughout the book, Thompson is exploring the effects of the 60's counterculture and U.S. society in the early 70's, society's thirst for consumerism, and a changing political climate.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one if you have read it!
Happy Reading,
Rebecca

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

"The fair had a powerful and lasting impact on the nation's psyche, in ways both large and small." (Page 373)

About the Book (from Publishers Weekly): Not long after Jack the Ripper haunted the ill-lit streets of 1888 London, H.H. Holmes (born Herman Webster Mudgett) dispatched somewhere between 27 and 200 people, mostly single young women, in the churning new metropolis of Chicago; many of the murders occurred during (and exploited) the city's finest moment, the World's Fair of 1893. Larson's breathtaking new history is a novelistic yet wholly factual account of the fair and the mass murderer who lurked within it.

"Despite its incomplete exhibits, rutted paths, and stretches of unplanted ground, the exposition revealed to its early visitors a vision of what a city could be and ought to be." (Page 247)

My Thoughts: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson (Vintage Books, 2003) is a historical crime novel that outlines the creation of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. The reader is offered two separate storylines that never fully converge: The monumental obstacles faced in constructing the buildings and landscape for the Fair and the violent acts of a serial killer who preyed upon those seeking adventure and fortune in this growing city.

     The writing is extremely detailed, at times reading like a history book with the effort to bring to life the obstacles that were faced in order to create the Fair. Architecture is the leading character of this novel with nature a close second. From the city's efforts to secure the commission to host the event, to soil composition, winds, climate, and fire, the architects were continually challenged to design their visions. In the end, they succeeded. With all of the buildings painted white, the White City enamored visitors and established that Chicago had created a fair capable of competing with Europe. In an effort to build something more grand than Paris had with the Eiffel Tower, the Ferris Wheel was created, becoming an instant success and still beloved today.

     While the city was preoccupied with the building of the fair, a serial killer is setting up a hotel to house visitors and lure victims into his realm. Later referenced as the "Castle of Horrors," the building contained an elaborate gas chamber that was used in several of the killings. Likened to Jack the Ripper, Herman Mudgett or his alias Dr. H.H. Holmes, charmed his victims into believing that he was a successful doctor and businessman whom they could easily trust. Holmes would sell the skeletons of his victims to universities and hospitals for scientific research. The exact number of murders committed by Holmes remained unknown but at least nine were confirmed and many more suspected. After the World's Fair, Holmes was finally arrested in Boston, initially over a case of insurance fraud. Following the gruesome discoveries uncovered during the investigations, he was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.

     The story flows back and forth between the construction of the White City, centering around Chief Architect and Overseer Daniel Hudson Burnham, and the darkness of Holmes' acts of violence against women, men, and children. The novel addresses many themes that were arising as the country advanced into the twentieth century: increasing violence in cities; the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor; an unstable economy; and labor tensions. The novel defines a stark distinction between the city that Chicago's visionaries hoped to create and the city that existed for many.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

Book Beginnings: The Devil in the White City

 Today I am linking up to Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader where readers share the first sentence of the current book they are reading.





The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson begins with these words:  

"How easy it was to disappear: A thousand trains a day entered or left Chicago. Many of these trains brought single young women who had never even seen a city but now hope to make one of the biggest and toughest their home."



The reader can initially sense the mystery that is going to unravel with the use of the word "disappear" in the opening line. We sense that there was a sense of naivete at the time and that the city itself is going to be a main character.

About the Book (from Publishers Weekly): Not long after Jack the Ripper haunted the ill-lit streets of 1888 London, H.H. Holmes (born Herman Webster Mudgett) dispatched somewhere between 27 and 200 people, mostly single young women, in the churning new metropolis of Chicago; many of the murders occurred during (and exploited) the city's finest moment, the World's Fair of 1893. Larson's breathtaking new history is a novelistic yet wholly factual account of the fair and the mass murderer who lurked within it.

Happy Reading,
Rebecca

Nashville Chrome by Rick Bass

     About the Book (from amazon.com): In 1959, the Brown siblings were the biggest thing in country music. Their inimitable harmony would give rise to the polished sound of the multi-billion dollar country-music industry we know today. But when the bonds of family began to fray, the flame of their celebrity proved as brilliant as it was fleeting. Masterfully jumping between the Browns' once-auspicious past and the heartbreaking present, Nashville Chrome is the richly imagined story of a forgotten family and an unflinching portrait of an era in American music. In his "breath-catching, mythic and profoundly American tale of creation, destruction and renewal" (Kansas City Star), Rick Bass mines quiet truths and draws poignant portraits of lives lived both in and out of the limelight.

"Was hers a real life masquerading as a fairy tale, or was it the other way around?" ~ Nashville Chrome

     My Thoughts: Nashville Chrome by Rick Bass is the story of the sibling singing sensation The Browns, popular during the late fifties and early sixties. With a primary focus on the eldest of the three, Maxine, the story details their childhood, rise to fame, and their slide down the music charts which led to the ending of their recording together.
     Nashville Chrome was the term coined in an effort to describe the sound of the Brown siblings from a small, mill town in Arkansas, a polished harmony that deeply resonated with country music fans. The book does more than introduce bygone music to new generations who have never heard of the group. It also serves as a warning about the cost of celebrity and the struggle to stay current in and ever-changing industry where one day you are loved and the next forgotten.
     The reader will experience a trip down memory lane as The Browns cross path with many famous musicians of the time and also establish a long friendship with Elvis, who is mentioned frequently in the book as a friend of the Brown family and referenced as romantically linked to Bonnie Brown.
     We meet Maxine in her late-seventies and in poor health. She has recently broken her hip and struggles with daily tasks yet she still dreams of a return to the stage and the chance to resurrect her career. What Maxine longs for most is a movie about The Browns, a motion picture on the silver screen that solidifies their impact on country music and ensures their legacy. After posting a request for a filmmaker on the bulletin board of her local Piggly Wiggly, Maxine receives a call from an interested young man. While she gets her wish, it isn't exactly like she imagined. For Maxine, having been blessed with an amazing talent was never enough, she needs the recognition and accolades that she thinks are deserving of her gift. Maxine Brown has published an autobiography, Looking Back to See: A Country Music Memoir, that I am interested to read and learn more about the fascinating rise of The Browns.
     Nashville Chrome chronicles a family and their journey through poverty, alcoholism, music, stardom, and loss. Along the way, the Browns experience extreme highs as well as extreme lows, and the reader has the opportunity to accompany them on the ride.

Book Club Ideas: Play the music of The Browns and others mentioned in the book at your meeting; Have members dress up in the apparel of the time such as the popular poodle skirts and saddle shoes of the '50s; Have members research a favorite musician and share the information with everyone at the meeting.

Happy Reading,
Rebecca

Beyond the Book: The Music of Nashville Chrome

     The best way to take reading to the next level is to dive right into the culture. I am currently reading Nashville Chrome by Rick Bass, the story of the sibling singing sensation The Browns who rose to stardom during the 1950s and 60s. Having never listened to their music, a quick You Tube search provided me with videos to hear the sound described in the book and see them perform. A little online research into the time period represented in your book can enhance your reading experience by strengthening your understanding of past or unfamiliar cultures.
     Whether you try a new food item, explore a different country through photographs, listen to music or watch a movie involving the characters, embrace the opportunity to connect the senses (smell, touch, hear, see, taste) to the story and benefit from your new knowledge!

About Nashville Chrome from amazon.com): In 1959, the Brown siblings were the biggest thing in country music. Their inimitable harmony would give rise to the polished sound of the multibillion dollar country-music industry we know today. But when the bonds of family began to fray, the flame of their celebrity proved as brilliant as it was fleeting. Masterfully jumping between the Browns' once-auspicious past and the heartbreaking present, Nashville Chrome is the richly imagined story of a forgotten family and an unflinching portrait of an era in American music. In his "breath-catching, mythic and profoundly American tale of creation, destruction and renewal" (Kansas City Star), Rick Bass mines quiet truths and draws poignant portraits of lives lived both in and out of the limelight.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

About the Book (from amazon.com): Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson's beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows "even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order" (Slate). In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life. Gilead is the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

"But I've developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by far, than I learned anything useful from, except of course, that some very tedious gentlemen have written books." (Page 39)

     My Thoughts: Gilead (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004) is a powerful story of an ailing father attempting to say goodbye to the son he will never have the opportunity to see become a man. Written in letter form from the Reverend John Ames to his seven-year-old child, the story begins in an account of past experiences that are embedded in memory although they seem insignificant when put into words. "I'm writing this in part to tell you that if you ever wonder what you've done in your life, and everyone does wonder sooner or later, you have been God's grace to me, a miracle, something more than a miracle." (Page 52) The concept is simple: What would you want your child, family, friends, even strangers to know about your life when you are no longer here to represent yourself?
     Gilead is an emotional read but Robinson writes so eloquently that the sadness is soothing, even hopeful. Ames begins by telling his son about his own father and grandfather, both pastors also, and their significance in the way he has always approached religion. He writes of everyday life but more importantly of his struggles along the way, having lost a wife and child in his younger years and not finding love and family again until he thought it no longer possible. "When things are taking their ordinary course, it is hard to remember what matters. There are so many things you would never think to tell anyone. And I believe they may be the things that mean the most to you, and that even your own child would have to know in order to know you well at all." (Page 102)
     Ames begins to note the small things that one often takes for granted as the occurrences he will miss the most, his wife in her blue dress, dinner with his family, the changing of the seasons. As the letter develops, he begins to journal about situations in the present that leave him uneasy. He writes of his fears for his wife and son as he will no longer be living to shield and protect them from harm. The reader can sense that the writer has taken on a sense of panic as the days progress and his health declines. Finally, resolution comes but he finds that even though he can put his fears to rest, the ending is not how he would wish.
     Books and words had been a part of Ames' life from the beginning and it is through the words he puts down for his son that he finds the peace he needs to accept his mortality. Gilead is a beautiful story about defining oneself throughout life and departing with grace.

 Book Club Ideas: Write a letter to your child, mother, father, even friend letting them know how much they mean to you and present it to them when you are ready. Start a journal and write down your favorite childhood memories and the experiences that impacted you the most. Share an entry with your fellow book club members.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

Top 10: Key Words

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Today I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish with a list of 10 words or topics that instantly make me want to buy/pick up a book. Click on the link above to head over and visit other submissions and to find great books to add to your To Read list.

1. Paris

This one gets me almost every time. Check out my reviews in 2012 for The Paris Wife and Mission to Paris.

2. Love

The History of Love is one of my favorites.

3. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

The seasons easily inspire.

4. Land

Some spend their lives working it; It gives us roots; Wars are fought over it; Land is a powerful word for me.

5. Secret

The mystery and desire to know.

6. Life

It's complicated and I appreciate any assistance with my efforts to figure it out.

7. Home/House

Like Dorothy, there is no place I would rather be.

8. Song

Birdsong, Plainsong, The Song of the Lark. Song implies a very personal telling of one's story.

9. Book, Book Club, Reader

I love reading about others who love to read! If you have not read The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, add it to your list!

10. Passage

I like the idea of coming out stronger than I entered.

What words inspire you?

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

An e-Reader benefit

My favorite thing about e-readers?

Reading Nicholas Sparks without judgement.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

What I'm Reading- April 22, 2013

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a meme hosted by Sheila from Book Journey where readers share what they are currently reading, recently read, or plan to read next.

Currently Reading: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

About Gilead (from amazon.com): Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson's beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows "even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order" (Slate). In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life. Gilead is the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Recently Finished: The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Another great Kingsolver book! This was her first published novel. You can read my review here.

Up Next: Nashville Chrome by Rick Bass



I have been wanting to read this novel for several years after hearing the author, Rick Bass, promoting the book on NPR. For some reason that interview stuck with me and I am excited to finally be getting around to this read.

About Nashville Chrome (from amazon.com): In 1959, the Brown siblings were the biggest thing in country music. Their inimitable harmony would give rise to the polished sound of the multibillion dollar country-music industry we know today. But when the bonds of family began to fray, the flame of their celebrity proved as brilliant as it was fleeting. Masterfully jumping between the Browns' once-auspicious past and the heartbreaking present, Nashville Chrome is the richly imagined story of a forgotten family and an unflinching portrait of an era in American music. In his "breath-catching, mythic and profoundly American tale of creation, destruction and renewal" (Kansas City Star), Rick Bass mines quiet truths and draws poignant portraits of lives lived both in and out of the limelight.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

Book Beginnings: Gilead

  Today I am linking up to Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader where readers share the first sentence of the current book they are reading.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson begins with these words:

"I told you last night that I might be gone sometime, and you said, Where, and I said, To be with the Good Lord, and you said, Why, and I said, Because I'm old, and you said, I don't think you're old. And you put your hand in my hand and you said, Your aren't very old, as if that settled it. I told you you might have a very different life from mine, and from the life you've had with me, and that would be a wonderful thing, there are many ways to live a good life."

Gilead is the story of a father in ailing health writing a letter to his young son, wanting to leave an account of his life and his regrets. From the opening sentences, the reader can sense that this is going to be an emotional journey, a soul-searching tale, and will likely cause reflection on one's own life and choices.

Have you read Gilead or any of Robinson's other works?

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

“There were two things about Mama. One is she always expected the best out of me. And the other is that then no matter what I did, whatever I came home with, she acted like it was the moon I had just hung up in the sky and plugged in all the stars. Like I was that good.” ~ Taylor, The Bean Trees

About the Book (from Publishers Weekly): Feisty Marietta Greer changes her name to "Taylor" when her car runs out of gas in Taylorville, Ill. By the time she reaches Oklahoma, this strong-willed young Kentucky native with a quick tongue and an open mind is catapulted into a surprising new life. Taylor leaves home in a beat-up '55 Volkswagen bug, on her way to nowhere in particular, savoring her freedom. But when a forlorn Cherokee woman drops a baby in Taylor's passenger seat and asks her to take it, she does. A first novel, The Bean Trees is an overwhelming delight, as random and unexpected as real life. The unmistakable voice of its irresistible heroine is whimsical, yet deeply insightful. Taylor playfully names her little foundling "Turtle," because she clings with an unrelenting, reptilian grip; at the same time, Taylor aches at the thought of the silent, staring child's past suffering. With Turtle in tow, Taylor lands in Tucson, Ariz., with two flat tires and decides to stay. The desert climate, landscape and vegetation are completely foreign to Taylor, and in learning to love Arizona, she also comes face to face with its rattlesnakes and tarantulas. Similarly, Taylor finds that motherhood, responsibility and independence are thorny, if welcome, gifts. This funny, inspiring book is a marvelous affirmation of risk-taking, commitment and everyday miracles.

My Thoughts: The Bean Trees is Barbara Kingsolver's first published novel (1988). Having read The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer and thoroughly loved both, I was excited to read another one of her titles. I think her style has evolved since this first book and her character development is stronger in the later novels but The Bean Trees still showcases her talent for simple storytelling.
Told as two separate narratives in the beginning, the story unites into one as the paths of the two main characters connect. It is a story about motherhood and community, inequality and strife, but also love and hope. Nature and landscape have top billing in Kingsolver's writing, and the reader experiences a cross-country trip from Kentucky to Arizona in The Bean Trees.
The heart of this novel is a lesson in humanity, the art of creating a level playing field for everyone and making a sacrifice to aid someone else in their journey. Taylor leaves Kentucky with the adventurous spirit of a girl but somewhere between home and the western skies, she discovers that she had the strength of a woman all along.
The Bean Trees leaves the reader feeling optimistic with its ending, however Kingsolver later wrote a sequel to this novel, Pigs in Heaven, which continues the story of Taylor and her adopted daughter, Turtle. It is hard to be disappointed in any Kingsolver book. She addresses serious topics through relatable characters that are a joy to follow.

 Book Club Ideas: In the novel, Taylor's friend and roommate, Lou Ann, takes a job in a salsa factory and experiments with a variety of dishes incorporating the condiment. At your meeting, have a salsa tasting that features different flavors available in your region or try creating your own recipe. Also, vegetables are a large theme in the storyline. Ask members to bring a pack of seeds to share and plant small pots for everyone to take home.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

Poetry Month: Celebrate Spring!

Spring

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

To what purpose, April, do you return again?

Beauty is not enough.

You can no longer quiet me with the redness

Of little leaves opening stickily.

I know what I know.

The sun is hot on my neck as I observe

The spikes of crocus.

The smell of the earth is good.

It is apparent that there is no death.

But what does that signify?

Not only under ground are the brains of men

Eaten by maggots.

Life in itself

Is nothing,

An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.

It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,

April

Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

Young Love: Helping Children Create a Love for Reading



I can still remember my favorite books of childhood. I'll bet that you can too. You know the ones that you would pick up and read over and over again on a rainy day and enjoy each time you opened up those wonderfully illustrated covers and were transported directly into the story. Reading opens many doors, providing an opportunity to learn and understand the world around us. Although we often view it as a past-time or form of entertainment, it is also a prominent skill that will determine our success

According to statistics listed at www.scholastic.com, "forecasters have predicted that if static literacy levels continue, then by 2030 the entire Literacy Level distribution of the U.S. population will have decreased, creating an American workforce that is unequipped and unskilled to work in the global market." (Educational Testing Service)

The world in which we live is now driven by technology that is updated almost daily. Often, children are more equipped on computer skills, social media, and video gaming and production than adults. But with so much time spent in this electronic realm, are their reading skills developing enough to help them succeed?

"Children who grow up in homes where books are plentiful go further in school than those who don't. Children with low-education families can do as well as children with high-education families if they have access to books at home." (Scholastic)

Helping to make a difference can be as simple as reading a book to a child, introducing them to the local library system and helping them to select age-appropriate books, or becoming involved in a non-profit literacy organization such as First Book, which helps to provide books to children living in low economic areas. With a little time and effort, we can each make a difference in a child's life. Share the Joy of Reading Today!

What was your favorite childhood book?

Rebecca

Before Blogging: Top 10 Books

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Today I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish with a list of 10 books I enjoyed before I started blogging. Click on the link above to head over and visit other submissions and to find great books to add to your To Read list.

What have been some of your favorite books?

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

What I'm Reading: April 8, 2013

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a meme hosted by Sheila from Book Journey where readers share what they are currently reading, recently read, or plan to read next.

Currently Reading: The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I have previously read Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer and am enjoying this one so far as well.

 

 

Recently Finished: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. This is a wonderful classic for all ages. You can read my review here!

Up Next: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

About Gilead (from amazon.com): Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson's beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows "even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order" (Slate). In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

Book Beginnings: The Bean Trees

Today I am linking up to Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader where readers share the first sentence of the current book they are reading.

This is the first line from The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver and it instantly captured my attention.

"I have been afraid of putting in a tire ever since I saw a tractor tire blow up and throw Newt Hardbine's father over the top of the Standard Oil sign."

It begins by describing a tragic situation but there seems to be a slight humor in the observer's recount of the incident. The fact that the Standard Oil sign is signaled as a landmark lets the reader know that it is a small town and this event had a deep impact on the people in the town. I am still in the first half of this book but so far it is proving to be another terrific read by Kingsolver.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery

"...one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?"

                                                                                          Anne (Chapter XVII)

Book Description (from wikipedia.com): Anne of Green Gables (1908) is a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Written as fiction for readers of all ages, since the mid-twentieth century, the literary classic has been considered a children's novel. It recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, a young orphan girl sent to a middle-aged brother and sister who have a farm on Prince Edward Island, and who had intended to adopt a boy to help them. The novel recounts how Anne makes her way with the Cuthberts, in school and the town. Since publication, Anne of Green Gables has sold more than 50 million copies, and has been translated into 20 languages. Numerous sequels were written by Montgomery, and since her death, another sequel has been published, as well as an authorized prequel. The original book is taught to students around the world. It has been adapted as films, made for television movies, and animated and live-action television series.

"...When you hear a name pronounced can't you always see it in your mind, just as if it was printed out? I can; and A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished. If you'll only call me Anne spelled with an e I shall try to reconcile myself to not being called Cordelia." Anne (Chapter III)

My Thoughts: Anne of Green Gables, the first in a series by L.M. Montgomery, is a classic for all ages. With Anne, Montgomery created one of the most beloved characters in fiction. Anne Shirley is so fully developed from our first introduction to her that she not only leads the story, she waltzes the reader along with her through the beautiful landscape of Prince Edward Island as well as her imagination. 

Anne is very precocious child. Having been orphaned at an early age due to the death of her parents, Anne is passed around to several families where she is mostly regarded as a servant responsible for taking care of the younger children and infants in the homes she is stationed. By chance, Anne is sent to the home of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert at Green Gables, an aging brother-sister duo, and her life is transformed more than even she could imagine. Just as importantly, she transforms the characters around her. With her flowery vocabulary and knack for creating mischief, Anne brings a rejuvenation to her new family and neighbors. Although the Cuthberts had requested a boy from the orphanage to assist Matthew with the farm, they quickly become attached to the red-haired Anne and discover that a girl was what was missing from their lives. Marilla takes the disciplinarian role with Anne but discovers along the way that she has learned to love Anne as her own child.

Anne of Green Gables takes the reader on a journey through childhood- adventures, friendships, love, disappointments, transitioning into adulthood, great loss, and even a little romance. We rediscover the joys and pains of growing up and accepting that the world around us must change. Anne reminds us to embrace each day to its fullest and that a little imagination can make all the difference.

 Book Club Ideas: Anne is fascinated with the fashion of the time- puffed sleeves. Make a contest of having members attend the meeting in the largest puffed sleeves they can create with the winner awarded a small prize. Anne proves to be a great elocutionist. Have each member recite a poem, channeling their best depiction of Anne Shirley. 

National Poetry Month 2013

April is National Poetry Month!

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is held every April to celebrate the art of poetry. Learn more at www.poets.org.

A Clear Midnight

by Walt Whitman

This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,

Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,

Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou lovest best,

Night, sleep, death and the stars.

  Book Club Idea: Interested in having your book club celebrate National Poetry Month? The Academy of American Poets recommends the following topic suggestions for your group:

Discuss a Book of Poetry

Read and discuss a single Poem

Review and discuss a Poet

Share a Cherished Poem

Poems on a Particular Subject

Listening to Poetry

Discuss Poetry in Motion Pictures 

Who is your favorite poet? Do you have a favorite poem?

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

An Imaginative Dinner Party

 "Do you never imagine things different from what they really are?" Anne asked wide-eyed?

"No."

"Oh!" Anne drew a long breath. "Oh, Miss Marilla, how much you miss!"

                                                                               Anne of Green Gables

From bhg.com on Pinterest

The setting is an elegantly staged dining room. There are eight seats at the table. You occupy one. If you could fill the remaining seats with your favorite authors, past or present, whom would you invite?

I've put together an eclectic group at my table. Wouldn't this discussion be lively?

From left: John Steinbeck, Pearl S. Buck, Mark Twain, Willa Cather,
Barbara Kingsolver, William Faulkner, Laura Hillenbrand.

Happy Reading and Dining!
Rebecca

Top 10 Books I Recommend

Happy Tuesday Everyone!
Today I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish with the top 10 books I recommend. Click on the link above to head over and visit other submissions and to find great books to add to your To Read list.

Below are the Top 10 books I recommend to others to read. Each of these has resonated with me emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. They have changed the way I think and have impacted the way I feel. Regardless of when I read them, they have never left me. These books have left a long-lasting impint on my mind.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

My Antonia by Willa Cather

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Happy Reading!
Rebecca