We decided to officially set up our list of rotating genres for the club and here it is:
1) Classics
2) Self-help
3) Fiction/ Historical Fiction
4) Sci-fi/ Fantasy
5) Books made into movies
6) Academic/ Non-fiction/ Autobiography
We'd like to stick to the 3rd Thursday of each month, so get your book on time and finish it before the meeting. We're onto genre #4, 5 and 6 and these are the books we selected:
April: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (held on April 15th, 7:30 at Monique F's home in the Trails, Chelsey to lead the discussion)
May: The power of one by Bryce Courtenay (held on May 20th, 7:30 at Melissa S's backyard in the gazebo, discussion leader needed!! Movie to be watched at Chelsey J's home- date TBD)
June: The Happiness Project or, why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun by Gretchen Rubin (held on June 17th, 7:30 PM, Melissa' backyard, any discussion leaders volunteering?)
Below are listed reviews to whet your appetite for the books. Happy reading!
Review for Ender's Game
Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind who have barely survived two conflicts with the Formics (an insectoid alien race also known as the "Buggers"). In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravityin the Battle Room where Ender's tactical genius is revealed.
Review for The Power of One
This episodic, melodramatic adaptation of an adult novel tells the story of Peekay, who grows up in South Africa and endures abandonment, bullying, and humiliation for speaking English and for being raised by a black woman. Overcoming adversity, Peekay eventually becomes a welterweight boxing champion. The book effectively portrays racial injustice in WWII-era South Africa during apartheid. Glos. Copyright 2006 Horn Book Guide Reviews
Review for The Happiness Project
For this chatty and intriguing little book, Rubin, a lawyer-turned-writer (Forty Ways To Look at Winston Churchill), undertook a yearlong quest for happiness. A "Resolution Chart" with specific activities for each month (e.g., "Ask for help") helped her define happiness and become happier with her very good life, as did interesting facts from her scholarly research (though there are no footnotes or formal bibliography). Peppering the text are quotes from a vast array of people who have considered happiness, including Aristotle, St. Thérèse, and Viktor Frankl. VERDICT This whole process might have come off as frivolously self-centered but for the excellent points Rubin highlights. Although the excerpts from her blog (www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com) begin to feel like filler, librarians will particularly like how she loves her local library, and self-helpers will be fascinated by her process.—Margaret Cardwell, Memphis, TN
