Our next book for discussion is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox: A Novel by Maggie O'Farrell. We will meet on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Thanks Barbara for offering to present the author's biography. There is a reading group guide with an author interview for The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox at: http://www.harcourtbooks.com/esmelennox/default.asp From the Inside Flap: In the middle of tending to the everyday business at her vintage-clothing shop and sidestepping her married boyfriend’s attempts at commitment, Iris Lockhart receives a stunning phone call: Her great-aunt Esme, whom she never knew existed, is being released from Cauldstone Hospital—where she has been locked away for more than sixty-one years. Iris’s grandmother Kitty always claimed to be an only child. But Esme’s papers prove she is Kitty’s sister, and Iris can see the shadow of her dead father in Esme’s face. Esme has been labeled harmless—sane enough to coexist with the rest of the world. But she's still basically a stranger, a family member never mentioned by the family, and one who is sure to bring life-altering secrets with her when she leaves the ward. If Iris takes her in, what dangerous truths might she inherit? A gothic, intricate tale of family secrets, lost lives, and the freedom brought by truth, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox will haunt you long past its final page.
Our next book for discussion is The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making ofthe Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester.
We will meet on Wednesday, December 14, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. There is a reader's guide at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/professor_and_madman1.asp Simon Winchester's website is at:http://simonwinchester.com/ Here is a description of The Professor and the Madman: The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary -- and literary history. The compilation of the OED began in 1857, it was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane. http://www.amazon.com/Professor-Madman-Insanity-English-Dictionary/dp/0060839783/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318088699&sr=1-1
This book was discussed at the Waukesha Public Library in August 2011. “Michael is no ordinary young man. Mute since a childhood tragedy, at age eighteen he discovers that he possesses a skill he would never have expected. Whether it's a locked door without a key, a padlock with no combination, or even an eight-hundred pound safe . . . he can open them all. It's a talent that will make Michael a hot commodity with the wrong people, and whether he likes it or not, push him closer to a life of crime. Until one day, when he finally sees his chance to escape, and decides to risk everything to return home to the only person he ever loved, and to unlock the secret that has kept him silent for so long.” http://www.amazon.com/Lock-Artist-Novel-Steve-Hamilton/dp/0312696957/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books Steve Hamilton's website is at:http://www.authorstevehamilton.com/ Here is a short video of Steve Hamilton accepting his Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of the Year (2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7GJG508t5w Here is an interview with Steve Hamilton at the American Library Association: http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2011/04/06/you-see-it-clearly-and-its-horrible-an-interview-with-steve-hamilton/
What a wonderful time we had discussing The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Thanks, Vicki and David, for your fabulous questions and insights!
Our next book for discussion is the Waukesha Reads selection The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The Waukesha Public Library has free copies of the book, including a Reader's Guide, and a beautiful flyer of events and activities pertaining to the book. For an online schedule of events, please see http://www.waukeshareads.org/You can also download a free copy of the book at: http://bitly/pU90Cm
We will meet on Wednesday, October 12th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. This discussion is open to the community, so please invite a friend! Please also save room for some delicious Steaming Cup tea and warm scones!
Waukesha Reads is collecting new and gently used children's books at all events for the Volunteers of Lake Country Free Children's Library at Waukesha's HopeCenter. Please consider donating to "Books forHofor children ages birth to 10 years.
Our next book is The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski. We will discuss the book on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. The book is available at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles for 15% off. Their phone number is: 262-547-1060. There is a reading group guide with discussion questions on the author's web site: http://www.davidwroblewski.com/bio.html There is a "Today Show" author interview at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9p5DSTl8o (3:36 minutes) and another interview at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDAcdJ5Jcg4 (6:34 minutes) Product Description (562 pages) "Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home. When Edgar's father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm--and into Edgar's mother's affections. Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar tries to prove Claude played a role in his father's death, but his plan backfires--spectacularly. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face his father's murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homeward. David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes--the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain--create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic." From Wikipedia
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel is the first book by American author David Wroblewski. It became a New York Times Best Seller on June 29, 2008, and Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club on September 19, 2008. Winfrey also included the book as one of the few tangible gifts in her recession-themed thrifty Oprah's Favorite Things that year.
Our next book for discussion is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. We will meet on Wednesday, August 10, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrelll's/Cuddles. LuAnne will present the author biography. Would anyone like to lead the discussion? A reading group guide for The Book Thief can be found in the back of the book and at: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/bookclubcontent.html It includes an author interview and discussion questions. There are several You Tube interviews with author, Markus Zusak. Here is four-minute video that has over 38,000 views.
Here is the link for the movie trailer that was released in 2010:
"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . . Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."
What an interesting discussion we had with The Help. Thanks, Barbara, for meticulously researching the author's biography; and thanks, Lisa, for all of your great notes and comments about Kathryn Stockett and her book. It was a treat having you back with the Oasis Readers!
Our next book for discussion is My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becominga Student by Rebekah Nathan.
We will meet on Wednesday, July 13, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.
Would anyone like to present the author's biography or lead the discussion?
Product Description A revealing look at the college freshman experience, from an insider’s point of view
After fifteen years of teaching anthropology at a large university, Rebekah Nathan had become baffled by her own students. Their strange behavior—eating meals at their desks, not completing reading assignments, remaining silent through class discussions—made her feel as if she were dealing with a completely foreign culture. So Nathan decided to do what anthropologists do when confused by a different culture: Go live with them. She enrolled as a freshman, moved into the dorm, ate in the dining hall, and took a full load of courses. And she came to understand that being a student is a pretty difficult job, too. Her discoveries about contemporary undergraduate culture are surprising and her observations are invaluable, making My Freshman Year essential reading for students, parents, faculty, and anyone interested in educational policy.
About the Author
Rebekah Nathan is a pseudonym for Cathy Small. She has been a professor of anthropology at Northern Arizona University for fifteen years.
Here are some discussion questions that students wrote:
Our next book for discussion is The Help, A Novel by Kathryn Stockett. We will meet on Wednesday,June 8, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.The Help is on the New YorkTimes bestsellers list and can be purchased for 30% off at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Here is a one-minute trailer about The Help that is soon to be released as a film:
There is a reading group guide for The Help at the author's web site: http://www.kathrynstockett.com/index.htm May you enjoy this four-minute author interview with Katie Couric:
Product Description The wildly popular New York Times bestseller and reading group favorite. Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...
Our next book is My Life as an Experiment: One Man's Humble Quest to Improve Himself by Living as a Woman,Becoming George Washington, Telling No Lies, and Other Radical Tests by A. J. Jacobs.
We will meet on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. There is no reader's guide for the book but Chris formulated excellent discussion questions. (Please see below.) Thanks, Chris! Please bring any book suggestions for our June and July discussions. There is an interesting four-minute video about the book at:
On a mission to improve every aspect of his life — from work to love to family — A. J. Jacobs becomes a human guinea pig and immerses himself in a series of radical lifestyle experiments. To figure out how to reclaim his dignity, he follows George Washington’s 110 Rules of Life. To explore fame, he goes undercover as a movie star. To investigate dating, he becomes a single woman. To understand decision-making, he tries to eliminate irrationality from his brain. And many more. The results are equal parts funny and enlightening. Go ahead, immerse yourself in these new worlds. Discussion Questions:
Outsourcing
- If an exchange with a developing country is a free exchange, can outsourcing ever be ‘exploitive’? - There is a concept called ‘sustainable tourism’ (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_tourism or http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php?title=Fair_Trade_Tourism) where you don’t negotiate prices with the locals (basically a kind of hidden gift). Is this generous, or is it instead condescending and demeaning? Radical Honesty - Sisela Bok wrote a book called “Lying” where she states lying is never justified, but I think she made some allowance for white lies. Blanton is OK with lying to the IRS, but not white lies, and he has been married five times. Is his version of radical honesty just self-serving? - Is there a use for more directness and openness in your life? Would you want others to be more open and honest with you, or do you prefer indirection and ‘tact’? - Are there any guides for when white lies turn from politeness to self-serving, or will we always deceive ourselves and claim we are hiding embarrassing facts “for the good of others”? - Honesty isn’t “verbal diarrhea”…you can be honest without saying EVERYTHING that pops into your head. Is AJ misunderstanding the point? Is Blanton calling ‘tact’ manipulative? Rationality - Hyper-rationality is not ‘rational’ (people who lose the emotional part of their brain end up not being able to make trivial decisions and are unable to function in society). See also Gladwell’s “Blink” on that subject. How does one include emotional inputs into decisions without being deceived by all the (real) biases AJ lists? Focus - Just like in Radical Honesty, AJ imposes his experiment on people by speaking out loud. Is this just his personality, or do you think is he is play-acting to make a better book? Would the answer to that question affect how you read the chapter? - Is there an easy way to tell when you are overdoing a good thing? For example, talking while eating is called ‘socializing’…texting while eating is being rude. Is AJ insisting on eating in silence being silly (for example, you think and breathe while you eat…). Whipped - Again, balance! Is there a way to do this (obey your spouse) without going 100%? - Do you think this would be a useful experiment for you? General - If you had to make up an experiment for yourself, what would it be? Why? - If you had to make up an experiment for your spouse, what would it be? Why? - Which was your favorite chapter? Why?
We had an extraordinary experience chatting with Cutting for Stone author, Abraham Verghese on April 1, 2011. May you enjoy the Patch.com article with photos and other photos that we took. Thanks to Sarah Millard, Waukesha Patch.com editor, for covering the story! http://waukesha.patch.com/articles/viewfinder-waukesha-book-group-scores-chat-with-author#photo-5490914 Thanks also to Martha Merrell's and Cuddles for hosting the discussion!
Martha Merrell's Books and Cuddles Book Group Wins International Contest National Public Radio Names Winner of New York Times Bestseller Author Visit The Oasis Readers Book Group that meets at Martha Merrell's and Cuddles was named winner of the National Public Radio Author Meetup contest today. The group ranked first among 90 worldwide communities vying for the chance to have a chat with Abraham Verghese, M.D., author of the New YorkTimes bestseller, Cutting for Stone. The author visit will take place at Martha Merrell's and Cuddles, 231 W. Main St., Waukesha, WI, on Friday, April 1, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. This free discussion is open to the public. The Steaming Cup is providing refreshments and there will be authentic Ethiopian food to sample. According to the NPR web site, Cutting For Stone follows twin brothers Marion and Shiva Stone, born of a secret union between an Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. They are orphaned at a young age and must learn to navigate the world together as they grow up in Ethiopia on the brink of a revolution. The twins' story swings from Addis Ababa to New York City and explores the themes of family, betrayal, health care, everyday magic and the way that two lives can forever intertwine." For more information, please contact Norm Bruce at Martha Merrell's and Cuddles, 262-547-1060.
Charlene discovered an exciting possibility for our Waukesha community! National Public Radio is hosting a book group contest for the opportunity to have a phone or video chat with Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone. If more than 10 people sign up for the discussion, we become eligible for this unique experience! Simply sign up at: http://www.meetup.com/NPR-Book-Club/Waukesha-WI/79281/t/bn2_l1/ We will meet on Friday, April 1, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. For more information about NPR's Book Club's March selection, and how to participate on facebook and in online posts, please go to: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/08/134270828/npr-book-club-for-march-cutting-for-stone If you need help signing up, just come into Martha Merrell's and Norm will help you. You will need your e-mail address to register. Here is a description of Cutting for Stone: Cutting For Stone follows twin brothers Marion and Shiva Stone, born of a secret union between an Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. They are orphaned at a young age and must learn to navigate the world together as they grow up in Ethiopia on the brink of a revolution. The twins' story swings from Addis Ababa to New York City and explores the themes of family, betrayal, health care, everyday magic and the way that two lives can forever intertwine. Cutting for Stone is on the New York Times Bestsellers list and you can buy it with substantial savingsat Martha Merrell's/ Cuddles! Buy it today! It is 667 pages long but we've been told it's a fast read. There is a reading group guide at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_c/cutting_for_stone1.asp Let's have some fun! Please sign up today and encourage your friends to sign up too! If you have any questions, please feel free to call Norm or Sally at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles! (262-547-1060) Below, are several links to videos and author interviews featuring Cutting for Stone and Abraham Verghese. They will inspire you! Looking forward to an exciting discussion!
Are you a Stieg Larsson fan who would love to talk about his characters?
Please join us in a special discussion of Stieg Larsson's second novel, The Girl Who Played With Fire: ANovel. We will meet on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Author and psychiatrist, Ilsa J. Bick, will join us via Skype to explore why Larsson makes the choices he does in how he presents his characters. She will also answer any questions that we have. To learn more about Ilsa Bick and her newly published, award-winning paranormal mystery, DRAW THEDARK, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilsa_J._Bick and to her web site at: http://www.ilsajbick.com/ There is a reading group guide for The Girl Who Played With Fire at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_g/the_girl_who_played_with_fire1.asp Please submit questions that you would like Ilsa Bick to address to LaurieVanTuinen@gmail.com by Wednesday, February 23, 2011. For more information, please contact Martha Merrell's/Cuddles (262-547-1060) or Laurie Van Tuinen LaurieVanTuinen@gmail.com (262-544-4279).
Our next book for discussion is How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gates Gill. We will meet on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Chris will lead the discussion.
Here is a three-minute video with the author, Michael Gill Gates:
Karen found a descriptive and informative nine-minute video with Gill:
Here is another 31-minute video with Gill:
Below is a book description followed by discussion questions.
Book Description Michael Gates Gill Author: How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else Nearing retirement, Michael Gates Gill lost it all. A Yale-educated ad exec making six figures, Gill was let go from his job (ostensibly for being old), saw his marriage disintegrate, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. At the age of 63, desperate and without health insurance, he found redemption and a new sense of purpose where he least expected: behind the counter of a Starbucks. Gill tells his story in How Starbucks Saved My Life, an instant bestseller that has struck a chord with a large segment of middle aged and older Americans -- and which will soon be a film, starring Tom Hanks. Late in life, unemployed, and seemingly unemployable, Michael Gates Gill, an "old, opinionated white guy," becomes a barista and sees his old world slowly fall away, for the better. In his unforgettable talks, Gill shares his uplifting tale of personal transformation and the lessons he walked away with: the inherent value of hard work; being open to new possibilities, whatever your age; learning from people who are different from you; the fact that, deep down, differences matter less than what we have in common. Gill's varied work experience -- from being a creative director at a famous ad firm to working for an hourly wage as the only older white male alongside younger African-Americans -- also gives him unique insight into many of today's hot button workplace issues: racism, ageism, classism, boomer concerns, and corporate accountability. He speaks with humility, gratitude, and good humor about his fall from grace, and the new -- better -- person he has become because of it. Gill is the son of famous New Yorker writer Brendan Gill, and, growing up, his social company included the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Jacqueline Onassis. Today, he lives in a simple apartment, close to his Starbucks; he counts himself lucky and blessed: he learned what really matters, at a late age, from his new boss and colleagues, people he would never have met in his old life.
Discussion Questions
1. “Work is dignity” could be the mantra of Mike and his Starbucks co-workers. How did Crystal instill this philosophy in Mike? How do the other Partners show Mike the same example?
How does this apply to your life?
2. At first, Mike uses the chance to “detail the bathroom” as an excuse to avoid running a cash register and interacting with Guests. How does he overcome his fear of inadequacy and failure? In the book he says he “spent most of his life trying not to fail.” Who is he afraid of failing? What are some basic jobs you would be afraid to do?
3. Mike worked in advertising a long time, with the goal of inducing people to buy a product. Do you think that has affected the way he writes? Is he trying to sell something with this book? If so, do you think he has succeeded?
How much of “Starbucks’ do you think is factual, and is that important to the book or to your reading of it?
Three months ago, in what the talk show host termed a "radical departure," Winfrey announced that "A Million Little Pieces," author James Frey's nonfiction memoir of his vomit-caked years as an alcoholic, drug addict, and criminal, was her latest selection for the world's most powerful book club. In an October 26 show entitled "The Man Who Kept Oprah Awake At Night," Winfrey hailed Frey's graphic and coarse book as "like nothing you've ever read before. Everybody at Harpo is reading it. When we were staying up late at night reading it, we'd come in the next morning saying, 'What page are you on?'" … The 36-year-old author, these documents and interviews show, wholly fabricated or wildly embellished details of his purported criminal career, jail terms, and status as an outlaw "wanted in three states."
Another book written by a reporter as an autobiography, was researched by the author as a ‘biography’ of his life, and he states that observers report on a life he led much different than the one he remembered and would have written about.
4. Gill’s children taught him a lot about diversity, values, and appreciating others. What lessons, if any, would you like for your parents to learn from you one day?
Thanks to Chris and Karen for their contributions to this post.
Wow. What a fun evening we had! Thank you Betty Scanlon for your superb book suggestions and wonderful ideas for future discussions. We will file your suggested list of books in a safe place and post it on this blog spot. Thanks also to Judy for presenting Malcolm Gladwell's biography and for the group's candor and discussion. Special welcome to our new members/guests: Chris and Joan! Our next book for discussion is Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel by Helen Simonson. We will meet on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at MarthaMerrell's/Cuddles. Would anyone like to present the author's biography or lead the discussion? Reading group guides for this book are available at: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780812981223&view=rg and http://www.litlovers.com/guide_major_pettigrews_last.html May you enjoy this delightful 2:21 minute video book review by Carole Beu.
There is also a video with the author. (spoiler alert)
Book Review For Major Pettigrew's Last Stand Amazon Best Books of the Month, March 2010: In her witty and wise debut novel, newcomer Helen Simonson introduces the unforgettable character of the widower Major Ernest Pettigrew. The Major epitomizes the Englishman with the "stiff upper lip," who clings to traditional values and has tried (in vain) to pass these along to his yuppie son, Roger. The story centers around Pettigrew's fight to keep his greedy relatives (including his son) from selling a valuable family heirloom--a pair of hunting rifles that symbolizes much of what he stands for, or at least what he thinks he does. The embattled hero discovers an unexpected ally and source of consolation in his neighbor, the Pakistani shopkeeper Jasmina Ali. On the surface, Pettigrew and Ali's backgrounds and life experiences couldn't be more different, but they discover that they have the most important things in common. This wry, yet optimistic comedy of manners with a romantic twist will appeal to grown-up readers of both sexes. Kudos to Helen Simonson, who distinguishes herself with Major Pettigrew's Last Stand as a writer with the narrative range, stylistic chops, and poise of a veteran. --Lauren Nemroff About the Author
Helen Simonson was born in England and spent her teenage years in a small village in East Sussex. A graduate of the London School of Economics and former travel advertising executive, she has lived in America for the last two decades. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, she now lives with her husband and two sons in the Washington, D.C., area. This is her first novel.
