1984 by George Orwell

Our next book for discussion is the Waukesha Reads pick, 1984 by George Orwell. We will meet on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Waukesha Public Library Community Room.

The book discussion is open to all and will take place after a scholar panel discussion from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Here is information about the library program:

Food for Thought, Snacks and Scholars: Politics, Philosophy and Propaganda in George Orwell’s Work 

When: Wed, October 10, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Waukesha Public Library, 321 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha (map)

Description: Enjoy refreshments (sandwiches, chips, fruit & beverage) and an intriguing discussion with local scholars:

Barb Reinhart (UW-Waukesha, Art) and Tim Dunn (UW-Waukesha, Philosophy): "Exploring the Space Between Art and Propaganda"

Dean Kowalski (UW-Waukesha, Philosophy): "Objectivity and Realism in Orwell’s 1984: The Elusive Quest for Truth"

Kevin Guilfoy (Carroll University, Philosophy): "Fascism is Hard Work: Human Nature and Social Control in 1984"

Details: 262-524-3682

Here is a book description for 1984:
"Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, Orwell’s narrative is timelier than ever. "The novel can be summed up in its most famous quote, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” - from the Waukehsa Reads website.

Fasten your seat belts, because Waukesha Reads will soon kick-off a month-long series of lectures, tours, book discussions, and other fun activities about 1984, such as "Dinner and a Movie" ($20) at the Majestic Theater. Please pick up your free book, reading guide, and calendar of community-wide events at Waukesha Public Library and check out the Waukesha Reads website at: http://www.waukeshareads.org/

The kick-off events for Waukesha Reads are at Freeman Friday Night Live, Friday, September 28, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 29, 8:00 a.m. - 12 Noon, Waukesha Farmers' Market. Get you free George Orwell button that the Waukesha Public Library teen group made for you!

Please also help with the Waukesha Reads Service project, "Children's Books for Hope Center" by dropping off new or gently used children's board books, picture books with words, and chapter books for grades 2- 5 at Martha Merrell's and at other Waukesha Reads events.

Looking forward to a great month of Waukesha Reads events and activities!

Destiny of the Republic: Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

Our next book for discussion is Destiny of the Republic: Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, Candice Millard (2011); Nonfiction; 352 pages; 4.7/5 stars on Amazon.com; 3 copies and one large print copy at WPL – all checked out; 13 copies in Café system; available in paperback. Available for 30% off at Martha Merrell's - on the New York Times Bestsellers list.

We will meet on Wednesday, September 12, 2012; 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Martha Merrell’s/Cuddles. David Brostrom, former Waukesha  Public Library Deputy Director, will lead the discussion. We might possibly Skype with the author, Candice Millard!

Book Description: A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK of 2011. James A. Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, and a renowned and admired reformist congressman. Nominated for president against his will, he engaged in a fierce battle with the corrupt political establishment. But four months after his inauguration, a deranged office seeker tracked Garfield down and shot him in the back.
But the shot didn’t kill Garfield. The drama of what hap­pened subsequently is a powerful story of a nation in tur­moil. The unhinged assassin’s half-delivered strike shattered the fragile national mood of a country so recently fractured by civil war, and left the wounded president as the object of a bitter behind-the-scenes struggle for power—over his administration, over the nation’s future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care. A team of physicians administered shockingly archaic treatments, to disastrous effect. As his con­dition worsened, Garfield received help: Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, worked around the clock to invent a new device capable of finding the bullet. http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Republic-Madness-Medicine-President/dp/0767929713/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344481326&sr=1-1&keywords=destiny+of+the+republic

Candice Millard has a great web site with book reviews, a video book preview, author inteviews and more at: http://www.candicemillard.com/index.html

There is a reading group guide at:  http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/14-non-fiction/8301-destiny-of-the-republic-millard

Looking forward!

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

  

Our next book for discussion is Travels with Charley in Search of America, John Steinbeck (1962); Memoir; 224 pages; 10-12 copies available in CAFÉ system with different printing dates and versions.

We will meet on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Chris offered to present the author's bio. and lead the discussion. Attached are discussion questions that Chris developed and found, as well as Steinbeck's biography. Thanks, Chris!

Book Description
In September 1960, John Steinbeckand his poodle, Charley, embarked on a journey across America. A picaresque tale, this chronicle of their trip meanders through scenic backroads and speeds along anonymous superhighways, moving from small towns to growing cities to glorious wilderness oases. Travels with Charley in Search of America is animated by Steinbeck’s attention to the specific details of the natural world and his sense of how the lives of people are intimately connected to the rhythms of nature—to weather, geography, the cycle of the seasons. His keen ear for the transactions among people is evident, too, as he records the interests and obsessions that preoccupy the Americans he encounters along the way.
Travels with Charley in Search of America, originally published in 1962, provides an intimate and personal look at one of America’s most beloved writers in the later years of his life—a self-portrait of a man who never wrote an explicit autobiography. It was written during a time of upheaval and racial tension in the South—which Steinbeck witnessed firsthand—and is a stunning evocation of America on the eve of a tumultuous decade. http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Charley-Search-America-Centennial/dp/0142000701/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books Show More Show Less

Looking forward!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Our next book for discussion is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. We will meet on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's and Cuddles. Judy will present the author's bio. and lead the discussion. Thanks, Judy!

Here is a book description:
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (2009); Fiction; 384 pages; 4.6 out or 5 stars on Amazon.com; Movie Tie-In

From Booklist
*Starred Review* This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation's annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem's districts. District 12's second "tribute" is Peeta, the baker's son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents' next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance. Grades 9-12. --Francisca Goldsmith
http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Movie-Tie-/dp/0545425115/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330138847&sr=1-1

May you enjoy Collins' web site that includes her biography and an interview at: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

There is a discussion guide at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_h/the_hunger_games1.aspm 

There are several author interviews and video trailers on You Tube.

Looking forward!

The Covenant by Naomi Ragen





Our next book for discussion is The Covenant by Naomi Ragan. We will meet on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. We need someone to present the author's biography and lead the discussion. Please contact me if you would like to help. Thanks!

Here is a description of The Covenant: 
The Covenant, Naomi Ragen (2004); Fiction; 276 pages; 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com; 3 copies in CAFÉ system; one large-print copy; accessible from the library; available in paperback for 15% off at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.

From Publishers Weekly
Ragen, an American writer who's lived in Israel for more than 30 years, blends tragedies of the past with headline news of today in her gripping, emotionally charged sixth novel. It's 2002, and the Margulies family—oncologist Jonathan; his pregnant, American-born wife, Elise; and their daughter, Ilana—are contentedly living in a Jerusalem settlement, until one day, on their way home, Jonathan and Ilana are kidnapped by Hamas. Elise's frantic call to her Bubbee Leah in Brooklyn reunites four women—now grandmas and great-grandmas—who, as girls, made the titular covenant: if they survived Auschwitz, they would become "one person, risking everything, giving everything, to help each other live in happiness all the days of our lives." Leah gathers up fellow New Yorker Esther, now a cosmetics millionaire; Paris nightclub owner Ariana; and Polish political activist Maria to help find the kidnap victims. It's a race against time, as the women wield their considerable influence and the Israeli army desperately tries to intercede with the kidnappers before the captives are killed. Ragen weaves in deeper, more serious undertones than the thriller plot suggests, touching on the stubborn pride and the serious purpose that keeps Israelis fighting (or, in some cases, not fighting) for their fragile country, "the land that God promised to the Jewish people in his Covenant to Abraham."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
http://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Naomi-Ragen/dp/product-description/0312335067/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1330133542&sr=1-1

A reading group guide with discussion questions for The Covenant is at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/covenant1.asp

Naomi Ragen's web site is at: http://www.naomiragen.com/  and a Wikipedia article about her is at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Ragen
 
                                                                 Looking forward!

Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr



Our next book to discuss is Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr. We will meet on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Edna offered to present the author's biography. Anyone is welcome to lead the discussion.

Below, is information about the book:
 
Wingshooters, Nina Revoyr (2011); Fiction; 230 pages; 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com; 12 copies in CAFÉ system, nearly all checked out but no waiting list; in paperback; 15% off at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.

Summary
Michelle LeBeau, the child of a white American father and a Japanese mother, lives with her grandparents in Deerhorn, Wisconsin—a small town that had been entirely white before her arrival. Rejected and bullied, Michelle spends her time reading, avoiding fights, and roaming the countryside with her English Springer Spaniel, Brett. She idolizes her grandfather, Charlie LeBeau, an expert hunter and former minor league baseball player who is one of the town’s most respected men. Charlie strongly disapproved of his son’s marriage to Michelle’s mother but dotes on his only grandchild, whom he calls Mikey.
This fragile peace is threatened when the expansion of the local clinic leads to the arrival of the Garretts, a young black couple from Chicago. Betty Garrett is hired as a nurse, and her husband, Joe, works as a substitute teacher at the elementary school. The Garretts’ presence deeply upsets most of the residents of Deerfield—especially when Mr. Garrett makes a controversial accusation against one of the town leaders, who is also Charlie LeBeau’s best friend.
In the tradition of To Kill a Mockingbird, A River Runs Through It, and Snow Falling on Cedars, Nina Revoyr’s new novel examines the effects of change on a small, isolated town, the strengths and limits of community, and the sometimes conflicting loyalties of family and justice. Set in the expansive countryside of Central Wisconsin, against the backdrop of Vietnam and the post-Civil Rights era, Wingshooters explores both connection and loss as well as the complex but enduring bonds of family. http://www.amazon.com/Wingshooters-Nina-Revoyr/dp/1936070715/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=book

There is a reading group guide for Wingshooters at: http://www.ninarevoyr.com/books/wingshooters/reading_guide.php

Nina Revoyr's web site is at: http://www.ninarevoyr.com/books/wingshooters/

May you enjoy the author interviews: Part 1 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGozsgeWIuQ
(15 minutes - Spoiler alert)

Part 2 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FCJCfS7OVI&feature=relmfu  (13 minutes - Spoiler alert)

Looking forward!

Wicked River: The Mississippi River When it Last Ran Wild by Lee Sandlin

Our next book to discuss is Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild, Lee Sandlin. We will meet on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.

Here is a book description:

Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild, Lee Sandlin (2010); Nonfiction; 368 pages; 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com; 15% off at Martha Merrell's; 9 copies in CAFÉ system.       

Book Description:  A riveting narrative look at one of the most colorful, dangerous, and peculiar places in America's historical landscape: the strange, wonderful, and mysterious Mississippi River of the 19th century.

Beginning in the early 1800s and climaxing with the siege of Vicksburg in 1863, Wicked Riverbrings to life a place where river pirates brushed elbows with future presidents and religious visionaries shared passage with thieves. Here is a minute-by-minute account of Natchez being flattened by a tornado; the St. Louis harbor being crushed by a massive ice floe; hidden, nefarious celebrations of Mardi Gras; and the sinking of the Sultana, the worst naval disaster in American history. Here, too, is the Mississippi itself: gorgeous, perilous, and unpredictable. Masterfully told, Wicked River is an exuberant work of Americana that portrays a forgotten society on the edge of revolutionary change. http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-River-Mississippi-When-Vintage/dp/0307473570/ref=pd_sim_b_1

A book review from Kirkus:
“Raucous, fascinating and fun... Sandlin debuts with a rollicking history of the Mississippi Valley before commerce and technology tamed it. ... Sandlin seems to have adopted some of Twain’s technique in Life On the Mississippi— i.e., disappearing for pages into long narratives/legends/rumors associated with the valley and its denizens. ... Sandlin provides some John McPhee-like detail about geology and riverine history, and also examines the human history of the region. ... Apart from his generous offering of surprising facts, it’s obvious that Sandlin loves the lore of the river, its narratives, legends and lies. ... Readers will delight in stories about Annie Christmas (who wrote tales about prostitutes), Marie Laveau (the Voodoo Queen), the Crow’s Nest pirates and John Murrell and his so-called “Mystic Clan. ...Gorgeous.”

Here is 4.5 minute author interview on You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHlAwOx8csw

Lee Sandlin's web site is at:  http://leesandlin.com/

Looking forward!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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Our next book for discussion is Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. We will meet on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles.

Karen and Ned will present the author's biography and lead the discussion. Thanks Karen and Ned! This will be a special discussion because we are expecting more men to attend who have a keen interest in military history.

There is a reading group guide for Unbroken at: http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/detail/index.cfm/book_number/2506/unbroken

Amazon Best Books of the Month, November 2010: From Laura Hillenbrand, the bestselling author of Seabiscuit, comes Unbroken, the inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to be believed. In evocative, immediate descriptions, Hillenbrand unfurls the story of Louie Zamperini--a juvenile delinquent-turned-Olympic runner-turned-Army hero. During a routine search mission over the Pacific, Louie’s plane crashed into the ocean, and what happened to him over the next three years of his life is a story that will keep you glued to the pages, eagerly awaiting the next turn in the story and fearing it at the same time. You’ll cheer for the man who somehow maintained his selfhood and humanity despite the monumental degradations he suffered, and you’ll want to share this book with everyone you know. --Juliet Disparte

Here is a two-minute video introduction to the book,including author comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjfGxiE2UzI

Here is a four-minute video featuring army hero, Louie Zamperini: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjfGxiE2UzI

Looking forward!

Driftless by David Rhodes



Our next book for discussion is Driftless by David Rhodes. We will meet on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles. Charlene will present the author's biography and lead the discussion.

Driftless was the 2010 selection for the All Iowa Reads program, a state-wide reading of one book, sponsored by the Iowa Center for the Book.
There are discussion questions, an author biography, and interviews on the Iowa Center for the Book web site at:http://www.iowacenterforthebook.org/air/previous-years/air10
From Booklist *Starred Review* By the end of the darkly rhapsodic novel Rock Island Line (1975), July Montgomery has suffered enough tragedies for several cursed lifetimes even though he is only 22. His creator, on the other hand, was riding high as each of his three novels met with acclaim. But Rhodes was about to face his own season of loss. Now, in a triumphant return after 30 years (see the adjacent “Story behind the Story” for details), Rhodes picks up the thread of July’s life with deepened powers, writing not in shadow but in light. As for July, after two decades of drifting, he has finally found peace in the small town of Words, Wisconsin. Respected and cherished, he is the hub of this brimming novel, each spoke a suspenseful story line about the unexpectedly dramatic lives of the good people of Words. The compelling cast includes Graham, a farmer, and Cora, his whistleblower wife intent on exposing agribusiness corruption; Winifred, the high-strung pastor; and the incredible Brasso sisters: large, nurturing Violet and tiny, smart Olivia, who rules the book from her wheelchair. In vividly realized scenes involving family secrets, legal battles, gambling, and miracle cures, Rhodes illuminates the wisdom acquired through hard work, the ancient covenant of farming, and the balm of kindness. Encompassing and incisive, comedic and profound, Driftless is a radiant novel of community and courage. --Donna Seaman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Here is a college student review of Driftless on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S04O7zje4B0  (6.5 minutes)
There are six, one to three-minute interviews with David Rhodes on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=David+Rhodes%2C+Driftless&oq=David+Rhodes%2C+Driftless&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1141l7922l0l8938l25l19l1l0l0l0l609l1718l0.1.2.1.0.1l5l0
   

Looking forward!
 

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox: A Novel by Maggie O'Farrell



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.

See you in 2012!

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester

                                                         

Our next book for discussion is The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the 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

Looking forward!

The Lock Artist: A Novel by Steve Hamilton

Our next book for discussion is The Lock Artist: A Novel by Steve Hamilton. We will meet on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Martha Merrell's/Cuddles
The Lock Artist: A Novel, Steve Hamilton; 2009; 4.4 out of 5 stars; 336 pages; 21 copies in the Café system; Available at Martha Merrell's for 15% off. Winner of The 2011 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of the Year, A New York Times Notable Crime Book.

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/

                                                                  Looking forward!

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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 Hope Center. Please consider donating to "Books forHofor children ages birth to 10 years.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski

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.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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:

http://www.allsubs.org/movie-trailer/The+Book+Thief%3A+Official+Movie+Trailer/xjWOkiLlkpE

Product Description

"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."

Looking forward!