Hi Girls,
Sorry for the delay in this post - but after talking to a few of you and seeing the poor turnout for this next meeting, we have decided to delay book club and resume in september. Date to be determined.
I hope you are all having a super fun summer, see you in the fall!
Maia
Friday, August 10, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
June/July Book Choice
Message from Renuka:
I've chosen a book for our next book club meeting. It's called Please Look After Mom, and it was one of Amazon's Top Books of 2011. This novel was originally written in Korean, sold millions of copies in South Korea and became an international bestseller, but it was only translated into English last year. Something that is unique about this book is that it's written in the second person voice. This is quite rare, and it could make the book more challenging to read, but I think it might be a nice change from the usual 1st person and 3rd person perspectives. A bonus is that I found the epub file online, and as long as it's working okay (I haven't tried opening it yet), I can email it out to the others if they like.
Renuka
Here is the blurb from Random House:
I've chosen a book for our next book club meeting. It's called Please Look After Mom, and it was one of Amazon's Top Books of 2011. This novel was originally written in Korean, sold millions of copies in South Korea and became an international bestseller, but it was only translated into English last year. Something that is unique about this book is that it's written in the second person voice. This is quite rare, and it could make the book more challenging to read, but I think it might be a nice change from the usual 1st person and 3rd person perspectives. A bonus is that I found the epub file online, and as long as it's working okay (I haven't tried opening it yet), I can email it out to the others if they like.
Renuka
Here is the blurb from Random House:
You will never think of your mother the same way after you read this book.
Already an international sensation and a bestseller that has sold over 1.5 million copies in the author's native Korea, Please Look After Mom is a stunning, deeply moving story of a family's search for their missing mother — and their discovery of the desires, heartaches and secrets they never realized she harbored within.
When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, and vanishes, their children are consumed with loud recriminations, and are awash in sorrow and guilt. As they argue over the "Missing" flyers they are posting throughout the city — how large of a reward to offer, the best way to phrase the text — they realize that none of them have a recent photograph of Mom. Soon a larger question emerges: do they really know the woman they called Mom?
Told by the alternating voices of Mom's daughter, son, her husband and, in the shattering conclusion, by Mom herself, the novel pieces together, Rashomon-style, a life that appears ordinary but is anything but.
This is a mystery of one mother that reveals itself to be the mystery of all our mothers: about her triumphs and disappointments and about who she is on her own terms, separate from who she is to her family. If you have ever been a daughter, a son, a husband or a mother, Please Look After Mom is a revelation — one that will bring tears to your eyes.
Already an international sensation and a bestseller that has sold over 1.5 million copies in the author's native Korea, Please Look After Mom is a stunning, deeply moving story of a family's search for their missing mother — and their discovery of the desires, heartaches and secrets they never realized she harbored within.
When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, and vanishes, their children are consumed with loud recriminations, and are awash in sorrow and guilt. As they argue over the "Missing" flyers they are posting throughout the city — how large of a reward to offer, the best way to phrase the text — they realize that none of them have a recent photograph of Mom. Soon a larger question emerges: do they really know the woman they called Mom?
Told by the alternating voices of Mom's daughter, son, her husband and, in the shattering conclusion, by Mom herself, the novel pieces together, Rashomon-style, a life that appears ordinary but is anything but.
This is a mystery of one mother that reveals itself to be the mystery of all our mothers: about her triumphs and disappointments and about who she is on her own terms, separate from who she is to her family. If you have ever been a daughter, a son, a husband or a mother, Please Look After Mom is a revelation — one that will bring tears to your eyes.
Thanks Renuka, this sounds like a great choice. I can't wait to start reading!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
May Book Choice
Message from Heather:
I have picked a book recommended to me by a colleague at work. It's not a novel, but it contains many anecdotes to keep you engaged. I have read a bit of it and think it will make for a cool read, and it's outside of the box! I find psychology and neuroscience fascinating, and I hope everyone will enjoy reading something a little different. It came very highly recommended!
"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Synopsis:
How do we make decisions—good and bad—and why are some people so much better at it than others? That's the question Malcolm Gladwell asks and answers in the follow-up to his huge bestseller, The Tipping Point. Utilizing case studies as diverse as speed dating, pop music, and the shooting of Amadou Diallo, Gladwell reveals that what we think of as decisions made in the blink of an eye are much more complicated than assumed.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, he shows how the difference between good decision-making and bad has nothing to do with how much information we can process quickly, but on the few particular details on which we focus. Leaping boldly from example to example, displaying all of the brilliance that made The Tipping Point a classic, Gladwell reveals how we can become better decision makers—in our homes, our offices, and in everyday life. The result is a book that is surprising and transforming. Never again will you think about thinking the same way. (From the publisher.)
Gladwell is also the author of The Tipping Point, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw.
I have picked a book recommended to me by a colleague at work. It's not a novel, but it contains many anecdotes to keep you engaged. I have read a bit of it and think it will make for a cool read, and it's outside of the box! I find psychology and neuroscience fascinating, and I hope everyone will enjoy reading something a little different. It came very highly recommended!
"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Synopsis:
How do we make decisions—good and bad—and why are some people so much better at it than others? That's the question Malcolm Gladwell asks and answers in the follow-up to his huge bestseller, The Tipping Point. Utilizing case studies as diverse as speed dating, pop music, and the shooting of Amadou Diallo, Gladwell reveals that what we think of as decisions made in the blink of an eye are much more complicated than assumed.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, he shows how the difference between good decision-making and bad has nothing to do with how much information we can process quickly, but on the few particular details on which we focus. Leaping boldly from example to example, displaying all of the brilliance that made The Tipping Point a classic, Gladwell reveals how we can become better decision makers—in our homes, our offices, and in everyday life. The result is a book that is surprising and transforming. Never again will you think about thinking the same way. (From the publisher.)
Gladwell is also the author of The Tipping Point, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
April Meeting
Hi girls,
Sorry for the delay in the details. The next meeting will be Saturday, April 14th at my house. I was thinking we could do a brunch gathering at 12 PM if that works for everyone? Let me know. I will take care of all the savory foods. If some people want to bring sweets that will be welcome. I only say that since no longer eat wheat, and I won't be baking anything this time around :(
I just finished the book and I really liked it, I can't wait to talk about it with everyone!
Please RSVP if you are able to attend. If you need my address or directions send me a message and I will email them to you.
Happy Easter Weekend!
XO,
Maia
Sorry for the delay in the details. The next meeting will be Saturday, April 14th at my house. I was thinking we could do a brunch gathering at 12 PM if that works for everyone? Let me know. I will take care of all the savory foods. If some people want to bring sweets that will be welcome. I only say that since no longer eat wheat, and I won't be baking anything this time around :(
I just finished the book and I really liked it, I can't wait to talk about it with everyone!
Please RSVP if you are able to attend. If you need my address or directions send me a message and I will email them to you.
Happy Easter Weekend!
XO,
Maia
Friday, February 24, 2012
March Book Choices
Thank-you Harmeet for hosting last month's book club meeting, the food and chai was amazing!!!
I think we all agreed that last months book was well a little confusing to say the least and with only two members of the group that actually managed to struggle their way through it and finish I think it says a lot about the writing and the story! Good job heather and harmeet for actually finishing the book :)
I think this months pick needs to be awesome, so we can bounce back and have lots of interesting discussions to talk to about at next months meeting.
So lets get picking.........
I think we all agreed that last months book was well a little confusing to say the least and with only two members of the group that actually managed to struggle their way through it and finish I think it says a lot about the writing and the story! Good job heather and harmeet for actually finishing the book :)
I think this months pick needs to be awesome, so we can bounce back and have lots of interesting discussions to talk to about at next months meeting.
So lets get picking.........
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
February Book Choice - Lets Vote!
Hi Girls!
Well, I think this book choosing round has a dragged on a little too long! I was waiting for everyone to make a suggestion, but I think now that we have so many members (which is GREAT by the way!), it is just too many options. How does everyone feel about changing it up next month, and asking each member to suggest only one book? And letting the voting go on for only one week? Then anyone who hasn't made their suggestion by the deadline will have to hold on to it till next round. I think this will make the book choosing go faster.
As for now - I am going to take charge and narrow the books down to THREE top choices.
1. Aleph, by Paulo Coelho
2. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
3. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Foer
There were lots of great suggestions and it was hard to narrow it down, if I didn't include a book you're interested in, please make sure to suggest it again next time!
Now lets vote! Please let us know which book you would like to read by this Saturday, January 28th!
Well, I think this book choosing round has a dragged on a little too long! I was waiting for everyone to make a suggestion, but I think now that we have so many members (which is GREAT by the way!), it is just too many options. How does everyone feel about changing it up next month, and asking each member to suggest only one book? And letting the voting go on for only one week? Then anyone who hasn't made their suggestion by the deadline will have to hold on to it till next round. I think this will make the book choosing go faster.
As for now - I am going to take charge and narrow the books down to THREE top choices.
1. Aleph, by Paulo Coelho
2. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
3. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Foer
There were lots of great suggestions and it was hard to narrow it down, if I didn't include a book you're interested in, please make sure to suggest it again next time!
Now lets vote! Please let us know which book you would like to read by this Saturday, January 28th!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
February Book Choices
Hi Ladies,
Sorry for the delay in posting about this months book choices, things are busy busy around here! Thanks Harmeet for getting us started, great suggestion! As per usual, lets each post 2-3 book options in the comments, along with a description or review of the book, and then we will narrow it down and choose one by vote.
Harmeet has also offered to host the next meeting. The date will be Sunday, February 19th. More details to come closer to the date. I am excited for the Indian feast!!
Now lets get to the books. Ready... aaaaaaaaand, go!
Sorry for the delay in posting about this months book choices, things are busy busy around here! Thanks Harmeet for getting us started, great suggestion! As per usual, lets each post 2-3 book options in the comments, along with a description or review of the book, and then we will narrow it down and choose one by vote.
Harmeet has also offered to host the next meeting. The date will be Sunday, February 19th. More details to come closer to the date. I am excited for the Indian feast!!
Now lets get to the books. Ready... aaaaaaaaand, go!
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