U Is For Undertow, Sue Grafton
I picked the Sue Grafton book because she's one of my favorite authors. I like the series, I like Kinsey, the main character and I usually enjoy the storyline. The good news is that it's a readable book ... the bad news is that it's a long running series and I think it's getting a little stale. I thought the plot line was intersting but there were no surprises. My suggestion to Ms Grafton is that she needs to bump up the next one.
My vote: BORROW IT
What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm is one of my favorite non-fiction authors. I love the topics he picks, I love the way he writes and I love the way he thinks. I feel like I've sent my brain to the spa when I read his work. I recommend two of his three other books: Tipping Point and Outliers.
My vote: BUY IT
Friday, March 26, 2010
A Word About the Book Discussions
Ann's problem with procrastination and writer's block
My big problem this month was coming up with a format for our discussions ... I kept thinking it had to be a "big deal" and that it should mirror the kind of discussion we'd have if we were all in the same room.
It took me a long time to figure out that I was wrong on both ideas. I needed to remember what the original plan had been: I wanted to find new authors and new books. I wanted to read cool stuff in my favorite category - mysteries - and new/interesting stuff in new/interesting catagories. And I needed to move my brain to the virtual world for a virtual book club ... blogs are short!
So here's my plan for our book discussions:
The chairman will offer a few comments on why she picked the book(s), what she liked about it and maybe a suggestion for something else from the same author. This will be done as a 'posting' ... the discussion from everyone else will be done as comments.
One more idea ... how about voting on the books?
BUY IT
BORROW IT
SKIP IT
My big problem this month was coming up with a format for our discussions ... I kept thinking it had to be a "big deal" and that it should mirror the kind of discussion we'd have if we were all in the same room.
It took me a long time to figure out that I was wrong on both ideas. I needed to remember what the original plan had been: I wanted to find new authors and new books. I wanted to read cool stuff in my favorite category - mysteries - and new/interesting stuff in new/interesting catagories. And I needed to move my brain to the virtual world for a virtual book club ... blogs are short!
So here's my plan for our book discussions:
The chairman will offer a few comments on why she picked the book(s), what she liked about it and maybe a suggestion for something else from the same author. This will be done as a 'posting' ... the discussion from everyone else will be done as comments.
One more idea ... how about voting on the books?
BUY IT
BORROW IT
SKIP IT
Sunday, February 28, 2010
New Book Selection for March
MONTH: March 2010
CHAIRMAN: Beth
MAIN SELECTION: The Sculptress, Minette Walters
MAIN SELECTION: The Sculptress, Minette Walters
www.minettewalters.co.uk/
ALT. SELECTION: Noah's Compass, Anne Tyler
Tyler does not have a website - she is listed on Random House's website
www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780739328644.html
MONTH: April 2010
MONTH: May 2010
CHAIRMAN: Susan
MAIN SELECTION: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
ALT. SELECTION: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer
MONTH: February 2010
CHAIRMAN: Ann
MAIN SELECTION: U is For Undertow, Sue Graftan
http://www.suegrafton.com
ALT. SELECTION: What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell
http://www.gladwell.com/
ALT. SELECTION: Noah's Compass, Anne Tyler
Tyler does not have a website - she is listed on Random House's website
www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780739328644.html
CHAIRMAN: Brenda 
MAIN SELECTION: The Swetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley
MAIN SELECTION: The Swetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley
http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-at-Bottom-Pie/dp/0385342306
http://www.flaviadeluce.com/
ALT. SELECTION: The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery
http://muriel.barbery.net/http://www.flaviadeluce.com/
ALT. SELECTION: The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery
MONTH: May 2010
CHAIRMAN: Susan
MAIN SELECTION: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
ALT. SELECTION: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer
MONTH: February 2010
CHAIRMAN: Ann
MAIN SELECTION: U is For Undertow, Sue Graftan
http://www.suegrafton.com
ALT. SELECTION: What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell
http://www.gladwell.com/
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Here's how to add a new posting
First Step: Sign in to blog (gmail userid and gmail password)
New Posting
1. Click on "New Post" (upper right navigation bar)
2. Add a title in the TITLE box
3. Add content in the COMPOSE box
4. If you want to include pictures, use the "Insert Image" button on the tool bar (next to 'Link')
5. Check to see how it looks with the PREVIEW button (above toolbar)
6. Click the PUBLISH POST button to add new posting to blog (orange button below box)
7. Pat yourself on the back for your first blog post (yippee)
Edit Existing Posting
1. Click on "New Post" (upper right navigation bar)
2. Click on "Edit Post" tab (above Title box)
3. Update posting
4. Check updates with PREVIEW button
5. Click the PUBLISH POST button to update your post
6. Okay, you can pat yourself on the back again
New Posting
1. Click on "New Post" (upper right navigation bar)
2. Add a title in the TITLE box
3. Add content in the COMPOSE box
4. If you want to include pictures, use the "Insert Image" button on the tool bar (next to 'Link')
5. Check to see how it looks with the PREVIEW button (above toolbar)
6. Click the PUBLISH POST button to add new posting to blog (orange button below box)
7. Pat yourself on the back for your first blog post (yippee)
Edit Existing Posting
1. Click on "New Post" (upper right navigation bar)
2. Click on "Edit Post" tab (above Title box)
3. Update posting
4. Check updates with PREVIEW button
5. Click the PUBLISH POST button to update your post
6. Okay, you can pat yourself on the back again
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
BOOK SCHEDULE 2010
CHAIRMAN: Ann
MAIN SELECTION: U is For Undertow, Sue Graftan
http://www.suegrafton.com
ALT. SELECTION: What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell
http://www.gladwell.com/
MONTH: March 2010
CHAIRMAN: Beth
MAIN SELECTION:TBD
ALT. SELECTION: TBD
MONTH: April 2010
CHAIRMAN: Brenda
MAIN SELECTION: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-at-Bottom-Pie/dp/0385342306
http://www.flaviadeluce.com/
ALT. SELECTION: The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery
MONTH: May 2010
CHAIRMAN: Susan
MAIN SELECTION: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
ALT. SELECTION: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer
Ballet de Lyon Book Club
Here's our plan so far:
We’ll read and discuss one (or two) book(s) per month
Book choices can be anything interesting and well written
We like mysteries
Each month will have a rotating chairman (alphabetical order)
February – Ann
March – Beth
April – Brenda
May – Susan
Chairman’s duties:
Pick the first and second choices for our book of the month
Post the book choices on the BLBC blog (and maybe a little bit about why picked)
Send an email to the group on or around the last day of the month to start the discussion
Note: this means there will be some overlap … you’ll be reading March’s book while we’re discussing February’s book
Member duties:
Read the book of the month (or not)
Respond to the Chairman’s discussion email (either discussion stuff or admission of not reading)
To-Do List
Decide if discussion should be open ended or create a template of questions
Can we do the discussion as a conference call?
Can we convert the emails to a blog (Ann will research)?
We’ll read and discuss one (or two) book(s) per month
Book choices can be anything interesting and well written
We like mysteries
Each month will have a rotating chairman (alphabetical order)
February – Ann
March – Beth
April – Brenda
May – Susan
Chairman’s duties:
Pick the first and second choices for our book of the month
Post the book choices on the BLBC blog (and maybe a little bit about why picked)
Send an email to the group on or around the last day of the month to start the discussion
Note: this means there will be some overlap … you’ll be reading March’s book while we’re discussing February’s book
Member duties:
Read the book of the month (or not)
Respond to the Chairman’s discussion email (either discussion stuff or admission of not reading)
To-Do List
Decide if discussion should be open ended or create a template of questions
Can we do the discussion as a conference call?
Can we convert the emails to a blog (Ann will research)?
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