"How Curious.....?" January's book selection

Lets get together and talk about a book with a peculiar title;  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.

This book is filled with note worthy quotes taken from the main character and narrator of the book, Christopher, who has a form of autism.  During his Sherlock Holmes-style quest to find a neighborhood dog murderer, the writings provide an inside view of Christopher's puzzle-loving approaches and more importantly into his world of Asperger syndrome. 

Our meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14th, at 6pm, at Becky's Coffee Corner in Prosser.  Celeste' Lynn will be hosting this evening's book discussion.

You may be interested in checking out the author, Mark Haddon.  He has his own website/blog at; http://www.markhaddon.com/

For those of you who tend to dissect books and write notations in the margins as they read (uhh...I guess I'd fit in this category) I discovered; "The Bookclub in a Box Discussion Guide" for this particular book.  I picked one up via Amazon Prime for 3.49, used.  I can't promise the availability at that price but it's worth keeping an eye out.  Here is the link; http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1897082118?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1897082118&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

See the Editorial Review below:

The fifteen-year-old narrator of this ostensible murder mystery is even more emotionally remote than the typical crime-fiction shamus: he is autistic, prone to fall silent for weeks at a time and unable to imagine the interior lives of others. This might seem a serious handicap for a detective, but when Christopher stumbles on the dead body of his neighbor's poodle, impaled by a pitchfork, he decides to investigate. Christopher understands dogs, whose moods are as circumscribed as his own ("happy, sad, cross and concentrating"), but he's deaf to the nuances of people, and doesn't realize until too late that the clues point toward his own house and a more devastating mystery. This original and affecting novel is a triumph of empathy; whether describing Christopher's favorite dream (of a virus depopulating the planet) or his vision of the universe collapsing in a thunder of stars, the author makes his hero's severely limited world a thrilling place to be.
Copyright © 2005 The New Yorker

December's story...."The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Our meeting is scheduled for the 2^nd Tuesday of the month, December 10th @ 6pm.  The meeting will take place at; 2000 Highland Drive, Prosser.

We will be discussing the book; The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby.  Celeste' Lynn will be our host for the evening.

The following excerpt was taken from; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diving_Bell_and_the_Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (original French title: Le Scaphandre et le Papillon) is a memoir by journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby. It describes what his life is like after suffering a massive stroke that left him with locked-in syndrome. It also details what his life was like before the stroke.
On 9 December 1995, Bauby, the editor-in-chief of French Elle magazine, suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma. He awoke 20 days later, mentally aware of his surroundings, but physically paralyzed with what is known as locked-in syndrome , with the only exception of some movement in his head and eyes. His right eye had to be sewn up due to an irrigation problem. The entire book was written by Bauby blinking his left eyelid, which took ten months (four hours a day). Using partner assisted scanning, a transcriber repeatedly recited a French language frequency-ordered alphabet (E, S, A, R, I, N, T, U, L, etc.), until Bauby blinked to choose the next letter. The book took about 200,000 blinks to write and an average word took approximately two minutes. The book also chronicles everyday events for a person with locked-in syndrome. These events include playing at the beach with his family, getting a bath, and meeting visitors whilst in hospital at Berck-sur-Mer.
The French edition of the book was published on 6 March 1997. It received excellent reviews, sold the first 25,000 copies on the day of publication, reaching 150,000 in a week. It went on to become a number one bestseller across Europe. Its total sales are now in the millions. On 9 March 1997, three days after the book was published, Bauby died of pneumonia.^[1][2]

Jean-Dominique Bauby enjoying life before his stroke.

 

 

 

You may want to check out the 2007 film; " The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", based upon Bauby's book memoir.  You may also be interested in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Premature Burial" which is a novel depicting a similar circumstance to Bauby's "locked in syndrome".


Quote from The Diving Bell and the Butterfly;

"I need to feel strongly, to love and admire, just as desperately as I need to breathe.”



 

GREAT REVIEWS for ~Hidden Order~ by Brad Thor

On November 12th we will be discussing Hidden Order by Brad Thor.  Our attendees for this mid-November meeting will gather at Becky's Coffee Corner at 6pm.  Nona Gall will be hosting this evening's discussion.

We will discuss the thriller of a tale about an organization (Federal Reserve) and their ruthless, secretive attempts to reach their objectives while imposing dangers to the USA. 

See the following reviews taken from the Amazon website:

Brad Thor] and Harvath are the real deal, and you should accept no substitutes. (BookReporter.com)

“One of Brad Thor’s best books to date.”(The Washington Post)

“[A] great, great thriller.” -

(Rush Limbaugh)

“Rockin’ from cover to cover.”

(Charlie Daniels)

“[A] must-read summer thriller.”

(Townhall.com)

“HIDDEN ORDER …Freeeekin awesome!”

(KCBR)

“One of the best writers you are ever going to read.”

(WROK)

“…the thrills and detailed narrative combine to make Hidden Order a one-of-a-kind roller coaster run…”

(The Blaze)

“A well thought out plot with a rollicking pace and would be a great summer beach read.”

(E-Thriller.com)

“Thriller writer Brad Thor is awesome…You’ll want to take HIDDEN ORDER to the beach.” -

(National Review)

“Brad Thor continues to write like nobody else writes…Ain’t nothing else like it!”

(KCBQ)

Get Your Coats On...

It's not quite winter however our October's book selection is set in the Canadian wilderness in the early 1900s.  Ready to endure the harsh climate and conditions?  Well,...get your coats on!

 

“Mrs. Mike…is the story of the start of young love, its growth to maturity, and its acceptance of a dangerous, hard, but enthralling life. Its level of sheer entertainment is extremely high.”—Los Angeles Herald-Express

 

 

Our October 8th's meeting will be reflecting our views about the book;

Mrs.Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freeman

 

We will be meeting at Becky's Coffee Corner in Prosser at 6pm.  Sheri Wilkins will be hosting this evening's discussion.

 

Come early to grab something from Becky's shop!

 

What better way to spend a summer's evening?....Talk about a book!

Come join..... 

The Page Turner

Book Club
TPTBC would like to announce that their next meeting is scheduled for the 2^nd Tuesday of the month, September 10^th @ 6pm.  It will be held at Becky’s Coffee Corner in Prosser.

The evening will include conversations about the book; START. By Jon Acuff 

 

 

 

"Wall Street Journal best-selling author Jon Acuff reveals the steps to getting unstuck and back onto the path of being awesome.
Over the last 100 years, the road to success for most everyone has been divided into predictable stages. But three things have changed the path to success:
Boomers are realizing that a lot of the things they were promised aren't going to materialize, and they have started second and third careers.
Technology has given access to an unprecedented number of people who are building online empires and changing their lives in ways that would have been impossible years ago.
The days of "success first, significance later," have ended.
While none of the stages can be skipped, they can be shortened and accelerated. There are only two paths in life: average and awesome. The average path is easy because all you have to do is nothing. The awesome path is more challenging, because things like fear only bother you when you do work that matters. The good news is "Start" gives readers practical, actionable insights to be more awesome, more often." - taken from goodreads.com

 

 

 

We all live life.  We all have experienced fear.  We all have dreams.  On our inevitable life journey let us continue to seek and perhaps find insight to contribute ease and happiness during our travels.  This book may provide a map to achieve clarity of life's weather conditions and the road ahead....So, find a comfy chair, a cool comforting drink, and give yourself some "you" time. - Happy Reading!

 



AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED

This past Tuesday we were a small group but our discussion contained BIG ideas and insight! TPTBC discussed the book; The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley.  The conversation consisted of TR's passion and politics and how they were effective and...not so effective.  We gabbed and gained while munching on Leota's tasty pralines from TX.

And for our NEXT selection......August 13th will bring us the book; And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini.  This book presents an intense story which seems to be Hosseini's trend.  The setting starts out in Afghanistan (I was mistaken earlier when I said India at our last meeting) during pre-war times.  It then branches out globally while possessing a multi-generational collection of characters.  This is supposed to be a story about separated siblings and defining oneself during life's journey of love, unconditional bonds, choices, and sacrifices.

"An unforgettable novel about finding a lost piece of yourself in someone else." - taken from www.goodreads.com

We'll be getting together to discuss the details and our perspectives about this novel Aug. 13th, (2nd Tues. of the month) 6pm, at Becky's Coffee Corner.  Nicole Thomas will be hosting this evening's discussion.

Remember to come early to grab some yummy pastries or a refreshment from Becky!

June 11th ~ Next TPTBC meeting!

 

We'll be meeting at Becky's Coffee Corner in Prosser (6/11/13) at 6pm. 

 

Come join us in discussion (and dissection) of this ever increasing popular novel.  Bring your copy of the book, your perspective, and your insight to our monthly meeting!

 

This novel is a #1 seller in Brazil and a New York Times Bestseller!

 

"An enchanting first novel about love, madness, and Kenny G." - taken from matthewquickwriter.com

 

Be sure to review the discussion questions before the meeting;

http://matthewquickwriter.com/novels/the-silver-linings-playbook/discussion-questions/

A Taste for Books

 

 

These square objects are for some an acquired taste.  Some individuals prefer obtaining facts and wisdom in a book over getting lost along some story line.  However, most won't argue that at one time or another they have gained something, something from a book. 

 

These pieces of enveloped words have contributed greatly to many minds and hearts. How might our views of our world and our life differ if books did not exist? Though one may say; " I don't like to read", it doesn't necessarily convey their distaste for books specifically. Perhaps they haven't indulged in a love story, never have been caught up in a mystery, or have never been enlightened by a knowledgeable reference book.  May these disadvantaged gain a preference, stumble upon an interest, or devour words that these wonderful treasures hold.   May they develop a taste for one of the flavors these cakes have to offer.

 

Happy Reading!

Nicole

 

A big THANK YOU to Debra Layman from Wine Country Cupcakes www.winecountrycupcakes.net who made this wonderful "Bookworm" cake for our book club.  Her artistic flair was apparent on the outside of this piece of art but the violet flavored inside was superb!

The Baker's Daughter for May's selection

Come join us......

 

Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14^th @ 6pm.  It will be held at Becky’s Coffee Corner in Prosser.

Nona Gall will be hosting this evening's event.

Remember to come a bit early to take advantages of Becky's services before 6!

Discussion Questions are available on the author's website; www.sarahmccoy.com

 

 

 

 

Something to tantalize you.....

"A beautiful, heart-breaking gem of a novel written just the way I like them, with the past coming back to haunt the present, endearing heroines and a sunny, hopeful ending. You'll wolf it up in one delicious gulp.”--Tatiana de Rosnay, international bestselling author of Sarah's Key and A Secret Kept

 

Synopsis by Random House Inc.;
      

In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she is for her first kiss. She and her family have been protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door would put all she loves in danger.

Sixty years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine, and she sits down with the owner of Elsie's German Bakery for what she expects will be an easy interview. But Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and again, anxious to find the heart of the story--a story that resonates with her own turbulent past. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging reminder of that last bleak year of WWII. As the two women's lives become intertwined, both are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.

Let's Try Something Different....

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10^th @ 6pm.  It will be held at Becky’s Coffee Corner in Prosser.

The book of the evening will be;

Leadership and Self Deception

By The Arbinger Institute

For April's meeting we will venture out of our comfort zone and attempt to dissect and discuss a topic of self discovery.  This book tackles concepts of self growth, building relationships (with self and others), and quite possibly contribute to our life's meaning.
 

Amazon's book description;

"Leadership and Self-Deception uses an entertaining story about an executive facing challenges at work and at home to expose the precise psychological processes that conceal our true motivations and intentions from us and trap us in a “box” of endless self-justification. Most importantly, the book shows us the way out. The book’s central insight—that the key to leadership lays not in what we do, but in who we are—has proved to have powerful resonances not only for organizational leadership, but in readers’ personal lives as well.

This new edition has been revised throughout to make the story more readable and compelling. And drawing on the extensive correspondence they’re received over the years the authors have added a section that outlines the many ways that readers have been using this book."

May we all grow in hearts, minds, and as readers....

Happy Reading!

 

 

 

REMEMBER TO COME A LITTLE EARLY.....

for a sip of something.....

Treat yourself (at least once in awhile) to Becky's beverages and goodies!  Her services close at 6pm so make sure you're in line before then!

Life of Pi

The Page Turner Book Club

 

TPTBC would like to announce that their next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12^th @ 6pm.  It will be held at Becky’s Coffee Corner in Prosser.  Barb Shimek will be hosting this evening's discussion.

The evening will include conversations about the book;

Life of Pi

by Yann Martel

Killing Lincoln; The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever

TPTBC would like to announce that their next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12^th @ 6pm.  It will be held at Becky’s Coffee Corner in Prosser.

The evening will include conversations about the book;

Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

"[Killing Lincoln] delivers a taut, action-packed narrative with cliff-hangers aplenty..."--The Christian Science Monitor

 

 

 

 Bill O'Reilly is the anchor of The O'Reilly Factor, the highest-rated cable news show in the country. He also writes a syndicated newspaper column and is the author of several number-one bestselling books. He is, perhaps, the most talked about political commentator in the country.

Martin Dugard is the New York Times bestselling author of several books of history. His book Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone has been adapted into a History Channel special. He lives in Southern California with his wife and three sons.