Sunday, April 13, 2008
April's Book
Melanie's choice for April's book is "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. It is one of her favorite's and she's sure we will all love it, so I am excited to start it. Reading starts April 15th, so we'll read for a week or two and then start discussing as we finish our reading. And this time the posting will be better! :) Enjoy!!!!
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I started reading the book and I love it (the last book. Mudbound)!!
P.S. My first choice for May's book is "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver or "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. Any preferences? If not, I'd say let's go with the first.
I actually saw that book by Barbara Kingsolver and thought of you. I was going to buy it for you for your birthday, but I think it will make an excellent book club selection instead!!!
I vote for Kingsolver.
Is it ok that I'm in this book club, even though I don't have any Halvorson blood flowing through my veins??
Of course Amanda! If you've have over a thousand memories with the Halvorson women, you qualify! :)
Oh well then, I'm good.
Can we please talk about Mudbound?
Yes, Amanda, I think anyone who has ever given Grandpa a hug qualifies to be in our bookclub. Well, let's not be too liberal, not anyone. Anyway, yes Amanda, I feel you are welcome into our bookclub. Grandpa has given you a hug ... right? Okay then, so mudbound ... did any of the talk of sex make any of you a little bit uncomfortable? It did me. Like when (okay, I'm forgetting names already) the husband and wife weren't on good terms. And so he came in from behind ... and wasn't very nice. That just ticked me off, and made me very uncomfortable. What a jerk of a husband to think he has the right! I also fell in love with the black soldier. I don't know, there was just something about that character. Sorry about the lack of names. I'm at my mom's house and don't have the book with my. Hey, so has anyone started to read Ender's Game yet? It's a goodie!
Okay, here's a little something to think about as you read Ender's Game. A character named Mazer suggests that a person's best educator is the enemy. As you read, who do you think teaches Ender the most? In life, who or what has made you who you are today?
I must say that I'm a little fuzzy on the details of Mudbound at this point... I'm bad at remembering stuff unless my memory is jogged. What did you think of the book, Meg? Anything strike you about it?
On the whole, I was just amazed, yet again, at the ridiculousness of racism. I felt this way watching the PBS documentary The War a few months back. Many black and Asian soldiers who were persecuted before and after their service in the war.
What's the matter with people?!
I have started Enders Game, I guess I'm about 100 pages in or so. I'm having a hard time figuring out who's talking at the beginning of the chapters?? It's definitely different from what I normally read, but it's nice to get out of the box a bit.
When I was growing up I was small and naive, and was definitely the subject of bullying and I think back to that and I know that that helped me shape my character. I had to establish really early on who I was and what I stood for. While I never broke a school mate's arm or analyzed their behaviors to try to manipulate them in mind games, I think I can kind of relate to little Ender. And I think when one is forced to face fear and ridicule you find out what you're made of.
So how's the reading coming? So did you guys like it? What are your thoughts? This is my favorite book, but I've never gotten the courage to get other girls to read it. I also tell younger brothers to read it. I'm curious as to how you all felt about it.
I am still reading. It took me a little to get into it because it is different from any other book I have read, but I am really enjoying it the further I get into it. Ender is one intriguing little boy. The whole story is starting to draw me in, this quest to save the world. I'm hoping to finish it this week. To answer the earlier question that Melanie posed, so far I am thinking that it is the other kids that are teaching Ender the most. He seems to be very observant of their shortcomings and weaknesses and learns a lot from that. Also, I would say that everyday events have made me what I am today. I think it is a combination of the ordinary and great events in our life that determine our character and who we are.
so have you guys finished reading? Are you ready to just move on to May's book? Did you want to discuss Ender's Game more? Or was Ender's Game kind-of a dud for you guys?
I will get May's book up today. I enjoyed Ender's Game, although it was a different read for me. It was really sad though how isolated they made Ender feel all the time. I actually have a few pages left. Max has been sick for a few weeks and waking up at night, so I have been falling alseep due to my lack of sleep at night everytime I sit down to read or watch TV. :) The only thing that is hard for me when reading this genre of books is that I really can't picture the whole futuristic thing. When I read I really have to be able to visualize the scenes and I just can't with all the space and futuristic stuff. With this one I kind of just pictured Star Wars the whole time. But I did enjoy some of the overall themes. I was wondering, Melanie, what you love most about this book since it is your favorite one. Is it more the futuristic theme, or what Ender is enduring emotionally. I love knowing why books strike people and what makes them their favorites! Good choice though! It's fun to read new things, so I really did enjoy this this month!
I guess you could say I'm kind-of a nerd. I love science, I love math, I love mind games. I really like the ending and how the war ends. I also love the battles. There is something about flying, using physics and formations, and just outsmarting the opponents that is attractive to me. I think what it comes down to is I am a tomboy at heart. Don't worry, this is the only book like this that I have ever read. All of the other books that I am going to make you guys read are girlie and I know are right up all of you alleys.
Okay, about May's book ... are we really going to be reading about eating habits? I mean, Megan, I know that food and nutrition is a passion of yours, but ... I guess I made you guys read a book that was out of the norm for you guys ... but really, are we seriously going to read about vegetarianism?
I am really enjoying Ender's Game. I think it helps to know that it's a favorite of Mel's. Knowing that someone else finds a book valuable gives added impetus to finish it! I'm a little behind, because I read May's book first. I know, I'm sorry! But I was so excited about it. And I should say that it is not a book about vegetarianism. They are actually meat eaters. It's a beautiful book about the food industry and regaining a connection to food that has been lost in modern society. Enjoy!
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