heads up

well it's the midway of the month. and I haven't read mo's pick and there's still no pick for july and august. Now the next few people that are picking the books for the coming months: Sam-September, Toya-October, and Kumen-November.

A Footnote

Can I just list the books I've read and I can start reading for the Club again. Sorry, Edward Cullen and Artemis Fowl have a pull on my life! Help!!

Artemis Fowl, Books One to Four
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
Pride and Prejudice

I'm such a slow reader. Sometimes I'll ask myself, "Do the kids really need to eat dinner??" Just kidding! Happy Reading.

fish tales of dinner

seems that every body is gone to the far ends of their world to forget about this place; even as i've did. what can i say... nothing. There is only one book among us that mo picked and hondo had the pick of july, then mother Louis is this months, August.
things that i have read: All Quiet on the western front, The stranger (both books great!), crystal mountain weather and now I'm swimming through Moby Dick.

I'll look...

Ok. I don't know what it's about, but I will look for it. Thanks.

Happy reading!

June's Book

I want to stay with this book. "West with the Night" by Beryl Markham. I know the month is half gone, but I think you can maybe find this book at the library or you can order it real inexpensive from amazon. I just don't know how soon it would come in the mail. It might be at Barnes and Noble in UT so check it out.

June's Book

Hey Everyone I picked West With The Night, but I'm having a hard time finding it. It is only on CD and Tape at the library and you'll have to order it from the book store, so I'm changing June's book to... I'll get back to you tomorrow.

Finally

Thanks Mo! Hahaha...it seems I'm the only one who checks the site these days. And I was making fun of Aaron. Apparently the joke was on me. I'll find the book. See ya later!

I've been reading

Okay I finished "Water for Elephants", it was alright. I liked the ending of the story. Good for the Elephant!!!! I also have finished "Playing for Pizza". Sorry I thought it was boring. Really predictable and nothing exciting. I felt sorry for Rick, I would run away to another country too. I guess it was totally different then what I expect from Grisham. I've read all his novels except Skipping Christmas and my guess is that one, "Skipping Christmas", doesn't have anything to do with the legal system.

June's book.

Ok I'm picking something completely different. For June the book is going to be "West with the Night" by Beryl Markham. I'm shooting in the dark here so I hope it is a good one.

end of the month....

I finished the book. I'm not a football fanatic, but I enjoyed it. It was predictable, I figured one way or another Rick would have to redeem himself. The Panthers would win. I liked the Italians, their lives seem so much simpler than Americans. So whose next? Which book are we reading for next month?

first chapter...

Ha. Sorry Aaron. I think you're the only one devoted to the book club these days. I started reading the book you chose for this month, I feel sorry for the guy, his career sucks! He screwed up pretty badly, I would disllike him too. We'll see what Italy holds for him...

nothing to say.

I keep looking here to see if anyone has posted anything. I finished the book yesterday. water for elephants... I see why no one is posting any thing about the book. It's a dirty book. I like the grumpy old man. the ending was cool. I wonder how long the author research the ol folks' home? Or was she a nurse at one time?

behind by a month...

Hello!

The last book I read was Tasha's book for March, One More Day. It got a little boring and I felt that it dragged on a bit. But I think it also opened my eyes as to the way I treat my mom and most of the time I don't realize it. Sad day. So anyways...I'm behind in the reading. I've been reading other books as well, Wicked and Emily of New Moon. Kind of like Ann of Green Gables. I like it very much. I'll start up again...just taking my time. Talk to you all later, toya

to you

For your info.: the movie, Speedracer, was a wonderful fantastic movie to watch in the threater, either 3D or Imax threater, but straight cinema great too. It's fastaction heartfelt family stuff. there's at some point too much mushy stuff but I'm sure we LDS folks don't mind mushy heartfelt family stuff. what I liked about the movie is the color rich enviroment and the fastaction fantastic racing sequins and it left a good feeling in my soul.

before I forget

The book I was looking at in the book store and the book for May is Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. A little comic stuff for the sports goer. .
I'm still trying to read last month's book. Later.

The Book for April

I'm a little behind in the books that we are reading but I have been buying some books online that I have wanted and I have been receiving them and I'm really interested in them. Most right now are dealing with volleyball drills and stuff. I'm in the process of learning offensive sets and defensive sets for volleyball. Last year we only touched the basics of coverage and learned a bit about reading the offensive side of things. So I'm really engrossing myself for next year. I think we have a legit chance next year so I'm preparing myself.

This month's book is one that I ran into at Wal-mart and didn't go with my choice then, I kept looking around and was trying to decide. Kue ended up buying the book that I looked at, so I went along with it, I was going to pick one that had the half-naked dude covered with a sheet and the girl covered with the sheet also, don't know the name of the book but then I saw a whole section devoted to this type of reading so I chose not to got that route. The book is called, Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. #1 New York times Bestseller. Kue picked it up at the bookstore but I've seen it at Wally world. Enjoy. I'll be catching up with the other books.

Love you all, s.

Memories, slipping through the pages of my mind...

I finished For One More Day today, and this is what I thought: Who do I want to spend one more day with? Well, first of all, this person would have to be on the other side already, so I thought about it and I think I would pick Grandma Martinez. There is one thing that I regret about her. When I was 7 or 8, she gave me this beautiful doll dressed in a handmade gold gown. She had blond hair. I kept her nice and clean. I hardly played with her. When we were going through our things at the home site after we'd moved a few times, Dad emptied a bag of dolls and stuffed animals. Out she fell with some other stuffed animals I remember. I kept the unicorn Dad gave me for Valentine's one year and since I hardly played with the doll, I told Dad he could give it away. I wish I kept it. I want to be as close to Grandma Martinez as I am with Grandma Brown. But the funny thing is, Grandma M speaks English and I hardly knew her, and Grandma doesn't and yet I'm closest to her. There are so many questions I would ask her and Grandma. And if for nothing else, I liked this book because it made me think of my loved ones who have passed on. One in particular. There is a broach that Grandma B gave me when I was little. I thought I lost it once. I tore my house apart looking for it. You can't imagine how happy I was when I found it! I was so relieved that I could pass it down to Athen.

As a parent, I know parents make mistakes. I try hard to be a good parent, on most days more than others. Sometimes I am so clueless and feel like I have no answers. And as a child, I can't imagine the many moments I've missed because of pride or embarrassment, moments I could have made better choices, kissed my parents, hung out with brothers. I guess you just do what you do in the moment and hardly anyone thinks of the consequences. I hope to savor more and try harder. I keep saying these things but I'll really try. I finished the book didn't I? That's a start.

The story of Pinocchio and the Talking Cricket

...from which we see that naughty boys cannot bear to be corrected by those who know more than they do.

"I will not go from here," answered the Cricket, "until I have told you a great truth."

"Tell it, then, and hurry up."

"Woe to those boys who turn against their parents and run away from home for no reason whatever: they will never come to any good in this world, and sooner or later they will repent bitterly."

"Sing away, my good Cricket, as much as you please. I've already made up my own mind to run away from here tomorrow at daybreak, because if I stay here they'll do to me the same as to all the other boys. They'll send me to school, and I'll have to study whether I want to or no. Between you and me I don't want to learn anything, it's much more amusing to chase butterflies and to climb trees so as to steal little birds from their nests."

"You poor idiot! Don't you know that in that way you'll grow up an utter donkey and every one will make fun of you?"

"Shut up, you wicked old croaker!" shouted Pinocchio.

But the Cricket, who was patient and philosophical, instead of getting angry at such impertinence, went on in the same tone:

"If you don't like going to school then why not learn an honest trade, so that you can earn your own bread and butter?"

"Very well, I'll tell you," answered Pinocchio, who was losing his patience. "There's only one trade in the world that really takes my fancy."

"And what trade would that be?"

"That's to eat, drink, and sleep, and to have a good time from morning till night--a regular idler's life!"

"You'd better know," said the Talking Cricket in his calm way, "that those who follow that trade end nearly always either in hospital or in prison."

"Look out, you horrid old Cricket. If I fly into a temper it'll be the worse for you."

"Poor Pinocchio! I really do pity you!"

"Why do you pity me?"

"Because you are a puppet, and what is worse, because you have a wooden head."

excerpt from Pinocchio by C. Collodi, 19-20

alas!

I like the ending of the book. the little pleasant surprise of who is taking down charley's story. With all the agony of putting up with the book, I don't feel so rung out over it. "The ending is what matters", as Mort Rainy would put it.
Did read the Black Cat by E. A. Poe.. The most horrid short story I ever read, beside reading chapter 7 of kiterunner. It is deeply disturbing, but great!

I R O N Y ? ? ?

"Let me guess. You want to know why I tried to kill myself?" Albom's book started off for me a little bit like a lifetime movie. He is simple in his story telling and is not easy to redirect his thoughts with fluffy language. Instead, the areas in which he takes a bit of flare would be in the style/format of the book. Those little insertions of notes at the end of some chapters from his character makes the book more appealing. I think that is where the book keeps my interest mostly. I continue to read just so that I could partake of those little unexpected things. Aside from that, it is written in first person and so we know that the character is telling the story and is not dead, unless...other suspicious elements will arise. The book may increase my interest as I read on, but as of right now, I merely read to find those little elements that make the book appealing.

no comments?

I'm not interested in finishing this book. I like the beginning, but it dies in the middle. but I'll finish it for the club-sake.

I found it...

I bought the book last night. and now reading.
I like the bitter old man thing. recluse and disgruntle.
That's funny. Tried twice, but fail. What luck. Now, is it bad or good?

What Do You Say??

I was thinking...again, and this is what I came up with: Since we are all fans of the arts, be it literature, cinematic, musical, etc., I say we stay more connected by writing our thoughts down about any of these. Let's say we saw a new movie and we can all go watch it and give our thoughts...or not. Or a new album. I would really like to hear what everyone has to say about these subjects. For starters, I watched 2 movies this weekend: Gone Baby Gone and Into the Wild. I also heard the new album Aanor bought, Juno Soundtrack. What do you say?? To be continued...

Hondo's take on Stranger

Above is a nice cartoon about Camus and at right Monsieur Camus himself with cig.

I could see how this book, in its time, could be viewed as quite revolutionary. I kept thinking to myself, who are these millions of Americans that are so taken by the book! I think the 'stranger' was most of all our lead character, who never let anyone get to know him...maybe he didn't know himself. On another note, it's about getting to know people. All of us live in a world of suppositions, asumptions, presumptions (if we're that conceited), pre-conceived notions about people and places. Taken to an almost absurd end by Camus, our lives, he seems to say, could spiral into something similar if we don't open up, if we don't talk, if we don't let people we know and love into our world. Of course, he seems to be constructing a whole society that short circuits that whole kind of interpersonal communication. For our own protection, we all "wear masks" to a certain degree, but we mustn't let that be the rule when it comes to our closer, inner circles. So yeah, it's good for you all to know that I really dig "Bring It On!"

Bringin' it all the time, oh yeah,

Hondo

For One More Day

I was walking in a bookstore one fine December evening, during a lovely date with Sam, and I spotted this book. I'm not sure of its contents but my friend also recommended it: For One More Day by Mitch Albom. The title suggests some cheese, nevertheless, it is my official selection for March. It should be an easy read and I want everyone to read it. Let us comment as much as we can. My other choice was going to be Pinocchio by C. Collodi because I started it this month. It's got some awesome quotes. I shall share some with you as I read. Please feel free to join me in reading this story too. I'm quite surprised by the plot. I'm curious to read some insightful reviews on it.

*on a side note, I was totally oblivious to the fact that this book was in Oprah's Book Club...

Done, Finally.

I read the stranger and I really enjoyed how the book was written. I like the simplicity of it all. Meusault is a very strange and weird character; he tends to set himself aside from society. I was surprised to find that this little book was rather existential. Meursault is trying to find the answers for living, "Why are we here?" Perhaps it's an individuals responsibility to find it. I thought this was what the author was trying to answer. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. I found it humorous. I liked it. I did. I really liked it.

Hey ya'll. I started reading this month's book. It is pretty easy. I'll probably finish it tonight after I do my lesson for Sunday. How's everyone else doing on their reading. I know Aanor finished it. 'Til later. Love you all:)

The Stranger

I finished the book. It is really good. It seems like a foreign book. The style is just different. Camus seemed to hide the character Meursault throughout the book, and it seems you have to make up your own mind about him, in the end. But it reminded me of the Catcher in the Rye, and the Tell tale heart. Anyway, just thought I should say something just because it was my month. Take care

The Stranger in February

The Stranger it is! I also liked the idea of reading Wuthering Heights, so I'll read that one too, for my own reading pleasure. I'll start a-reading. See on the next post.

The next book!

Hey ya'll, the next book we are going to read is The Stranger by Albert Camus. It looked like an interesting book, so I picked it up. It should be good, from what I have read it seems worthwhile though it is a little short. And if my word is not good enough for you it also won a Nobel Prize. But despite it being short, I feel a lot like Tash, there is much we can soak up. We can go as deep as we want, or only read the surface.
The book I have was translated by Matthew Ward. The book was first published in 1946. The story is of an ordinary man who unwittingly gets drawn into a senseless murder on a sundrenched Algerian beach. It explores "the nakedness of a man faced with the absurd."
After reading that I felt it might be in the same light of some of Poe's work, and also, Pascal was French, so that's why I bought it.
It should be a quick read, but I hope we find a lot to say about it, and a lot to learn. So I hope you like it, and happy reading.

Line from the book- "the curious feeling a son has for his mother constitutes all his sensibility."

Skull monkey

WHAT BOOK NEXT

Have we decided on what book to read next? I still sense some confusion. I had heard some people offer a way of choosing a book and they all sounded pretty good to me. I don't think we all have to agree on a certain book. I think the real intent is to read books we normally wouldn't read--expand our reading apparatus! So, in keeping along with this theme I think we should allow one person a month to choose the book we are going to read. The following list is my suggestion: Aanor-Feb; Tasha-March; Shane-April; Aaron-May; Monique-June; Hondo-July; Mother Louis-August; Sam-September; Toya-October; Kumen-November; All of us-December. Let me know what you think?

"....just a smile."

They're flying kites in Afghanistan again. To every Amir, there is a God.

Why does God make windy days?

Thanks, Tashy, for that great post! I love you, I love all of you.
I one time had a kite. On one cloudy, windy day, I went out to fly it at the old Navajo elementary school yard. That dusty, patchy piece of ground. After I got my kite aloft, these junior high kids came out and took over my kite-flying because, I suppose, they didn't have one. They were nice to me at first, impressed with my kite. They said they wanted to try and innocent me, I let them. They paid out all the line until the kite to my little boy eyes was nigh unto the clouds, so high that it was but a mere red and white diamond flapping and flitting in that gray sky. Then they left. They left me there, me, all of six or seven, to wind in the string. The day wore on and I kept winding the string. That afternoon, once a lovely overcast, was now somehow darker to this little boy for there they stood, afar off watching me reeling and reeling while they laughed. That day, the exhilaration of kite flying was grounded by my first visit with cruelty. I nearly forgot about that day until Kite Runner.
Why does God make windy days? For kids with kites.
Hondo

Go slowly, my lovely moon, go slowly

When I read, I am like a sponge. I like to take it all in and let it soak right through me until I've understood what the author has written and what he's trying to portray. It's no race for me. So with ten pages or more left to go, I stopped. I had to regain my composure and ready myself for a dissatisfying ending. I waited until I was ready to go on and be okay with what would happen. And so, today, after a few days of contemplation, I finished The Kite Runner. Some may say that its ending was unjust and wanting of more. But I say, it's just fine. It left me with a little bit of hope, I guess with my kite still flying away in the sky, ready for another battle.

Make morning into a key and throw it into the well,
Go slowly, my lovely moon, go slowly.
Let the morning sun forget to rise in the east,
Go slowly, my lovely moon, go slowly,



With my hus- band leaving soon and my babies growing up so fast, I too want the moon to go slowly.

Images from The Kite Runner

Sohrab and Rostam

Streets of Kabul
Taliban in Jalalabad
Rostam and Sohrab

Kabul
Downtown Kabul

Bazaar in Kabul
Kolchas
Shah Faisal Mosque

Islamabad
Peshawar
Gate to Jalalabad
Khyber Pass
Khyber Pass

Next reading

I enjoy reading all your comments...keep posting! Let's all be thinking about our next reading. We can start posting our ideas. To Aaron, I don't know what "kolchas" is? Which page is it on?
Hondo

what's a kolchas?

I like this,"'It's like putting a boy who can't ride a bike behind the wheel of a brand new Cadillac.'"
-Baba's view of Jimmy Carter as President. Great line!

A very humoring part for me: they buy from garage sales and sell 'em back at the flea market for more. Hmm... :)

crazy..

well i'm just sickened... I finished chapter seven.... disturbing.. very disturbing.

Post Kite Runner Thoughts

This book reintroduced the importance of formula in writing to me. It wasn't a hard book to read. It was in fact a really simple book. The plot was pretty straight forward. I believe the author lopped an extensive amount during his revising process. However, he didn't lose the quality of writing or the main points of his story. I thought it was a book well put together. The structure allowed the reader to make informed decisions as to what was going to unfold next. Towards the end of the book one was able to predict how it was going to wrap up. In the end, formula+structure=a good book.

Salaam alaykum

Well I finished a couple days ago, dang good book. I think my favorite character in the book was Sohram, Hassan's son. And I really like the ending. You may want to stop reading this if you haven't finished... Tash, and Shane. But I like the Afgan way of thinking how everything is about the end. That no matter what you go through, it's all worth it in the end as long as it works out. But I like that Amir becomes a little of his father and a little of Hassan. And mostly liked that the book didn't really end with an end, but a small beginning. Reminds me of a verse in Isaiah, chapter 6 verse 13, that though the leaves of the tree be "dead" and scattered life and potential to produce still remain in it.

I like that it asks questions left to us to answer.

Love ya'll

Inshallah...


Aanor

crazy...

so i'm finally reading the book and I like it. I did get a crazy scoop about the actor in the movie. He is in hiding with his family because of a provactive sene in the film and a little thing in the book.

The "Ouch"

When Tashy and Sam come around, we can talk about the book. I think they're coming home this weekend.
As far as literature goes, this book has a lot of what could be called "hooks," not just foreshadowing, but "tells" of what could happen, what you (as the reader) want to happen. These are the tools in our author's arsenal. This is what drives the story mostly, in my opinion, for it is a text, in comparison to my other readings, that is sparing in description. It is more screenplay than literary work, in other words.
There is so much said, and done, and seen, for only "a tiny thing" of redemption at the end. The story, and literature in general, is all about the "ouch." The purpose of "story" is catharsis, right? (Was that Plato or Aristotle?) To accomplish that, you must write and take your readers through the dark and then to the light (from the First World to the Glittering World). There is no story without the "ouch," and we find it invariably in, during, and amid conflict and pain (e.g., Lord of the Rings). We tell, we read, we see the struggle for therein is the story. That's what we read about time and time again. I'll continue to dwell on this point and look forward to hearing your thoughts. (Have I only rediscovered what has been said of literature and poetry for thousand of years or more? If so, I've discovered it again for myself, a reader and sometimes writer.)
Love and loving you,
Hondo

Discussions Questions

So are we going to get together and go over the discussion questions or are we going to post what we think here? I think it would be better if we could all get together some how.

On another note. I like the following paragraph. "It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make anything all right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight." (371).

looking forward...

Well I finished reading the book...last week. Some things were unexpected, but I liked it. I think it had some valueable points. And good quotes. Look forward to discussing the book and seeing you all. Love ya.

Ok, I'm Posting!!!

Okay I've been reading what everyone has posted and I'm finally adding something. I too have finished the book. Write more later I'm headed towards ALB now.

Love you all,
Mo

Elevenses

1. I think we should talk about the discussions questions over tea and cakes. I've finished the reading, by the way.
2. It might be a little late for Aaron or others to read this one. They can join us for February.
3. Over tea and cakes, let's suggest some titles for our next book.
4. Quotable line: "When spring comes, it melts one snowflake at a time..."
5. I never expected this kind of book. I only mentioned it because of a Borders email I got.
6. The other day this lady, seeing Aanor toting his copy of the book, said, "I've got to read that. I've heard it's fantastic. It's on the lampstand by my bed."
7. "Elevenses" is a British saying for taking a mid-morning (11 a.m) break for tea and cakes.
8. "red as henna" (171). Henna (noun): 1. an Asian shrub or small tree, Lawsonia inermis, of the loosestrife family, having elliptic leaves and fragrant flowers. 2. a reddish-orange dye or cosmetic made from the leaves of this plant. 3. a color midway between red-brown and orange-brown.
For you all, a thousand times over, Love,
Hondo

Map of Afghanistan

Here is a political map of Afghanistan. On the middle right is where you'll find Kabul and Jahalabad. Going east you'll find the Kyber Pass on the border and then Peshawar, Pakistan. I'm in the last third of the book. There are discussion questions in the paperback version. I forgot about that line, tears into pearls.

aaron is in.

... but I need to find a book! to catch up to ya'll.

Charles Bronson Isn't Iranian?

With what I have read so far I think the story is going to have an ironic end to it. Similar, to the story written by Amir about the tears turning to pearls. The adolescent hardships being experienced by Amir and Hassan seem to be without any grace from God at the moment. But, it seems that those problems are merely situational creations by Amir. Although, Amir might have the best of intentions, it is hard to determine at this point if he will redeem himself. "That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out." (1).

He exists

This isn't a story about kites.
When I was very young, maybe four or five, our family went fishing. When I was alone with my fishing pole, I prayed to God, "Give me a fish." "And may God--if He exists, that is--strike me blind if the kite didn't just drop into his outstretched arms." (55). No sooner had I finished praying that my fishing pole whisked up and down into the water. Well, He exists. Somewhere between this crushing chapter 7 and the end, their redemption will come, must come, because He exists.

Ready to Read

Thanks to Monique and Aanor we have in our possession several copies of, The Kite Runner and are now ready to do some reading. The novel should be a quick read because it only has 371 pages. If any of you would like to discuss certain aspects in the novel simply post your question(s) and we'll be happy to respond with our own opinions. Again, I'm happy we are going through with this. I'll post some literary terms later for the sake of scholastic accuracy and to familiarize those of you that may have an interest in the terminology. Love you and read well. I'm looking forward to discussing this novel from several view points.

Toya 4 President

Hey All,

Well I think this should be fun. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for the invite. I totally think I should have been the president. Did you even discuss this with me? Just kidding. Good luck with the reading. Love ya.

Welcome to the Louis Book Club

The LBC has chosen to read, The Kite Runner by some foreign dude. This will be the first of 12 books this year 2008. At anytime during your reading you are welcome to post your comments about a chapter, a passage, a phrase, a word, style, voice, pace, or any other aspects dealing with the literature being discussed. Welcome and the best of reading to you!