A Gift From the Sea

1. Do you think that Gift From the Sea holds any validity for new generations of Women?

I feel like it does. It is timeless to me. It also shows me that other generations of woman were dealing with what we are still facing as woman.

2. How did reading this make your feel?

For me it always reminds me that I need to slow down and remember to make some time for myself. It also makes me just want to take a deep breath of fresh air and puts me right back on track.

3. Did you relate with the Authors use of Shells?

I love the use of Shells and for me personally right now I love the Oyster Bed.

4. In the Channelled Whelk section I always come back to The Problem is not Woman and Career, Woman and the Home, Woman and Independence. It is more basically: how to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life; how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one off center, how to remain strong, no matter what shocks come in that periphery and tend to crack the hub of the wheel.

This right here always hits home personally to me. I am trying to be a wife, mother, friend and yet I am trying to remain whole doing it! Sometimes life is completely insane and then I remember what Anne Lindbergh wrote right here and think yes I am normal and even someone as famous as her was experiencing the same thoughts and feelings that I am going through right now.

5. I am going to end here not really with a question just some personal thoughts. I love the fact that she says it is OK to be CREATIVE, to take time for yourself and that they whole world is not going to stop just because YOU did! I often need to be reminded to take care of myself. For me this book is like an old comfortable blanket and I can sit and CENTER myself after taking time out to read a chapter or two!

I love sharing this book with my friends and often I give this book as a gift to my female friends. I think it is so timeless no matter what generation reads it. I would love to hear your thoughts and if you really did not like it I would love to know those thoughts also.

Zane Grey's cabin

image from usatoday

All you Zane Grey fans, there is a story in USA Today about Zane Grey's Oregon cabin becoming preserved. There is an interview with his great grandson, too.

Here is the link: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-05-20-zane-grey-cabin_N.htm

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

For those of you in our local Savannah chapter of book club, we read The Invention of Hugo Cabret several months ago. It was a very different book as that the illustrations helped to tell the story. It has won tons of awards and I found this little interview with the author, Brian Selznick, on Shannon Hale's blog.

Check it out here.

MAY & JUNE BOOKS

May
"Gift from the Sea," Anne Lindbergh
Discussion led by Tammy on May 29. (**Tammy, does that still work for you?)

JUNE
"The Host," by Stephenie Meyer
Discusion led by Ashley Morrissey (**Ashley, does that work for you?)

Alright everyone, we should be set until July. How do you want to handle the summer? Cat suggested we read the Twilight series and make the new book up for discussion when it comes out. Any other thoughts?

Book Discussion!!!

Hello all! Thanks everyone for being patient with me... I've been able to have so much fun being here in Utah for my husbands graduation and visit with family. Unfortunately, it's been about two weeks since I finished the book, and (silly me) I neglected to bring it with me on my trip, so here I am in Utah without the book to turn back to for these questions. So, if my answers are a little short, or I forget stuff... forgive me. I'm excited to see what you all think!

Okay, so here we go...

1. Books play an important role in The Thirteenth Tale. Discuss Margaret and Miss Winter's relationships to books and stories. Could you relate with them? What is your relationship to books? Do you agree with Miss Winter that stories can reveal truth better than simply stating it? I felt that Margaret's relationship with books was her escape... she had found out that she was actually a twin and that seemed to effect her immensely. I think that she turned to books as an escape from her feelings of loss. Especially with her mother being somewhat distant to Margaret... With Miss Winter, her stories were a front, a disguise that she used to either not deal with reality, or hide her reality from others... I personally don't blame her. She grew up with some crazy circumstances... how could you not want to hide that (or from that)! In that way, I suppose, that Margaret and Miss Winter are similar. I personally, can relate in a way... my story isn't as dramatic as Miss Winter's, but growing up, I used my books as an escape. I still do, I suppose. If things are too difficult, I tend to want to forget about it and curl up somewhere comfy, reading a good book. Either an old reliable, or something new and exciting.
Let's see, the last part of the question... I think that in a lot of ways stories can give you a better idea of truth, than stating it. Stories can give you an insight into why certain decisions were made... not just that the decisions were made. Stories can give you a different perspective than the one that you normally have, so in that way, yes, I agree.

2. After Mrs. Dunne and John Digence die, Miss Winter says "the girl in the mist" emerges. Did you believe that Adeline had matured? If not, did you suspect the true identity of the character? I have to say that this book was great in the way that it totally surprised me. I thought that it was definately Adeline who had emerged and changed. I kept thinking, "Who else would it be??" It seemed from the beginning when the nanny (name??) arrived and was working with the Dr. to help the girls, from things that she had observed I thought for sure that Adeline would come out of her wildness. Especially since they seemed to suggest that Emmeline had a little bit.

3. When did you first suspect Miss Winter's true identity? Were you surprised? Looking back, what clues did she give you? When... hmmm.... more like, Did I suspect...?? And the answer to that would be no. Maybe you all reading this were much more aware, but I was totally taken by surprise. I had no idea. It all made sense to me at the end, but leading up to that, I was clueless. Looking back, she definately gave clues. The way she changed from third person perspective to first person. When the book first mentioned it, I noted it... but couldn't figure it out so I dismissed it a little. Then, when she changed to first person, I still noticed, but again... still couldn't figure it out. I had no idea that there was another character that wasn't introduced in the mainstream story. It makes sense that there was... but it never occurred to me. The author did such a great job giving you those clues and in that way keeping you riveted to the story. The fact that I STILL couldn't figure it out until it was explained made it all that more exciting.

4. Do you think Adeline or Emmeline was saved from the fire? I think that it was Adeline... Miss Winter was planning on saving Emmeline, but in one of those ironic twist of fate saved Adeline instead. I don't have my book with me, so I can't remember everything that happened to make me think that, but I know that I did.

5. Do you think it is harder to keep a secret or confess the complete truth?
If I was Miss Winter, then maybe it would be easier to keep a secret... unfortunately, I don't have her story telling ability, so I don't think that I'd be able to do it. However, from the story, I think that telling all of those lies took it's toll on Miss Winter. I feel that at the end, when she finished telling her story, I felt like she was relieved to have it out. I don't think that I would be able to keep a secret like Miss Winter and be able to function normally... it just seems like too much work.

Okay, everyone... I'm sorry that my answers are pretty simple, but I'm excited to see what you guys thought about this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it really captured my attention. It kept me wanting to read more, and more, and that's usually a good sign. It was somewhat sad and depressing, and dark in some places, but it showed how Miss Winter could overcome some of the most difficult circumstances, and help Margaret with some of her issues along the way.

Anyway, it's your turn... you can post to all the questions, or just choose one. Your choice. (Okay, I just wasn't sure how many questions to do... )

Reading lists and Recommendations

So.... what is everyone reading? (besides our current book) And would you recommend it?

Here's my list:
Louis L'Amour's "The Skyliners" - I would recommend if you like reading about the old west. More about the people and adventures than romance, too (for those of you Zane Grey fans.)

Mary Stewart's "Thunder on the Right" - I would recommend this for a quick mystery that's fun to read because you feel transported to France. And you can't go wrong with a twisted, wanna-be nun.

April 30

Hey everyone. Michelle's husband is graduating from college around our original April 24 book discussion date. I propose we move the discussion to the next week, April 30, so she can still lead it. Is that alright? 

I'm looking forward to discussing this one - what a great mystery.

just curious

Hey, I just finished the book and LOVED it. What a read. I was just wondering if anyone else was finished. I'm excited to discuss! jess

Cat's good reads

Okie dokie, here are some of my good reads, with reviews on my blog:

The Gemma Doyle Trilogy. They are the ones I have been reading lately and I am loving them. The library called me yesterday to let me know that the last one in the trilogy came in. I finished Rebel Angels last night, and A Great and Terrible Beauty is the first one. For the locals, I own the first 2, if you want to borrow them. The third one hasn't come out in paperback yet, so I haven't bought it.

I am so tempted to read it before I start on The Thirteenth Tale, but since I am borrowing Melissa's copy that she checked out from the library, I will read that one first, probably start it as soon as I am done here.

I read Midnight last year and really enjoyed it. It made me like Savannah just a little bit, and want to explore downtown a little bit more, especially when I have access to an amazing tour guide. Thanks Melissa!!

I also love Zane Grey. And as for the Louis L'amour and Amelia Peabody, I haven't read any of those. I'll put them on my TBR list.

my good read

I thought it was fun to hear what Jessie and Lisa are reading and wanted to share my good reads as of late. Last week I finished the first book in the Amelia Peabody mystery series "The Crocodile on the Sandbank." I've read later books in the series - after Amelia and Emerson are married and have grown children. So it was fun to see how it all started.

Has anyone else read any of these? And don't you want to go explore pyramids and tombs in Egypt now?

Right now I am reading "The Ghost of Hannah Mendes," which is the story of a wealthy Jewish woman in the 1500's and the end of her descendants line living in New York today. It's been good so far, but I need to set it down and finish "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,"

What is everyone else reading?