Review time!

My Cousin Rachel
by Daphne Du Maurier

I was surprised by this book, what did I expect from her though Rebeca was a shocker also.

1. What was your first thought when Philip met Rachel?

I have to say that I thought she was too sweet. I guess my opinion of her was jaded by Philip and his trip to her villa. It changed though as they got to know each other and became friends.

2. What did you think of the letters that Philip kept finding hidden? Did it make you suspect her even more or think that maybe Ambrose was just really sick?

When he got the first one as he was leaving to go to Ambrose I thought for sure she was a murderer. When he found the one in the book I thought maybe it was a tumor making him delusional. The one in the jacket had me right back to believing
she killed him.

3. How did you feel after hearing of Philips plan with the estate?

I was honestly sick. I thought there is no way he will go through with it. Something damaging will come up first and he will know the truth. I read the last of the book with sadness, I just knew she was going to take everything and bleed the estate dry. He was totally sucked in and it seemed like he was going to be left behind with nothing.

4. What did you think when he was suddenly taken ill?

I suspected he was being poisoned from the beginning. I thought that it was just to suspicious. She would take everything of value and leave the country. I was so happy when he found the seeds.

5. Do you think he should feel guilty for not warning Rachel about the bridge?

I don't. She killed Ambrose and was trying to kill Philip. She was planning on taking every cent from the estate and had planned it from the beginning. I guess it was a fitting end to a sad tell of lies and deceit.

My Cousin Rachel

I am working on it! I have been so pressed for time. Almost finished though so stay tuned!

New Idea!

I just had a friend drop by with the cutest purse EVER! It is a hardcover book she turned into a purse! I know we are not a crafting organization, but I couldn't help sharing the idea with such lovely ladies who love to read. I googled a few links and thought this one was just right. It may not be right for you but maybe for another book lover's Christmas present. It's never to early to start getting ideas.
http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/recycled-hardcover-book-purse/index.html

April Book

I have choosen The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison. I saw this in Barnes and Noble and it looked interesting. I looked it up just now on Amazon and there is a review by Orson Scott Card, apparently, THE Orson Scott Card. Now I am really excited about this book.

'Hanna's Daughters' Discussion

Photo from Amazon.

Before I start the discussion, I wanted to share a few thoughts on this book. I'll admit that it was a little more of a downer than I was expecting, but in the end I felt very uplifted.

Here is why it was a downer at first - Hanna endured many of life's cruelest experience - rape, ostracized by her community, abuse, etc.. When teenage Ragnar turned on her, I was so depressed. All I could think of was "Great - that's what Soren is going to do to me someday." The daugher and granddaugher also had a pretty rough time - neither of them really finding happiness or the love they wanted. However, I think to tell someone's life story you need to include the tragedy's and disapointments that define them.

Why it was uplifting in the end - In the end, this story has left me thinking more about what I've inherited from the women who paved my way. Examining the complex relationships between Hanna's family makes me more aware of relationships in my own family. Not all of it was rosy for Hanna and her daughters, and neither is it all rosy for me.

Discussion Questions:

1. Which woman's life did you enjoy reading the most and why?
Johanna's life story was my favorite because you got to know her the most. Hanna's story was told in third-person, so it was hard to get inside her head. Anna's story revolved so much around Rickard, that I don't feel you found out much more about her than her marriage, her mother's opinon of her, and her opinion of her family. Also, Hanna's husband's love and preference for Johanna set her up to be a favorite. I wanted to see how this favorite child would break out of her mother's world and succeed.

2. Hanna's Daughters examines the changing roles of women in a country that quickly moved from a primitive farming society, to an industrial society and then an information-based society. How do you think theses changes in society make you different from your mother/grandmother/or earlier female ancestors?
I do think that I have more time and freedom to worry about finding happiness and love than my grandmother and great-grandmother did. They had to work so hard just to survive and that was what they expected. I think all the new technologies have made my home life a little easier - I buy my bread instead of baking, I don't have to milk cows or worry about a shortage of hay or for my livestock, etc.. Although, I'm not sure there is that much of a difference between my mother and I in terms of society changes. Yes, technology is different but not drastic enough to change my way of life from hers.

3. One point I love, is that the author wanted to point out that even though today's women have so many more opportunities to "succeed," we still choose to marry and raise children. She refers to this as our Social Inheritance. What do you think of that type of inheritance?
In the book, I think the family jewels symbolized this. The care of family stories and heritage passed down from daughter to daughter. In my family, we don't have family jewels that mothers pass on, but we do have the stories and the resolve to love and nurture children. I think there could be no greater inheritance than a love for family and passing that on.

4. Share one of your own questions or opinion on the book.

March book

I am in charge of the book for March and I want to do My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier. I love her books. I hope this works for everyone, if not let me know and I will find something else!

Hanna's Daughters~

I thought a little tidbit about the author might be interesting as we begin our journey through Hannah's Daughters. I'm excited to read this one. The last book was wonderful and it looks like the next one is going to be great as well!

Marianne Fredriksson, née Persson (March 28, 1927, Gothenburg – February 11, 2007, Österskär) was a Swedish author who worked and lived in Roslagen and Stockholm. Before becoming a novelist, she was a journalist on various Swedish newspapers and magazines, including Svenska Dagbladet.

Fredriksson published fifteen novels, most of which have been translated into English, German, Dutch and other languages. Most of her earlier books are based on biblical stories. A central theme in her writings is friendship because, as she maintained, "friendship will be more important than love" in the future.

"A Curse Dark as Gold" Discussion

I hope you all loved this book as much as I do.  It was my second time reading it, and I loved it just as much, and maybe even a little more.  Here were some of my thoughts as I read:

1.  I was drawn into the book within the first page.  Did any of you feel the same way, and why?

2.  Charlotte feels responsible for her entire village. Do you think this feeling is justified? Why or why not?

3.  What did you think of Uncle Wheeler?  Did you have any clue, until the end, that he was also involved with Jack Spinner?

4.  I liked Randall Woodstone from the moment he first appeared in the story.  How did he contrast to Charlotte's uncle?  What did you think of his engagement gift to her (the plate that said "Great Courage Breaks Ill Luck")?

5.  I found it interesting how the mill seemed to try and communicate with Charlotte, like when it showed its disapproval of Jack Spinner.  What did you think about this?

6.  When she finds herself in desperate straits, Charlotte makes some extraordinary choices about who she can trust to ask for help. Do you think she made the right decisions, or could she have turned elsewhere for assistance? What would you have done?

I hope you enjoyed it!!
 
And just in case you didn't know, February's book will be "Hanna's Daughters," by Marianne Fredrickson.

random thought for january

If you could invite two characters and two authors to dinner, who would you invite?

Reminder and a question . . .

Hi all,

Just a quick reminder about our January book, A Curse Dark as Gold.  (All the info is in a post below)  It is fantastic, and so I hope you all get a chance to read it.  I just started rereading it, and I remember why I loved it so much the first time.  I think I will plan the discussion for the 29th of January, but I may post it earlier so that everything will be fresh in my head when I do it.  So if it comes up on here early, no worries :).

Also, I think we assigned the next few months, but I have already forgotten who has picked what months and what books they have picked.  I was thinking about getting library requests in, and so I was wondering if we could post a list of what will be coming the next few months.

That said, I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year's.  In my blog I wrote down all the books I finished in 2009, and if you want to read it, go here.  I would love to know what all of you read too, that is, if you feel like sharing.  Have a great January and happy reading!

Lisa