A Woman's Prerogative

I've heard a million times that changing her mind is a woman's prerogative. So, in like manner, I'm changing the book for July. Instead of The Handmaid's Tale, we'll be reading The Princess Bride. I've heard that the book is "just like the movie" and, although I will agree with the same tone and satire, I would like to add that there are parts (significant or not) missing from the movie. Dig in, enjoy, and relive a modern classic!!
But, don't forget to read Freakonomics FIRST!!! That meeting is next month and has TONS to offer as far as discussion goes. It should be an interesting and entertaining meeting!!

Onward we Go!

It was great to get together with the book club members last night. It's been so long since I've been able to attend and the numbers have been sparse the last few times I attended, so it was wonderful to have a good turnout and to discuss both the book and aspects of life.
We are gearing up for a great discussion on Freakonomics next month! I'm excited to talk about this book and the influence experts have on the way we view information and situations. It's not a textbook, but can be very influential to the way you look at the news, marketing, and even the way you interact you coworkers, friends and family.
So, enjoy May while reading a quick book and meet up with us next month to discuss it!!

Getting Charged Up Again

Okay, so it has been several months since I posted anything here. I'm not sure if anyone is still following this way, but I wanted to send out a reminder of our meeting which will be happening this coming Tuesday, May 10th. We'll be talking about Mansfield Park. I know it's been awhile since some of you read this one, so dust off your memories (pull up spark notes or something) and refresh your minds on it and lets have a great discussion!!
See you then! Check your email for a confirmation of location.

Update

Hey, our January meeting was rescheduled to Tuesday (yes, that's tomorrow) night. Can't wait to discuss Memoirs of a Geisha.
We are switching to Tuesdays for the rest of this semester.
Our next meeting will be the second Tuesday in February and at AW's house. We'll be discussing The Great Gatsby.
We haven't officially chosen a book for March or April, so make sure you come with recommendations.

By the Wayside

Apparently that is where I've left this blog. Life certainly got busy lately. I apologize for not keeping up on this blog, but I'm not too sorry. I never heard feedback anyway. And, since no one mentioned it, I'm pretty sure I can leave it be until we get settled into yet another new schedule. However, in the event that someone is out there reading this...our monthly meeting is next week! Hope you are enjoying Memoirs of a Geisha! See you at Catholic Lady's house!!

The Day After Tomorrow

Yes, that is when our next meeting will be held. Bownut is hosting our Vanity Fair event. Please check your email for additional information and bring suggestions for future readings!!
Hope you had the chance to finish reading this lengthy but enjoyable novel!

Vanity Fair

Although this novel could demand much more familiarity with other works of literature, it gets things rolling right away when you discover the saucy orphan Becky Sharp. The story of two women and the surrounding culture and society is the basis of this satirical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray. It's not just a fun and funny novel to read, it can be a means of introspection. Thackeray has a knack for exposing truisms of human nature that even the modern reader may fall into.
William Makepeace Thackeray was born in Calcutta in 1811 but his family returned to England while he was still a young boy. There he was educated and fell into his own problems with debt. Although a failure at painting, he found his niche as a writer and wrote for several magazines of the day, notably Punch where Vanity Fair was first published serially. He wrote other works and lived on his success in his day. None of that waiting around posthumously for acclaim for this man!
Thackeray was inspired one night to write Vanity Fair which takes it's name from a fictional place starring in another novel called Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. There are more similarities than just borrowing the name, but you'd have to read that novel to understand more and, lets face it, Thackeray's Vanity Fair is tons more fun to read than the overly moralizing story of Bunyan's. Vanity Fair is written in a modernized (that is, modernized to Victorian England and then back dated 30 years earlier) form of picaresque (think Don Quioxte), a satirical novel following a low born "rogue" who utilizes his, or in this case, her wits to move around in a corrupt society.
So, dig in and we'll see you the second Thursday of November. Yes. That is, next week!!