May Day!

     Okay girls, here it is.  The Scarlet Pimpernel.  I mentioned this at the wedding and I was talking with my mom about it and decided I really do want to read it.  Randi, I think you're gonna love it!  Hopefully you all haven't read this already, but I do have another one in mind just in case, so let me know.  I have always loved this musical and the songs from it, so I want to see if the book can live up to that.  I've heard it's really enjoyable.  In case you don't know the story, here is a quick overview.
      
Armed with only his wits and his cunning, one man recklessly defies the French revolutionaries and  rescues scores of innocent men, women, and children from the deadly guillotine. His friends and foes know him only as the Scarlet Pimpernel. But the ruthless French agent Chauvelin is sworn to discover his identity and to hunt him down.

Obviously there is a lot more to the story, but I think most of us know the plot, and if we don't, then this is a good little teaser.

It was so fun to see you all for the wedding.  Cam, I'm so sad I missed you and Charlie!  We'll have to make those get togethers a more regular thing.  Love you girls!  Happy reading!

Travels With Charley

So I don't know if any of you are still reading and if you read this month, but I LOVED this book. I had never read it and I just finished it for my English class. In fact, I loved it so much, I am writing my final paper about it.

Steinbeck has an amazing way of describing the landscape of the great country we live in. All of his words in this book are so beautiful.

When he visits Wisconsin, Steinbeck describes it like this,
"When I saw it for the first and only time in early October, the air was rich with butter-colored sunlight, not fuzzy but crisp and clear so that every frost-gay tree was set off, the rising hills were not compounded, but alone and separate. I remember now that that I had been told Wisconsin is a lovely state, but the telling had not prepared me. It was a magic day. The land dripped with richness, the fat cows and pigs gleaming against green, and, in the smaller holdings, corn standing in little tents as corn should, and pumpkins all about."

Wonderful.

And, when he describes the redwoods and Northern California. This book stole my heart.

It was fantastic.

March

I am still here. I've been busy reading for school. I forgot how exhausting it is to be in a literature class. It's my own fault, though, since I am a Lit major :)

So, I'm going to cheat for March. I'm going to choose a book that I have to read for my class anyway. Good idea, huh?

We are going to read Travels With Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck.

This is what Wikipedia says:

Travels with Charley: In Search of America is a travelogue written by American author John Steinbeck. It recounts tales of a 1960 road trip with his French standard poodle, Charley, around the United States. He wrote that he was moved by a desire to see his country on a personal level, since he made his living writing about it. He wrote of having many questions going into his journey, the main one being, "What are Americans like today?" However, he found that the "new America" did not live up to his expectations

My Professor says it's good, so take that with a grain of salt. But, it's a short, easy read so it should be pretty fun. I'm excited to see you in all in less than 2 months!

Bueller? Bueller?

Is anyone out there?
Randi, I think it's your turn. Ready. Go!

The Power of Many

I think it's a great idea to extend the book through the month of February. I really enjoyed it, though it took me awhile to finish. (I think I may be the slowest reader alive.)
I just kept thinking that the title was wrong. I know he explains it later; but, I disagreed with it. Honestly, it sounded like a naive teenager. Basically, he felt that the expectations of others were preventing him from doing what he wanted to do. Which, in some cases was true. We do need to be true to ourselves. But, everything he accomplished was because good people influenced his life for the better.
I just kept thinking that it was the love and support of good people that helped him accomplish so much. If everyone could have the kind of mentors he had, just think of what could happen! I guess I'm just sentimental, but we really do need other people; and we've been blessed to have those good influences in our lives.
I will say, I was a little disappointed in the ending. It seemed so detached from the rest of the book and I was disappointed in him....but it was still a good read. Enjoy!

New Year, re-dedicated to our book club!

Hi Friends! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (almost)! I am writing this post from Merced, CA and I couldn't be happier writing from here. I LOVE MERCED! I LOVE HOME! AND I LOVE FAMILY! I am finding myself a lot more sentimental and gushy lately, haha, I wonder why. I think it is my turn to pick a book. I got this book for Christmas and have been wanting to read it for awhile. I saw the movie years ago and have been wanting to read the book but never got around to it: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. I can't find a short summary so if you'd like to read one you can go here. The storyline follows a man from childhood to adulthood and portrays the different obstacles he overcomes. I have been so in the mood for an amazing story of triumph, I love those. Let me know if you have read it and if most have we can maybe choose a different one. Yay for our book club!