July's Pick

-Erin

Do any of you watch Lost? I'm a huge fan. And when they introduced time travel into the story line, I became an even HUGER fan! I think I have Michael J. Fox and the flux capacitor (which, you know, is what makes time travel possible) to thank for this obsession.

So why haven't I read The Time Traveler's Wife yet? I'm not sure. Everyone LOVES it including this girl who brought it as a prop for her high school senior photo shoot!



This book is also being adapted to the big screen starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. I'm ready to dive in to the past and the present and the future. I'm intrigued. And a little anxious. And might have already read the first 70 or so pages online!

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Summer Ruins the Average

-Anna
I know I'll never be able to catch up with my sister's reading record. But I'd like to try. So I've been pushing myself to read more as well as trying to be more diverse in my choices (book club helps). But then summer comes along, and while some people may view summer as a chance to catch up on reading, it is not the case for me. Summer is by far my busiest season and so, invariably, my reading average begins to dip, drop and plummet. In fact, I've even fallen behind on my book club reading. Oh, no! But wait, is that a cloud I see, and does it...yes, yes it does have a silver lining. My parent's pool is finally up and running, I have this Wednesday afternoon off, I will sit by the pool and I will read!

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Thanks for the Memories

-Anna

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern (author of P.S. I Love You) was the perfect read. I just finished re reading Twilight and I needed something less intense and less gushy. I'd never read Ahern before, but I did see the movie version of P.S. and liked it.

Thanks for the Memories made me laugh aloud as well as shed a few sad tears. It's a simple read about the complexities of life, living through pain, and letting the magic of life and love heal.

I'll be looking to pick up more of Ahern's novels.

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E's Review - Agnes Grey

-Erin

Honesty is the best policy. Right? That's what they say at least. So I'm going to be honest...

I've already forgotten this book.

Yep. I know. I realize this seems extremely lame.

So all I have to say is this: if you want simple and predictable with a little happy and not too much depth then this is the book for you.

At least that's what I remember :)

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A Fun Find

-Anna

On a recent vacation, we were browsing shops and came across a rare and used bookstore. The store had a neat collection of books as well as some fun prints and sketches from books like Little Women and Heidi. I found a copy of Cranford for $3. I really like it - it has character, and well, it was only $3, so who could resist. I've read Gaskell's Wives and Daughters (a great book, especially for anyone who likes Jane Austen). I've also seen BBC productions of North and South as well as Cranford, but have yet to read the novels. Cranford is on my list of possible book club picks. Will I ever break my British streak?

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Agnes Grey--Lisa's Review

-lisa

Oh, dear Anne, canst thou forgive me for neglecting thee so? Long have the years stretched in which I have loved thy sisters, and knew thee not. My heart yearned for more intrigue, more dark mystery, more winning love, more Bronte. I knew not of thy brilliance, dear Anne. Until now.

Yeah, I loved it wholly and irrevocably. I feel like a treasure trove has been laid at my feet. Why I never thought to read more Bronte, I don't know. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre hold two of the top five spots in my literary bosom. Seriously, I am almost as excited as if a new 10-book Lucy Maude series was unearthed (almost, I said). I can't wait to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Agnes Grey was simple, unpretentious, and heart-warmingly edifying. Agnes herself was real, honest, and believably good in a dismal situation. How my stomach lurched when I thought all was lost, and how my heart cheered to see some good, old-fashioned reaping-what-you-sow. Hooray for Agnes! Hooray for happy endings! Hooray for Anne Bronte!

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June's Pick

-lisa
I watch baseball. I eat apple pie. I vote. I am proud to be an American. Just how is it, then, that I have yet to read Mark Twain? We must remedy this immediately! So this month, we are reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. God bless America.

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Not in My Wildest Dreams

-Anna

Elizabeth Bennett, Mr Darcy and zombies! I'm sorry did I read that correctly!? Does the title Pride and Prejudice actually have zombies tacked on the end! What, what is going on?

Apparently some guy (of course it was a guy, right?), decided that Pride and Prejudice could do with some undead walking around. I am outraged! Poor, poor Jane Austen.

And yet, Lizzy and Darcy, highly trained zombie slayers, falling in love while protecting the people of ---------shire. Okay, I admit, I am intrigued.

I guess the only thing to do is....read it!

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What we do, who we are.

-Erin

Table at Barnes and Noble had been scoped out and secured.
Agnes Grey had been discussed.
Coffee had been drank.
June's pick had been bought.
Pictures had been taken.
 
I'd say that's one successful book club meeting, minus the fact we didn't get one stellar picture of the three of us. Oh well, there's always next time!

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Agnes Grey - Review

-Anna

So, it wasn't Jane Eyre, but I liked it. I grew a little weary of the bratty kids, ugh, I just wanted someone to teach them a lesson! But the ending was sweet, and well, that's all I can ask for, really.

I am certainly glad to have read all the Bronte sisters. I perhaps even liked Agnes Grey a little more because of the legacy of the Bronte sisters. Who isn't impressed by three sisters writing in the mid 1800's?

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