The Epilogue Book Club is now reading “Lamb in His Bosom” by Caroline Miller.
We will meet on May 31st to discuss the book.
Category: Fun
A Thousand Acres
This was the second time I read “A Thousand Acres.” So many years had passed since the first time I read it, I didn’t remember many of the details of the story. But as the story enfolded, it all felt very familiar to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but the story is so sad. The book starts up slowly – the author spends much time building the setting, describing the characters, and does a great job describing the family dynamics. Around the midpoint of the book, everything starts falling apart for the families that are central to the story. It is compelling and heart breaking to see how the family’s carefully crafted façade begins to fall apart as the characters and family ties implode and eventually collapse.
Tie Dye at the De Jong Family Reunion
Biking in & around Douglas County, GA: The Silver Comet Trail
Biking on the Silver Comet Trail is a wonderful way to spend the day with family or friends.
Starting in Smyrna, GA, the Silver Comet Trail spans over 60 miles, running through Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties. By the end of summer 2008, the Silver Comet Trail will connect to the Chief Ladiga Trail at the Georgia/Alabama state line, extending the trail another 100 miles and terminating in Anniston, Alabama.
The Silver Comet Trail is a great place to ride, walk or jog. The paved, mostly flat trail, spans some beautiful and scenic vistas and you can ride as far as you want without having to worry about cars. (The picture above is looking West from the Hiram, GA trail head)
Continue reading Biking in & around Douglas County, GA: The Silver Comet Trail
Breath, by Tim Winton
Have you ever finished a book that was so beautifully written that all you could do afterwards is just sit and meditate for a while to let the story settle down into your soul?
That’s how I feel tonight after finishing “Breath” by Tim Winton. I didn’t actually read the book since I listened to the audio version of the book on my mp3 player, but, no matter, the story was profoundly shared, wonderfully told, beautifully written, and now I must sit and meditate on it. I may have to go read the printed version of the book to get another layer of Mr. Winton’s glorious style of spinning a story.
Swamplandia! was a bust (for me, anyway)
Sometimes it just makes sense to cut bait and move on!
I read about 30% of the book before I was so bored with it I started skipping and skimming around, reading just enough to follow the storyline. Using that method I quickly scanned through to about the halfway point of the book and then decided I was done. I had read all I cared to read about the Bigtree family. Why waste any more time suffering through a book that I was not enjoying? I didn’t care about the characters and, try as I might, I couldn’t identify with any aspect of the story.
This book may appeal to a different reader, but it holds no appeal for me. I was invested enough in the story that I searched around the internet enough to find out how the story turns out. What I learned finally happens with the characters in this story was not very believable or satisfying so I’m glad I didn’t suffer through to the end of the book.
Now, on to the next book!
A trip to Seattle’s Market to buy Market Spice Tea
It was cold and gray and snowing lightly.
A trip to the Market would not be complete without seeing the fish display (and show). The guys behind the calendar throw fish around to one another and a crowd gathers.
Outside the Market you can see the harbor.
…and across the street from the Market is the original home of the first Starbucks.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Epilogue Book Club had a great meeting yesterday to discuss “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz.
Most members agreed that the numerous footnotes and the prolific use of Spanish words and terms throughout the book made reading the book very challenging. Most agreed that having a glossary of Spanish words and terms used in the book would have helped. All-in-all, the book club thought the book was worthwhile reading.
I, personally, found the book to be quite thought provoking. I finished the book with tears in my eyes and the characters in the book stayed with me for several days afterwards.
We meet again at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 31 to discuss “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson. The location for the next meeting is still to be determined.
If you’d like to learn more about the Epilogue Book Club or join us to discuss the next book, please call me at 678.321.6526 or send me an email.
The Epilogue Book Club is reading Pulitzer Prize winning novels. To view our current reading list, see Epilogue Book Club: Current Reading List.
Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon
I had not heard of this book until I listened to a podcast (OnPoint with Tom Ashbrook) interview between Tom Ashbrook and the author, Douglas Blackmon. This book just won the Pulitzer Prize in non fiction (2009).
The interview was fascinating and I find the subject matter very interesting. This is an important book that I will make a point to read.
See Slavery by Another Name for more information.
The Golden Compass
I decided to read The Golden Compass after seeing a sign at a local car repair shop that warned parents about letting their kids read this book….How ridiculous!
The Golden Compass is a great read, full of imagination, interesting characters and with a compelling plot. I especially appreciate that the heroine of the story is a little girl (versus a little boy – boys always seem to have all the fun in these kinds of stories). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, the other books in this collection.