This Month's Book

Okay, be honest. How many of you are reading or have finished the book? I know Nat didn't read it and I just got it in the mail 2 days ago (stupid Amazon!) so I won't be heart broken if other people are slacking. Let me know.

Next Book for June Review

Ok let me know if I'm wrong, but I've been having several discussions and questions with people, but Jess did you finalize that we are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett?  If so, The Help will be our April choice for May review. And for those of you that were at the review,  with the discussion with Andrea, Andrea's choice of  Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See will be our May choice for June Review.

We will be reviewing Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis on Monday, May 10th at 9:30 p.m. MST.

The Book Thief Review

First of all what was everyone's overall impression of the book?

Claire says:

loved it

Natalie says:

I liked it. Although the ending SUCKED

Claire says:

saddest ending i have read

Andrea says:

I really liked it, sad though

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I am so sorry I never use this where do I add her, I don't see a tool bar at the top

Natalie says:

I like the WW2/Holocaust story told from the other side, usually it's from the Jewish population

Rani says:

on the main im thing

go to contacts

and add

Andrea says:

Good point, I liked that too

Rani says:

At first i wasn't sure about the perspective of the book, it weirded me out, but i ended up loving it

of course everyone dies eventually

Claire says:

i liked that death was the narrator

very unique

Rani says:

Yes it was

Andrea says:

For the first little while I kept forgetting who was talking

Natalie says:

I didn't love the perspective, but it was interesting

Claire says:

and I liked what the author said about not making him BAD

Andrea says:

Me too!!

Natalie says:

true

Rani says:

yup totally!

Claire says:

(Death bad... in the authors notes)

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Me too

Natalie says:

so what was the thing he said to her at the end about humans? was that supposed to have some special meaning?

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

A few steps behind but I totally hated the ending

Claire says:

like that everyone died - or that there wasn't a lot of info about what she was doing in the present?

Rani says:

i read that somewhere it did, let me see if I can find....I know the ending was sad, but then again, it pulled it together having death be the narrator

Natalie says:

yeah, I wanted more info on her. For some reason I though she would end up with the Jewish guy in the basement

Andrea says:

I didn't really get the last message either.

I was sad Rudy died

Claire says:

yes - i wanted to know if she was with max too

Rani says:

ok i'm trying to find that part... i know i saw that somewhere and what he meant

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

True, I actually thought it was very cleaver how they pulled in dead

Natalie says:

ok good Rain, that was bugging me

I think she should have ended up with Max, there wasn't that much of an age difference

Andrea says:

I would have liked to have known more about how her life ended up

Natalie says:

and they had to kill off Rudy, i loved him

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

That would have been the obvious choice her together with Max

Rani says:

i know i know me too, and i died at the part she kissed him

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

At least he lived that made up a bit for Rudy dying

Natalie says:

ugghhh...so sad

Andrea says:

I would have liked the Max story line also

Claire says:

i loved that the mayors wife adopted her though

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

It was hardest for me to see him die

Natalie says:

yeah, glad that he didnt kill Max off

Claire says:

that was at least a lessening of the blow

Andrea says:

me too

Claire says:

did you guys cry out loud - or col



Andrea says:

I wish she would have kissed Rudy before he died!

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I feel like her connecting was greatest with Rudy

Rani says:

I know I wish she did too

Natalie says:

I kept thinking throughout the parts that they soldiers marched the Jews through the town..would I have done what Hans and Liesel/Rudy did? or would I have just stood by and watched

Claire says:

i didn't feel rudy as much as the author and you guys idk why.

Natalie says:

I shed a few tears Claire

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I cried as well.

Rani says:

i totally did

Andrea says:

I thought about that too Nat, I would have probably just stood there, wishing I was brave enough to do something

Claire says:

when HANS died.

that is who i loved

Rani says:

sorry if i'm distracted trying to find this part that nat was talking about

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

They were in life and death situations. I hate to say but I think I would have sat on the sidelines and I hate myself for feeling that way.

Natalie says:

it is just so hard to believe that the Holocaust happened. Seriously the most horrible atrocities committed and everyone just blindly followed Hitler

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I have been to that concentration camp. So I just had the wrost image in my mind

Andrea says:

Everytime I read anything about it, I try to wrap my mind around the hatred but I don't think I truly can grasp it

Rani says:

I know I know, I seriously can't even imagine...

Natalie says:

I know, it is uncomprehendible really

Rani says:

ok i'm going to paste first question from blog:

Discuss the symbolism of Death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. What are Death’s feelings for each victim? Describe Death’s attempt to resist Liesel. Death states, “I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both.” (p. 491) What is ugly and beautiful about Liesel, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, Max Vandenburg, Rudy

Natalie says:

I hope I would have at least hid Jews in my basement or helped in some way

Rani says:

we kind have already done the first part

Natalie says:

Rain, did you find anything about what he said at the end?

hmm..what is ugly about them? I really can't think of much

Claire says:

o off topic - but i called my husband samauch and sakraul a couple times while reading.

i loved the mom

Andrea says:

Maybe just Hitler and his followers were the ugly ones

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I think just in generanl terms

Natalie says:

haha..I hated how much they used those terms! Got annoying

I liked Rosa too though

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I had to come around to Rosa.

Rani says:

gads i'm so annoyed i can't find it now Nat, i'll keep looking.

I had to too about Rosa, but I ended up loving her

Natalie says:

ok

Rani says:

once you realized she really cared

Andrea says:

I didn't really start to love her until she was hugging the accordion

Rani says:

and i think that was what was ugly and beautiful about her

Claire says:

there really weren't any charaters i didn't end up liking - other than the nazi's

Rani says:

i think she just didn't know how to show love

right

me too

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I thought he did an amzing job on character development.

I felt attached to all of the characters.

Natalie says:

I thought the mayor's wife was interesting..wish we could have known more about her

Claire says:

i loved her too in the end

especially the image of her standing there for leisle

Rani says:

I totally agree Les... you totally fall in love with them all

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I think it was characteristic of her personality. Closed, the mayors wife

Andrea says:

I would have liked to know more about her at the end and how her relationship with Liesel grew

Natalie says:

and what the Mayor was like, if he believed in the whole Nazi thing

Andrea says:

But I agree she was a sad, closed person

Claire says:

but leisel brough out something good in her

Rani says:

Yup definitely

Claire says:

i guess leisel did that to the whole town kindof

(another thing the author says in the end if i remember right)

Andrea says:

I think he did seeing that she was wearing a bathrobe and slippers with Swastikas on them

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I got the feeling that the mayors wife was conflicted

Natalie says:

yep

Claire says:

i think she was just sad

Rani says:

ok on to question 2: What is ironic about Liesel’s obsession with stealing books?



Natalie says:

that a book ended up saving her life?

Andrea says:

I think that it was because it ended up saving her life

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

agree

Rani says:

yup i think so too

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I think I almost wished I would have died with everyone else

Natalie says:

totally

Rani says:

I know I can't imagine watching everyone you love die

Natalie says:

once again, hated the ending!!! I would have loved a happy ending Holocaust story

Andrea says:

I would have, when you walk onto the street and find everyone you loved dead, I would have wished that

Claire says:

what a HORRIBLE time and place to live

but in a way the holocaust didn't have "happy endings"

Natalie says:

I know, I just can;t even imagine

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Not to be off topic but a REALLY good Holocaust book I read last week was Sarah's Key. You guys should read it.

Natalie says:

I know, but maybe everyone lived and she could have married Max and lived happily ever after

Claire says:

i am actually reading a book about the phycology of the victims inspired by this - and even the survivors who had the happy ending didn't you know

Rani says:

OH i heard that was good

Natalie says:

Les, I was going to tell you to read it!

Set in Paris and all..

but SOOO sad

Rani says:

WHat book is that Claire?

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

SO SAD!

But really well done

Claire says:

Man's Search for Meaning

Natalie says:

interesting

I might need a happy book next though

Claire says:

not really a fun read

more educational i guess...

Andrea says:

I have been wanting to read that one. The Hiding Place is also a good one, with a better ending. I was going to suggest it for next month but thought we could use a Holocaust break

Rani says:

This period is so interesting but so utterly depressing

ME too especially after that conference talk

Natalie says:

I agree, fascinating

Rani says:

ok next question:

How does Rudy and Liesel's friendship change and grow throughout the novel? Death says that Rudy doesn’t offer his friendship “for free.” (p. 51) What does Rudy want from Liesel? Discuss Death’s statement, “The only thing worse than a boy who hates you [is] a boy who loves you.” (p. 52) Why is it difficult for Liesel to love Rudy?

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I think he wants loyalty and his trust in her grows with time

Natalie says:

I think she cant love because the only things she has loved have been taken away..mom and brother

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I think Liesel has had few people that have truly loved her in her life and she dosen't know who to express it

Claire says:

what was wrong with the mom btw - that was my questions

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

true nat

Natalie says:

not to mention she was like 12 yrs old

Andrea says:

I think she had to learn how to love and trust, the only people she ever loved before Himmel street were no longer part of her life

Natalie says:

Mom had to give her up because her husband was a communist and the Nazis were after their family or something

Claire says:

and the mom was sick too?

Rani says:

I think she was sick

it mentioned something like that I thought

Natalie says:

I don't remember her being sick?

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I must admit the begining was a bit confussing for me.

Andrea says:

She seemed more grown up to me than 12

Claire says:

it must have been a common thing to do back then...

Natalie says:

me too, took a little while to get into the book

the death perspective was confusing and buggy for a whil

while

Rani says:

I agree, but I totally appreciate the perspective once you figured it out

so unique

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Yes totally, I didn't figure it out till toward the end. It had to be spelled out for me.

Claire says:

i wish we knew where death took them - but I guess part of the intrigue was that we didn't know.

ugh - when he described taking hans... i just couldn't stop cryiing

Natalie says:

I know!!

Rani says:

Right, I know... I think Hans was one of my favorite characters too!

ANd I was so sad for Liesel when he died

Natalie says:

me too

Andrea says:

He made Liesel into the person she ended up being

Rani says:

totally

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

YEs

He was the family she never hed

had

Rani says:

I was so grateful for him through the whole book, she needed him

Natalie says:

was any of this based on true events Rain? Was there really a Himmel Street or a bomb?

Andrea says:

He loved her from the very beginning

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Rosa totally stepped it up when he went to war. I was proud of her.

Claire says:

i loved rosa sitting with his accordian.

Natalie says:

and what a horrible job he had to do!

Claire says:

like it has been said - the author was SO good at making them lovable characters

Rani says:

It didn't sound like it, i mean the author grew up in Nazi germany. But I think all the characters are fictional

Andrea says:

Me too, and I thought she would totally would freak out about the Max thing but she stepped up there too

Rani says:

Although, I could see them being based on people he knew

He said that he knew there were rebels that didn't follow the jews

Claire says:

the author grew up in n. germany - i thought he was a young guy

Natalie says:

I just wonder if there were whole streets totally wiped out like that. I'm sure there were

Andrea says:

I think his parents or grandparents did

Claire says:

o

Rani says:

sorry i didn't mean that, his mother grew up in nazi germany

and she told him the stories

Natalie says:

did any of you have grandpas that fought in WW2?

Rani says:



Claire says:

2

and one reminds me of hans

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

yea, he was shot in the leg

Natalie says:

cute. Were they in Germany?

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

He was actually in Austria

Andrea says:

I did but he was in the South Pacific

Claire says:

i guess i don't know - but ross (who walked me down the isle) was SOOO the quiet love for you type

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

He was on the ski patrol

Natalie says:

I've never actually talked to someone that was over there or a survivor of the Holocaust

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Skiing with guns

Rani says:

I haven't either, that would be so interesting

Claire says:

we should go to the holocaust museum

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Have you guys been to the museum in DC?

Natalie says:

skiing where? Crazy

Claire says:

that the auther mentions

Rani says:

yes

Natalie says:

YES so sad

something you can really only do once

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Somewhere in Austria

Rani says:

and to auswhitz I know i spelled that wrong

ashwitz?

Natalie says:

that is awesome Les. You should have him write his memoirs

auschwitz

Rani says:

Thanks!

Claire says:

could you imagine even living in a time where there is a leader with that much hate... i guess it does still happen like in rawanda and iraq.

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I interviewed him once but he has only talked about it a few times. It is realy painful for him.

Rani says:

I can not fathom how he came into power

Natalie says:

I know. Crazy to think that similar things go on today, especially in Africa and there's not much that we do about it

Claire says:

i read some of his biography they reference in the book - and he didn't even seem like a charismatic or smart guy... weird

Natalie says:

Hitler?

Claire says:

ya

Andrea says:

I can't imagine just believing and doing the things that he said. But so many people did

Natalie says:

I know, how did he talk everyone into believing what he did?

Rani says:

Did you guys watch Inglorious Bastards?



Natalie says:

Like that story Max wrote for Liesel...seeds of hate get planted and keep growing

YES

Rani says:

sorry that is off the book, but I was so upset

Natalie says:

loved that movie

Rani says:

me too

Natalie says:

upset?

Rani says:

so makes you hate the nazis

yes

that movie

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

I thought it was so cleaver how the author talked about the power of words and Hitler.

Rani says:

i was dying

Natalie says:

I really wish Inglorious Bastards was true and that was how it all ended

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Should I see the movie or read the book?

Rani says:

i loved loved how the author used metaphorical language

Natalie says:

if you like Quentin Tarantino..fake over the top violence, like skinning Nazis

Rani says:

fyi the movie is super glory, but ingeniously filmed

Natalie says:

but awesome

Andrea says:

So true Les, that is how he got everyone on board. Telling them how great Germany could be

Claire says:

his short stories and his pictures that max wrote were excellent

Natalie says:

everyone should be blonde and blue eyed

Rani says:

Omg totally love those

Natalie says:

he would have loved Lola

Andrea says:

Max saw right though him

Natalie says:

what a weird reality he created in his head

Andrea says:

through

Claire says:

he wasn't even blonde and blue eyed that was what i don't get

Rani says:

I know?!!!

Natalie says:

Have you guys read The Hiding Place?

Another Holocaust story I LOVE

Rani says:

No but i want to





ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

no, should I

Andrea says:

Yes love that book!!!

Natalie says:

YES

Andrea says:

YES!!

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Will do

Andrea says:

One of my very favorites, ends a little better

Rani says:

OK last question I have, what was the most unforgettable part of The Book Theif?

Claire says:

the end

never read a story with everyone dying i don't think

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

agree

Natalie says:

I kind of think the book Max did for Liesel. Or when she saw him in the crowd and walked with him, even after they whipped her

Claire says:

I kindof got tearyed just reviewing that natalie .... im a tender heart

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

Not including the end the image of Max walking witht the other Nazi's was hard to get out of my mind

Natalie says:

me too, got goose bumps

Rani says:

I love the irony...joy/pain admist pain and suffering and how love and hate can exist mutually...I mean I just thought the whole thing was so beautifully written

Andrea says:

I think just grasping the hatred and horrible things that so many people had to experience

Natalie says:

I agree

Rani says:

Loved the quote: I have hated the words and I have loved the words."

Natalie says:

good pick Rani!

Andrea says:

I liked that too!

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

You wonder how many conflicted people there were but just feared for their life

Claire says:

ya

i thought about that too

Rani says:

THere can be darkness, despair and hope all at the same time. I'm glad you guys liked!

Natalie says:

I just want to know what Death meant at the end!!

Andrea says:

I would like to think quite a few

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

good pick

Rani says:

I wish i could find, i don't have my book, my nephew borrowed and i had found online earlier

Andrea says:

I enjoyed!

Natalie says:

ok, post it on the blog when you find it

Rani says:

k

Claire says:

steve borrowed my copy nat

should he join the book club?

Natalie says:

Oh good!

hahaha..and Liz too

ljensen22@hotmail.com says:

This is totally fun glad I woke up for it.

Book Thief Review - Tuesday 9:30 pm MST

Hi Ladies- Our Book Thief Review will be Tuesday night at 9:30 pm via MSN Messenger. Those that can not make the review can go ahead and leave comments here or after the review synopsis. I'm going to go ahead and post some questions here that we can discuss tomorrow night.

Synopsis: 

Liesel Meminger is only nine years old when she is taken to live with the Hubermanns, a foster family, on Himmel Street in Molching, Germany, in the late 1930s. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is The Grave Digger's Handbook, a book that she stole from her brother's burial place. During the years that Liesel lives with the Hubermanns, Hitler becomes more powerful, life on Himmel Street becomes more fearful, and Liesel becomes a fullfledged book thief. She rescues books from Nazi book-burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief. This is Liesel's life on Himmel Street, told from Death's point of view.

About the Author:
Australian author Markus Zusak grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, about the bombing of Munich and about Jews being marched through his mother’s small, German town. He always knew it was a story he wanted to tell.

“We have these images of the straight-marching lines of boys and the ‘Heil Hitlers’ and this idea that everyone in Germany was in it together. But there still were rebellious children and people who didn’t follow the rules and people who hid Jews and other people in their houses. So there’s another side to Nazi Germany,” said Zusak in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

At the age of 30, Zusak has already asserted himself as one of today’s most innovative and poetic novelists. With the publication of The Book Thief, he is now being dubbed a ‘literary phenomenon’ by Australian and U.S. critics. Zusak is the award-winning author of four previous books for young adults: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger, recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature. He lives in Sydney.


Questions:
1. Discuss the symbolism of Death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. What are Death’s feelings for each victim? Describe Death’s attempt to resist Liesel. Death states, “I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both.” (p. 491) What is ugly and beautiful about Liesel, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, Max Vandenburg, Rudy Steiner, and Mrs. Hermann?

2. What is ironic about Liesel’s obsession with stealing books?


3.  

How does Rudy and Liesel's friendship change and grow throughout the novel? Death says that Rudy doesn’t offer his friendship “for free.” (p. 51) What does Rudy want from Liesel? Discuss Death’s statement, “The only thing worse than a boy who hates you [is] a boy who loves you.” (p. 52) Why is it difficult for Liesel to love Rudy? 

4. What was the most unforgettable part of The Book Theif?

Next Review

Did we decide on a next review for the Book Thief? Jess was saying a week day worked better for her. Nat needs to start later 9:30.  So does Tuesday, April 13th at 9:30pm MST work for most everyone? We should try to be consistent, so 2nd tuesday of every month?

Amazon Associate

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know I put on Amazon Associates.  I don't care if you buy directly from Amazon, but I put it on for the mere reason it allows you to have a direct link to Amazon from the book, which I use relentlessly before buying books just to read the reviews.  I hope this is ok, I just thought it was a neat feature since it makes linking so easy. I doubt it will make much money with only 7 people using this blog, but if it by chance does I'm happy to split it with everyone. I just have it set up to pay by Amazon credit, so maybe we will be able to use it to buy all our books eventually or something :)

Review for Half Broke Horses

Natalie says:
ok..let's get started. What did everyone think? A nice, quick, easy read I thought. which is refreshing
Rani says:
yup definately...always nice to get through something fast
jessica says:
quick read. a lot of little things reminded me of the stories I hear from my gpa and great gpa
Rani says:
Ya it definitely read more like a family history rather than the memoir
Natalie says:
totally. It felt like listening to stories my grandma used to tell too!
but I agree Rain, it was no Glass Castle. That is really one of my fave novels ever
Hey Rain and Jess, change your fonts and colors..you have the same one
Rani says:
ok good idea
jessica says:
Like Rosemary, I am not a great speller, and since I don't have sp on here sorry
Rani says:
better
Natalie says:
it's ok
yes thanks!
Andrea, what did you think?
Rani says:
another reason why i like google chrome
jessica says:
I am just going to leave mine then
Andrea says:
I finished Glass Castle last week and I also liked it better
Rani says:
instant spell check
Natalie says:
oh good, glad you read it! Did you like it? Crazy story
Andrea says:
but I thought Lily was a very strong willed woman
Rani says:
so opposite of rosemary
Natalie says:
totally..but it seems like Lily just completely broke her spirit at the end. perhaps the reason she is the way she is
jessica says:
See, and I thought Rosemary was also strong willed. But maybe it was just more towards her mom. Like me!
Andrea says:
I liked Lily until I read the Glass Castle then I wondered how badly she messed Rose Mary up?
Natalie says:
she was in this book...you have got to read glass castle
exactly!
jessica says:
Crap, I need to read it
Andrea says:
I didn't agree with the telling her she wasn't pretty thing at all
Rani says:
i guess opposite in work ethics more like it...she's more la la artist type go where the wind blows
Natalie says:
Ok, ;et
let's start on number 1
Rani says:
um hold on
your aren't in the thing
one sec
Natalie says:
huh
Rani says:
this is just rani
you got knocked off the group convo
it won't let me add you
Natalie says:
uuggghhh
Rani says:
i'm telling jess to add you
Natalie says:
k
should i log out of this convo
Rani says:
are you not added
it says you are
Natalie says:
i should be
Rani says:
did you talk to us now
Natalie says:
can they see what i am writing?
Rani says:
no lets start new one over here

Andrea has been added to the conversation.

jessica has been added to the conversation.

Rani says:
ok everyone over here?
Natalie says:
yes! sorry
Rani says:
nat i will email the last bit of convo
Natalie says:
ok
Andrea says:
I am here
Natalie says:
sorry about that. Back to the convo
did you guys answer number 1?
Rani says:
no not yet
Natalie says:
Ok, let's get started on it
Rani says:
you all know my answer
Natalie says:
Number one totally appealed to me because I have the same situation at my work. I have a chauvinistic pig for a boss, and I constantly find myself wearing low cut tops and trying to look hot when I meet with him so I can get what I want! My friend that wouldn't do that and said it compromised her values got fired!! I think there is a fine line
I actually find myself doing that a lot in life
I think sometimes you just gotta suck it up in order to stay employed
Rani says:
Ya I think to some degree we have probably all done that
Andrea says:
Initially I was hoping she would compromise, because I felt like nothing was working out for her, but then I was glad she didn't I think it made her who she was. Plus it didn't bother her to get fired and I think she paid for it on several occasions.
Natalie says:
Jess, are you on here?
I agree Andrea
jessica says:
I am. Just getting caught up. Not sure why it took so long to show up
Sadly, women feel that way a lot of the time I feel.
Rani says:
I think it depends what it's worth to you...and what you want to stand up for. I mean if you don't believe in polygamy, should you teach in that school in the first place?
I know i would have a hard time teaching them that was ok
jessica says:
Right. bc your beliefs will eventually surface
somehow
Natalie says:
But did she know it was when she went there? BTW, so interesting that her husband's family was close to Joseph Smith was it?
Rani says:
but then again if i truly believed in polygamy and had my kids at that school, i'd have a hard time with teachers teaching them otherwise
Natalie says:
agreed
jessica says:
true
Rani says:
omg you know when i read Glass i had actually wondered if they were mormon
because I remembered the last name smith
Natalie says:
I know!
Andrea says:
No I think she did the right thing in that instance, I couldn't not tell people about a better way of life if I knew it exsisted.
Rani says:
good point
Andrea says:
But I agree I would be mad if my kids were being taught something in school that I didn't agree with, that is a hard one I guess.
Natalie says:
Any more or on to number 2?
I prob need to try and be done by around 10
Rani says:
ok onto 2
jessica says:
Yes, but they think their way of life was btter than lily's
Devin is getting anxious to watch dexter
Natalie says:
I totally think this was how most people parented back then, don't you? Strict
jessica says:
For sure
Rani says:
Ya I think they were definitely more strict back then
jessica says:
hard circumstances
and conditions
#2
Natalie says:
But I was totally like Rosemary...wanted to keep every animal that crossed my path, and brought them all home
Rani says:
and I don't necessarily think her expectations were too high, she seemed to know them well, but she just wanted what was best for them, like every parent.
Natalie says:
especially with damn Rex, I hate him
Andrea says:
Yes very strict. They didn't have anything else to use as leverage. They couldn't take away TV or other luxuries, they didn't have them.
jessica says:
is Rex in GC? feel free to talk about GC.
Natalie says:
And it seems like kids were way more obedient back then. Love the parenting style of just letting them roam free on the open range. I probably won't even let my kids walk to school by themselves, and there are just as many dangers in the wild...just of a different sort!
Yes
Andrea says:
It seemed like Lily taught her kids to work hard, but that didn't shine through with Rose Mary in her life at all.
Natalie says:
I think maybe she would have been a different person if Lily would have embraced her free spirit instead of trying to break it (Half Broke Horses!!)
And if she hadn't married weirdo alcoholic Rex
Andrea says:
I agree with both
Rani says:
right, good point...but then again, if they prevented her from marrying rex...hard to say, cause really they ended up letting her do what she was going to do
Natalie says:
Jess, you will die when you read GC
Andrea says:
Lily didn't really have anything to pull from either, her parents had issues too
jessica says:
I think in a way, her mother didn't encourage her to. even though she did pay for art lessons.
Rani says:
I think Lily turned out well from what she came from
jessica says:
not many women artist proceeded her
Andrea says:
I was heart broken for Lily when she had to come home from school because her dad bought the stupid dogs
jessica says:
me too
I was so mad about that
Natalie says:
I know!!
Rani says:
yup me too!
Natalie says:
Ok, number 3?
I like this one because I think everyone in this book club is an extremely strong-willed woman, and married a laid back man like Jim
maybe not Jess..you are laid back yourself
Rani says:
I think Jim is perfect for Lily
Natalie says:
and Claire (cousin-in-law) married a strong willed personality
jessica says:
I am. But my husband doesn't think so
Andrea says:
I wanted to get to know him a little better, but I think he let her just be who she was which is what she needed.
Natalie says:
but especially Rain, me, and Beck
Rani says:
yup so true
Natalie says:
totally, which is so what I need too
but did she really love him do you think?
seems like they were more just partners
jessica says:
That is the best kind of man
Andrea says:
me too, and I think it has helped me chill over the years
jessica says:
That is the best kind of man
Natalie says:
me too!
Rani says:
I think she did, maybe it wasn't an Edward/Bella typ of love, but I think she did.
Andrea says:
yeah I thought it was weird that they each slept with their kids instead of each other
Rani says:
He was a lot older wasn't he?
probably lost his mojo
Natalie says:
remember I love Lucy? I wonder if lots of couples back in the day slept in seperate beds
Andrea says:
like 20 years I think
Rani says:
i think they may have
jessica says:
Twilight! Rani
Natalie says:
so crazy how different the times are now
Rani says:
and people didn't have the money for separate beds for their kids, so maybe same sex and same sex
Andrea says:
I thought of that too, I couldn't remember the exact time frame of that part of the book
jessica says:
Maybe they married bc they knew they could be friends but survive the elements and make a life at the same time
Natalie says:
wasn't it during the war or something? 40's?
Rani says:
i think that sounds right
jessica says:
The elements were much harder then
Andrea says:
at least they had beds unlike the Walls kids
Natalie says:
totally
Ok, number 4?
Rani says:
uh ya good point
ok number 4
Natalie says:
I actually really like this "true life novel" thing
Rani says:
Definitely think it reads like true life novel, like I said before reads so much like a family history
Natalie says:
it's not completely fiction, but not completely non-fiction either
Rani says:
probably why i loved glass...she definitely added something to it
Natalie says:
was that considered a novel?
Rani says:
no memoir
Natalie says:
or fiction I mean? I thought it was a memoir
jessica says:
what was it
Rani says:
so based on true story but she exagerated things and filled in gaps
Natalie says:
the story of Rosemary's daughters live (the one that wrote both)
life
jessica says:
can't that be a memoir
Andrea says:
Since she didn't have the first hand experience like GC I guess she had to fill in the blanks a little
Natalie says:
but i mean wouldn't GC be considered a memoir? It was her life
not based on someone else
Rani says:
yes glass is a memoir
jessica says:
hmmmmmm?
Andrea says:
I think GC is a memoir
Rani says:
i'm saying half broke wasn't
Natalie says:
yes
Andrea says:
me too
Natalie says:
confused for a minute
Rani says:
sorry to confuse
Natalie says:
Do you guys like her writing style and doing it first person from Lily's pov?
Andrea says:
I do, I think it helped us get to know Lily.
Natalie says:
if that was really her
Rani says:
Ya definitely... because like she said in the end Lily defintely had a story to tell
jessica says:
I did like her style. I was surprised at how many -'s she used. I am always wondering how and where to use them. I like books in first person
Natalie says:
me too
Ok, last one girlies
number 5
And then us girls that have read GC can post on the blog about the last 2 questions if you guys want
Rani says:
Oh so didn't agree with her telling rosemary she wasn't beautiful...made me sad. I think a mother needs to build her child up
Natalie says:
I agree!
Rani says:
cause even a beautiful girl can have low self-esteem
she may never realize
jessica says:
a lot do
Rani says:
right
Natalie says:
I really do think everyone turns into their mother eventually though
jessica says:
oh man.
Rani says:
sooo true
Andrea says:
I didn't agree with that at all. I child can't build a self esteem on their own, they need the nurturing of a parent(s)
Rani says:
yup
jessica says:
yes
Andrea says:
Or we try to change the things we didn't like I guess
Rani says:
yes that too!
jessica says:
and that brings yo the point... what was it that JIm said about Rosemary?
crap
Natalie says:
I do think every woman says when they have kids "I will never be like my mom!" (well most women anyway) And then you slowly catch yourself doing things she did, or saying things exactly how she said them and cursing her under your breath
jessica says:
Liliy was wanting to change something about rosemary when she was like four
Rani says:
man i can't remember
Natalie says:
Yeah, Jim didn't seem to be involved in parenting much
jessica says:
and jim said that it would change or else if it didn't then it was who she was
and that they couldn't change that.
Natalie says:
hmmm..don't remember
jessica says:
which I agree with.
Andrea says:
lily did try to change who she was
jessica says:
I can't remember what personality trait it was about her.
Yes she did
Andrea says:
and probably scarred her a few times, like when she beat her after swimming
Natalie says:
yes!
jessica says:
And she NEVER came to terms that rose didn't turn out the way she wanted
Rani says:
right
Natalie says:
because she only got worse!
jessica says:
That oh face is killing me
Andrea says:
but then Lily was right about Rex, she saw right through him from the very beginning
jessica says:
MOM's have that sixth sense
Natalie says:
I think that is probably going to be the hardest part of parenting..letting your kids go their own way and accepting you can't change it. even if you don't agree
jessica says:
My mom STILL says that like every other week
Rani says:
Um sooo true I can totally confirm the 6th sense thing...uh hem (first husband)
jessica says:
ha
Natalie says:
not looking forward to that. Andrea, you will be the first to experience it
Andrea says:
I hope that 6th sense kicks in turing the teenage years
Rani says:
lol
jessica says:
I think it does
Natalie says:
or at least common sense...I can now smell alcohol on someone's breath from a mile away
my kids won't get away with shit!
Andrea says:
me too
jessica says:
Ask Nat and I. Our moms always knew what we were doing eventhough we would lie about it
Rani says:
I have will for that
Natalie says:
totally!!
Andrea says:
kids think their parents are clueless
jessica says:
oh, I thought my mom was. Especially since she was married at 18
Natalie says:
Ok, last comments and let's wrap it up. I think this was a good way to do it. Rain, is there a way to link this convo on the blog? Also, can we review March
jessica says:
I think you can copy and paste
maybe
Natalie says:
March's book the end of March or very beginning of April so I dont forget the book?
Andrea says:
When are we reviewing Book Theif?
Rani says:
ya i would just copy and paste the whole thing
OK lets talk to Les first and see if there is any time that works for her, if not lets keep it same time same day
so April 11th
2nd sunday of