Book Club - MARCH 2016

Room

by Emma Donoghue

To 5-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic 5-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

Discussion Questions -- please post your comments and answers on the blog at anytime.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think the entire book is told in Jack’s voice? Do you think it is effective?
2. What are some of the ways in which Jack’s development has been stunted by growing up in Room? How has he benefited?
3. If you were Ma, what would you miss most about the outside world?
4. What would you do differently if you were Jack’s parent? Would you tell Jack about the outside world from the start?
5. If Ma had never given birth to Jack, what would her situation in Room be like?
6. What would you ask for, for Sundaytreat, if you were Jack? If you were Ma?
7. Describe the dynamic between Old Nick and Ma. Why does the author choose not to tell us Old Nick’s story?
8. What does joining the outside world do to Jack? To Ma?
9. What role do you think the media play in the novel?
10. In a similar situation, how would you teach a child the difference between the real world and what they watch on television?
11. Why are we so fascinated by stories of long-term confinement?
12. What were you most affected by in the novel?

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/reviews/room/guide

Zodiac-- Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

"Inside the arenasphere, hundreds of holograms drift overhead, a circus of pixilating colors."

We see Zodiac signs as a cool way to represent our birth months. Romina Russell, author of Zodiac, sees them as  names for different houses of Academy.

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year old Academy student from the House Cancer. She has an unusual way of reading the stars. Rather than take steps that will help create accurate predictions, Rhoma seeks out stories in the sky.

When a devastating blast strikes one of Cancer's moons, sending the ocean planet turning and killing thousands of innocent citizens, including the beloved Guardian, Rhoma is shell shocked to find herself chosen as the new leader of House Cancer.

Rhoma is willing to protect her House with her life. The tragic events don't stop there however, House after House begin to fall victim to the bizarre weather occurrences. This causes Rhoma to suspect Ochus, the exiled 13th Guardian of the Zodiac. Rhoma believe Ochus has returned to take his revenge across the Galaxy.

Rhoma must now travelto warn the the other Guardians with the help of Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, a major in the Cancrian guard.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot line was amazing and I thought all the characters were well developed. I loved how Rhoma was an independent girl character, and did not seem to rely on the male characters so much. I also enjoyed how this book was set in space. I don't think this book would have been as good if it was place in some other setting. I would definitely recommend this book to all my friends and family. All in all it was a great read. 

The Siren~ Reviewed By Hailey Hinrichs

 

"So why, here and now, in this frozen, useless time, did someone have to make me feel this way?"

 

            Kahlen used to be a normal 19-year-old girl from a wealthy family. On a family vacation her family and fellow passengers were lured in by Sirens. In order to save her life, she made a promise to the Sirens. She would soon come to find that the promise would last 100 years and she could only sing in front of people when it was time to lure them in.

            Fast forward 80 years.

            In her many adventures on land, watching people and longing for the life she once had, she runs into Akinli, a young handsome boy who immediately sparks her interest. But according to the rules of the Ocean, she can only communicate with humans when she's luring them to their death. Before she met Alkinli, she decided to just finish her sentence in silence and do what she's told, but falling in love with a human breaks all the rules. As her attraction grows for Alkinli, she must decide if she's willing to break all these rules for love.  

 

            This book was really good so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I honestly wasn't sure how I would like this book since it was Kiera Cass' first novel and I hadn't even heard about it until after The Selection Series became so popular. I LOVED that series and honestly read all 3 in one night so I was hoping this would be another good book and it was! It was something new that I hadn't really read about before. I am a sucker for romance novels sometimes and this one was a good one. I really liked the main character, Kahlen. She was an interesting girl and didn't really like to start trouble and usually kept things to herself and I can could connect with her on that level since I'm really not a very controversial person at all. I thought it was great story and would recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels.



Book Group Read of S. by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst

The five of us are embarking on the adventure of reading this very unique book together! Members of our group: Susan Ambrose, Sarah Roberts, Hailey Hinrichs, Elizabeth Barnes and Denise Crawford.

The hardcover book is enclosed in a slipcover labeled S. and is titled THE SHIP OF THESUS by V.M. Straka. Included with the book are 22 inserts and all sorts of interesting notes in the margins (in different colors). We have devised a system for reading it and are going chapter by chapter!
List of inserts/page numbers taken from http://sfiles22.blogspot.com/2013/01/list-of-inserts.html

1-8 We met for the first time this morning after completing our reading of the Translator's Note and Foreword. I think we all realize this is going to be a different type of book than we all usually zip through. Already know that we are going to need to have Google and a dictionary handy!

Over the weekend we are to read Chapter one, the notes in blue/black caps and pencil, as well as any appropriate inserts. 

1-21 We had our 4th meeting today to discuss Chapter 3. After some discussion in an earlier meeting, we changed our plan and now are reading only SOT and the original pencil notes by Eric. The other margin notes were too distracting and confusing. We are seeing themes of identity, rebirth, change throughout. Quite a bit left to interpretation and imagination within the book and we are going through it a chapter at a time. He's (S---) gone from a tavern, to a ship, to a wharf during a demonstration. The locations are nameless.

1-26 - Met to discuss chapter 4. Another chapter, another adventure. This time S is in a house (labeled with S of course in that strange script) with the leaders of the demonstrators -- they are hiding from the police after the bomb went off -- they're suspects.
More recurring themes: birds and bees, Sola again (but a problem develops and a question of whether or not this is same girl), "home is not safe" -- always changing. Allegory about hell?
See the homage to the art of storytelling thru writing or oral narratives -- it's how we tell the world who we are? There is a connection between writer and reader!
New clothes for S - he get a new set almost everywhere he goes.
Thought -- S is being reborn, changing -- we change through experiences we have and people we meet -- same as S.
Seems to be a preoccupation with relationships.
Where is he geographically? Eastern Europe?  City and country names not mentioned. Surnames of different nationalities such as French or Swedish.
Off to explore caves next. Traveling companions with S.

1-27 This is a great article from UTNE - please read and comment
The Ship of Thesus and the Question of Identity

1-29 Met this am to discuss Chapter 5. Still seeing the same themes and starting to wonder if SOT might be Straka's metaphoric autobiography? S__ sure finds himself in dire situations where he's given the chance to step up, but usually does not. He lets people down. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."  Is S___ passive-aggressive?
Another common theme is that of being alone vs relationships.  "LOVE. LOSE. DIE." S__doesn't seem to have much luck with people he runs into and they sure don't fare better for meeting him.
The cave painting description was interesting as was their journey into (and out) of it.
Once again S___finds himself in water, alone, and lo and behold -- there's the SOT there, waiting, with all his old shipmates.
We see S__experiencing loss, a little shame and regret..how will he atone and do penance?

2-2 Met to discuss Chapter 6. Our confusion as to who S__ is, and what he's doing continues. Is he moving toward something or away from something? Everywhere he goes, people die trying to help him. Time is passing -- and he's unaware. He (his foot) was healed in the water (baptism?) and now is back on the ship. Bizarre ritual observed below decks. Crew down to 15 sailors from 19 and some are women, he just notices. He's writing his story on the walls of his cabin.
Reasons for change - time, circumstances, people and experiences.

2-9 Met to discuss Chapter 7. We were quite surprised by events that bring even more questions and confusion. S___ is writing. S____ has aged. S_____still has no answers to his history though it seems that memories are coming. The visit to the island was interesting -- who was that old woman?
Is this whole experience to this point some sort of dream state for S____?  He's back to the ship after seeing all the books and the old woman. Makes a mistake to sneak a visit the orlop deck? or is it not a mistake after all?

2-11 Again we meet to talk about Chapter Interlude when S___is apparently fulfilling his duties with the contents of the valise and murdering the Agents who work for THE BOSS (Vevoda).  It was interesting to see a reference to a specific place (Sarajevo) and a real event (assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand) and some other details that eliminate some of the vagueness associated with the rest of the book. May be helpful to review some of the pertinent history of that time and place. Circa 1914? 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria
Interesting that S___sews up his own lips but takes out the thread when he leaves the ship to go on his missions. He still spends hours in the orlop writing "all the stories of the world" and time is fluid.

2-16 Met for Chapter 8 - on the Territory for another assassination. This time -- someone S___ has known in the past! Again his guides are killed/die. There's a baby too -- what does it mean? Some good quotes in this chapter: "What matters is what you DO, not what you are called." (name is not your identity). "Better a change than an end."  "History - a story of choices."  When S____attempts to return to the ship, it's been destroyed and all appear dead.

2-22 Well, we have finished reading the book of Ship of Thesus and were quite dismayed by the NONending. No answers. Just a lot of platitudes and axioms about life in general. What happened at the Chateau? Where are S and Sola going (if anywhere). Where's their ship? Is this a happy ever after ending for them?

Not sure what to do next. We've agreed that we will give a shot to going back through and now reading the margin notes and trying to figure out what the inserts have to do with anything. I'm afraid we all missed the boat and the message of this one...

2-29 How appropriate to end our reading of this book on "Leap Day" -- yes, we're done. After all this time, we just don't want to commit any more to trying to decipher the hidden meanings, go through the clues, and figure out any further revelations from this book. The experience was interesting, but in the end, all the "extras" didn't really do anything to add to the value or the story of S. In fact, the most common complaint from the group was that the story was frustrating and confusing.

SO -- we're glad we read it, found some insight about the truth of personal identity and change.
I'm thinking that others might get more out of it than we did, but we just didn't want to invest any more energy and continue reading between the lines (and around them) to get the whole story!

I like this quote (on a card inserted between pages 360-361) attributed to VM Straka: "A person is NO MORE & NO LESS than the story of his Passions and Deeds." 

Thanks to the group members who hung in there for the whole thing!

Ms C.

Snow Like Ashes and Ice Like Fire~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

 

                                              

Meira is one of the seven refugees who survived the attack on her home kingdom of Winter when it was taken over by Spring and it's evil ruler, Angra. Fighting to become a good warrior and battling her love for the future King of Winter, and best friend, Mather, she must conquer new obstacles in order to gain the kingdom back. But when she begins hearing the voice of the last queen of Winter, Hannah, and feels the magic that once belonged to Hannah, she begins to find out her own destiny and how exactly she can save Winter and end Angra's reign.

            Fast-forward 6 months.

            Meira has taken her role as Queen of Winter and now begins with new obstacles of how to exactly get her kingdom back to normal. Since Winter is in serious debt to Cordell, and engaged to the prince, Theron, her kingdom is in debt to their evil ruler, Noam. Though Meira has tried to adapt to the new life of Queen, Mather struggles living is new life completely opposite of what he expected. When the mines of the kingdom are opened and her people find the chasm that holds all the power for her kingdom, she's determined to find the keys that unlock the chasm and make sure Noam will never have power over her or her people.

 

            I LOVED these books so I gave them both 5 stars! Everything left me reading more and more and the author really did a good job building up hype throughout the chapters of what was to come. The plot twists were super good and I didn't see them coming at all! When she felt the magic inside of her I just thought "Oh, maybe the people of Winter are getting their magic back?" But the real reason behind it was so unexpected. I loved these characters in the book, and I especially loved Meira. It's extremely nice seeing a girl trying to fix things for herself and her kingdom and not thinking the whole time about how to find the perfect guy and fall in love for once. I loved these books and would definitely recommend them to any of my friends or family

 

Firsts--Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

"People aren’t a chemistry experiment you can tinker with until the proportions are just right.

People are terrifying that way.”

Your first time is something that is not only a big step, but also utterly terrifying. Some people desperately wish that there was some way to get ready or even practice, without their girlfriend or boyfriend finding out. I mean they just want to give that one special person the perfect special time.

Enter Mercedes Ayres.

Seventeen year old Mercedes Ayres gives boyfriends that chance to get the awkward first time over with, and open the door to giving their girlfriends perfect first time. Only catch is the guy has to be a virgin and he can't ever speak of his adventure with Mercedes to anyone. Of course the boys are fine with the secrecy, except for Zach who seems to want more from Mercedes than she is willing to give.

Everything seems to be going quite well that is until Charlie, Mercedes's best friend Angela's boyfriend, wants a turn. Suddenly, Mercedes little "tutoring" becomes public. All Mercedes secretes come to light and she isn't ready for it.

Join Mercedes as she tries to find out who she really is, battles the hatred from her fellow girl classmates, and even love.

I gave this book five stars because I absolutely loved it! This book captured topics that seem to be felt through out high schoolers all over the world. There's self-esteem issues, sexuality issues, bullying, love, and becoming comfortable with our bodies. This book made me really think about things in my life that I have done, and the real thoughts behind them. It gives you an inside view of what people really feel about themselves and how they think their actions affect other people's lives.

Ms. Crawford, I think we should purchase this book because not only does it show you the affects of sexual activity on a teen, but also the affects on the partner of the sexually active teen. This book does not just cover sex, but it also covers the thought process of a teen and how they feel the need to be loved in order to love themselves. It shows us that sex is not supposed to be used for feeling pleasure or a false sense of happiness, but rather for the purpose of expressing your love for the one person you believe will be your first and only love. This book also lets us see the bad affects that sex has on a person, and what multiple sexually partners can really do to a person. I think this book will have a great affect on my fellow peers and believe that this book should be incorporated into our library. This needs to be experienced by our young adults in order to help them find their way through high school and the pressure of sex at our age. 

Truthwitch--Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

“I hate this. Both the storm and the plan. Why does it have to be ‘we’? Why not just me?"
“Because ‘just me’ isn’t who we are,” Iseult hollered back. “I’ll always follow you, Safi, and you’ll always follow me. Threadsisters to the end.”  

Friends are the people you can always count on. Possibly even risk your own life for. This is the type of bond that Safiya and Iseult and have. They would do anything for each other, be anything for each other, and even die for each other.

In the Witchlands there are many people that each use their own type of magic which may or may not lead them on the path of trouble. Two women know this all too well. Their names...Safiya and Iseult.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, meaning that she is able to know the difference between a truth and a lie. This magical ability is one that almost anyone would kill to have fighting on their side, especially the noble people that Safiya live with. Safiya must keep her abilities a secret, or else she is in danger of being used as pawn in a war between powerful empires.

Iseult is a Threadwitch, meaning that she has the ability to see the invisible ties that tie the entangled lives around her. However, Iseult cannot see the bonds that touch her very own heart. Iseult's friendship with Safiya has taken her from a outcasts to an amazing adventure.

Together these two friends work to free themselves from their own confinement in order to be able to finally live their own lives.

I thought this book was really good! It was exciting and the relationship between Safiya and Iseult was heart warming. You could really feel the strong bond between these two. I also really liked how the author wrote this book, I was really grabbed by every word. The adventure in this book is absolutely amazing and really gives you chills. Though it was a little in some places it still gave me chills.