Book Club: Fiction - vote and sign up here!

[zealsmom]

I read through the suggestions and did some research (eliminating sci-fi as per some requests) These books seem to have the elements people have been looking for.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0LLXT07DQQ&mscssid=UD7SBSXKFTGW8NPJGQ3A3E7917U99UQD&isbn=014100018X#synopsis

A Prayer For Owen Meany
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0LLXT07DQQ&mscssid=UD7SBSXKFTGW8NPJGQ3A3E7917U99UQD&isbn=0345361792#synopsis

The Nature of Water and Air
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0LLXT07DQQ&mscssid=UD7SBSXKFTGW8NPJGQ3A3E7917U99UQD&isbn=0743203232#FromBN

This poll will end in one week!
Vote now or forever hold your peace (or at least until next time)!

[daylily]

I voted for "A Prayer for Owen Meany". I saw the movie "Chocolat" and I hated it. (I know, I'm probably the only one.) I didn't even watch the whole thing. As a Catholic I was really offended by its portrayal of the Catholic Church. There is NO WAY, even in the 1950's, that a priest would reprimand someone for praying for their dog! And, unless, you've specifically given Chocolate up for lent, you can eat all the candy you want during lent. And I've never met a priest who objected to dancing and partying. The priest who married dh & me was dancing and drinking at my wedding. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. Maybe the book is better.

[miasmom]

Good choices! This will be a lot of fun!

[battymomma]

i have already read Owen and loved it.
Chocolat's review did nothing for me.
other choice sounds great!!

[3girls1boy]

I couldn't vote for some reason.

I have read all but "Chocolat" so I guess I would vote for that. I just finished, "The Nature of..." and read "Owen Meany" quite some time ago.

How are we going to work the discussion?

[zealsmom]

I voted for "Nature of..." because I liked what I have read about the positive BFing relationship in the story.

Just a word about Chocolat. I read it last year and would love to read it again if that's what people want. I am not Catholic nor do I subscribe to organized religion, so in that respect I was not defensive about the subject matter. But, I must say, that what i got from the book was more about the relationships (between husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, friends, people unknown to others, institutions and the people they are supposed to be serving) and a message about life. It really was a beautiful book that sparked wonderful discussion between dh and myself (I would read a chapter and then tell him about it and share passages - He was raised catholic so his insights were valuable)

I started to watch the movie and was disgusted by it; I walked out after only 20 minutes. Perhaps I didn't give it a chance but it had a lot to live up to in my opinion and they changed so much about it even from the git go.

re: discussion format -
Any ideas anyone? Should we read the whole book then discuss or discuss chapters at a time? I have never belonged to a book club so I don't know what everyones preconceived notions are.

I feel lucky to have a community where this is happening/taking shape. seems precious to me.

[zealsmom]

shall we split into 2 groups or do you want to open up another vote?
We could add Ishmael by Daniel Quinn to the list to give us more choices.

Anybody?

[miasmom]

There is only 14 of us, it would be nice to stay together to get as many opinions and viewpoints as possible.
Should someone break the tie? We could choose someone to make the deciding vote?

[rsps]

since a couple people seem to really not want to do Chocolat, why don't we do the Nature of Air and Water?

[miasmom]

Works for me. Any major objections?

[Seawen]

Nature of water and air sounds good to me. It was next on my reading list! I can't wait to dig in.

[battymomma]

ok...need to get time to get to the store to get it, then i'll start, too!

[daylily]

After I leave these boards, I'll log onto our library's catalog and look for The Nature of Water and Air.

[Seawen]

Have any of you done a book group online like this? I haven't. How does it work once we've all read the book?

[dotcommama]

I would love to join you in reading The Nature of Water and Air - is it too late?

LMK

[miasmom]

We need an official start date. Jan. 20th should give us all time to procure a book. How does that sound? Thats about 2 weeks.????

[battymomma]

sounds good to me!
no, i have never done this before, so i have no idea how we do this...

[zealsmom]

My copy is on its merry way, but may not make it by the 20th. Crossing my fingers - mail usually takes 2-3 weeks but the mail has been nuts since 9-11 and I haven't been able to find a copy locally.

How does everyone feel about reading a few chapters/sections at a time and then starting a new thread for discussion? Or taking the book in thirds?

Can I take the liberty of opening a new thread to get us going sometime around the 20th? (although I will then need some catch-up time before posting depending on when I receive my copy)

[Katrina]

I couldn't vote on the poll, but I would like to read The Nature of Air and Water.

[miasmom]

My library does not have the book so I need to find one too.
How many are ready? Should we wait till the end of the month so everyone can start at the same time?

[rsps]

I'm number one on a waiting list at the library for my copy.

[Steph C.]

I am thrilled! I am a very avid reader, and do not have time anymore to attend a book group in person. I will get my copy today. It's lucky you picked that book because I had already read the other two!! Has anyone figured out yet how to go about discussions,etc.??

[dotcommama]

I posted a while back asking if it was ok to join in so late in the game, no one said no so I'm assuming it's okay. ;)

I got the book from the library and have finished reading it - can't wait to talk about it.

How are we going to discuss it - in a thread or via chat board? I have a chat board on my family website (use it to chat with friends for free so I don't have make as many long distance phone calls). Anyway, I wanted to offer to host a chat discussion if anyone is interested when we all finish reading - let me know if anyone is interested.

LMK

[TripkeHughes]

Me too. I'll look for the book this weekend at the Library. Oh, I hate that I owe money. Opps, bad TH.

[rsps]

I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive.

[zealsmom]

Yippee! My copy came yesterday and I have begun reading! Although with life picking up the pace, I am only on chapter 9.

Dotcommama, thanks for offering to host a chat. I think that is a great idea. How does everyone else feel about that? If that is a go for everyone, maybe we can set a date (or 2). If not, I will open a new thread for discussion.

[dotcommama]

So do we have a date to for discussion yet? I finished it a little while ago and I'm looking forward to talking to you all about it.

LMK:lady

[Seawen]

I'm ready to talk about it. Where is everyone else in their reading?

:wave (I love these smilies)

[daylily]

I'm up to chapter 10, but it moves fast, so I think I can finish it quickly. (I'm reading Magical Child and another book so they're slowing me down a bit.)

[dotcommama]

Should we start another thread to take a vote on what day to have a discussion?

LMK:flower

[rsps]

My time online is fairly limited, but I'll try to make it to whatever date you set (still awaiting my copy of the book though!)

[Seawen]

Should we startt with suggested times? Are days or nights better? Weekends?

The best time for me is after 9pm any night but Tues.

[dotcommama]

after 9pm (eastern time) is good for me also - any day during the week.

[rsps]

well if I set the alarm clock to get up at 1 AM I could do that (9pm eastern time). how about on a Sat or Sun night so I'll be tired at work the next day rather than tired with the kids. Or this Fri. Feb 1 if thats not too soon. (I'm picking up my copy today)

[dotcommama]

rsps - where are you? the location next to your name says CA - California right? If so then you are 3 hours behind eastern time - so 9pm would be 6pm for you - I think.

[rsps]

you're right -- I was going backwards! :p

[zealsmom]

oh wow!!!!! I just finished 2 minutes ago and can't wait to talk!

Let's see. Your 9 PM is my 10:30 am (the next day), which is as bad as it gets unless you all can afford a Friday night getaway because I am a working mom (for 4 more months) and am only home at that time on the weekends.

If that doesn't work for everyone then I will survive and maybe we can post in a new forum some reactions.

WOW! Such a good book!

[dotcommama]

Would this Friday at 9pm Eastern work for everyone or is that too soon? - zealsmom would that work for you?

LMK

[zealsmom]

Sounds great! unless people need more time...

dotcommama, can you just post directions for using your chat room (that's the plan right?)

[daylily]

Can I have a tinker man of my very own?

I'm on chapter 23. Friday sounds good to me.

[dotcommama]

Okay we are on for 9 Eastern on Friday then, right? I will PM anyone who is interested in joining the chat with the link to the chat room (I don't want to post it on the boards b/c then any 'ol lurker would have the link to my chat room), but I have no problem giving it to any and every Mothering Community Member.

So I know daylily, zealsmom and rsps are in for the chat, right. rsps - I think I PM'd you the link already, but let me know if I didn't. daylily and zealsmom - I'll PM you with the link now.

Anyone else who needs the link PM me or post here.

This should be really fun!

LMK :thumb

[rsps]

I doubt I'll be able to join you (and I'm only on page 67)

But I'll see if I can pop in.