Reading Group Guides

I just signed our book group up at Reading Group Guides. This is a great Website with lots of ideas and reviews of books to read and discuss, contests for free books, newsletters, polls, upcoming books and, of course, reading group guides.

Links to historical documents

Here are some links with historical references to Deliverance Dane.

The Salem Witchcraft Papers http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/texts/ Search for Deliverence Dane in 'accused' and 'court documents'.

More on the Salem Witch trials http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

This link to a book discussion guide contains and interesting interview with the author, Muriel Barbery.

Choosing a Title for the Next Evening Mtg

I have selected three titles for us to choose from for our next discussion mtg in August (8/17). If everyone/anyone interested in coming to this mtg could let me know which book you would like to read that would be great

1. Memory Keepers Daughter – Kim Edwards
2. Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen – Syrie James
3. The Last Chinese Chef – Nicole Mones

More on The Help by Kathryn Stockett

To read more about the author and listen to an audio clip go to Penguin's Webpage on The Help.

Jean Hanff Korelitz speaking in Hopewell

Hear Jean Korelitz read from her book Admission on Sunday, June 13 at the Hopewell Public Library. For more information on this fundraiser go to hopewellpubliclibrary.blogspot.com

Do you remember the video of Princeton University that Portia used to start off her presentation to prospective students? If this is not the exact one I'm sure it is in the same vein.

Princeton: Discovery, Inspiration, Evolution

Tangents to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Click here to read and view tangents to David Wroblewski's The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I especially liked the first dog video. There is also more information on "shared gaze" exercises as described in the book.

Author Shohban Bantwal speaking

Dont' forget to come hear author Shohban Bantwal discuss her books on Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m.

Physick Book of Deliverance Dance

I just wanted to provide a quick link to the Univ of Virginia online document archive in regards to the Salem Witch Trials that were used extensively by the author as she researched for the book. Check out the documents here

Curious Incident - Interview with Author

This is an interesting interview with author Mark Haddon about the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Read and enjoy!

Cranbury Public Library Review : The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by Mark Haddon

Christopher Boone is a 15 year-old boy who has been living with his working-class father for the past two years since his mother, he’s been told, died of a heart attack. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time begins with Christopher’s discovery of Wellington, his neighbor’s dog, dead, impaled by a pitchfork. He decides he must solve the mystery of the dog’s death, in part because he has come under suspicion of the crime, but mostly because the situation has presented the ultimate puzzle to solve. Although never fully explained in the text of the novel, Christopher is Autistic, and logic and puzzles are the tools he uses to make the world around him make sense.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon’s debut novel, is written in first person from Christopher’s point of view. In this manner, Haddon takes us along this young man’s journey with unmatched empathy and insight into the Autistic mind. Christopher’s adventure is by turns heart-wrenching, hilarious, tragic, and at times, even shocking. Through his narrative, however, the storytelling is detached, almost simplistically matter-of-fact. But therein lies the magic of this masterfully crafted book. Haddon allows the reader to experience life as Christopher has learned how to deal with it; sharing the literal-minded observations and self-imposed patterns that he relies on to filter the overwhelming world around him.

Christopher Boone warns the reader from the start: “This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them.” It may be true that the “funny” that most people find in jokes is lost to Christopher’s unique logical processes. But it’s the furthest thing from the truth that the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Timedoesn’t overflow with not only unmatched humor, but great poignancy and warmth. This is a novel that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a well-honed mystery, wishes to gain insight into the mind of a person with Autism, or is simply a fan of engaging, smartly-written literature.

Rescheduled!

Due to the impending snow storm our Joy School discussion is rescheduled to Wednesday, February 17.

"What is the What" by Dave Eggers

The Free Library of Philadelphia had this title as One Book Philadelphia in 2008 and published a fantastic Resource Guide. Besides the discussion questions, I found the Timeline: A Recent History of Sudan and the map on pages 6-8 especially of interest. You may also like to check the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation website. Here you will find information on the book and Sudan as well as the Foundation.