The Hobbit

In November we were able to review "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien, one of my favorite books by possibly my favorite author of all time. This is a shorter tale, that anyone familiar with Lord of the Rings will know, introduces you to hobbits, wizards, goblins, elves, dwarves and of course, one particular ring that causes quite a bit of trouble for Middle Earth. Tolkien originally wrote this story with children in mind, not really knowing or having a full idea of the epic scale that Lord of the Rings would become.

In fact, changes were made to "The Hobbit" to smooth out problems that were eventually fleshed out in Lord of the Rings. "The Hobbit" is charming and fun, cute and different than most fantasy, adventure tales. It follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a respectable hobbit in the Shire, who is swept off on a quest with thirteen dwarves to re-claim their kingdom. And by the way, there is a dragon that needs to be slain.  He is recruited by Gandalf, a wizard who acts as a guide and pushes Bilbo into realizing just how much of a difference one brave soul can be.

Many who have read "The Hobbit" prior to reading "The Lord of the Rings" will grow a strong attachment to the endearing character of Bilbo Baggins. When launching into reading "The Lord of the Rings" one may wonder why Bilbo is not the main character instead of Frodo and Sam.  It is a fantastic novel of budding, epic proportions, ringing true the fact that tales (and life) go on and on, just the characters and challenges change.

This book is a magical adventure involving goblins, spiders, elves and Bilbo must learn to find his strength and bravery to help his friends through the troubles. It is a landmark book that ushered in the birth of 'fantasy' novels and is read by millions, young and old, every year. We read and discussed the book in anticipation of the upcoming first installment of "The Hobbit" in theaters. Definitely a highly recommended book and a great pick for our book club. 

“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit 

In Search of Eden

The book chosen for October book club was "In Search of Eden" by Linda Nichols.  This is a beautifully told story about a fifteen year old who is forced into giving her baby up for adoption. Her mother is cold and her father has abandoned them; the father of her child wants nothing to do with her and she spends her young adult life searching for some kind of comfort.  When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, she ends up being directed to a town in Virginia in a quest to find her baby.

We are introduced to some beautiful and interesting characters that weave in and out of her life and the story to create a refreshing and satisfying tale. Many answers come to her and she learns much about her own family history as well as the kindness of strangers and new friends. Gestures from strangers, actions that are misinterpreted and the sparkle of youth amidst the backdrop of trial are all well woven into "In Search of Eden".

This is a fantastic read, very sweet and uplifting in a world where sometimes it seems all bad things end worse. The goodness of people comes through, despite flaws, despite circumstance to make the best of all their options and help one another.

At book club we discussed the characters, the plot and those who were able to read the book were delighted with this read. Those who had not yet read it were excited to get a chance to read it in the future. It is full of quiet, uplifting sentiment and leaves the reader wishing to be as good of a person as they can be. Definitely recommended by our group for anyone young adult and up.

A Little Princess

Our September pick was "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  This short novel is reminiscent of many a good tale, full of struggle and strength, heartache and joy. The story follows a young girl, Sara Crewe who is brought to a school by her father to live and be taught while he is working abroad. She is incredibly wealthy but also kind, smart and creative. She has experienced life in India allowing her a broad imagination and a different perspective on life.

Sara goes from being wealthy and privileged to poor and a servant girl when she learns of her father's death and the collapse of his business. She is treated cruelly by the Headmistress and many of the other servants but copes by using her imagination and kindhearted spirit to help others around her. The novel is sweet and uplifting, but also quite engaging. It is filled with examples of people, good and bad that surround us and how people do or do not deal with tragedy and suffering.

Sara helps those around her and lifts up those who are suffering, even as she is struggling in her own situation. She is an excellent example of how kindness and service to others can relieve some of the sting of our daily trials. Thankfully the story ends with the neighbor discovering that she is the daughter of his former partner; he is releived to have found her and to be able to restore her to her fortune and take her in.  The arc of the story is one of overcoming trials and having a happy and kind heart. It is a delightful read, engaging and well written. Recommended for children, it is still a book people of all ages can enjoy and learn from. It was a fabulous choice for Book Club and a satisfying read.

"There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in--that's stronger. It's a good thing not to answer your enemies."
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess

Daisy Miller

For our August pick we chose "Daisy Miller" by Henry James. It is a very short story, about 50 pages or so and tells the story of an American young woman visiting Europe as seen through the eyes of an American man who has lived in Europe for many years.  The man, Winterbourne, is charmed by her and surprised at the variety of contrasts in her behavior and nature to what he is accustomed to in Europe.

She is a flirt and very outspoken, while beautiful and wealthy she is clearly looked down upon by European society. The entire story seems to be the author painting a picture of a scene from a little slice of history, contrasting the European culture with the Americans, perhaps Title verses New Money, so to speak. The story ends as many Henry James' novels do, not particularly 'happily ever after' but you are still left with a picture of what a particular family, relationship and person may have been like burned into your mind.

It reflects an interesting commentary on the lax parenting skills of Daisy's mother verses the uptight and strict adherence to cultural mores held by Winterbourne's aunt. We had a lively discussion on whether or not it was just a straightforward little slice of life or 'painting' if you will, or if it had a deeper more seductive meaning in between the lines. We never really could figure out if literature professors were right or if our natural understanding of the story was correct.

The book was the perfect way to end a summer, no pressure for a big, deep and dark novel but full of enough to discuss to feel worth the effort. All in all we enjoyed a beautiful evening, great discussion, spending time with friends and brownies and ice cream. What could be better?

-Merilee

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
― Henry James

The Thirteenth Tale

In July we reviewed a fantastic debut book by Diane Setterfield titled "The Thirteenth Tale". This engaging read qualifies as part ghost story, part mystery, part fictional biography and perhaps part Gothic tale. The story follows a quiet and introspective young woman named Margaret Lea. She and her father run an antique book store in England and while she is quite comfortable with books and research, she struggles with tense family relationships and ghosts from her past.

She is hired as a biographer to a famous writer, Vida Winter; renowned for her prolific storytelling as well as her tight grip on her privacy. Margaret leaves her comfortable, reliable and quiet existence above the bookshop to stay with the aging author and record the story of Ms. Winter's past. We learn the history of both Ms. Winter's past and pieces of Margaret's own past are revealed, often paralleling the turns of the tale.

The writing is beautiful and lush with a plot and story that is both dynamic and unexpected. The twists toward the end are full of gothic drama, and the many layers the author has created to the tale are often laden with emotion and the satisfaction of a great story from beginning to end.

I know I personally was drawn in to the story almost immediately and craved every chapter to find out what happened. I listened to most of the story on audio, which was captivating with two narrators, one Ms. Winter, one Margaret. But when I happened upon the book at a Library book sale I snapped up the hard copy and finished it on the page-the echoes of the strong narration in my ears.

Definitely worth a read, for the prose alone-and full of little inside winks to those of us who love to read. Mentions of several classic novels and how they reflect a modern story add charm and depth. Those of us who were able to attend all agreed that this book was a great pick. :)

-Merilee

“A good story is always more dazzling than a broken piece of truth.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

June Book Club we reviewed "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" by Fannie Flagg. This charming tale takes us to a small town of Elmwood Springs, Missouri, where we follow the adventures of Elner Shimfissle.  She is an elderly woman who is independent, practical and a constant and reliable friend for more people in her small town than she or they realize. When she falls from her fig tree and is knocked unconscious, taken to the hospital and declared dead her family and the entire town is rocked and shaken by the news. Each evaluates how important this woman was to them, and while this is taking place, Elner has a near death experience.

Waking at the hospital where they thought she was dead, the impact of her life and coming back to life affects more than just her family and friends. This delightful read is funny and full of thoughtful, spiritual insight. It is a book that makes you think about life, your impact on others and how death is a part of life.  Not to mention it has some delicious food described in the book that comes complete with the recipes in the back.  

Many of our Book Club attendees loved how true to form the characters were to people from the small town life they had experienced all around the US. The story is engaging and refreshing to read in our world that sometimes feels very crazy, jaded and disconnected. The hopeful view and practical wisdom of the spunky Elner and the tale woven around her life makes for a pleasant, lovely read.

Austenland

The book we chose for our May book club meeting was Austenland by Shannon Hale. It is modern tale about Jane, who has not had a lot of luck finding the right guy and blames this on her unhealthy obsession with the perfect "Mister Darcy" she has in her mind. And that would be the Mister Darcy as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation that she hides in her plant because she is embarrassed she longs for such an idyllic, and what she believes to be unrealistic, true love romance of her own.  

When an elderly (and wealthy) relative dies and bequeaths to her a trip to an English "role-playing" resort, Jane finds herself on her way to Austenland:  a getaway for women who are obsessed with all things Regency Romance, Jane Austen style.  She is suddenly wearing empire waist dresses and forbidden to have a cell phone as she tries to fit in among other women who vacation in this pretend world of the past. Flirting with the actors is part of the game, but Jane finds herself torn between reality and fiction. 

This novel is fun and entertaining, most especially if one also has a 'thing' for Mister Darcy and enjoys romantic tales. Sweet and funny, the story is an enjoyable read from beginning to end.  Our book club enjoyed sweet treats with an English Tea theme and of course lots of enjoyable company and lively discussion about this delightful read. 

-Merilee

 “If you were a woman, all I'd have to say is 'Colin Firth in a wet shirt' and you'd say 'Ah.'” 

 ― Shannon Hale, Austenland