Maggie's comments
(member since Jun 02, 2009)
Maggie's comments from the The Book Addicts! group.
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The Nation would work for me, too. I have it on TBR.
My version of the book had a map of PEI, but didn't show Avonlea. Is Avonlea not a real place? I ALWAYS thought it was. In any event, it's only 30 miles from a real place, so we could figure it out. I want to visit The Avenue and Barry's Pond and . . . .
Olive Kittridge
Atonement
I nominate:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
both look excellent
Karla wrote: "I would like to read The lightning thief BAD!!!"
Whether we read it for this group or not, you should read the entire series. It's a kick and a great way to learn mythology.
Yorky wrote: "Its such a book about second chances, you have Anne with her bad start in life and yet a happy outcome then Matthew and Marilla who even when they get to their ages suddenly get a new chance and al..."
I agree that Anne's determination to succeed was a paramount reason for her success. I was astounded to realize how far behind she was and then almost immediately rose to the top when she wanted to (even before Miss Stacy enters her life). I also loved that the book makes it obvious how important good teachers are to the success of their students. I also found it interesting that it was originally published in 1908 and tried to keep that in mind as I read it thinking how difficult so many of the lives had to be in that time (especially so near Nova Scotia -- the weather appeared to be milder, but must have been very tough any way).
Re-reading it 45+ years after the first time, I find I have such sympathy for Gilbert. What a sweetie he was to put up with Anne's nonsense and then to give up Avonlea school so she could teach there. I loved Marilla and Matthew again as I did the first time, but this time understood what a wonderful change Anne brought into their lonely lives. Matthew had a wonderful five years before his death in which he grew and was rewarded with lots of love. Marilla learns to unbend a little and to love a lot.
Now I want to re-read all the others again. Maybe in 2010.
Thank you to whomever recommended this book for our December read. I wouldn't have thought of it, but loved going to Canada again.
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Miss GP wrote: "Would it be OK with you to list it in January? I'd like to nominate it as a possible group read in January, and then, if it doesn't make it to the top two, read it on the side. Does that work for everyone?"
That's fine with me, but since it wasn't very popular this month I wouldn't hold out much hope for January.
Miss GP wrote: "I'd like to read it. "
Great, since you're one of the moderators, would you put up a thread for this one on 12/15 (or thereabouts) [that gives us time to read this book and others we're interested in, hopefully:] and I'll then go in and put some questions in to get the discussions started. Let me know if that timing doesn't work for you.
LemonLinda wrote: "Maggie,
I would be interested in reading A Christmas Memory. I just looked it up and read the reviews and it sounds intriguing. So count me in. When do we start? I think I will reread A Christmas ..."
I'll re-read A Christmas Carol, too, but I'm sure I can finish A Christmas Memory before the 15th as well. I'll ask Miss GP to put up the thread on about the 15th. Then I'll go in and put in some questions to get the discussions started. If you haven't finished the book by then, don't worry, the questions will be there when you're ready.
Since it looks like The Christmas Carol and The Stupidest Angel are going to be the winners for December, is there any interest in a side read of A Christmas Memory? I'll moderate if there's enough interest.
In 2010 I have several: Read my abandoned books (I've actually set a Reading Challenge in bookcrossing for this); to read more books given to me by other bookcrossers; and, read more non-fiction than 2009. I'm really pushing for the first two, the third will depend on my reading mood. I'm incapable of forcing myself to read any book unless it is a book club selection, and even then there are a few I haven't been able to finish.
So Bod's about 15 at the end of the book. He's got some education, but certainly not a normal structured education. He has a thirst to know people and travel the world. He has no parents or siblings to care for him. He has a little money. How do you see his next year unfolding? How do you see him in 10 years.
Kelly Jo wrote: "About the Bod going to school topic...I don't think he learned any real social skills in that interaction, because he used his graveyard skills (haunting, hiding, and being inconspicuous) and these..."
I agree he didn't learn social skills. As I said, he learned school survival skills - how to handle bullies, etc. He certainly needs social skills, but he's such a kind, empathetic boy that I think his lack of those will either be overlooked by others or come to him more easily than survival skills would when he's suddenly inserted in school at the age of 10/11.
Kelly Jo wrote: "I didn't like the subplot when Bod went to school. It seemed out of place compared to the rest of it. Maybe, it was supposed to be, since it was the only part where Bod had any activity in the Livi..."
I disagree. I found it natural that he would be going to school and that it would eventually have to be with the living. His friendship with Scarlet had shown him a little of what he might be able to find outside and it was only natural that he would want it since the children he played with in the cemetery never grew older and thus he outgrew them.
Also, I think it was necessary to teach him school ground survival skills and, of course, it advances the plot to its eventual conclusion.
For me, the only thing that didn't quite make it was Silas at the pizza parlor, but again it was necessary to the plot and Gaiman explained all the required details of Silas "eating," etc.
LemonLinda wrote: "Absolutely, but then her friend was really more of a mother figure for Anne."
I agree, she was very sweet.
MarBear wrote: "Hi all. What was the Count's fate? Did he get what he deserved?
Marbear"
This was one of the scenes I loved in the book, it was so reminescent of The Godfather. You just knew that the Mafia had its beginnings with the political unrest of that period. I also loved that the Count's body was put on display. Too bad they didn't get Mrs. Fosco at the same time. Two for the price of one would have made me happier.
MarBear wrote: "Maggie wrote: "MarBear wrote: "Here's a question. Do you think it's possible that Laura's father knew that he was Anne's father? Could that have had something to do with him wanting her to marry Si..."
I, too, felt very sorry for Ann, because I think she was a very sweet girl, and probably not of average intelligence, but I don't think she was far below it either. I suspect she was what we would characterize as "slow." She clearly knew how little her mother cared for her (even before Mrs. Catherick aided Percival in putting her in the asylum). I'm sure Mrs. Catherick made that very apparent. Which is why, after she was released she went straight to her friend, not her mother.
MarBear wrote: "Here's a question. Do you think it's possible that Laura's father knew that he was Anne's father? Could that have had something to do with him wanting her to marry Sir P?"
I don't think that Phillip Fairlie even knew that Mrs. Catherick was pregnant or that she gave birth to a girl who was a pale copy of Laura. Mrs. Catherick left Limmeridge house and established herself in that town before anyone guessed she was pregnant. I don't think Mrs. Catherick would have told him about her pregnancy because she'd married and had a socially acceptable excuse for the pregnancy (until her own husband ruined it). Her husband (who truly sounds like a dolt) jumps to the wrong conclusion and apparently wouldn't listen to her protestations that Percival was not the father and then he abandons them both. I must say, I not only felt no sympathy for Mr. Catherick but thought he was something of a jerk for abandoning them both on such slim "proof."
