Morgan’s Comments (group member since Dec 08, 2017)

Morgan’s comments from the Flower Mound Public Library group.

Instructions:
1. Read the theme description.
2. Select a book that ties to the theme. You can choose from the suggestions provided or a book not included on the list, as long as it fits with the theme.
4. Enjoy your book!
5. Participate in the discussion about this theme on the Goodreads page through March 31st.

Theme description: Whether you were born and raised here or have grown into your Texan status, it’s clear that this state is one of a kind, from its rich history to its diverse landscapes and populations. We will explore the past and present of the Lone Star State from a variety of perspectives to attempt to define what Texas means to us.

Suggestion List:
Fiction
"The Gates of the Alamo" by Stephen Harrigan
"The Buckskin Line" by Elmer Kelton
"Thunder and Rain" by Charles Martin
"Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry
"All I Have in this World" by Michael Parker
Non-fiction
"Texas Eats" by Robb Walsh
"Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas" by Nick Eatman
"The Liars’ Club" by Mary Karr
"Texas Blood" by Roger D. Hodge
"God Save Texas" by Lawrence Wright
"Texas Rising" by Stephen L. Moore
"Texas Women" by Elizabeth Turner, Stephanie Cole, and Rebecca Sharpless
"Isaac’s Storm" by Erik Larson

Hi Regina, that's a perfect recommendation for this month! I have heard great things about that book and it is on my list of new books to read.

Share your thoughts about the book that you chose this month!

Do you think you would have been able to overcome what the protagonist did in the book that you read? Why or why not?

Are some people naturally courageous, or is this a trait that must develop over time or in certain situations?

Instructions:
1. Read the theme description.
2. Select a book that ties to the theme. You can choose from the suggestions provided or a book not included on the list, as long as it fits with the theme.
4. Enjoy your book!
5. Participate in the discussion about this theme on the Goodreads page through February 28th.

Theme description: In times of fear and desperation, courage is sometimes found in the unlikeliest of places. We will explore the resilience of human nature with stories of individuals who speak out for the voiceless, stand up for what is right, and inspire us to do the same.

Suggestion List:
Fiction
"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
"The Handmaid’s Tale" by Margaret Atwood
"The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah
"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
"The Martian" by Andy Weir
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
Nonfiction
"Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
"Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah
"Wild" by Cheryl Strayed
"I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai
"The Zookeeper’s Wife" by Diane Ackerman

What did you read this month? Did you enjoy it?

Does technology have a positive or negative impact on our relationships?

What are some of the negative aspects of technology that were explored your book? If a work of fiction, are these realistic threats to society today?

Instructions:
1. Read the theme description.
2. Select a book that ties to the theme. You can use the hint list provided or choose a book not included on the list, as long as it fits with the theme.
4. Enjoy your book!
5. Participate in the discussion about this theme on the Goodreads page through January 31st.

Theme description: Technology is truly wonderful. It connects us, makes our lives easier, brainwashes us into subservience…wait, what? With this theme, we will explore the dark side of technology and its implications for future generations.

Hint List:
Fiction
"Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood
"Need" by Joelle Charbonneau
"Feed" by Mira Grant
"Altered Carbon" by Richard Morgan
"Infomocracy" by Malka Older
"The Dark Net" by Benjamin Percy
"Daemon" by Daniel Suarez
"The Feed" by Nick Clark Windo
Non-fiction
"Thinking Machines" by Luke Dormehl
"Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked" by Adam Alter
"iDisorder: Understanding Our Dependency on Technology and Overcoming our Addiction" by Larry Rosen
"You are Not a Gadget" by Jaron Lanier
"Against the Machine" by Lee Siegel

Did what you read shift your perspective of the featured culture in any way? If so, how?

What did you learn about another culture that surprised you?

What does reading books written by international authors teach us about other cultures and ways of life?

Instructions:
1. Read the theme description.
2. Select a book that ties to the theme. You can use the hint list provided or choose a book not included on the list, as long as it fits with the theme.
4. Enjoy your book!
5. Participate in the discussion about this theme on the Goodreads page through December 31st.

Theme description: Reading books written by non-U.S. authors enables us to travel to new lands, experiencing other cultures and ways of life through the eyes of the characters. This month, embrace your wanderlust and expand your knowledge of the world by reading a book by an international author.

Author Hint List:
"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)
"Inés of My Soul", "The House of the Spirits" by Isabel Allende (Chile)
"We Need New Names" by Noviolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)
"The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco (Italy)
"Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel (Mexico)
"The Kite Runner", "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
"The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson (Sweden)
"After Dark", "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" by Haruki Murakami (Japan)
"The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruíz Zafón (Spain)
"The World We Found" by Thrity Umrigar (India)
"Brothers" by Hua Yu (China)

Good afternoon, everyone! This is just a reminder that the Theme Book Club (an in-person book club that covers the same themes as our Digital Book Club) will be meeting on Thursday, December 6th at 7 p.m. in the Library Conference Room. The theme of next month's meeting is "Explore Other Cultures". We will continue the discussion on the Digital Book Club page for the remainder of the month of December. Check out the event page for our December meeting for more information, including book suggestions: https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

Why do so many coming of age books maintain their classic or timeless quality?

Adolescents often look to an authority figure or family member as a mentor during this difficult transition period. What kind of guidance or help did the protagonist in your book receive?

This month, I read "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. It was my first time reading this Young Adult classic and I loved it! The book tells the story of Junior, a high school student and aspiring illustrator raised on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to break free of the limitations imposed on his community, he transfers to a primarily white high school in a privileged town nearby. I was inspired by Junior's sense of humor, resilience, and determination. It's a beautiful story and a perfect coming-of-age novel.

What did you read this month?

Instructions:
1. Read the theme description.
2. Select a book that ties to the theme. You can use the hint list provided or choose a book not included on the list, as long as it fits with the theme.
4. Enjoy your book!
5. Participate in the discussion about this theme on the Goodreads page through November 30th.

Theme description: We all remember the growing pains of adolescence, both literal and figurative. This period of upbringing is marked by hard lessons of the “real world” and the first taste of independence. From timeless literary classics to popular fiction, these books remind us of the joys and challenges of growing up.

Hint List:
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
"The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
"Green" by Sam Graham-Felsen
"Looking for Alaska" by John Green
"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton
"A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

Diane wrote: "I think that's a great pick! There were so many good choices on the list, but To Kill a Mockingbird is the quintessential American novel, one that could only occur here. So were several others, but..."

I totally agree, Diane! It's a timeless classic that completely deserves the #1 spot.