Julie’s Comments (group member since Dec 28, 2018)

Julie’s comments from the EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club group.

Feb. 4th
Pages: 593

Total Group Pages: 237,013

I always love reading F451. I try to reread it every couple of years, and after every reading, I am amazed how it is still relevant (and growing more so).

I am a high school English teacher in a school that supports 1:1 technology. I considered myself blessed when the school made the move to 1:1. I didn't consider the long term impact it would have on my students. My students are becoming Mildred, and Bradbury's words "they prefer synopsis over story" have never been truer.

When introducing research papers, I often have to instruct students on how to obtain a library card. They haven't been to a library since their "picture book days". It saddens me. And although we read this book and some are able to obtain the lessons of Bradbury's cautionary tale, they don't change.

I worry about the society Bradbury describes as a reality, especially now. The war on media and the integrity of reporters have lead many to turn off their televisions and stop reading their newspapers. They don't know how to ferret out the truth, so they stopped looking for it. Many are meeting the times with a "what can you do about it" attitude.

But on a lighter note....I am always fascinated about the characters at the end and how they are pieces of literature. So my question is this... What piece of literature would you like to be at the end of the world?

Feb. 3rd
Pages: 322

Group Total Pages: 233,738

Jan. 28th

Pages: 348

Group Total Pages: 190,821

Jan 23rd
Pages: 227

Total Group Pages: 159,993

Jan. 22nd
Pages: 337

Total Group Pages: 156,801

I was surprised that I enjoyed the book as much as I did, but I felt at times the book was disjointed. I was so invested in the Mariam story, but then we leave her and focus on Laila for so long. But then when the two are brought together in the book, I am still left with wanting more of Mariam.

Also Laila's mother often gave me trouble. It seemed that too often she was illogical. When her husband wanted to move the family from Kabul because it was too dangerous for Laila and she refused, I began to ask myself if she had a death wish. It is a shame that she could only live for her sons.

And then near the end of the novel when Laila and Tariq are living in Pakistan and the children are well fed, she decides she wanted to go back to Kabul. I began to question her decision-making capabilities.

Also I felt that the male characters were not all that well-developed and appeared flat to me. However, I do think that I will eventually give The Kite Runner a try. I am interested in the male perspective of this war torn country.

Jan. 20

Pages 415

Total Group Pages: 142,414

Jan. 19th

Pages: 564

Group Total: 134,912

A couple of posts ago, totals went horribly wrong. I am trying to correct here. Also I wasn't sure if we could include the books read by everyone, but I see many are posting them, so I will too.



Jan. 5th
Pages: 320



Jan. 10th
Pages: 449



Jan. 16th
Pages: 576

Group Total Pages: 119,391

At times I felt that the morals lessons are a bit forced, and then I dislike the one-up-ness that takes place to prove that they can be good and correct their behaviors.

Jan. 15, 2019

Pages 356

Total Group Pages: 112, 235

Did anyone feel that they were sort of reading the same book twice? I found Little Women and Anne of Green Gables to have a very similar feel.

Jan. 6th

Pages: 192

Group Total: 31,597 + 192 = 31,789

Manybooks wrote: "I do love Anne Shirley, but the older I get, the more I appreciate Rachel Lynde."

I have to agree. I have read the book several times. And when I was young I thought Anne Shirley was a great character living under an oppressive tyrant, Marilla, but as I get older, I find myself identifying more with other characters in the book.

This time I found Anne boarding on annoyance, and I was much more appreciative of Marilla. She had a tough job of raising such a whimsical child.

Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill

Completed: Jan. 1, 2019
Pages: 382

Total: 2,721

My name is Julie. I am a Language Arts instructor at a small Catholic high school in St. Charles, Missouri. I love to read, but have gotten stuck in a bit of a rut. I tried joining a local book club through our public library, but I find most of the selections to be poor.

I am hoping that joining this group will inspire me to read some GREAT books.