Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Miscellaneous => Chatterbox => The AC Book Club => Topic started by: honey on October 14, 2008, 07:33:15 PM
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Ok, I have a few choices. I tried to go with one's I'm interested in, and tried to give a different variety.... So I'm listing four books and their summaries. We'll just go with the majority!
I was excited to see some of you mention "The Lovely Bones" because that was one I was actually going to suggest. So My first choice is
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold.
It is the story of a teenage girl who, after being brutally raped and murdered, watches from heaven as her family and friends go on with their lives, while she herself comes to terms with her own death. The novel received a great deal of critical praise and became an instant bestseller.
*A film adaptation of the novel is currently in production and is being directed by Peter Jackson, who personally purchased the rights.
Ok, book number two, is
"Lock and Key" by Sarah Dessen
Ruby Cooper has had to fend for herself for a long time. Even when her mother was around, Ruby took care of most everything -- including, oftentimes, her mother's job. When her mom takes off for good, Ruby decides to stick it out rather than contact social services -- after all, she's almost eighteen. In a few months she'll be on her own anyway.
But she gets caught. And social services places Ruby with her older sister, Cora, who Ruby hasn't seen since she was ten years old, since Cora left for college and never looked back.
What's really different about this one is that Ruby's struggles are mostly internal. Yes, she's worried about her mother, and yes, her relationship with her sister has a long way to go. But she doesn't voice those worries very often, even to herself.
She's also now in a new school, one that's much more challenging and one that's largely populated with very wealthy teens. But Sarah Dessen didn't go the obvious route and make the Ruby's classmates obnoxious and snobby. Just the opposite -- they're nice. Friendly, thoughtful and decent. So really, it isn't much of an external challenge, except for the more difficult work load.
Ruby's real challenge is to let herself let go. To allow herself to depend on someone. To allow other people to care about her, and in turn, to allow herself to care about other people.
Sorry about the long summary on this one, but it's all I could find to copy and paste. lol. I actually just finished this one and really enjoyed it, so I figured what the hey?
Choice 3, I'm going to go with
The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton
Harry Benson suffers from violent seizures. When he becomes part of an experimental program that sends electrodes to his brain to calm him, he is in recovery. Until he discovers how to get those soothing pulses more frequently, and then escapes the hopsital--on a murderous rampage with a deadly agenda....
I'm a big MC fan, and this one I haven't read, but it came recommended to me by a friend as being one of his better books. I plan on reading no matter what gets chosen...
Ok, and Last but not Least, I'm picking
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.
Ok, I know everyone here has recently read the Twilight series or is still trying to get through it, but I'm adding this as an option anyway because I loved this book much more than Twilight and it is seriously like my favorite book now.
So those are my four picks. Think about it and cast your vote. Majority rules. Yay!
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Aw, I wish we could pick two! "The Lovely Bones" is one I've always heard recommended, but never read. And I wanna read "The Host" too. So my vote goes to either of those.
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I loved the Lovely Bones. I thought it was a great story,the only thing is I have read it. I think i'd like to try something I haven't read yet but I still might vote for Lovely Bones because I think we could have a great discussion about it.
The Sarah Dessen book sounds good but is it a young adult book because after Twilight I have had my fill of those lol It sounds like it might be.
out of all the MC books Terminal man was my least favorite. I love his books as a general rule though.
The Pact...not sure if I could read another Stephanie Myers book but i'm going with the fact that you said i'd like it more than Twilight and I trust your judgement.
All good and seemingly different choices. I might have to think a little more before I vote.
:)
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lol um, yeah Sarah Dessen in a young adult author, but she's definitely on the more mature end of the YA genre. It's a coming of age, dealing with family drama type story. There is a romance subplot, but it's really kind of minor. This book is nothing like Twilight.
I don't know if that helps any, but um yeah it is young adult.
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that's interesting that that's your least favorite MC book. Like I said I haven't read it. I picked it off a recommendation . My least favorite MC book was probably State Of Fear. That's the global warming one, right? I really disliked that one.
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I think State of Fear was about a bomb threat? I don't remember lol. I still think his best one was Jurassic Park. Long before that movie came out I thought "Wow this would be a great movie!"
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lol maybe State Of Fear was the bomb threat one. Which ever one was the global warming one is the one I hated. I can't remember what the actual plot was, it could be the bomb threat one.
I think my favorite was Sphere and the movie didn't really do it justice.
and lol about the Host. Yeah, I think you might like it better than Twilight, but that's not me saying that I think you'd love it. lol I feel the need for some sort of Mare disclaimer.
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LOL aww It's funny because when I went to Barnes and Noble I was trying to remember the name of her book and for some reason I kept thinking it was The Pact and I was getting annoyed that I couldn't find it. Ironically enough I bought The Pact by Jodi Picoult instead.
I voted for The Lovely Bones.
I don't think I read a global warming book by MC but if I did I probably didn't like it since I don't remember it lol
You're right, the movie The Sphere didn't do justice to the book. They never seem to.
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yeah I voted for that one too because I haven't read it yet, but I'd love to pick the Host as well cause I'd love to hear what people have to say about it.
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The Lovely Bones was a fantastic book, but I voted for The Host because I'm already in the midst of reading it lol - bah, I'm bad! But I'm up for reading anything.
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I loved The Lovely Bones, but since I have already read it and I'm too lazy to tear apart my room looking for my copy to reread I think I'm going to vote for the Sarah Dessen novel. I've read a few of her books and enjoyed them especially I think "Someone Like You." It's the one that they half based that awful Mandy Moore movie How to Deal on where the girl's best friend gets pregnant and the father of the child passes away right before she finds out she's pregnant. Anyway kind of ironic cuz I was in Borders the other day and had Lock and Key in my hand looking at it.
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aww yeah, I've read This Lullaby and Keeping The Moon by her and liked both, but I liked Lock and Key the best so far. She is a lovely writer though, so I'm sure I will eventually get through her whole collection.
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I also adored The Lovely Bones...and would read it again, and I agree...great conversation to be had.
I think the Sarah Dessen book sounds good as well :o)
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I voted for the Lovely Bones. I read it already, but I've been meaning to read it again. I want to read the Sarah Dessen would, too.
Though, they all sound good, so it doesn't matter to me.
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Ok, why don't we let the voting stay open until the 25th (that's this Saturday, 1 more week) just in case there's anyone interested in reading that hasn't voted yet. Then On the 25th that will give us one week to find the book and the reading and discussion will officially start November 1st.
Then maybe whoever has the next month can give us a few choices mid month, and do the same thing so that we can be ready for December.
Does that work for everyone?
Or do you think we'll need more than a month for each book or shouldn't worry necessarily about an actual monthly schedule?
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^ That sounds good to me, Kelly. I don't see why we would need more than a month. A month is plenty long enough to read any book if you really want to read it.
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I think that sounds like a good schedule. I think that one book a month is plenty. Let's be completely honest, if we try to do more than that, the whole place will probably get book club burnout after a while--haha.
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I was just going to come in and say something similar to that Kelly lol my analness was thinking hrmm we should probably close that poll by next week so everyone has a week to go find whatever book wins.
I agree that by mid month we could start voting for a new book and as far as how long each book takes I think it'll probably depend on length and when it happens etc... like December will be a crazy month for most of us so maybe that month we'd devote Dec and Jan to one book? Something like that and of course we'd also need a volunteer to host the next book so some things for everyone to think about. :)
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I was just going to come in and say something similar to that Kelly lol my analness was thinking hrmm we should probably close that poll by next week so everyone has a week to go find whatever book wins.
I agree that by mid month we could start voting for a new book and as far as how long each book takes I think it'll probably depend on length and when it happens etc... like December will be a crazy month for most of us so maybe that month we'd devote Dec and Jan to one book? Something like that and of course we'd also need a volunteer to host the next book so some things for everyone to think about. :)
Sounds good to me!
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Works for me. And I'm willing to volunteer to host either the Dec/Jan or Feb, if you need volunteers.
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So, Katie can host December/January :) This is exciting. I am hboping i'll finish Second Glance this week before we start to read our November book which at this point looks like it's going to be The Lovely Bones.
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I'd be willing to host a month...Februa ry or March possibly? Or anything that is open...lol :)
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Excellent. You can go after Katie! :) So either January or February.
Wait I should make a list! I'll put it in the other thread so we can keep track!
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Lovely Bones or Lock & Key sound the most interesting to me.
~Lenni~
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I'm up for hosting a month too, whenever. I'm most talkative over the summer, so maybe put me in June or July, if there's enough volunteers to fill the months before then. :)
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OK people, the voting stops tomorrow, so if you haven't for any reason already voted and want to, now's your chance, though I think it's safe to say The Lovely Bones's have it.
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And of course, my copy of the Lovely Bones is MIA...wtf...
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YAY I don't have to buy a new book this month! lol
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Guess I'd best renew my library card - lol.
~Lenni~
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Guess I'd best renew my library card - lol.
~Lenni~
This is going to sound so silly, but I always forget about the library...I went in the other day because I didn't want to go buy the rest of the series I was reading if they had it. Now I am hooked...my library has an awesome website where you can put your books on hold, then you go and they have them sitting on a shelf for you. I know to the seasoned library person this sounds silly...but it is like a new world for me. Goodbye, Amazon.com!
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lol I'm addicted to my library. Seriously, the librarian knows me and my kids. That's where I got my copy too. They actually had three copies of it. But the Santa Monica library is HUGE. I've actually never not found a book I was looking for. Between the Santa Monica library and the Beverly Hills library I'll probably never need to buy a book.
I haven't started it yet, but I don't have much going on next week so I'll most likely have it finished before we start discussing it.
Anyhoo, I'm closing the pole. The Lovely Bones it is!
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I got my copy reserved at the library here. They have copies at surrounding cities, but I am having it sent over...should be there by Monday or so :)
Go figure though... I go in to reserve a book, and I end up reserving 2, plus walking out with 4....haha.
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I like the library, too, but I always forget to return my books. LOL. Either that or I'm too lazy, either way.
Plus, I'm kind of protective over my books. I like to keep them.
SO, basically, I'm a money waster. I've already read The Lovely Bones-- but I'm really looking forward to finding out what you guys think. This may have been mentioned, but they're making a lovely bones movie soon.
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I need to reserve the Lovely Bones too since I still can't find my copy.
I was talking to my dad yesterday (on my way to the library to pick up my holds, of course) and I know he thought I was nuts because I was talking about it like it was some sort of amazing new thing!!! I have been good about returning books (so far) because I get so pissed if they don't have what I want on the shelves, so I don't want others to feel that way too...this may change when I am less enthusiactic about my newfound treasure...
I also blame the library (and Janet Evanovich) for my lack of writing lately, I have been hooked on reading!!!
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I don't really ever utilize the library. I like to own my books and just go read them when I get the urge.
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I prefer to own by books as well...but I am broke right now..therefore, borrowing is the best I can do. lol
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Yeah, Pete Jackson is direction. And not only that, but he actually bought the film rights himself just so that he could make it a movie. That to me is exciting in itself. That was one of the reasons this book made my list, because I'm really curious. I mean the plot sounds intriguing and I've only ever heard good things about it too, so I'm excited to start it.
I like to buy books that I love so I can read those ones over and over, but I don't want to buy a book and end up hating it. It always makes me really mad when I don't like a book or can't finish it.
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^ same here! lol
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I used to go to the library a lot as a kid, but I haven't actually been to a library to check out a book (not counting researching for papers in college) since high school. The library in my hometown was pretty crappy. I'm sure the library where I live now is better; I've just never thought to go there. I tend to just buy books that interest me, and usually I read them more than once.
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I used to practically live at our library, but since they renovated, I don't really care to go much. I feel un-welcome & it's so hard to find anything, & it's just - I don't like it. It's cramped. The way it was before, it was spacious & welcoming. And people better stop giving me weird looks because I still like to read The Hardy Boys!!!! I've yet to read 1-10 & #12 of the Casefiles series! Can't find them anywhere! And if I think of it tomorrow, I'll go see if they have Lovely Bones. :)
~Lenni~
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I need to reserve the Lovely Bones too since I still can't find my copy.
Yea I have to look for mine. My copy is also among the missing LOL
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Tomorrow - must go to library tomorrow - lol.
~Lenni~
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picked my copy up yesterday!!! I'm having surgery on Thursday and will be off work for a week...so i will likely have it finished by Sunday! lol
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So we start November 1?
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I ordered mine off Amazon... should have it Thursday.
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I would imagine we will start on November 1st. :)
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Okay, I guess I imagined wrong. lol
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Nothing says you can't start the discussion. Just creepily poking my head in to say so. ;)
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I don't want to come off as anal and step on anyone's toes. This is Kelly's month so Kelly should do it. However if she doesn't show up soon I will start just because...okay i'm anal. lmao I admit it.
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When has stepping on people's toes ever stopped you before? lol!
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Do I do that often?
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Only when your analness takes over. ;)
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Oh wow! A book club, and Lovely Bones is the first book! That's really awesome (and gosh, another reason to kick myself for being away for so long!). I really loved this book, and it was probably the first book that I actually cried during the reading of it. Just thinking about it makes me sad. Plus, the story is actually set about fifteen minutes from where I live, so that was a little weird and creepy as well.
Anyway, I can't wait to read what everyone thinks of the book! I know Kelly will be an awesome Oprah!
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Only when your analness takes over. ;)
I only step on toes when those toes aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing lol
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^Like running around without shoes on? lol
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Yeah
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*is glad she's wearing boots* lol
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Soon as I get a moment, & remember, I'm going to the library! Work's gotten super busy lately, & I've been pulling 8-9hr shifts! But, I am going to do my best to remember to get a copy of the book!
~Lenni~
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If Kelly is a no show by Monday we'll start without her.
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Maybe she's upset about the election? One of my friends is like that....
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She's been missing long before the election though. Hopefully everything is okay.
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True, I hope so too. :)