You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Oops almost missed posting the reporting thread.

When you finish your book:

1. Who did you pay tribute to?
2. What word starting with A P R I L did you associate with that person?
3 How did that word figure in the book you read?
4 What was the tile of the book you read? Please LINK it.
5. Tell us one of two sentences about the book.

My tribute is to a long-time friend, Linda, who was one the first people I met when I moved to Phoenix in 1978. For most of the next thirty years, we lived very close to each other, and not by accident. When Linda moved to a better school district, about the time I was getting married, I found a house near her for me and my husband. Linda was a very gregarious person, and loved bringing together people she liked who did not know each other. I found the perfect book to pay tribute to Linda.

Linda's birthday was in August. The book I read was Enchanted August. It is a modern retelling of Elizabeth Van Arnim's The Enchanted April. Four people who had not previously known each other jointly rent a cottage on an island in Maine for the month of August. They all come there worried and distracted and needing to "get away from it all." The place is beautiful, and as the characters relax they become happy. The place brings out the best in all of them. Through these new friendships, they learn more about themselves. Of course, there are many comic romantic moments, and misunderstandings, but everything works out in the end like you knew it would, because this is a "feel good" book. Linda would have loved it.

I paid tribute to Umberto Eco .
Who is an Author
I read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf , the main character Mr.Ramsay is an author..
This is my first time reading stream of consciousness style.....it was interesting and a challenge to keep track of the sentences....it is about two moments in time fromm different pov linked by passage of time.no plot to it...
But i liked it all the same...a *** 3 star book for me

siriusedward wrote: "I paid tribute to Umberto Eco .
Who is an Author
I read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf , the main character Mr.Ramsay is an author..
This is my first time reading ..."

I've read "To the Lighthouse" several times now--I think three. The first couple of times I had difficulty staying awake or making any sense out of it. The most recent read was a couple of years ago, with the "Brain Pain" discussion group. This time around I "got it" and rated it five stars. It's very poetic and dreamy, and you really have to pay attention to put all the pieces together. You might want to try reading it again in a couple of years.

I will.i loved the middle part about the decaying house...she described it so beautifully...

Both books sound interesting, Casceil and siriusedward. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

I paid tribute to Alan Rickman, who was an Actor. He was in one of my favorite movies, Sense and Sensibility. He played Colonel Brandon. I read Colonel Brandon's Diary.

I have quite a few of this author's works, and enjoyed them. This book was no exception. I thought that the characteristics of Colonel Brandon were true to the original Sense and Sensibility. I gave the book 4 ****.

I may have to watch that movie just to see Alan Rickman. :)

Janice wrote: "I may have to watch that movie just to see Alan Rickman. :)"

You should. He does a great job. I totally fell in love with him :)

Lanelle wrote: "I paid tribute to Alan Rickman, who was an Actor. He was in one of my favorite movies, Sense and Sensibility. He played Colonel Brandon. I read Colonel Brandon's Diary.

I have quite..."

I wasn't paying much attention and I'm afraid I'm going to have to play meanie here. You chose the word Actor which must be represented in the book somehow. Either the word needs to be in the title, the name of the author, or the character is an actor. Instead, you've picked a role that he played and a book to correspond. Unfortunately, Colonel Brandon's Diary on the surface doesn't connect to "Actor". Is a significant character an actor? If not, you'll need to find another book. Sorry, Lanelle.

Okay. I'll see what I can find.

I paid tribute to my husband. We've been married 19 years and been through lots of ups and downs as most couples do. He is my rock, always there for me when I need him no matter what.
He is a policeman and recently suffered the loss of a close friend and workmate, who sadly took his own life. It has been a difficult time for him, trying to come to terms with his friend's choice. Being a policeman is a stressful and mostly thankless job. No-one really knows how they are going to be able to cope with those stresses and the toll they take on a persons mental health. So I decided to pay tribute to my husband and also all other police officers in appreciation of the work they do.
The book I chose was Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin the first in the series of Detective Rebus novels. I listened to this on audio and loved it ,( I do love a Scottish accent) and plan to read more in the series.

1. I paid tribute to Michael Jackson! Here is the background why :)
2. Michael Jackson was American pop-star.
3. The word "American" is in the title of the book I read.

4. I read American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
5. I was so surprised when Michael Jackson actually was mentioned in the book! Together with other great American singers like Madonna, Cher etc.

But about the book... sigh.
It was not an easy read and such emotional rollercoaster, though not a pleasant one.
Seriously - don´t read it if you have weak nervous system, because nothing is sacred to the author, not animals, not children - nothing!!
I will never ever read it again and I don´t want to (any time soon) read any similar books to this one. The movie can´t be ever so terrifying as the detailed describing of violence in this book is.
The only things I liked about this book were its witty humor, sarcasm and satire.
But yeah, I was in shock after finishing the book.

Think twice before you start reading it! There are so many beautiful books to read... lol!

Some readers from book club in which this book was a BOM couldn't even finish it. Too cruel (and this is very gently said).

Janice wrote: "Lanelle wrote: "I paid tribute to Alan Rickman, who was an Actor. He was in one of my favorite movies, Sense and Sensibility. He played Colonel Brandon. I read [book:Colonel Brandon's Diary|7006017..."

Just a thought... seeing as Lanelle said she 'fell in love' with Alan Rickman, could her word be 'Love'? That way, if Colonel Brandon's Diary is about love, she could get away with it... Or is that just me being obtuse?

Elinaly wrote: "But about the book... sigh.
It was not an easy read and such emotional rollercoaster, though not a pleasant one.
Seriously - don´t read it if you have weak nervous system, because nothing is sacred to the author, not animals, not children - nothing!!.."

Don't feel bad about the book, Elinaly. Check out Cathie's review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Annerlee wrote: "Just a thought... seeing as Lanelle said she 'fell in love' with Alan Rickman, could her word be 'Love'?."

It's a bit of a stretch. Let's see what she comes up with.

Cherie wrote: "Don't feel bad about the book, Elinaly. Check out Cathie's review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... "

Heheheee... thank you, Cherie!
Nice review, made me even laugh (Quoting Cathie: "I need a shower. Forever.") ;)

This is indeed the most creepy and terrifying book I have ever read! I don't regret reading it, but I sure will never reread it.
Still can't stop thinking of how twisted the story was, especially considering the ending. Is that what's called really dark humor? Yeah, I guess :)

And I think the book and the movie are a bit different. I don't believe the movie can be so horrible, because it's impossible to put all those repulsive details into a movie.
I may watch the movie, but definitely not alone! lol
Not decided yet.

Your descriptions make me very curious about the book Elinaly, but I definitely don't want to read it.

Peggy wrote: "Your descriptions make me very curious about the book Elinaly, but I definitely don't want to read it."

Lol, yeah I read it because of my silly curiosity also!
You have to look beyond all those horrors in the book, to see the point of the story, but I can´t (though I get the point of the story) - and that´s why I gave it 2 stars.

Annerlee wrote: "Just a thought... seeing as Lanelle said she 'fell in love' with Alan Rickman, could her word be 'Love'? "

Thanks for your help, Annerlee. It's not a problem for me to read another book, and follow the rules more carefully this time :)

1. I pay tribute to my grandmother who will turn 89 this year
2. I recently learned she had been an Immigrant during WWII. She told me her story; at the beginning of the war, she fled with her family to Lille, in the North of France, and, well, that didn't go well and they had nowhere to go so they returned to their home.
3 The book I read is the story of an immigrant
4 I read Un aller simple
5. So, the story is about a guy who was taken as a baby by some gypsies, in Marseille. The boy had no papers with him so they paid a false identity; but since they had not paid enough, his papers said he was Moroccan, not French. One day, the police arrested him and since he had false papers on him, with a Moroccan identity, they brought him back to Morocco, a land he had never seen before. The story tells his journey, between laughs and tears. I don't know if it makes sense to you but it was beautiful, I gave it 5 stars.

1. Tribute goes to: Arnold Schwarzenegger
2. R word: Running- from the film "The Running Man" adapted from SK's short story using the pen name Richard Bachman
3/4/5. Book: Running with the Demon which was "urban/rural" fantasy set in small town Illinois about a demon and a Knight of the Word fighting for the soul of a magical little girl. Pretty entertaining but clearly YA material. My first Terry Brooks novel, 3 stars

Tribute try #2 :)

I paid tribute to Alan Rickman, who was born in London (England).

I read The London Belle. It was just an okay story. There were a few things in the book that didn't make sense. Wouldn't it have taken longer for the main character to travel from Jamaica to England (twice)? How quiet can a 9-year-old boy be? How many times can a heroine tell the hero that she will never forgive him? Did anyone ever hear of a chaperon? Anyway, an okay story as long as you don't look closely at the details.

Looks good Ariane, Marcus, and Lanelle. :)

Ariane wrote: "1. I pay tribute to my grandmother who will turn 89 this year
2. I recently learned she had been an Immigrant during WWII. She told me her story; at the beginning of the war, she fled with her fami..."

This book sounds fascinating! It has been translated to English under the title One Way. I have added it to my ever-growing TBR.

1. Who did you pay tribute to?
2. What word starting with A P R I L did you associate with that person?
3 How did that word figure in the book you read?
4 What was the title of the book you read? Please LINK it.
5. Tell us one of two sentences about the book.

1. Eleanor Roosevelt
2. Roosevelt
3. It is her last name (both her maiden name and her married name)
4. Loving Eleanor
5. This book focuses on Eleanor's personal life, especially her relationship with Lorena Hickok. Lorena (Hick) was instrumental in helping Eleanor capitalize on her strengths and was a life-long friend (and lover for a period of time). Their letters are a window into their relationship as well as the history of that era. I enjoyed the book because I have read many historical books about Eleanor, but this was a way of looking at her personal accomplishments instead of merely looking at her accomplishments as FDR's wife. Of course, there is some overlap, but the emphasis in this book is on her personal life. I think she was a very brave, intelligent, compassionate woman, and we were fortunate to have had her in the White House with FDR.

I didn't know that Roosevelt was both Eleanor's maiden and married name. From snippets that I've read and heard, she seemed like a remarkable woman.

I paid tribute to my sister. Her last holiday was to a tropical ISLAND so I read a book set on an island. I read Memoirs of a Geisha which is set in Japan.

I had it on my tbr for a long time but always postponed reading it, although I don't know why. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I thought I would. I especially liked learning about geisha, but I found the book a bit long winded at times and Sayuri started to annoy me towards the end.

I love that book, Peggy. And the movie.

I paid tribute to my mother this month. She is the one who taught me to read and surrounded me with books growing up. I wanted to pay tribute to her as mental decline from illness has taken the pleasure of reading from her. I read Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. I chose this book for the A in April because my mother is true animal lover.

Although the book didn't really turn out to be about Animal's exactly, or at least not in the way that I thought, the intention to honour my mother kept her in my mind while I was reading. What struck me as very appropriate was the central theme of the impact that our relationship with our parents has on our own life choices and views. The main character's relationship with her father was tragically disfunctional largely as a result of the father's inability to communicate his affection to his daughters. My mother had a very difficult childhood herself and it is evident to both her and myself how much of what is both good and difficult in her relationship with my sister and I, is a result of her own reactions to her up-bringing.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot but not as much as Prodigal Summer and not nearly as much as The Lacuna (one of my all-time favourite books).

The Lacuna is one of my favorite books ever and I have read thousands. I have read Prodigal Summer as well. I think my mother, who read my sister and me, Heidi and Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, would have love Prodigal Summer. Now I am a writer and reader thanks to my mother. She used to read every night at the kitchen table of our four room apartment. in her later years she sat in her comfy chair with the heating pad on her back and her books on the hassock beside her chairs. Love you mom. RIP
Sarina Rose, author

1. Who did you pay tribute to?
My Dad, who died of lymphoma in 2005.
2. What word starting with A P R I L did you associate with that person?
Librarian--what he did for a living--he was a library director at several universities.
3 How did that word figure in the book you read?
There was a librarian who figured prominently (don't want to create spoiler here) and lots of important events happen in libraries in the book.
4 What was the tile of the book you read? Please LINK it.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
5. Tell us one of two sentences about the book.
This was an interesting Dracula story--told from the perspective of the historians researching his real life (as Vlad the Impaler). The book made me want to travel to Romania, Turkey, and Bulgaria, as well as the Southwestern part of France, where lots of action happened. I would read more books by Kostova, it was a fun ride.

BY the way, I also readThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer which was also really cool. But I'm saving that one for the yearlong challenge, since it fits in more spots. Both books had a lot about ancient manuscripts, and the latter takes place in Mali. For those looking for some books in the year-long challenge, these two could help you out! My dad would have had fun reading both of them!

Sarina wrote: "The Lacuna is one of my favorite books ever and I have read thousands. I have read Prodigal Summer as well. I think my mother, who read my sister and me, Heidi and Hans Brinker and the Silver Skate..."

Welcome to YTLO. Drop by the introduction thread and introduce yourself. First, please familiarize yourself with our rules regarding self promotion. :)

Beth wrote: "1. Who did you pay tribute to?
My Dad, who died of lymphoma in 2005.
2. What word starting with A P R I L did you associate with that person?
Librarian--what he did for a living--he was a library d..."

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were great.

1. Who did you pay tribute to?
I paid tribute to my mom, who died in 2011.
2. What word starting with A P R I L did you associate with that person? I know I only need one, but I have several words that I associate with my mom and connect with the book. I'm going with Alzheimer's/Dementia and Parents.
3 How did that word figure in the book you read?
The book takes place in a sanatorium for teens suffering from an incurable strain of tuberculosis, where they are separated from their families. My mom's mother died when she was very young, and Mom always believed she died of TB. When Mom was diagnosed in 2010 with lymphoma, I found out from her sister that her mother had not died from TB, but from heart disease. It was first believed her mother had TB, and no one ever told Mom any different. Mom's father died of heart disease when she was 5 and she was put in an orphanage (separated from her family). Her oldest brother took one sister, but the other 3 siblings were too young to take Mom. One of her sisters took her in as soon as she was old enough and married, when Mom was a tween.
People with Alzheimer's/Dementia are often placed in care facilities (basically sanatoriums in the past), apart from their families, and with varying degrees of visitations.
4 What was the tile of the book you read? Please LINK it.
I read Extraordinary Means
5. Tell us one of two sentences about the book.
will edit later - too tired now.

Although my mom had lymphoma, and it was the underlying cause of her death, her heart gave out first. Her first chemo treatment brought on congestive heart failure, and the second treatment brought on a stroke. The stroke brought out her dementia so that it was recognizable. At times, even though she always knew who I was, she was living in a different time, sometimes during her years at the orphanage. Knowing her background had given me an understanding of her personality as I became an adult, but theses episodes gave me a lot more insight into what she went through and how her childhood shaped her as an adult. That, more than anything, allowed me to let go and forgive many of her actions and attitudes through the years. My mom was the nicest to me when she was sick. She was complementary and we didn't argue. She wasn't horrible or anything when I was growing up, but we weren't really close either. I am so glad to have those final memories of happy time spent together. I'm not completely sure why, but I thought of her a lot while listening to this book.

I paid tribute to Patrick Stewart (Actor e.g. Star Trek the Next Generation / X-Men)
Association: Alcohol
Reason:
Patrick's father was a "weekend alcoholic": Patrick said that it was "the combination of alcohol and his profound frustration as a man" that led him to violence towards his wife

Book read: The Shining by Stepen King

The main character (Jack) is an alcoholic who is trying to get his life back together after a wake-up call in the form of a near accident. Jack has recently lost his job and his marriage is only just holding together.

A good friend gets Jack a live-in caretaking job at a remote and empty hotel for the winter. The hotel is so remote that it's snowed in for months on end. Unfortunately, the hotel is also haunted. The ghost 'Manager' begins to control Jack by using his insecurity and need for alcohol...

That was a lovely tribute to your mom, jaxnsmom. My mother also had stroke related dementia. The book synopsis sounds much like Fault of Our Stars. Have you read that book?

Annerlee, I read The Shining as a young adult when it was first published. I reread it last year and was struck at how spot on King was about the effects alcoholism has on the spouse. Of course, by the time of my second read, I was one of those (ex)spouses and could relate more. King himself, is a recovering alcoholic. That experience gives him great insight in writing about alcoholics, but I was surprised at his insight into how the disease affects those around the alcoholic.

Thanks Janice. I listened to The Fault in Our Stars and I've heard Extraordinary Means being compared to it. There are basic similarities (two sick kids meet and fall in love), but Extraordinary is definitely its own story. I loved both books.

Janice wrote: "King himself, is a recovering alcoholic. That experience gives him great insight in writing about alcoholics, but I was surprised at his insight into how the disease affects those around the alcoholic..."

King writes about drug and alcoholism in quite a few of his books. I think a lot is down to first hand experience, which is why his books really get under your skin. Given his background, it must have taken some deep soul searching and brutal honesty to recognise the effects alcohol can have on a family and write it into The Shining.

Wendy and Danny's love for Jack is so powerful - they still see the man behind the mask and love him, despite his illness and the influence of the hotel. They also need enormous strength and clear thinking to make the right decisions, balancing their own welfare against that of Jack's in traumatic circumstances,

Powerful stuff. I'm glad I finally read this.

Annerlee wrote: "Wendy and Danny's love for Jack is so powerful - they still see the man behind the mask and love him, despite his illness and the influence of the hotel. They also need enormous strength and clear thinking to make the right decisions, balancing their own welfare against that of Jack's in traumatic circumstances,.."

King was critical of the movie interpretation because Wendy was reduced to a weak character instead of the strong one he wrote in the book. The book was so much richer (as is often the case) than the movie.

Janice wrote: "King was critical of the movie interpretation because Wendy was reduced to a weak character instead of the strong one he wrote in the book.
Interesting. I saw the film once, but ages ago, I think many women who stay married to an alcoholic or abusive partner are, in actual fact, quite strong in their own way. It seems a contradiction I know, but I think it takes strength to cope with a situation like that.

You have almost talked me into reading the book, all of you. I only saw the movie part way and have never tried it again.

Giving tribute to Debra my ("L")ittle Sister. She has bravely overcome Lymphoma. She daily deals with other medical issues, which sometimes get her down, but she perseveres.

She is pretty and funny and smart.

She takes care of me, her big sister, when I want to behave independently and un-needy.

I was not around much when she was young, so we were late in getting to know one another and discovering that we have many things in common to share. I am glad to spend time with her.

I read The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler, in which the little sister of a family hires Philip Marlowe to find her brother, and the big sister is daring and famous. (view spoiler)[ just like me...not (hide spoiler)].

Very apropos, Almeta. I like the spoiler. Hehehe!

1. Who did you pay tribute to? Stephen King

2. What word starting with A P R I L did you associate with that person? A=Author

3 How did that word figure in the book you read? Author of book I read last name is King.

4 What was the tile of the book you read? Please LINK it. Ask the Passengers

5. Tell us one of two sentences about the book.

Excellent young adult book written from the perspective of a female high-school teen who is dealing with the possibility she might be gay. She lays on the picnic table in her back yard and ask questions of, and sends love to, the passengers in passing planes. Very well-written.

Like you, Stephen King is my favourite author. I just don't understand when people prejudge him based on perceptions gathered from "the buzz" in media without even reading his work. I've often heard people say they won't read his work because they don't like horror, or they think he's all hype.

I'm taking a creative writing course and we were all given a copy of On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. My friend isn't all that keen on the course. I think she would have preferred the journal writing course. Yesterday, we had lunch and she was being very dismissive of the classes and the instructor. I can feel the waves of disapproval coming off from her in class. It's actually spoiling it for me. She didn't come on Thursday night, and I really enjoyed the class because I didn't have her judgmental self sitting beside me.

She said, "I can't even get rid of that Stephen King book! I tried to give it to my daughter and she didn't want it. I tried to give it to my boyfriend too, and HE didn't want it either."

I replied, "What's the matter with you people? Why are you even my friend?"

She, "I opened it and read one page towards the beginning of the book, and it was.... well, it was kind of good. I think I'll read it afterall."

I think I have learned to be a lot less judgmental of authors and genre since I joined this group, Janice. I still like some less than others, but my mind is open for just about anything these days.

I used to think of authors as limited to one genre without realizing how I didn't really believe it. Take Stephen King - a lot of his books are horror, but I don't consider The Stand (one of the best books ever!) to be a horror story.

jaxnsmom wrote: "...Take Stephen King - a lot of his books are horror, but I don't consider The Stand (one of the best books ever!) to be a horror story. ..."

Neither is The Green Mile nor Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, both of which I recommend to people who reject Stephen King.

I'll have to encourage my friend to keep reading King, and to read other great authors. Her idea of a great author is Sylvia Brown. Now, I'm being the judgmental one. I know, I'm bad. LOL!