Newbery Books discussion

My friend and I have the goal of reading all the Newbery Medals (and probably lots of the Newbery Honors as well).

We were wondering if we could use this forum to pick one or two books a month -- and discuss them here. Would anyone else like to join in?

I know we're probably all in a bunch of other book clubs/groups, but these are usually really short, fast reads. Anyway, let me know if that's ok. Maybe we can start with our first book in May?

I'm interested, have you decided on what book you want to start with?

It sounds interesting to me. I can't promise I'll always participate, but if we can get a group of 'most of the times' who stick to that, there should be a decent quorum most months.

Do you want to read them in reverse order? Draw out of a hat? Have a member suggest a favorite each month? Your idea, so I'll leave the selection process up to you.

I was thinking to mix it up we can start with most recent one, and then go with the oldest the next (2008, 1922, 2007, 1923, etc.) I think it might be interesting to compare the modern children's literature from the old school. Although I'm up for any method if anyone feels strongly either way.

I like it!

I'm in. Which is the most recent one? I will pick it up at the library today. Are we going to set a date to have it read by so we can start our discussion, or just talk about it as we each finish. I would prefer to have a date so I don't read something on here that I haven't read in the book yet, you know spoilers and all. I am excited to be part of a book club again!

Alright, let's start with "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!"

Let's all start reading right now if we can and start the discussion May 1. Or do we need more time to get a copy of the book? Unless I hear back let's plan on it.

Also let's do a month or two doing one at a time. If it seems like we have time for more we'll up it to two per month.

I have to finish Anne Frank first, I'll try to get through it quickly, but I am a slow reader. I really don't think that I can commit to two a month, but I'll do my best. Don't let me slow you down, if the rest of the group wants to do two a month than go for it!

I'm thinking one a month is a good pace -- we'll see :-)

I got my copy at the library yesterday. It looks fairly short. We should be able to finish by May 1st.

I'm in! Sounds great! Thanks for the invite, Kristine!

I'm going to recommend that each book get its own thread, so discussions about various books don't pile up on each other and get confused.

I've got this book on hold at the library, so if Multnomah County comes through for me, I'm in.

Randy and I went to Barnes n Noble tonight and I took a peek at the book Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! and it does look like a quick read, even for me. I did finish Anne Frank this morning so I'm going to try to get Good Masters! when I take the girls to the library on Monday. I was thinking that I might just buy it since it was (so conveniently) right there at the book store, but then I saw the price, a whopping $20! That's a bit much! I'll wait till it comes out in paperback.

This sounds great, however, I may not be an active participant until we get back to the states in a couple of months. I can get the books through Amazon, but John is looking at how much we have to ship back, so, I will try to catch up then.

Louise, Are you really coming back to the states in a couple of months? That's so AWESOME!!! I can't wait!

Whoops! This is wishful thinking on my part! I feel that we should be coming home, but have not got John to see that . He is still pushing to stay, which would be fine for me, but harder for the kids schooling. At any rate, we don't know for sure. Sorry!

Hooray for the library! They've got the book for me! I'm totally in.

I'm happy to try this. I've read lots of Newbery books, but I'm sure there are quite a few I've yet to read. I already attend a book club, so I'll see if I can keep up with this one. I think it sounds like a very fun idea!

Luckily, this one doesn't involve driving anywhere, or bringing potluck.

Okay, I'll miss the potluck.

:muffins:
:pasta salad:
:cheese dip:

Count me in. By the way, which book(s) did you have in mind to start off with?

Now that we have two Kristine's this may be a little confusing, but just so you all know the Kristine with the cute kitty photo is my friend Kristine Becker from church.
Kristine, welcome to the club! We are reading Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! the newest Newberry winner and we will be discussing it May 1st. I have the only copy that the Little Chute library has, but the Appleton library has several copies so you shouldn't have any trouble getting one there.

It's hard enough to find current bestsellers for my adult book clubs. I don't want to be on a waiting list at the library for the newest Newbery. Part of the allure of collecting Newberys is finding them at garage sales and used book stores. How about we start in the "middle", say 1972, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, then 1922, then 1973, 1923, 1974, 1924, etc.

To Louise: Darn,I was getting really excited thinking that you were coming home soon. Is there anything that I can do to help convince John that you all need to get back to the states? If he's so keen on staying, he can stay and the rest of you can come home, how about that?

yum, I want to go to your bookclubs, Lisa! Now I'm hungry!

Sorry for the start Annette, I do hope we will know one way or the other about returning soon! John is feeling like he has tried so hard to get here, he just doesn't want to give it up with out a fight. As for the book club, the older books are easier for me to find here. There is a library in Karlsruhe that the military left when they pulled out of there. Meaning that I can go there - I don't have to sign on or prove that I am an american. That's a pet peeve of mine to be close to the base, have alot of the church activities there, but not be allowed in without alot of to do! thanks.

To Kathy:

I wouldn't mind doing this at all -- that way we're always jumping 40 years apart instead of working back together to the middle. Since a lot of people already have Good Masters checked out I think we should go ahead with it for May.

But I'm up with then going to 1922 for June and then to the middle year, which is 1965 for July .....

I agree with Kristine that we should stick with Good Masters for May. After that, I don't really care what order we go in, I mean eventually we will read them all so it doesn't really matter to me. By the way, I had no problem at all checking this book out, the librians acted like they hadn't even heard of the book before, so this one doesn't seem to be too popular yet.

Hi, Mom! I think Good Masters must have been out for a while because I didn't have any problem finding it at the library. So I hope it's not hard for you to find, as well. Your idea for reading order sounds fine, too. I don't have a strong preference.

I only had to wait a week and a half or something at my local library, but Powells Books is out of it.

Sounds like a good plan. There are several copies available in the San Diego County library system. So I should have it by the middle of next week. I haven't had such luck in getting "The Other Boleyn Girl" which I have to read by the 7th of May.

Any suggestions for the next book, I am done with sweet masters and want to get my hands on the next one.

are there any disagreements with the following schedule?

June = 1922 The Story of Mankind
July = 1965 Shadow of a Bull
Aug = 1923 The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
Sep = 1966 I, Juan de Pareja
Oct = 1924 The Dark Frigate
Nov = 1967 Up A Road Slowly
Dec = 1925 Tales from Silver Lands

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I am actually excited to read the older books (of which I know nothing about). The books in the last 30 years have been my favorites because I've grown up reading them. But when I have read an older one I'm surprised how much I enjoy it. So I'm hoping for many pleasant surprises by forcing myself to read the old ones!

Totally looking forward to Dr. Dolittle! But some of the more obscure early ones may be out of print or hard to find.

I would like it if we got some of the newer ones into the mix, because as awesome as I think this idea is, I just don't think we'll keep it going long enough to get from the 1960s to the modern era on this schedule.

I too would like to see some of the more recent ones mixed in.

I just checked on our local library's website to see if they have the book Story of Mankind and they have several copies available so hopefully everyone else's libraries carry it too.

So, Brandy is done and looking for the next one? I'm not sure its a good idea to give the whole list to her. I think she'll have them all read by next week! I know you read fast, but I think we need to give you something to else to keep you busy. Could I send you a couple of my kids, you must not have enough yet!

The other option is to go the other way and work backwards instead of forwards:

June = 1964 - It's Like This Cat
July = 2007 - Higher Power of Lucky
Aug = 1963 - A Wrinkle in Time
Sep = 2006 - Criss Cross
Oct = 1962 - The Bronze Bow
Nov = 2005 - Kira-Kira
Dec = 1961 - Island of Blue Dolphins

I have never had a problem getting my hands on the newer Newbery books because libraries seem to have several copies of them. And it helps to have the list ahead of time. That way we go from a book we're familiar with to one we're not.

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Other than that we'll just do it randomly by suggestion per month. Which is also fine, but not as organized as my OCD personality would like :-)

My husband is in school at night and I am trying to give up most of my TV viewing so I have nothing else to do while Cody is doing homework. I have plenty of kids!! This is my only way to relax!

I don't really want to be a whiner but the story of mankind doesn't sound all that entertaining. After Good Masters (which I didn't care for either) I would like to read a book that is actually a good fiction book. The title of Newbery winner is starting to go down in value in my opinion... so I am hoping to get a good read for the next one so I don't get too discouraged and drop this goal. (I know, I know, no wilpower, but if it is going to take up what little free time I have, I want it to be good)

What does everyone else think?

Ok Brandy, I'm a little confused, you said that you have nothing to do while Cody is doing homework, then you say that you have very little free time. Which is it?
Actually, I really liked Good Masters and I'm looking forward to discussing it tomorrow. I think that this is the nature of being in any book club, some of the books you will like and some you won't. Just because the book won an award doesn't necessarily mean that you will automatically love it. Also, I think that it's good to have a variety of opinions it makes the discussions much more interesting. So, we will all be sure to "tune in" tomorrow so that we can hear Brandy tell us why she didn't like it.
By the way, Louise, if you're looking for someone to take a couple of your kids off your hands, I'll take them!!! We REALLY miss your family, and we'd be more than happy to take whoever you want to send our way.

I am saying that the free time I do have I don't want to waste reading a bunch of books that aren't my style. I totally understand that when you are in a book club that some books you won't like and some (hopefully most) you will. But, when you start a bookclub and book after book isn't what you are looking for then it is hard to keep with it. I know that there are plenty of books from the newbery list that I will like but it so happens that these first two seem like they will be pretty similar and I would perfer to have them be more varied from month to month so we can all stay interested and only have the months we aren't as interested in be here and there instead of all in a row. So maybe when choosing the next months title, we should look at what type of book it is so we aren't reading the same type of book back to back. This month seemed to be a history lesson type of book and that is what Story of Mankind seems to be also. Are you less confused now? If I am being too whiney and most people want to vote differently than me, it is no big deal, I have so many books on my to read list, its not like I will be at a loss for what to read next. The only real reason I joined this group is because I like discussing books and I felt this club would be one that the content of the books would be safe (within my value system).

Clear as a bell Brandy! Thank you, and I agree with you, it would be a good idea to vary the type of books we read from month to month.

i have a feeling you'll like the higher power of lucky (2007) Brandy :-)

I just joined this group yesterday. I'm excited to find out what your next book is so I can read and discuss with you all.

ok, let's see if we can get this decision made so we can all get June's book on request at our libraries:

is this ok with everyone?

June = 1964 - It's Like This Cat
July = 2007 - Higher Power of Lucky
Aug = 1963 - A Wrinkle in Time
Sep = 2006 - Criss Cross
Oct = 1962 - The Bronze Bow
Nov = 2005 - Kira-Kira
Dec = 1961 - Island of Blue Dolphins

I really like that list! Though now I suppose I'll just go read Dr. Doolittle on my own. :)

Looks good to me Kristine! Thanks!

It looks good to me also, but I am still not sure what book we are reading in May? Is it the one for June since we will be discussing it June 1st?

yeah, we'll read, "it's like this cat" in may and then discuss in June! sorry for the confusion!

For many years I have run off the Newbery award list for just this reason ... to read ALL medal winners. These are such GREAT books; where do I sign up? Where can I find a reading schedule.

LIZ from Massachusetts