Summer Reading '11 discussion

Well I'm not totally sure everyone knows each other so I'm going to take the initiative to attempt to start an introduction thread. I mean, over the next four months we're all going to be reading the books that hold pretty dear places in each of our hearts, which is kind of a window into our souls. On top of the fact that we'll be discussing them. So post and introduce yourself?

I'm Rhya, like pizzeria, rhymes with onomatopoeia. I'm a junior in college studying English + French, minoring in History. I hail from lovely New Jersey. I'm mildly obsessed with F. Scott Fitzgerald (I legit wear the last line of Gatsby on a bracelet, daily) and totally a 20th century lit lover, favorites being the Lost Generation and e.e. cummings, poetry-wise.

The book I chose for this club is "The Bell Jar". It is for me what "Catcher in the Rye" is for so many people: that somewhat eerie, bildungsroman novel that you find yourself identifying with while simultaneously questioning your sanity. And I guess I want to share that.

I'm Tyler, founder and CEO of this book club (I've always wanted to say something like that). I'm a senior English Education major, student teaching this fall and graduating in December--finally! I just read on facebook that a girl in my high school graduating class just got her Master's, and I'm still working on my Bachelor's--total side note.

There were two reasons I started this book club: 1) it seemed like a fun summer idea that would get my friends to dig deep into the same book and 2) I wanted to get familiar with online book club possibilities for my future students.

My literary tastes began in high school with C.S. Lewis' _Till We Have Faces_, and in college, before I decided to major in English, I fell in love with Romantic, Victorian, and Modernist poetry. Right now some of my favorite authors include Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, Shakespeare, Matthew Arnold, and Thomas Hardy--if only more people would rediscover the depth and beauty of Thomas Hardy. May I remind you that he was Holden Caulfield's favorite author? When Victorian writers were mocked by modernists, D.H. Lawrence, Ernest Hemingway, and others stood up for Hardy.

Anyway, I'll preach later when we do read Tess. I'm looking forward to an interesting summer of reading.

I'm Abby, Registered Nurse and (I think) the only non-english major of this book club. I picked Outlander because no other book is even a close second when it comes to my favorite books. This is the first summer off from school that I've had since I was 16...so I'm glad to be reading something other than textbooks! This fall I'm going back to school for pre-med and hopefully I'll be a doctor before I'm 30.

I can't wait for the discussions to begin!

I'm Red and, especially in this company, am ashamed to say, "Looking for Alaska" will be the first book I've read since high school, almost 12 years ago. My girlfriend inspired me to start reading so after searching the internet for , "how to start reading" and "what should you read" I found this site. The site was a little overwhelming but somehow I found this and a couple other groups. This was the only group I joined that had a book start on the 17th, the others start June 1st. I'm nervous about the commitment but excited for the opportunity. I did not go to college and I'm a mother of two. I look forward to the discussions.

Thank you.

Oh Lord, I didn't even realize this was here...

Anyway, I'm Caitlin, an English major, and chronically unable to make a decision, which is why I still haven't decided on what book to make everyone read. I have till mid August though, so I should have it figured out by then. I didn't get my things together enough to read "The Bell Jar," but I'm over halfway through "Looking For Alaska." I'll do my best to participate in the discussions, but I tend to be terrible about writing commitments. I'LL DO MY BEST.

I tend to enjoy books that have humor as a major component, short nonfiction essays, books about rich people from the past, and some coming of age books. I don't know, I'll give pretty much anything a try. I want to get better at analyzing books for fun. I need more self-discipline in my life, I guess.

Well, my name is Leah and I am an English major and this is the first book club that I have ever participated in. I am originally from Gulport, MS, which isn't as bad as it sounds believe or not lol. It goes without saying that I love read, and recently I have rediscovered my love for writing. I am addicted to sci-fi television shows and Tumblr and I also discovered a new video game called Plants vs Zombies that has taken over a majority of my life. I have no shame.

I'm Trisha and I've been a bookworm all my life. I take my two little munchkins to the library every week to check out their own toddler books! I love goodreads and belong to a bunch of groups and run two of my own! I love the variety of book groups on this site because it always gives you a great variety of things to read!