News 4's Wake Up Book Club

Twilight: Sun never rose on the book for me.

noreply@blogger.com (victoria) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:53:00 +0000

I will be honest and say that I just couldn't finish this book. I was not impressed with the writing or the storyline. To be fair, there were some captivating moments, but for the most part I just couldn't get into the characters or the setting. There were too many insignificant details and elementary descriptions that made it seem like a book and not a story. I will try to read this book at a different time and give it another chance. But since it took me two weeks to get to page 40,,, I'd rather just admit defeat this time.
Victoria's admission.

noreply@blogger.com (victoria) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:49:00 +0000

I absolutely loved "A Thousand Spendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. The book is written in a similar style to the author's first book "Kite Runner" with beautiful phrases and descriptions. Right from the start there is so much emotion. The characters each have strength yet a vulnerability that can destroy them and does in some cases. Though there are two main characters,,, their personalities are so intricately woven with the other characters and their relationships thus defined.
Hosseini so vividly describes Afghanistan that there are times I can actually feel the dust and heat or smell the foods.
I was so touched with the desperation of the young mother trying to keep her children safe and alive. Enduring beatings, the possibility of rape even death just to see her daughter.
And then there is the element of love. Throughout the book he captures the love between parent and child,, man and woman and woman and woman.
As bleak as life may seem at any and all stages of life for these characters, the message of strength, honor and friendship shines through as a happy an ending that could realistically be realized in the situation.
I highly recommend this book.

When you don't like a book...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Scott) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:02:00 +0000

So where have I been? Avoiding the truth. I don't like our May book pick, A Thousand Splendid Suns. I started listening to it on CD and I just could not get into it. I dreaded the thought of continuing on. And then the second book in the Twilight series came in and I HAD to listen to it.

So there it is. I didn't read the May book club pick. I do believe Victoria is a little miffed. (I'm going to have her blog about why she did like it! Many many people loved it!) But come on! Hasn't that ever happened to you? You hated the book club pick, didn't read it, and just showed up at the meeting for the snacks and gossip?

So for June, Victoria suggested we read Twilight. (easy for me since I already did!) And interesting for you, because it's coming out as a movie in December, and the final book in the four book series comes out this summer. Check out www.stepheniemeyer.com for more info on the book, the series and the movie.

I'm really curious to hear what readers think. This is considered a Young Adult book, but she has sold 5.5 million copies worldwide of the first book, Twilight. But she does have some very outspoken critics who don't like it, don't think it's well written etc. So, we'll have lots to discuss.

Book Club Pick For May

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Scott) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Make sure you check out our video discussions with The Last Town On Earth author Thomas Mullen. And remember...we're giving away autographed copies next Friday, so click on the contest page to enter!

Now, time to announce our Wake Up Book Club pick for May. It's another one of those books I've had several people tell me I have to read, and Victoria won't stop talking about it (she already read it.) It's A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. Here's a link to tell you more on the plot. This is definitely an adult novel, not for young readers. Hope you'll join us reading it! Lisa

http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Splendid-Suns-Khaled-Hosseini/dp/1594489505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208357978&sr=1-1

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Scott) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:40:00 +0000

So, I pulled into work this morning, with the riveting novel Twilight playing out on my CD, at a crucial juncture of the story. Aghhh! I have to wait until my ride home to find out what happens. But the book is almost done and I'm panicking. I need a new read! Victoria always has a book on standby so she's never left without one. She reads at least two books a week, and she always has a book with her. Yesterday, she was waiting in the station cafeteria while her frozen dinner cooked in the microwave for lunch. Yes, she stood there with a book in hand for the 4 minutes it took to nuke her noodles. The girl likes reading.

Look for our interview with The Last Town On Earth author Thomas Mullen next week. Wednesday April 16. And make sure you head back to our home page and click on the contest button to try and win an autographed copy of the book! We'll be giving those away Friday April 25th.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Scott) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:07:00 +0000

We're looking for book ideas for our next few months. Any suggestions? We're going to get a list together for the rest of the year so you can know ahead of time which books we'll be reading.

I finished Hattie Big Sky, crying in my car through the last disc. (I listen to a lot of books on CD.) Great book, wonderful history lesson, too. I love reading young adult and middle grade books. There are so many wonderful storylines to choose from--and they're short! Very fulfilling to read a few books a week. Give it a try if you haven't ever picked up a book for teens or tweens. You might get hooked, like me!

Right now I'm listening to Twilight on CD. It's a young adult book about vampires, being made into a movie. It's very intriguinging, but I've got to ask: why are vampire books so hot? I don't normally read vampire books, but heard this was a hot YA (young adult) book and wanted to check it out. Tell me, what's the appeal of vampires?

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Scott) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:51:00 +0000

Boy, today sure is a curl-up-and-read-a-good-book kind of day with all that rain out there!
Just wanted to let you know we'll be giving away three autographed copies of our April book pick: Thomas Mullen's book, The Last Town On Earth. Stay tuned for details on how to win one later this month!

Currently reading: Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson. It's a young adult book about a 16 year old girl who moves to Montana in 1918 to prove up her late uncle's homestead. It's a Newbery Honor book. I'm listening to it on CD and really enjoying it! Lisa

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Scott) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:41:00 +0000

Look! We have a blog! This will be a great way to chat about books, and you can post your comments below. We plan to read one new book each month. Sometimes Victoria and I will tape discussions of the book when we're done, sometimes we'll meet with local book clubs and authors to dish the book. We'll be posting our list of upcoming books soon. Stay tuned.....

Don't forget to check out our video discussion on March's book, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It's a gripping memoir that will stay with you for a long time. At one point, Victoria said she couldn't--wouldn't!-- finish it, she found it so upsetting at times. I thought it was very inspiring. In the end, she kept reading and was glad she did. While this woman's upbringing was shocking and hard to believe, the ending was wonderful.

In April, we will be showing you our interview with Thomas Mullen, the author of The Last Town On Earth. http://thomasmullen.net/
He was in town recently and we interviewed him about his compelling book set during World War I, when the country was in the grip of the Spanish Influenza. One local town faces a moral dilemna when they decide to quaratine their town to stay safe. But their armed guards come face to face with a hungry soldier looking for refuge, and the town is split on what happens from this point on.

I'm inbetween books, looking for a good read. Any suggestions? I love books that make people say, "You've got to read this!" Tell me what you've loved lately.