.
We've talked about it for years, now let's give it a try, WOVFAB at the movies. Let's meet January 14 to watch one of these:
The Closet
Hotel Rwanda
Casablanca
Rebecca
Polls close Monday at 5
Friday, December 5, 2008
Where Rainbows End aka Rosie Dunne
Chick Lit, pure and simple. The pink cover should be a sign....or a warning.
Alex and Rosie have been best friends, writing and e-mailing since childhood. For 40 years they write and e-mail, through med school, multiple bad marriages, kids, and divorces, always hinting at but never stating one's love of the other. Written in an interesting format, it grows old before the characters do. The plot drags on too long by far. But, all in all, a decent, light, escapist read for the holidays.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Voting for the disenfranchised
Here's an election even us foreigners can vote in! Polls close Monday 5pm. Next meeting Wednesday, December 3.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern
Saving Fish from Drowing by Amy Tan
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern
Saving Fish from Drowing by Amy Tan
Under the Banner of Heaven
As we were reading this book, California was struggling with Prop. 8 which would ban same sex marriage. The arguement ran than it would be the death knell for traditional marriage, the union between a man and a woman. One man and one woman.
Meanwhile, the polygamous Mormon fundamentalist compound in Texas had just been raided. Hundreds of children were taken into custody and stories of abuse ran rampant in the media. How can the same book of scripture be used to justify monogamous and polygamous marriage?
Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer tells the history of the Mormon church in America and now rapid world-wide spread. Essentially a get rich quick scheme and companion to the Bible, the Book of Mormon was written by Joseph Smith in the 1830s. Believers quickly came to trust Smith as the One True Prophet, with the power to control their lives down to the smallest detail, including who could marry whom. And how many wives one should have.
The death of Smith brought segmentation to the church. Believers who spoke directly with God felt they were best interpreters of the Lord's will and set up break-away sects. Krakauer tells in detail of their tenets of tax evasion, welfare fraud, plural marriage, incest, and murder.
A thoroughly researched, well-written and horrifying book.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Vote Early
Our selections for the next read are:
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
and
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Holly says polls close at 5 Monday.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
and
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Holly says polls close at 5 Monday.
A Walk in the Woods
Yesterday, a friend suggested we hike up into the Oakland hills behind our house. That looks like a challenge, I thought.
Bill Bryson, older and more out of shape than I am, decided to walk the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail which stretches from Georgia to Maine. Taking along his over-weight buddy Stephen Katz, the two struggle with the trail, one another, and the 'local colour'. They endure bad weather, bad sleeping quarters, bad food, and lost trails, always with a sense of humour and a keen eye for detail. Part travelogue, part history lesson, A Walk in the Woods offers a compelling plea for both funding and better management of national parks.
Friday, August 1, 2008
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