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authenticnow posted 7/4/2012 05:07 AM

I just finished reading this for my book club and I loved it.

It's based on a children's tale/picture book by Freya Littledale. I was skeptical at first, wondering if it would keep my interest, but it turned out to be a beautiful book.

Light reading, touching and lovely.

I recommend it .

tuscandreamer posted 7/4/2012 21:23 PM

authentic,

I read it a few months ago. I found it a bit eerie.

authenticnow posted 7/5/2012 05:28 AM

That's the thing. It evoked so much emotion. It went from eerie and dark to beautiful and light to sad and deeply intense. It was unbelievable, yet believable. And many of the feelings and characters relateable.

It was strange. I found her writing to be beautiful. This was her first novel.

Skye posted 7/5/2012 08:17 AM

How did your book club react to it? My book club will be picking books this summer for next year and I loved the book, but wasn't sure how it would be viewed for discussion.

authenticnow posted 7/5/2012 13:56 PM

I'll let you know after Monday night's meeting .

authenticnow posted 7/9/2012 21:18 PM

Excellent discussion tonight. Some loved the book, most liked it, a couple thought it was a little slow moving. Everyone agreed the characters were interesting and well developed.

Next month's book discussion is Gone Girl.

Skye posted 7/10/2012 08:09 AM

Thanks for the info. Did anyone think it was just plain foolish?? My book group has some people with no imagination and I would hate for them to bring the discussion down. I'm sure it can be worked around and wondered if you experienced that.

[This message edited by Skye at 8:10 AM, July 10th (Tuesday)]

authenticnow posted 7/10/2012 21:21 PM

No, nobody did.

We had a few months of really depressing, intense books and everybody appreciated the fact that this was imaginative and left a lot for each person to create in their own minds (especially the ending, and many aspects of the girl's life/existence).

My group has several creative types, though.

Skye, how does your group choose the books?

We do it like this- we rotate hosting in our homes, and whoever is hosting gets to choose the book. The group is supposed to be open to whatever the choice is, no complaining. Although, there's usually some complaining! But many times we will read a book we wouldn't have personally chosen and end up loving it.

Skye posted 7/11/2012 07:41 AM

I've been in a lot of book groups. My groups don't really want to buy all the books, so we make sure all choices are available in the library. We also try to do paperbacks for those who prefer buying but want to save money.

We have a meeting in the summer and pick our books for the entire year. We all bring two or three choices (some people bring more) and then we vote. Because we want paperbacks and library availability, we have found that giving the members the knowledge of what is coming over the year works best. Also that way we find we get more of a variety.

Many years we find lots of Holocaust books recommended and not everyone wants that focus so we limit that to two a year. We also like to try to do a classic each year and that definitely needs a vote!

We also try to pick the book and month we want to host and present at that same meeting. Some people don't like to host and present the same month--others do, so we're pretty flexible with that.

We don't have too many creative types in the group I'm thinking of recommending The Snow Child to, which could be a factor.

authenticnow posted 7/11/2012 14:26 PM

We had a period of a few months where the books were just all so depressing so last month we asked the hostess/chooser for July to please try to pick something a little more upbeat!

The consensus was that Snow Child was a great choice.

metamorphisis posted 7/11/2012 19:02 PM

I want to be in a book club!!!!

Sorry. Had to whine
I only know neighbourhood mommies and I don't think most of them have the time to read or don't like to

authenticnow posted 7/11/2012 19:09 PM

I was dying for a book club! Nobody I knew had any interest in one when we lived in NY.

One day last year I was walking the dogs in our development and a woman walked over and started raving about the dogs. We were talking for awhile and she asked me if I knew this other woman from the dog park and I said yes, of course.

She told me that they are in a book club together and I said I've always wanted to be in a book club. Then she invited me to join!!!

My point is- I think you need to get a couple of greyhounds and then you will find a book club!