Our book discussion group got together Monday this week to discuss “Away” by Amy Bloom. The main character, Lillian, immigrates to the United States from Russia after her family is slaughtered. Lillian goes on a quite a journey in the 240 pages. It’s wonderfully written and I would highly recommend it.
The group is putting together a list of titles for the next six months. What’s your favorite book?
I ran across this in the journal I’ve been keeping this year. Bev gave me this journal for my birthday and I’ve been using it to record my thoughts, fears, and ideas about assessment. Here’s the quote on the page the day I traveled to Pittsburgh.
“Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote: Although I didnt like the story/plot/characters I think Truman Capote certainly had a gift for writing. He is eloquent and its a pleasure to read his sentences. It’s not long, in fact, the copy I read had another short story or two printed in it.
Room with a View by Forster: I hated it from page one. I suffered through the first two chapters and took it back to the library. It was so distasteful I wanted to throw it across the room somewhere in the middle of the second chapter. I wouldn’t have even considered picking it up and only did because it’s the title for our next book discussion group. I doubt any of the book discussion group members will finish it. Maybe Ill watch the movie.
Tortilla Curtain by TC Boyle: This is a title I would recommend if you can deal with a non-ending (as well as an unhappy ending). I think Boyle does a good job at detailing two different couples, their drastically different lives, and the issues of illegal immigration.
Then We Came to The End by Josh Ferris is a strange, funny, and nothing of a book. After the first 80 pages I thought it was a hoot but didn’t think it was going to keep my attention for another 300 pages. I was wrong. I read the whole thing, partially out of interest, partially because I’m the discussion leader next month, and partially out of curiosity. The book is about a bunch of office workers (in an ad agency) and the gossip and, sometimes, weird behavior and perspectives that they have.