Thursday, August 31, 2006

Snow Flower Question #1

Let's start with the basics.

Did you guys enjoy this book? If so, why? If you didn't like the book, was it because of the plot or the author's writing style?

You may participate by leaving a comment here, or posting about the question on your own blog and leaving a link to your thoughts in the comment section here. Either way, I can't wait to find out your thoughts!

Suggested books - please read

I received a few e-mails regarding our next book. Some people suggested new books and others wanted to add the titles that were up in our last poll (The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Digging to America) into the vote for this month. I think that it is important to keep things fresh and new. Therefore, I would currently like to take suggestions for books that haven't been up in a previous poll. Then, every six months we could put up a poll entirely of the books that ended up in second place in all of our previous polls. That way we are consistently reading new stuff, instead of regenerating the other books each and every month.

So please, send me an e-mail with your new book suggestions. I would like to get the ball rolling so while discussing Snow Flower we could also pick our next book!! E-mail me at forksblog@optonline.net.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Our next book

I just can't wait until Friday when I will be posting questions regarding Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Talk about an interesting book!

In the meantime, let's start thinking about the next book we want to read. Please e-mail me at forksblog@optonline.net with any books that you would like to submit for consideration. I will then post a poll in the near future with three or four books to vote on.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Snow Flower and the Blogger in Beta

Remember, one more week until we post discussion questions!

In other non-reading news (unless you consider all the time I have spent so far this morning checking out my favorite blogs), Blogger is upgrading. Check out Blogger Buzz aka Blogger in Beta, which is the new Blogger that they just launched. Apparently this is something we will all have to switch over to eventually, but some people may be able to do now (you have to check your blogger dashboard).

Some of the really cool things about the new Blogger is the fact that you can label your posts (in other words, I could put in my sidebar a link for Snow Flower and inside will be all of our posts from the last month about this particular book). This will make looking through archives a whole lot easier. In addition, you can add multiple people to your blog who can actually post on your blog and a whole bunch of new templates to choose from. Some pretty cool stuff.

I tend to be pretty impatient, so am very tempted to switchover now. Of course, what is the chance that they have worked out all the bugs on a newly launched system? Fat, I am sure.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

bookcrossing.com

I just finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and I can't wait until September 1st for us to discuss. That means that you have a little over a week to finish up, if you haven't already done so.

Also, keep in mind the next book you want to recommend, since I will be requesting your book suggestions sometime next week.

In the meantime check out bookcrossing.com. My neighbor Sheila recently vacationed at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and California. While looking around a hotel lobby she picked up a book (Travels with Charley in Search of America) sitting on a coffee table. There was a tag inside telling her that it was a traveling book and had been logged into bookcrossing.com. When she visited the website and typed in the book ID # she found out that the book originated in South Africa. It had been read by a man who was planning a vacation to the US. He left it at the hotel hoping that another book lover would find it. Sheila is now half way through the book and plans on releasing it back "into the wild" soon.

I just love this idea. Imagine being able to share a favorite book with a total stranger and then tracking it on the internet. My parents vacation in Hawaii often, so maybe on their next trip my Mom should leave one of her favorite novels in the lobby. Or when I go to China next year, I could leave Snow Flower and the Secret Fan somewhere at the White Swan.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Footbinding

Having just started Snow Flower and the Secret Fan last night, I was right away intrigued by the chapter on footbinding. I found it incredible that this was a practice widely used by the more wealthy families in order to make their daughter's more desirable. What incredible pain they must have had to endure in order to satisfy their future husbands.

For more about Chinese footbinding, you can check out Aching for Beauty: Footbinding in China.

There is a little over two weeks left until we start posting discussion questions. I was thinking about starting them on September 1st instead of the 4th, since it seems like the majority of you are almost done or have finished the book. I will be finished with it pretty quickly, since I have found that it is one of those books that you just can't put down. Please let me know if this is ok with you.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Meeting authors

Here's another reading question from Booking through Thursday...

  • Have you ever stumbled on a reading and found the author so charming you started reading their books? Or, have you ever met a formerly favorite author and stopped reading their works because of how they treated their fans? My mother is a big fan of Mary Higgins Clark, so when she had a book signing last year in a local bookstore Leah and I stood in line with my mom. First let me say that I am not really a fan, having read two of her books and finding them very predictable. Having said that, she was a most gracious woman, taking time to speak to each person on line and allowing pictures. I was extremely impressed. She was definitely charming, though I didn't run out to buy her newest book. I guess I need more than a smiling face in order for me to jump into a book.


    Mom & Mary Higgins Clark

Friday, August 11, 2006

Booking Through Thursday



Each Thursday, this blog posts a meme, or questions about books and reading. I thought it might be interesting to participate once in a while. The below meme is about planning ahead. My answers are in blue.

  1. Do you plan ahead for your reading? Work off of a to-be-read pile? A reading list? Or do you wing it, choose whatever you're in the mood for? I pretty much pick out books based on my mood. If I am in a very upbeat and happy mood I tend to pick up some light, no-brainer reading, or books that make me laugh out loud like The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson or Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gillman. Otherwise I look through my bookshelves for something with a bit more substance.
  2. If you do plan ahead, how far ahead? Do you have two or three books waiting in queue? Or are you backed up by dozens of volumes waiting their turn? OK, here is my confession - I buy WAY too many books. This, by the way, runs in the family (just ask my sister). When I am about to finish a book I then check out my two overstuffed bookshelves for my next read. I have most recently been donating some of my "already been read and didn't really enjoy" books to my library. You know, so I can buy more.
  3. If you do not plan ahead . . . well, never? What about if you're reading a series? Or someone gives you a book for a present? I have received many wonderful books as gifts, but usually they sit on my shelf for months or years until one day I just pick them up.

Anyone else want to share how they plan their reading material?

Now THIS is a bookstore!



Check this out! I found the link on Bookmark My Heart.

Kids Republic is a bookstore in Beijing that caters to children. It was created by a Japanese architect and is just unbelievable. Click on the link to see more photos!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

So far, so good

I have already purchased Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but have yet to crack it open since I am still trying working my way through Prep. Once that is finished, I will be diving right in. Maureen, who is a big-time reader, read the entire book already!

Cari has also gotten the book and started reading. She submitted this comment earlier:

I got the book yesterday and have really enjoyed reading it. I am reading it with so many different perspectives in my head. Does that make any sense? Like as a future adoptive parent of a daughter from China, like as a WOMAN, etc. Anyhow, has anyone else started reading it and what are your thoughts so far??

Your comments are welcome, although don't give too much away yet (you know, so as not to spoil anything for us slow pokes)!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Book Coupon

Thanks to Kikalee, who has kindly sent the link for a 10% off coupon at Barnes & Noble.

Monday, August 07, 2006

We have a winner!

Wow, I am really excited that we had over twenty people vote for our first ever book selection. The winner, with 48% of the vote was Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. The Memory Keeper's Daughter came in second with 24% of the vote.

Now that we have chosen a book, make sure to stop by your local library, bookstore or on-line bookseller and get reading! My goal is to start posting discussion questions on Monday, September 4th. After a few days of discussion, it will be time again to pick out another book. Make sure to keep track of any books you may be interested in submitting for the September poll.

Also, be sure to check back here once in a while. I plan on posting interesting little tidbits about books and reading every few days.

Be sure to e-mail me at forksblog@optonline.net if you want me to include a link to your blog under Blogging Bookworms in my sidebar.

Stephanie

Friday, August 04, 2006

Time to Vote

I have received many e-mails and comments from people who are interested in participating in our little virtual book club. Let's get this ball rolling with our first official poll.

Out of all the book suggestions I received, I have picked four for us to vote on. If I didn't include one of your suggestions, I apologize. You know the saying, so many books, so little time! Of course, just e-mail me when we are ready to pick another book club pick and I will try to include it.

Here are your choices (I have linked each one to Amazon.com so you can read the synopsis):

Snow Flower and Secret Fan by Lisa See

Digging to America by Anne Tyler

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

OK, so cast your votes by clicking on your choice in the poll to the right (in the grey sidebar area). I will post the winning selection on Monday.

Keep them coming!

So far we have gotten a bunch of great book suggestions! If you still want to participate and have a book in mind, please send me an e-mail @ forksblog@optonline.net today. I plan to post four choices later this evening so we can all start to vote. You will have all weekend to submit your vote and then on Monday I will count them up and we can start to read!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Welcome to The Written Word

I have written many time about the books that I enjoy reading on my other blog. Two of my blogging buddies suggested starting a virtual book club.

Here is how it works:
  • Once a month, I will post a poll with three or four suggested books. These suggestions can come from anyone, so don't be shy. E-mail me with your suggestions for any type (fiction, non-fiction) book you are interested in reading.
  • We will then vote on which book to read. Once the selection has been made you will have about a month to read it.
  • Once the reading time is up, I will begin to post a few discussion questions. Again, if their is a specific topic in which you would like to discuss regarding our book pick, then you can just e-mail me and I will post it.
  • We can all then comment back and forth our opinions about the book and its contents.
  • If all works out, we should have another poll up a few days later and another book on our nightstands!

    Remember, you do not have to have a blog to participate. Feel free to e-mail me and also leave your comments anonymously.

    Please feel free to e-mail me (forksblog@optonline.net) if you have any questions or suggested reading material.
So grab a cup of coffee and your book and enjoy!