Spring Books

Hey Folks,

the Essex book club met last week and chose our three books for the semester. First up is Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Harper, ISBN 978-0060853976
We'll meet to discuss that one on Friday March 14.

Next up is Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieAnchor ISBN 978-1400095209

We'll meet on that on Friday April 18.

And finally will be Dog Fighter by Marc Bojanowski, Harper ISBN 978-0060597580. Friday May 2.

I'm going to get a few copies from Student Life, but if you can get Good Omens from the library, etc, go for it. We had a big crowd at the planning session and I think it's going to be a lively semester. If you're not already in the blog, look for an invite here in the next few days.
Peace,
Carr

the history of love and some k'vetching

sorry to post late, but whose meshugeneh idea was it to meet the week of midterms? no matter, this krauss is a mentsh, what a wonderful book you all picked. and i see we're reading water for elephants? looking foward to that, heard good things.

the mother's struggle through the child's eyes, desire for connection to the lost father and some of the book's formatting reminded me of extremely loud and incredibly close. but i think leo gursky got to me the most. i have a few customers like that.

great pick guys, thanks!
-meaghan

_The Price of Privilege_

Hey all,

Since it looks like Carr already ordered all the books we're reading this semester, then I guess my persuading everyone to reconsider reading another book instead of _The Price of Privilege_ isn't kosher.

I picked up Levine's book because I am somewhat a product of the subject matter and was very interested in what the author had to say about the rise of mental illness in affluent teenagers. However, this book is part non-fiction about her theories as to why affluent kids are suffering from more mental illnes and part an educational self-help manual for these kids' affluent parents. Part II of the book goes in detail about how affluent parents can prevent their kids from becoming mentally ill. In my opinion, the self-help part is tedious and can be rather easily deduced from her theories, if you have some common sense background knowledge of child development.

Anyhow, I'm concern about whether you all feel it's appropiate and fun to discuss the finer points of Levine's applications of her theories to child development. I would rather shoot for another book to read, either fiction or nonfiction. However, since Carr already ordered the books, for practical reasons, I can see that reading _...Privilege_ may be the reality of what happens. Can we read two books for our second meeting after _The History of Love_? We don't have to discuss Part II of Levine's book because it's an application of her theories and just really boring, in my opinion. Maybe, we could discuss Part I of the book and then, read a shorter fiction book? Maybe, we can find some short fiction book which deals with affluent teenagers and mental illness. And, then we can see if Levine's theories apply to the fiction author's expressions.

So, let me know if my ideas have any practical basis. I can bring_...Privilege_ in next meeting to show you how the book is laid out.

Oh, just started _The History of Love_ and the first chapter is hilarious. I'm looking forward to enjoying the book and discussing it next meeting.

Kristen

Fall Books Part II

Hi Book Club People,

We met last week to decide on our Fall books. As I mentioned earlier, we decided to go ahead and choose our three selections for the fall to expedite the process.. So, here they are -- along with the scheduled date for meeting:

Fri Oct 12 The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Fri Nov 16 The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine

Fri Dec 7 Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

All right. I also have a limited supply of copies for each book available for pick up now in my office. But I think we'll ask that you pick up only one book at a time. So for those of you still around at Essex, send me an email and we'll arrange a time for you to pick up a copy of The History of Love. (Wayne is also going to order some at the bookstore for sale).

Peace,
Carr

Fall Books

So here are some suggestions from me for Fall reading (sorry for the long links, my browser isn't letting me link to the text):

The Keep by Jennifer Egan

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/books/review/30bell.html?ex=1189742400&en=4af2eebfe125ce86&ei=5070

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/books/29kaku.html?ex=1189742400&en=0bd156ede72daa2d&ei=5070

History of Love by Nicole Krauss

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/books/review/01MILLERL.html?ex=1189742400&en=e2ed0764f2ef1b1d&ei=5070

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/books/review/26egan.html?ex=1189742400&en=cf7e8c7525347360&ei=5070

All right. Those are a few that come to mind. There's also a new novel out by Denis Johnson that I want to read, but it's LONG.

Peace. CK

MIA

I know I've been mia (missing in action) for a while; I was out of the country for the longest time and then trying to sort my life out when I got back. Anyway, I wondered what you guys were up to.. did you meet for the July meeting? How did it go and how was the book? Do we have any suggestions for the new reading? I'd love to catch up!!
Has anyone read A Thousand Splendid Suns (from the author of The Kite Runner) ? I've heard such great things about it, can't wait to read it! Also, is anyone interested in the Harry Potter mania? I just finished the seventh book and loved it!
Alright, that's it for now.
Maryam.

movie nights on federal hill

hello everybody,
the visionary art museum is showing movies on federal hill every thursday at 9 this summer and the museum is open late and is FREE 5 to 9 before the film. july 26th is "edward scissorhands" and august 2nd is "the freshman" (matt broderick is freshman film student with marlon brando as his prof, comedy i think, looks good). so i was wondering if y'all would like to take a field trip to the museum one of those days and catch a movie? this summer's exhibit is "home and beast" (see website for de-tails). carr says there is a good thai place in the neigh-borhood so maybe we could get some grub too. mmm. tofu pad thai.
(i'll email everyone about this too.)

if we need a book connection- hanna was a film teacher? does that work?
-meaghan