Date: January 9, 2009
Summary: Story of nurse and mountain climber Greg Mortenson who after a climb goes bad in Pakistan is taken in by a community and cared for. In return, he vows to build them a school. That effort leads to not only a building of a bridge for them, but a school too and brings medical supplies and whatever else they need. As of 2008, he’s up to 78 schools.
Notes: Truly inspiring and educational.
Rachel’s rating: Three (3) out of four stars
Jessica’s rating: Two (2) out of four stars (I read Mountains Beyond Mountains and was humbled by Paul Farmer’s story; I thought I’d feel the same about Mortenson, I was mistaken; maybe it was in the telling of the story, but I just couldn’t “feel” this book; I wanted to be moved but I wasn’t; Mortenson is a remarkable man doing remarkable things for so many people, he deserves a better telling of his story)
Date: February 6, 2009
Summary: Story of high schooler Bella Swan who moves from sunny Arizona to rainy Forks, WA to live with her father after her mom gets remarried. She is not used to getting any attention from classmates but immediately becomes the object of desire as the new kid. When she meets Edward Cullen, she can’t understand why he despises her immediately. But once he saves her life, they become dangerously drawn to each other.
Notes: Young Adult Book. Many people (myself included) were completely taken in by this book. Brought me back to 15 again and how it feels to be in love for the first time. It is a love story with a twist. Edward is a vampire who by his own nature, makes himself irresistable to his prey. This is a book we started talking about months before we read it as a group.
Rachel’s rating: Three and a half (3.5) out of 4 stars
Date: March 20, 2009
Summary: Story of a man and his son struggling to survive in post-apocalyptic America where ash rains down from the sky and everything is dark and ruined.
Notes: Totally depressing scenario but definitely one that stays with you.
Rachel’s rating: Three (3) out of four stars based on literary quality and lingering effects…otherwise I didn’t care for it…dark and disturbing.
Date: May 1, 2009
Summary: Story of Jacob who lives in a nursing home and can’t remember exactly how old he is (90 or 93) but remembers his days in the circus during the depression as though it were yesterday. Some chapters flashback between past and present as we learn how he came to join the circus and got a picture of the depression era.
Notes: Good discussion book. Historical fiction.
Rachel’s rating: Three and a half (3.5) out of four stars. Jacob is very funny. Well-written and enjoyable.
Date: June 19, 2009
Summary: Story of Beauty who is awakened after a 100-year nap by Prince, who does so by raping her. She then becomes his sex slave.
Notes: Didn’t even get through this one.
Rachel’s rating: Unrateable. Among one of the worst books I’ve read.
Date: August 7, 2009
Summary: Historical Fiction. Story of back maid’s and the white families they care for during the 1960s in Mississippi. It’s told from three perspectives: two black maids and one white woman who feels like the maid’s need a voice. Extremely well done.
Rachel’s rating: Four (4) out of four stars.
Date: Sept. 25, 2009
Summary: Memoir – story of her experiences in Evin’s prison in Iran during the Islamic revolution. She was imprisoned at age 16, tortured and sentenced to death. She marries an interrogator against her will and survives to finally leave the country and flee to Canada. Powerful and harrowing story.
Rachel’s rating: Three (3) out of four stars.
Date: November 13, 2009
Summary: Story of May Dodd who was part of the fictional Brides for the 1875 Indians treaty between Ulysses S. Grant and Little Wolf, chief of the Cheyenne nation to exchange 1000 horses for 1000 white women in an attempt to “civilize the savages” and assimilate the two cultures.
Notes: Read very much like historical fiction. Had a hard time believing throughout that this didn’t really happen. Enjoyed it alot particularly for the prose, it was very proper and elegant language.
Rachel’s rating: Three and a half (3.5) out of four stars.