M.O.R.E.: The Non Book Club

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Non Book Club

After our run on Friday, Patty and I were discussing ways to make this "book club" work for everyone. We realized that we really don't want it to be like a regular book club where we all read the same book, since we have such different tastes. What we thought would be better is getting together and sharing the books we have already read, sort of like our own library. Then as we're reading them or when we're done, we can comment on them to let others know what we liked and didn't like about the book. It will sort of be more of a book review than a book club. Since we are also sharing many of the same books, it will be easy for the rest of us to chime in and comment on them too.

So to get this thing started. . . .I am reading The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. It's basically based on the true story of Brigham Young's 19th wife and a fictional character involved in a polygamist society. I'm still in the early stages of the book. It starts slowly, but I'm getting more into it. After reading Twilight, it's hard to switch gears into a more "serious" book with MUCH smaller print. The only thing I do not like about the book is how it jumps around so much. It goes back and forth from the true story to the fictional story to letters and stories written by other people. I'm not enjoying the fictional part of the story as much as the true story of Brigham Young's wife. Parts of it do have me hooked so I'll keep reading it and see what happens.

3 comments:

Patty said...: Ok I started reading Twilight last night and got to chapter 6. I am going to give my honest opinion, so hopefully I won't offend any true fans. First of all it is easy reading and not too hard to stick with. If I am being honest I have to say that I am not hooked on the storyline just yet. It seems like the author is trying to portray the female character as an outsider, a misfit in some ways, (her pale skin, her clumsiness) yet she has yet to sit alone at lunch, has three boys ask her to a dance, and catches the eye of an incredibly handsome boy (vampire, I guess). I don't feel sorry for her or identify with her at all, and I think the part that most teenage girls must like about it, is the forbidden love, and the fact that such a handsome, perfect boy could be attracted to her in the first place. It is supposed to give us all hope. I don't buy it though because it seems everyone is attracted to her, and I am not sure why. Are kids in high school as friendly as in the book (I don't think so)? Maybe in smaller towns. Anyway that is my opinion so far, I hope I can get into their, "I'm so attracted to you, but I can't have you" storyline. I hope my negativity doesn't keep anyone from reading it, I am only on chapter six, so I have hopes I will get swept up in it very soon. I am going to give it a good effort today.; July 12, 2009 at 11:56 AM
marathon mom said...: You shouldn't expect it to be too realistic, just entertaining. Remember, it IS a story about vampires. None of it is real, but that's why it is fiction. Just like Harry Potter. How real is that, but look how many people love it and love the movies. I think the author was going for the Romeo and Juliet forbidden love thing and whether true love will conquer all, even if it is between a vampire and mortal. I liked it because it didn't require too deep of thought and it was quick and easy summer reading to distract me.; July 13, 2009 at 7:43 AM
Patty said...: I think I should have waited to post my first opinion/review. I think I was in a mood, won't say what kind. I still am not crazy about the book but am about half way through and it is holding my interest. I am probably not in the target demographic for this book, but I can see why it would appeal to girls of a certain age, or older. I am having trouble reading anything and truly enjoying it lately, which makes me sad because reading is one of my favorite things to do.; July 13, 2009 at 4:28 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.