November Book

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

November Book

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

*Moved to Thursday due to Election Day*
November 6, 2008 at Marti & Teresa's house

Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Then We Came to the End - Joshua Ferris

October 7, 2008 - Marti & Teresa's house (Lynnie hosts)

Salon Book Awards 2007
10 Best Books of 2007 New York Times

It's 2001. The dot-com bubble has burst and rolling layoffs have hit an unnamed Chicago advertising firm sending employees into an escalating siege mentality as their numbers dwindle. As a parade of employees depart, bankers boxes filled with their personal effects, those left behind raid their fallen comrades' offices, sifting through the detritus for the errant desk lamp or Aeron chair. Written with confidence in the tricky-to-pull-off first-person plural, the collective fishbowl perspective of the "we" voice nails the dynamics of cubicle culture--the deadlines, the gossip, the elaborate pranks to break the boredom, the joy of discovering free food in the breakroom. Arch, achingly funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, it's a view of how your work becomes a symbiotic part of your life. A dysfunctional family of misfits forced together and fondly remembered as it falls apart. Praised as "the Catch-22 of the business world" and "The Office meets Kafka," I'm happy to report that Joshua Ferris's brilliant debut lives up to every ounce of pre-publication hype and instantly became one of my favorite books of the year. --Brad Thomas Parsons

Once you've read the book, you'll probably enjoy the book's Web site.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Book selections update

This starts with 2008 -- previous selections are below.

Skipped January 2008
The Nine – Jeffrey Toobin – Teresa – 2/2008
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – Mark Haddon –Gloria - 3/2008
The Uncommon Reader – Alan Bennett – Marti– 4/2008
Berlin Stories – Christopher Isherwood – Ellen – 5/2008
The Stone Gods – Jeanette Winterson – Marsha – 6/2008
Wild Nights – Joyce Carol Oates – Marti – 7/2008
House Lights – Leah Hager Cohen – Andrea 9/2008 (skipped August)
Then We Came To the End – Joshua Ferris – Lynnie 10/2008
The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Norm Chbosky – Teresa – 11/2008
The World To Come – Dara Horn – 12/2008 – Gloria's

I'll try to keep it updated.