Initial Reactions: Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barreled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else’s forehead, and pulled the trigger. This is the story of how we got there. That is the whole of chapter one of Fredrik Backman’s Beartown. And if that doesn’t make a rather stunning first impression, I don’t know what does. What I love most about Backman’s writing is the little bits of insight that spark forth from his perfectly flawed characters. Take this bit of wisdom from chapter 2: She hates hockey but understands her father’s love for it; the sport is just…

So, peeps, I’m past expecting anyone to engage with the book club (even though several people said they would). But, I’m going to go ahead and keep up with the book club posts, partly because it gives me a routine post for Thursdays, and also because I’m already reading these books and I like to share. I realize, too, that lots of people read the posts, they just don’t like to comment. And that’s cool, too. Maybe the discussion questions will help you form and run your own “in-person” book club. I’ve decided to go that route, as well. I need the interaction and the community. So, I’ll share the…

I know I missed last Thursday, though honestly, I sort of did it on purpose. Last month I put a lot of time into weekly book club posts, but no one commented, so I’m not sure anyone is even interested. I do love talking and writing about books, but I don’t love wasting my time. I will continue to adjust how I run things here, based on the interaction, or lack thereof, but I’ll give it a few books before I take it too personally. I flew threw this one. And I simply can’t wait to talk about it. If you aren’t to the end yet, you may want to…

Aack! I’m late with the reveal! I’ve been super sick with this hideous cold and have been working late this week, so I had no time to get this up and out to you. So…without further ado…drum roll, please… The November book club selection is… I’ve just begun reading it, and I must say, I am impressed by Owens’s writing style. I’m totally intrigued, also, by the author herself. Here’s the bio I found on her website: “Delia Owens lived in some of the most remote areas of Africa for twenty three years while she conducted scientific research on lions, elephants and others. Based on these expeditions and adventures, she…

Gravity – the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass.  Remedy – a remedy or treatment for disease or injury; to set right Well, I finished the novel tonight. And I have to say, that while I liked the book (genuinely) and enjoyed the characters, if I were to give the book a rating out of 5 stars, I’d likely only give this book three or three and a half. It is not a terribly memorable read for me and didn’t make any deep impact on my emotions or psyche. There were some great and thoughtful passages and important…

  Conjure: call upon to appear, by means of a magic ritual; make (something) appear unexpectedly or seemingly from nowhere as if by magic; call (an image) to mind; cause someone to feel or think of (something) Elemental: primary or basic; concerned with chemical elements or other basic components; related to or embodying the powers of nature; having the primitive and inescapable character of a force of nature; a supernatural entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means Click this link for the notes, quotes, and questions from the first two sections of this book. “I just do the best I can to face what life brings. That’s the secret, you know. That’s…