BTT: Author's Blogs
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
Do you read any author’s blogs? If so, are you looking for information on their next project? On the author personally? Something else?
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BTT: Too Much Information
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse - a biography has made you love an author more?

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Quote of the Month: February
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Remember: email me, don't comment!


"'We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.'"

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January: Middlesex
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
 

Middlesex
Jeffrey Eugenides


pages: 529
published: 2002

host: Allans
meeting: 30/1/09

selector: Tracey



This was certainly an interesting book to start off the new year, with the books, shall we say, 'unorthadox' subject matter spilling over into all aspects of our conversation - newfound supermodels, unusual google searches, explorations of actual medical matters. Even putting that aside, our discussion was a broad one and I feel that we all bought up some interesting points.




We discussed the books style of narration a great deal - first person/third person, male/female, it's self-referencing, and perspective - and even after all I don't think we came up with a group wide conclusion. Some of us loved it and some of us hated it.

Another talking point was the length of the book and breadth of the story - some of us felt that the story was covering too much and spending too much time telling it. Bec was of the opinion that this gave the novel a "gritty and interconnected' feel which was picked up later by Tracey in mentioning that this expression of the desire for connectiveness is only available through telling the story in this way.



The Greek culture was also discussed somewhat in relation to characters (Desdemona) and literary style (tragedy, comedy, myth). This was, of course, greatly helped by the atmosphere there in the Allen's Zebra Bar.

The final major talking point revolved around the choosing of gender. Most of us seemed to agree (even if only for the sake of the story) with Cal's choice not to have the surgery. The right of the parent to make a choice for the infant in such a situation was also considered.



Ratings

 PrePost
Wendy67
Bec56
Rick77.4
Renae67
Debbie66
Rebecca88
Susan02
Tracey88
 


Other Covers














Next Meeting:
27th February
Debra's House
The Friday Night Knitting Club and Nightfall
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Quote of the Month: January
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Last year I put up a new quote every month, one related to books and/or reading. Well, this year I thought I'd try something new. Every month I'm going to pick a quote FROM a book - I'll try to keep them reasonably well known, but still have a variety of genres - for you to guess what it's from. At the end of the year, the person with the most correct guesses will win a prize... not sure what yet, but there'll be a prize.

I'll try to start of relatively easy, but if they're too hard or too much of the same thing, let me know. And remember, when you guess, be sure to email me instead of commenting, you don't want anyone to see your answer

----

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife.

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BookFreaks 2009
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Welcome to a new year of  BookFreaks - I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm very much looking forward to our second year!

I've updated our reading list, which can be found on the side bar to the right. And, in accordance with my New Years resolution to be more organised, this blog will be updated more regularly - so check back soon.


BTT: Why Buy?
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?

Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?

If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?

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Book Bank
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
These are the books we currently have in our 'to be considered' bank. If you have any that you'd like to add, just email me or comment below.


AuthorTitleSuggestor
Adiga, AravindWhite TigerTracey
Austen, JaneSense and SensibilityWendy
Barrie, J.M.Peter Pan 
Brooks, GeraldinePeople of the BookRebecca
Burroughs, AugustenRunning with ScissorsKirsty
McCarthy, CormacThe RoadRenae
Chevalier, TraceyThe Girl with the Pearl EarringWendy/Rebecca
Cooper, SusanUnder Sea, Over StoneWendy
Facey, AlbertA Fortunate LifeRenae
Fitzgerald, F. ScottThe Great GatsbyRenae
Ford, JamieHotel on the Corner of Bitter and SweetRenae
Gilbert, ElizabethEat, Pray, LoveKirsty
Harvey, SamanthaThe WildernessRenae
Heller, JosephCatch-22Rebecca
Huxley, AldousBrave New WorldWendy
Ishiguro, KazuoThe Remains of the DayWendy
Jones, LloydMister PipRenae/Rebecca
Kundera, MilanThe Unbearable Lightness of BeingWendy
Lanagan, MargoTender MorselsWendy
Maguire, GregoryWickedRenae
Marsden, JohnTomorrow When the War BeganRenae
Martel, YannLife of PiRebecca
Maurier, Daphne duRebeccaWendy
Mulligan, SpikeAdolph Hitler: My Part in his DownfallWendy
Nabokov, VladimirLolitaRebecca
Noble, ElizabethThings I Want My Daughter to KnowRenae
Orwell, George1984Rick
Reilly, MatthewSeven Ancient WondersRenae
Salinger, J.D.The Catcher in the RyeRenae
Shaffer, Mary AnnThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie SocietyRenae
Stevenson, Robert LouisDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 
 Treasure IslandRenae
Stewart, MaryThe Crystal CaveWendy
Stoker, BramDraculaRebecca
Styron, WilliamSophie's ChoiceWendy/Bec
Tolkein, J.R.R.The HobbitRick
Tsiolkas, ChristosThe SlapKirsty
Walker, AliceThe Colour PurpleRebecca
Wells, H.G.The War of the WorldsWendy
Woolf, VirginaMrs. DallawayWendy
Wyndham, JohnThe Day of the TriffidsWendy
 The Midwich CuckoosWendy
Updike, JohnRabbit, RunRenae
 

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BookFreaks meet the Authors...
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[info]bookfreaks
I assure you we're not stalkers ... we don't have long trenchcoats.

May 19, 2008 - Emily Rodda (Sydney Writers Festival, Penrith Library)

October 22, 2008 - Matthew Reilly (Penrith Library)

 

May 19, 2009 - Catherine Jinks and Phillip Gwynne (Sydney Writers Festival, Penrith Library)




October: Cloudstreet
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Cloudstreet – Tim Winton

 
Pages: 426
Published: 1991
 
Month: October 2008
Suggested by: Wendy
Host: Allans
 
 

 

What can you tell him, Fish? Right now, while you're down there on that side of the water with your strange brain and your black, wide eyes. What do you understand enough to say? You stand there in the morning and the afternoon and see Quick all closed, white and hard. Motes rain down. The sun is alive. The whole house is shaking with sound. Why won't he look at you? How do you bear it? How can you just stand at the end of his bed like that, with the patience of an animal? It's like you're someone else down there, Fish. Or does it just hurt me to think it's not so? (p. 92)

 

 

With Wendy’s time at uni coming to a close (can you hear her cheering already?) it’s good to see that she has a promising career ahead of her as an at-home shop keeper. The Allans created a lovely Cloudstreet in their house for the night and I’m sure they’ll appreciate our continued patronage and support – I’ll be sending them my shopping list this week.

 

 

Overall Rating: 7.6 


 Book
Wendy8
Bec5
Rick-
Renae8.5
Debbie9
Rebecca9
Sue-
Tracey8

 

Next Month:

Book: The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch; and The Devil's Dictionary - Ambroise Bierce

Host: Renae

Date/Time: November 21 - hosted by Rebecca

 

    

October’s meeting, for Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, marked our most lively meet-up since our first gathering. While it is clear that Cloudstreet was an excellent choice for our little group, credit must also be given to our two new members: Debbie and Tracey, who both added considerably to the discussion. So thanks and welcome to them both.

 

As said, it was a very active meeting, with many opinions (only some of which corresponding) about almost every aspect of the book – we really could have used another meeting for this one. Questions of Lester’s moral fibre, Dolly’s past, and the ‘haunting’ of the Cloudstreet house were just three of the topics bought up. The question of Dolly, in particular, was interesting, and I can happily report that after sitting everyone down and having them listen to our arguments (as well as plying them with many cookies) the last holdouts came over to our point of view…



What? I can’t make up whatever I want just because I’m writing this? Oh fine then.

Overall, I think we had a great night, far too much was discussed to take note of everything but I’m sure we’ll be talking about this one again over the next few months.

 
Other Book Covers:

     
 

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Quote of the Month
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts: monuments fall; nations perish; civilization grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men’s hearts, of the hearts of men centuries dead.
- Clarence Day


BTT: Coupling
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
Been a while, but let's try to get us back on track with our Thursday questions, shall we?


“Name a favorite literary couple and tell me why they are a favorite. If you cannot choose just one, that is okay too. Name as many as you like–sometimes narrowing down a list can be extremely difficult and painful. Or maybe that’s just me.”
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October - The Mist and Black Juice
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
It seems that the mist has decimated everything in it's wake - eradicating our finely written report. Fortunately, an outcast mist alien, sympathetic to our cause, was kind enough to deliver the rating statistics and ensured that his kind would never again munch on our notes. He apologised profusely before heading back to his own realm.


The Mist – Stephen King
 
Pages: 230
Published: 1980
 
Month: September 2008
Suggested by: Rick
Host: Rebecca
 
 


 

 

Overall Rating: 5.5 / 3.5 

Blackjuice – Margo Lanagan


 BookFilm
Wendy52
Bec63
Rick8.97.7
Renae54
Debbie4-2
Rebecca45
Sue-5
Tracey--

 

 
Pages: 259
Published: 2004
 
Month: September 2008
Suggested by: Wendy
Host: Rebecca
 
 


 

 

Overall Rating: 4.3

 Book
Wendy8
Bec0
Rick5
Renae2.5
Debbie-
Rebecca6
Sue-
Tracey-

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BTT: Stories
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?

Or, um, is it just me?

Nb: Wendy, I can anticipate your respose to this already ... have fun answering but please don't hurt yourself.
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BTT: Libraries
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Whether you usually read off of your own book pile or from the library shelves NOW, chances are you started off with trips to the library. So …

What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you?
Do you have you any funny/odd memories of the library?

 

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Book Quote of the Month
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
             Sidda can’t help herself. She just loves books. Loves the way they feel, the way they smell, loves those black letters marching across the white pages. When Sidda falls in love with a book, she is positive that she is the very first person in the world to have discovered it, poor child. Thinks that no one else anywhere, anytime, has ever heard of the book.

            I’ll never forget the time she flipped over The Secret Garden, which Buggy gave her. She lived inside that book for days. You couldn’t even talk to the child. Then, after a while, she went to the library and looked that book up, and when she found that other copies existed and all kinds of people had their names on the borrower’s card, she just broke down in tears. She had truly believed that she was the only one who had ever read that book! After that, everywhere she went she stared at people, trying to figure out which one of them had trespassed on her book.
- Little Altars Everywhere (p. 51)
Rebecca Wells
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Monthly Linkage: Your Shelves
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

Now come on, you just know you can't give up the opportunity to spy on someone else's bookshelf. Go check some out. If you're feeling in any way inclined, why don't you go take a picture of your own bookshelf, email it to me and we can show off our own collection here.

P.S. Please remember that you are NOT allowed to hunt these people down to steal their library ... at least, not unless you're taking me along.


(click for more)


BTT: Gold Medal Reading
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks

You, um, may have noticed that the Olympics are going on right now, so that’s the genesis of this week’s question, in two parts:

First:

  • Do you or have you ever read books about the Olympics? About sports in general?
  • Fictional ones? Or non-fiction? Or both?

And, Second:

  • Do you consider yourself a sports fan?
    Because, of course, if you’re a rabid fan and read about sports constantly, there’s a logic there; if you hate sports and never read anything sports-related, that, too … but you don’t have to love sports to enjoy a good sports story.
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July - P.S. I Love You
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
P.S. I Love You – Cecilia Ahern
 
Pages: 503
Published: 2004
 
Month: July 2008
Suggested by: Renae
Host: Renae
 
 

 

Their plan had been very simple: to stay together for the rest of their lives. A plan that anyone  within their circle would agree was accomplishable. They were best friends, lovers and soul mates, destined to be together, everyone thought. But as it happened, one day destiny greedily changed its mind.

 

The end had come all too soon.

(p. 2)
--
In the meantime, she would just live.
(p. 503)

 

 

This month’s BookFreaks meeting was a very special one as Renae, playing Wonder Host, treated us to a lovely Irish dinner – and quite outdid herself, I must say. I think she’ll be getting random surprise dinner-time drop ins from the rest of us for quite some time. The atmosphere she set for our discussion was wonderful, very romantic, with our specially reserved table. Though I think the young man she hired to open the door and show me to our seat was the best part – his Batman outfit truly made the night!


 


Of course, we attendants did our best to help with the atmosphere-setting. Most of us turned up in green - with only one notable piker who shan't be named - with Bec and Rick getting high marks for coming as a nymph and leprechaun, respectively.



Like last month, this book garned very strong (and even opposing) opinions from our members - what can I say, we really are an opinionated bunch who like to have the occasional friendly argument. We had one side of the table being generally annoyed at Holly, our lead character ("get over yourself"), and another half just feeling bad for the poor girl (relating with her situation) ... in the end I don't think we came to any real conclusions, but, seeing as we all made arrangements for next month, we must have agreed to disagree.

Once we decided to leave Holly alone, our conversation turned to the reasoning behind Gerry's leaving of the letters, and whether or not it just made the situation worse. Again, both sides could be seen to this situation, with some of us feeling that the letters fostered a "prolonged attachment", some felt that it made the separation gradually easier, and yet another thought was that it was another way to control her, to treat her like a child.

Overall, the views of the book were widespread, as can be seen reflected in the ratings.

 

 

Overall Rating: 3.9 / 5.8 


 BookFilm
Wendy1-1
Bec47
Rick2.53.5
Renae610
Debbie-10
Rebecca64
Sue-7
Tracey--

 

Next Month:

Book: The Mist – Stephen King; and Black Juice – Margo Lanagan

Host: Rebecca

Date/Time: September - date to be confirmed

 
 
Other Book Covers:
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What's On Your Nightstand?
bookfreaks
[info]bookfreaks
 The guidelines are simple:
  • Write a post on your own blog (or feel free to play along in the comments if you don't have a blog).
  • You can simply post a picture, or tell us how and when these books got into your to-be-read pile, or give a mini-review of the books in progress.
  • Read around through the links and find out "What's on Their Nightstand?"

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