February Book Announced...

The February Book Club book is...

Under the Never Sky

By Veronica Rossi

Goodreads blurb: Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Anyone is free to read along with us and post their thoughts either below, or on the reading page that will be posted the night of the meet-up February 28th, 2013. If you're in the Orange County area and want to come to our book club meeting, we'd love to have you. Please contact Jolene at jolene dot haley at gmail dot com.

Happy Reading!

January Book Selection: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

January Book: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins

Goodreads blurb: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts.

The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. 

But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Discussion Questions

1. What would you rate this novel on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the worse and 5 being the best.

2. Who is your favorite character and why?

3. How do the cameras being ever-present affect everyone in the book?

We also used this awesome discussion guide of questions we found from Scholastic. Thanks Scholastic!

Tell us below, how did you like the Hunger Games? Any thoughts to the questions posted? Got a question of your own? Be sure to post it!

December book selection: Member's choice!

Hi Thursday Night Book Club!

Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah (hopefully that covers all the bases)! 

Since the holidays tend to be all kinds of crazy, we're going to do a digital meet up for December. You can choose any book that you want (holiday themed or not) and then share it in the comments below. You can include whatever you want (obviously please include title and author). As for discussion you can post on anything  you want in regards to the book, whether it be how much you liked it, a link to it, or answer some of the previous discussion questions about the book.

Please try to get them all in by December 31st, 2012. That way we can all check them out.

That's it. Easy peasy. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa  Happy holidays! And most importantly, happy reading!

Share your books below...

November- Meeting cancelled

Hello lovely readers!

There will be no in-person meeting for November or December.

However, December's read is member's choice. You can pick any book you want. All you have to do is share it on the December reading post. There's nothing particular you have to include but some ideas are: answer a few reading questions, a link to the book, and what you thought.

If you need some reading suggestions, check at the bottom of October's post. I shared a few links to some great Christmas themed reads if that's what you want to go with.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

October book selection- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galazy by Douglas Adams

Our October book was The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Due to scheduling issues, we weren't all able to meet in person, but we decided to digitally discuss this book.. I was particularly excited about this pick because it's something completely out of my normal reading comfort zone.. I really don't read too much science fiction. Not because I don't like it. I just like other genres more.

Discussion Questions

1. What would you rate this novel on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the worst and 5 being the best, what would you rate this book?

2. Who was your favorite character and why?

3. How is improbability used in science fiction and what does Adams say about the concept? (pg 90).

4. What type of earth does it represent (being published in the 70's)? Does it take away or add to the story?

5. How would you describe the protagonist? Hero? Anti-hero?

6. Discuss the number 42. What role does is play in the novel?

7. Why was figuring out the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything isn't easy. Why is it so hard? What would your answer to that question be?

8. What could you relate to most in the novel? Was it a person? Place? Situation?

Let me know below what you think about the book and try to answer at least one of the above questions!

November: No book will be selected. No meeting.

December: Members choice.. Members will be asked to share their selections at the end of December via web. There will be no in-person meeting due to the holidays. If you're looking for some suggestions try the following links:

Young Adult books- YA Christmas Reads <- All books in the young adult genre

12 Unusual Christmas Reads <- Some interesting reads

Popular Christmas Reads <- Yes, A Christmas Carol is included.

Popular Hanukkah Books <- Because not everyone celebrates Christmas...

September book selection- Defiance by CJ Redwine

Our September book was Defiance by CJ Redwine

I was so happy with the turnout this time around! Instead of two people, we had six. Huge thanks to Cassie, Ryan, Johanna, Chris, and Andy for showing up!

Here are some of the discussion questions we talked about and answered. Feel free, anyone at all, to comment or answer them too. I'd love to hear what you think!

1. Love story- like it or hate it?
2. What would you rate this novel on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the worst and 5 being the best?
3. Who were some of your favorite characters? Why?
4. What did you like most about the protagonist? Could you relate to he or she? Could you relate to the rest of their characters?
5. Do the characters seem believable? Can you relate to them and their circumstances? To what extent do they remind you of yourself?
6. What was your favorite twist or turn in the novel? Was this your favorite scene?
7. Was there anything unique about the setting of the book? Did it enhance or take away from the story?
8. What themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? Do you think this was meant for pure entertainment or was there a message here?
9. How do the characters change or evolve throughout the story? What events triggered that?
10. In what was do the events of the book reveal evidence of the authors' world view?
11. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?
12. Did the end surprise you?
13. This particular novel got many ratings that stated, that the only thing keeping this novel with positive reviews were the extra media it came with (pictures, evidence, multi media). Do you think this enhanced or changed your view of the novel or did this have nothing to do with how much you liked it?
14. Did you like the novel? If so, what would you rate it out of 5?

August Book Selection- Personal Effects: Dark Art

Hi book clubbers!!

Our August book was Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins and Jordan Weisman

 I think we had a great first meeting! Johanna and I had some awesome book discussion  and Cassandra sent us her her thoughts as well to discuss. 

Here are some of our discussion questions: Feel free to post your opinions below or add discussion as you like. I'd love to hear some questions and opinions.

1. Who were some of your favorite characters? Why?
2. What did you like most about the protagonist? Could you relate to he or she? Could you relate to the rest of their characters?
3. Do the characters seem believable? Can you relate to them and their circumstances? To what extent do they remind you of yourself?
4. What was your favorite twist or turn in the novel? Was this your favorite scene?
5. Was there anything unique about the setting of the book? Did it enhance or take away from the story?
6. What themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? Do you think this was meant for pure entertainment or was there a message here?
7. How do the characters change or evolve throughout the story? What events triggered that?
8. In what was do the events of the book reveal evidence of the authors' world view?
9. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?
10. Did the end surprise you?
11. This particular novel got many ratings that stated, that the only thing keeping this novel with positive reviews were the extra media it came with (pictures, evidence, multi media). Do you think this enhanced or changed your view of the novel or did this have nothing to do with how much you liked it?
12. Did you like the novel? If so, what would you rate it out of 5?

Johanna's rating: ****

Jolene's rating:  **** and 1/2

Cassandra's rating:

We also voted on Septembers read which will be Defiance by CJ Redwine.

Please vote on the October read HERE!