February 17th Discussion Books

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose

What did you think of this month's books?  Share your thoughts at next Thursday's book discussion after school in the library.

 My favorite couple phrases from The Help were:

"If only singing was a color."

"I only been cooking white Thanksgiving since Calvin Coolidge was President."

My moment of repulsion happened when Miss Hilly says to Aibileen, "How do you like your new bathroom?"  She then waits for Aibileen to thank her before moving on.  'Waits' is probably not accurate because she prods her to say thank you.  Skeeter is standing outside the room, praying that Aibileen doesn't say it, but it can't be avoided.

January Book Discussion - Sorta Like A Rock Star

I found this book rather memorable. Amber has a voice that touched me. I was impressed with the character's that Quick was able to create. The haikus were fun. I think this book has been done many times and in many ways. It is a common story, but I like everything that Quick added. You have your token soldier who can't communicate after serving in Vietnam. There is the classic 'fairy godmother' character that takes care of Amber. The element of jocks vs. geeks creates the high school drama. Even though hundreds have written this story before, I believe Quick takes us places that we don't expect. The soldier writes haikus, and introduces us to the zen of staying in the moment. The fairy godmother is a foreshadowing of what Amber can achieve if she 'keeps hope alive'. The reconciliation of the jocks and geeks is too easy, but oh well.

My favorite Nietzsche quote from the novel:

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.