Book Beginnings and Bookends

The House on First Street: Part 2 Questions

2011-05-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Interesting questions to finish up the book...I'm excited to hear what you guys think!

Questions:

From the first go around it seems there was a general negative feeling towards the author. Do you feel any guilt for criticizing an author who was brave enough to put part of her life in writing for the world to see?

What surprised you the most about the details of the aftermath of Katrina?

Did it surprise you how much money Julia spent on food for the relief workers?

After reading about Julia's acts of service and coverage of Katrina in the second half of the book, has your opinion of her changed?

Write your posts with your responses and link up!

2011-05-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

First of all, it looks like Blogger ate my linky tool that is on last week's post. With all the trouble they've been having, I think it somehow disappeared? Not sure...either way, I'm putting it back on there and I'd love for you to link up if you answered last week's questions.

Now onto this week's questions!

Please leave a comment with a question or two and I'll add it to tomorrow's post. Hopefully you're closer to being done with the book than I am. I have some reading to catch up on tonight!

The House on First Street: Week 1 Questions

2011-05-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

I know I said I'd post Monday, and now it's Tuesday. Oops! Here are the questions we have for this week. As always feel free to respond to them all or just the ones that you want to answer.

Happy Reading!

1. Have you visited New Orleans before? Do you think a visit to the city is necessary to connect to this book?

2. What are your thoughts on Julia's writing style? Do you like the way she tells stories?

3. To me Julia took a laid back approach to the evacuation warnings and even devastation. What was your reaction to her approach? How do you think you would have handled a flood of such proportions?

4. Julia instantly was solicited by her editors to do pieces on the disaster. Do you think she gave an accurate portrayal?

The House on First Street: Submit Your Question!

2011-05-07T16:41:00.001-07:00

Are you all enjoying the first half of this book?

I'd love to have some question from you all to post on Monday. Please leave a comment and I'll include your question on Monday's post!

The House on First Street Reading Schedule

2011-05-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you've picked up your copy of The House on First Street. If not, you still have time!

We'll be meeting back up next Monday to have our first discussion. I'll try to post Saturday to gather some questions from you guys, so jot down any ideas or questions you have while reading!

Next Monday (May 9) we'll discuss Chapters 1-8, and the following Monday (May 16) we'll discuss Chapters 9-the Epilogue. Can't wait to see chat with you all next week!

The House on First Street

2011-04-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Book Clubbers!

Time to start our third book of the year! If you haven't already, go get your copy of The House on First Street. We'll be posting a reading schedule on Monday!

Quick book synopsis, stolen from Amazon:

"Julia Reed went to New Orleans in 1991 to cover the reelection of former (and currently incarcerated) governor Edwin Edwards. Seduced by the city's sauntering pace, its rich flavors and exotic atmosphere, she was never entirely able to leave again. After almost fifteen years of living like a vagabond on her reporter's schedule, she got married and bought a house in the historic Garden District. Four weeks after she moved in, Hurricane Katrina struck.

With her house as the center of her own personal storm as well as the ever-evolving stage set for her new life as an upstanding citizen, Reed traces the fates of all who enter to wine, dine (at her table for twenty-four), tear down walls, install fixtures, throw fits and generally leave their mark on the house on First Street. There's Antoine, Reed's beloved homeless handyman with an unfortunate habit of landing in jail; JoAnn Clevenger, the Auntie Mame—like restaurateur who got her start mixing drinks for Dizzy Gillespie and selling flowers from a cart; Eddie, the supremely laid-back contractor with Hollywood ambitions; and, with the arrival of Katrina, the boys from the Oklahoma National Guard, fleets of door-kicking animal rescuers and the self-appointed (and occasionally naked) neighborhood watchman. Finally, there's the literally clueless detective who investigates the robbery in which the first draft of this book was stolen. Through it all, Reed discovers there really is no place like home.

Rich with sumptuous details and with the author's trademark humor well in the fore, The House on First Street is the chronicle of a remarkable and often hilarious homecoming, as well as a thoroughly original tribute to our country's most original city."

We hope you'll join us. See you Monday!

Rachel's Response to Part 3

2011-04-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I'm about 2 weeks late and posting, but I finished this past week and I wanted to share my thoughts! Better late than never, right??

Erin asked...

Ree faced many changes and challenges in her first year of marriage with the separation and divorce of her parents, marriage, life on the ranch, and pregnancy. How would you have coped with so many changes at once?

I would have been a basket case. I have a hard time with change, and when you throw in that many at one time, I would have felt like I was drowning. While reading I was actually surprised by how well she managed it all. I hope I never find myself in that position!

Jessica asked...

Did you feel the third part of the book was rushed compared to Part I and Part II?

A little bit. It seemed like she was trying to squeeze it all in. I would have loved for her to have gone more in depth about her pregnancy and the postpartum blues she wet through, but I can also understand that those were "harder" places in her life compared to her dating and engagement to MM.

Stephanie asked...

So many "bad things" happened on Ree and Marlboro Man's honeymoon. Did you have anything like that happen to you? How did you handle it?

No! Nothing like her experience, at least. When we took our trip to Europe last year (not a honeymoon), our luggage was lost on the way there and then again coming home. That had me so upset. I can't imagine having bad things happening on my honeymoon!

Rocky Mountain Wife asked...

One of my biggest wondering is how Ree's parents feel about how much of the book she spends talking about their impending break-up, and eventual divorce. She then is very blatant about how frustrated and sad she was with her mom. How do you think her parents feel at their portrayal in her book?

You know, I was kind of wondering this myself. I am sure it was hard for them to read this. Hearing your daughter's thoughts on your divorce must be heart wrenching. But I understood why she put it in there. It was a major issue in her life while dating, planning a wedding, and her first months as a newlywed. It wouldn't have been easy to deal with,

MC asked...

Did you like the ending to the book? What more would you have liked to know about Ree and Marlboro Man's relationship?

I liked the ending. I would have loved to have learned more about the days when she was raising two babies, but I was pleased with how it ended.

Natalie asked...

If you read The Pioneer Woman's blog before reading this book, what have you learned about her? How did the book compare to her typical blog posts? If you didn't read her blog, will you now?

I can't really say I learned about her, because when I discovered her blog back in 07, I started reading the Black Heels section on there. As long as I read her other blog posts, I was also reading her updates to her love story, so I guess in my mind they were always intertwined. Hope that makes sense.

Part Three Questions Posted!

2011-04-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

Erin asked...

Jessica asked...

Did you feel the third part of the book was rushed compared to Part I and Part II?

Stephanie asked...

So many "bad things" happened on Ree and Marlboro Man's honeymoon. Did you have anything like that happen to you? How did you handle it?

Rocky Mountain Wife asked...

Another question: If you are married, did your first year of marriage contain many ups and downs as Ree's had? We're just about to finish our first year of marriage, and we've certainly had ups and downs-and I wonder if this is typical for everyone?

MC asked...

Did you like the ending to the book? What more would you have liked to know about Ree and Marlboro Man's relationship?

Natalie asked...

If you read The Pioneer Woman's blog before reading this book, what have you learned about her? How did the book compare to her typical blog posts? If you didn't read her blog, will you now?

Post Your Questions for Part Three!

2011-04-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

We are all probably on the final pages on Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. I have loved this book so much.

Take just a second a leave a question in the comments sections for us to discuss for Part Three.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Part Two Discussion Questions

2011-03-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

Hope you've enjoyed part 2 as much as we have! Thanks to those of you who shared your questions! Feel free to answer them all or only the ones you feel compelled to answer. We can't wait to hear your thoughts.

From Samantha:

What did you think of Marlboro Man's proposal? How would you feel if you were proposed to like that?

She wrote a lot about never riding in a pickup truck before and how she used to judge girls who rode in the middle. After being with Marlboro Man she felt differently and actually wanted to ride in the middle. How do you feel about that? Have you ever judged somebody and then after learning more, regret that you had judged them?

From mcbracey:

After their first fight, did it make you question if Marlboro man was the one to give up everything for, or was Ree willing to do it because it was easy when everything else seemed hard?

Do you wonder what Ree is doing all day? How is she financially making it? Is she really just waiting around all day to meet up with Marlboro man at night?

Would you let your now husband duck out of your reception to watch a football game?

From Erin:

So many embarrassing things have happened to Ree in front of Marlboro Man. What is the most embarrassing story that comes to mind when you think of embarrassing things that have happened to you in front of a significant other?

How would you have reacted to being around for the prairie fire?

From Rachel:

There have been so many funny little stories along the way in the book. What has been your favorite? Any favorite lines?

Send In Your Questions!

2011-03-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hey book clubbers!

I have already finished Part Two and can't wait to start Part Three of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels!

When you finish Part Two, go ahead and leave a comment here with some questions you'd like the book club to answer next week. This will give us a chance to get them sorted and posted by Monday morning.

The questions to Part One were so much fun and we had some great discussion, so I can't wait to see what we talk about after reading Part Two!

Erin's Response to Part One

2011-03-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely loving reading this book. And it is so much fun to me to have so much participation from the entire book club. I hope that with Part Two even more readers will ask questions to generate discussion.

From Rachel:

Has this book brought you back to the beginning of a romantic relationship in your life?

Definitely! There is something so exciting about a brand new relationship when you can't wait to talk to the person and every single phone conversation feels like it could last for hours and you would never get tired of talking. I can remember when dating Todd, every single email, phone call, date, movie, dinner, or even just seeing each other in passing was so special and new!

From Erin:

What surprised you about Ree? If this was your first time reading about her background, did anything surprise you about her "beginnings?"

I was surprised by a lot. I knew that she was a "city girl" but I didn't know she had been in Los Angeles or anything else about her background.

From Nina:
While reading Part I of Black Heels, did you find yourself comparing your own love life/story to Ree's?

Yes. I had big hopes of moving to Chicago at one point in my life and those plans changed because a very special man came into my life.

Would you have handled ex-boyfriend (J) the same way or differently than Ree did?

I think I would have been more forceful or gone out to see him just to make sure that he knew that things were over. But sometimes long term boyfriends are hard to just get rid of so easily.

Have you ever made a life-changing decision based on a guy in your life? And how did it work out for you?

I never really have. I have considered making lots of life-changing decisions like where I went to college or where I went after college, but I always ended up going with what was best for me. Todd came into my life at a time where we were both pretty settled in where we live now, so we "fit" into each other's lives very neatly.

From Stephanie:
How do you think Ree's family felt that she was just going to give up going to Chicago for a guy she had just met?

I'm not sure about them, but I know my family would have been very skeptical and would have discouraged me from changing my plans.

From Rocky Mountain Wife:
If you were Ree and started to question your life plan (leaving Cali, moving to Chicago, being independent for a while)...how would you feel when this sudden romance came into your life at the 'wrong' time?

I would have been a little bit worried and nervous about my plans getting messed up. But I love that love comes into our lives when we least expect it and we have so much else going on.

From Meghan:
How do you think the situation with Ree's parents affected her relationship with Marlboro Man? (Or do think it did not affect her?)

I think we find out more in Part Two, but I am thinking it will cause her to cling to him more and treasure what they have even more.

Have you ever felt an instant connection with someone? How did it turn out?

Yes. I married him!

What made you relate to Ree? In what ways could you not relate to her?

I am much more of an open book than Ree. I speak freely and don't hold feelings and words back out of fear. I can't believe she hadn't told him anything about her parents. Or that it took her so long to tell Marlboro Man she loved him. I would have been blabbing that stuff to him the second I knew!

From Meredith:
I love all the details of Ree's cooking for Marlboro Man in the early stages of their relationship. Have you ever made anything for the guy in your life that was just an utter disaster? Did he choke it down anyway?

Right after we got married, Todd and I decided to empty our pantry and refrigerator and cook with what we had. Except he doesn't cook, so I had to cook with what we had. I decided to make a casserole out of spaghetti, shredded cheese, Velveeta cheese, sliced turkey (deli meat), and spaghetti sauce. Todd called it "Velveeta Surprise." The first bites weren't so bad, but then we quickly realized that it was absolutely heinous. He has never let me live that down!

From Amber:
How much of Ree's book do you think is truth or fiction? How much did she embellish? Do you think she omitted or added anything? Obviously she couldn't get EVERYTHING that happened during this period of her life in the book, but I kept wondering what was left out and if some of the stuff she was writing was built up just a teensy tiny bit.

I think a lot of it is exaggerated and I think a lot of things having to do with their respective families were probably left out. I don't think either of them came from very modest backgrounds, which is kind of a big deal when you think about it. But those are private matters that have nothing to do with how much or why they love each other.

If this were my love story, I would exaggerate, too. I would gush about my husband's strong arms and the way I feel when he holds me. It is her fairy tale and the way she remembers it all and I think it's fun that there is some embellishment.

Rachel's Response to Part 1

2011-03-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am loving this book. I read all of PW's tales on her website about two years ago, but it's still just as fun the second time around! It's such a light, easy read. If you haven't started reading yet, it's not too late to start. I promise that you'll fly through the first section.

From Rachel:

Has this book brought you back to the beginning of a romantic relationship in your life?

Most definitely! Those first few months of any relationship are always so fun and new, and I think the way that Ree rights the book reminds me of that time in my own relationships, especially with my husband. I remember spending a whole day with him early on, and just going home at night and smelling my sweatshirt because it smelled like him. I missed him even when we'd been together for hours at a time. I think she just puts it all into words so well.

From Erin:

What surprised you about Ree? If this was your first time reading about her background, did anything surprise you about her "beginnings?"

Since I'd read the whole Black Heels saga on her blog before this, I wasn't entirely surprised, but I definitely remember my shock after reading it for the first time 2 years ago. I love that she was once a vegetarian. It was so not what I expected. I like that she's had a range of experiences in her lifetime.

From Nina:

While reading Part I of Black Heels, did you find yourself comparing your own love life/story to Ree's?

Like I said above, I definitely find connections. Not only do I see connections with past relationships and that intense need to be with that person when the relationship is new, but I could so relate to what
she said about making life choices. I think we all reach an age and point in life where you have to make a decision to follow your heart or your head. When finishing college I had plans to move one place, but in the end, followed my then boyfriend (now husband) to his first job. I guess you could say it all worked out.

Would you have handled ex-boyfriend (J) the same way or differently than Ree did?

Most likely, no. Knowing me, I would have been a sucker and gone to have seen him. I love that she followed her heart and didn't look back. She made her decision and she stuck with it.

From Stephanie:

How do you think Ree's family felt that she was just going to give up going to Chicago for a guy she had just met?

I wondered this too! I am sure they were alarmed, but it also sounds like her parents had their own troubles to worry with. I know that if I had a child, I'm sure I'd question their choice to change directions in life so quickly, but I think I'd support them.

From Rocky Mountain Wife:

If you were Ree and started to question your life plan (leaving Cali, moving to Chicago, being independent for a while)...how would you feel when this sudden romance came into your life at the 'wrong' time?

I know that with my personality, I would have been a big ball of emotions. I like having plans. And something like this would certainly throw me for a loop! I would definitely be saying "This will never work" and I would doubt everything. I think this might be part of the reason why I love the story so much!

From Meghan:

What made you relate to Ree? In what ways could you not relate to her?
Like her - I am a total dork. I total silly stories to impress my husband early on (like her lies about running each morning). I question which direction my life is going in.

Unlike her - I don't think Wranglers would have attracted me at a smoky bar! The muscles? Maybe, but not cowboy jeans!

From Meredith:

I love all the details of Ree's cooking for Marlboro Man in the early stages of their relationship. Have you ever made anything for the guy in your life that was just an utter disaster? Did he choke it down anyway?

YES! I cook all the time now, but our first month or two of marriage was rough. I cried at dinner several nights. There were some awful meals that were made. But somehow, we made it, and I think it's safe to say that my cooking got better over time!

From Amber:

How much of Ree's book do you think is truth or fiction? How much did she embellish? Do you think she omitted or added anything? Obviously she couldn't get EVERYTHING that happened during this period of her life in the book, but I kept wondering what was left out and if some of the stuff she was writing was built up just a teensy tiny bit.

Oh, I definitely think things were left out and she is exaggerating. I mean, c'mon...are his arms really THAT great?? But you know what, I am okay with it. I love the fairy tale story. Even if it's not "real life," it's the same reason I love cheesy chick flicks!

Part One Discussion Questions!

2011-03-22T06:22:00.001-07:00

Discussion Questions for Part One of Black Heels to Tractor

Wheels

From Rachel:

Has this book brought you back to the beginning of a romantic relationship in your life?

From Erin:

What surprised you about Ree? If this was your first time reading about her background, did anything surprise you about her "beginnings?"

From Nina:

While reading Part I of Black Heels, did you find yourself comparing your own love life/story to Ree's?

Would you have handled ex-boyfriend (J) the same way or differently than Ree did?

Have you ever made a life-changing decision based on a guy in your life? And how did it work out for you?

From Stephanie:

How do you think Ree's family felt that she was just going to give up going to Chicago for a guy she had just met?

From Rocky Mountain Wife:

From Meghan:

How do you think the situation with Ree's parents affected her relationship with Marlboro Man? (Or do think it did not affect her?)

Have you ever felt an instant connection with someone? How did it turn out?

What made you relate to Ree? In what ways could you not relate to her?

From Meredith:

From Amber:

Black Heels To Tractor Wheels: Part One Questions Needed

2011-03-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, book clubbers!

Rachel and I mentioned that we would be asking you all to submit some questions for discussion. This post is going up kind of late on Sunday night, but if you have a question you would like everyone to discuss in their posts for Part One of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, just post your question(s) in the comments of this post.

I will do a big post on Monday with all of the discussion questions for Part One and then everyone can start getting their posts linked up.

I am enjoying this book so much and having to stop myself was really difficult because I just love it! I can't wait to devour Part Two!

Leave your questions in the comments on this post!

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels Reading Schedule

2011-03-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Bookclubbers!

Hopefully you've all had a chance to get your hands on Pioneer Woman's Book, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Mine came in the mail from Amazon the other day and I'm ready to read!

Here's what our reading schedule is going to look like...

Part 1: Questions will be posted Sunday, March 20
Part 2: Questions will be posted Sunday, March 27
Part 3: Questions will be posted Sunday, April 3

Like Erin mentioned in her last post, we'll be asking for you all to submit questions or possibly host some weeks. Be on the lookout for more information about that!

In the meantime, happy reading and we'll see you next Sunday to discuss Part 1!

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

2011-03-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Hey, readers!

Rachel and I always try to please everyone as best as we can, but we couldn't ignore a majority vote. Even though it's only out on eReaders and hardback, we will be reading Ree Drummond's Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. I think it will be a fun, light read for us in March.

Coming in at a close second place, we will read The House on First Street by Julia Reed in April.

If everyone hasn't already read Freedom before May, that will be our May book club book!

So go ahead and plan to get started with Black Heels... in a week. And reserve your copy of The House on First Street at the library, pick it up at the book store, or order it on Amazon.com in preparation for April's book club.

Rachel and I have thought of some fun ideas to bring some ownership to each of you since this is your book club as much as it is ours. We'll be asking you to think of questions and submit them to us and will even start asking you to volunteer to be the "host of the week."

We will post a reading schedule for Black Heels... early next week and start our questions soon after that.

Thank you, always, for your input.

Let's Vote!

2011-03-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

Hey, readers!

Rachel and I were discussing which book we thought we might like to read next and a few books came to mind from our own reading lists and from some of your suggestions.

Check out the suggestions and leave a comment with your vote for the next book. We will announce the next book at the end of the week and start reading a week later. We will more than likely plan to read the other two books next for April and May so you can have some time to pick those up.

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

The House on First Street by Julia Reed

(non-fiction)

Pros: It is already on my reading list! (just kidding)

Cons: It has been out for a while and many of you may have already read it

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

(fiction)

Pros: Book is getting great reviews

Cons: Many of you have already read it

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

(non-fiction)

Pros: We all love The Pioneer Woman and reading a famous blogger's book would be so much fun!

Cons: This is a new release and may be harder to find in libraries and in paperback

Erin's Response to Chapters 26- Epilogue

2011-02-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

1. How would you describe the relationship between John and Isabel?

I can't quite figure this out. So nothing happened with them-- not even close. I didn't want John to cheat on Amanda, but was kind of looking for a little suspense. I can't figure out why Gruen reminded us of John's infatuation with Isabel if nothing was going to come of it. Gruen also made it a point to show us that John was territorial when it came to other men looking at Amanda and he would fantasize about Amanda. But why the attraction to Isabel if nothing was going to come of it?

Was he only attracted to her because of her ability to communicate with the apes and her relationship with the apes? I'm just not sure!

2. What was your reaction to finding out Peter's role in the explosion and capture of the apes?

I wasn't surprised at all. I liked the build up to finding out that he wasn't a good guy. I liked how we trusted him in the beginning and were happy that Isabel had someone she could trust, but I loved reading how that all unraveled. I would have liked to see more of how that all came out. More confrontation and more on why Peter did what he did.

3. Both John and Amanda ended up achieving their professional goals. Amanda ended up getting pregnant and John is excited about having a baby. Do you think this is the end to their problems? Can John and Amanda be happy?

I think they are both content, but why is John leaving Amanda at home alone to go off on these adventurous story assignments when she is pregnant? Maybe John and Amanda both only need professional satisfaction in order to be happy with everything else in their lives. In the book, they had the love, but neither were happy with their careers. So maybe now that they both have their careers in line, their happiness is taken care of. It is obvious that they love each other very much. Hopefully John won't continue to follow Isabel everywhere and his attraction to her will never be acted on.

4. What did you find to be the most intriguing about the bonobos?

They are so smart, so loving, and so human-like. They are great judges of character and are very loyal to those they love. I would absolutely love to get to witness bonobos communicating with each other and with humans!

5. Which character did you enjoy reading about the most?

John's story line was always the most intriguing to me. There wasn't much "action" with Isabel, though I thought she was a great character. I just liked all the drama associated with John- though some of it was over the top and seemed unnecessary. I could have completely done without the introduction of the green-haired kid and the paternity test associated with that. Maybe John needed that to realize that he wanted to be a father? But it was in the last few chapters of the book. I just didn't understand the point of that character or that story. I'm not sure why John went into a meth lab and picked up Booger the dog. There were just some aspects of his story that seemed to be "too much" for me.

6. Was the ending what you expected? Did things resolve the way you thought they would?

Again, I would have liked to see more confrontation in the end, but I am happy with the ending. I'm happy the bonobos are safe and sound and that Isabel has been reunited with them, her family.

7. And finally, any overall thoughts or feelings that these questions haven't addressed? How would you rate this book for others? Any part that you loved? Anything you hated? SHARE!

I would give this book 3 stars out of 5 stars. At least that's what I did on Goodreads. I liked reading about the apes and I liked reading about the world of journalism. I just think that some of the scenes were unnecessary and a waste of paper. I'm excited to read other posts to see if anyone agrees or disagrees. There were a lot of things that I did like about the book, but I feel like the things I liked the most were the conflict and the bonobos, so I'd like to have seen more of how it all shook out and had less shenanigans in John's story.

Ape House Ch. 26-Epilogue Discussion Questions

2011-02-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

First of all, sorry these are a bit delayed! It was a busy weekend for both Erin and me. Secondly, are we really done with this book already? It went by so fast! Guess this means we need to start thinking about our next book! Feel free to comment with any suggestions.

Anyhow....here are our questions for this last piece of Ape House:

1. How would you describe the relationship between John and Isabel?

2. What was your reaction to finding out Peter's role in the explosion and capture of the apes?

3. Both John and Amanda ended up achieving their professional goals. Amanda ended up getting pregnant and John is excited about having a baby. Do you think this is the end to their problems? Can John and Amanda be happy?

4. What did you find to be the most intriguing about the bonobos?

5. Which character did you enjoy reading about the most?

6. Was the ending what you expected? Did things resolve the way you thought they would?

7. And finally, any overall thoughts or feelings that these questions haven't addressed? How would you rate this book for others? Any part that you loved? Anything you hated? SHARE!

Rachel's Response to Chapters 13-25

2011-02-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

1. Would you watch or be tempted to watch a show like Ape House?

Definitely. Do I think it's ethical or okay? No, but I'd be intrigued. Same reason I watch stuff like The Kardashian's or The Real Housewives. I don't think I'd be a regular watched, but I know I'd be interested in seeing what all the hype was about.

2. Do you think John did the right thing by quitting his job and moving to L.A.?

I suppose. He was unhappy and I truly believe that no one should be stuck in a job that's making them miserable. I've been there and I certainly didn't stick around. Moving to LA was probably best for his marriage and quitting his job was good for his sanity.

3. We haven't seen a whole lot of Isabel in this section, but what do you think of Peter now that we know more about him?

Peter kind of seems like a sleezeball! As soon as I found out he slept with Celia, I knew he was not one to be trusted. The more we've learned about him and his past, the more I'm learning that this is true. I really don't think we'll see him redeeming himself in this book.

4. Can John turn the ape story for the tabloid into something he is proud of? Is he getting a little bit of redemption by being assigned to his dream story again even if it is for a tabloid?

I think he has found a place to devote his energy and passion for journalism, and that is great. He is assigned to a story he cares about and I think that because of this he can write something he's proud of. I know this question doesn't ask about his marriage, but I want to say that I think taking this job and leaving LA for New Mexico may hurt his marriage.

5. Have your thoughts on John and Amanda's marriage changed since last week? Where do you see their marriage headed?

Like I mentioned above...it's not heading in a good direction. It seems like they're only growing farther apart. Leaving his wife a job doesn't seem like a good decision for them.

6. What do you think will end up happening to the apes?

I have a feeling that we're not going to see a happy ending..at least not for all the apes. Right now it sounds like they're in a lot of danger, and I worry how this will all end. There's a lot of directions Gruen could take this story in. I'm excited to see it all play out.

Ch. 13-25 Questions for Ape House

2011-02-13T18:09:00.000-08:00

Here are this week's questions:

1. Would you watch or be tempted to watch a show like Ape House?

2. Do you think John did the right thing by quitting his job and moving to L.A.?

3. We haven't seen a whole lot of Isabel in this section, but what do you think of Peter now that we know more about him?

4. Can John turn the ape story for the tabloid into something he is proud of? Is he getting a little bit of redemption by being assigned to his dream story again even if it is for a tabloid?

5. Have your thoughts on John and Amanda's marriage changed since last week? Where do you see their marriage headed?

6. What do you think will end up happening to the apes?

As always, feel free to add in any other thoughts or predictions you have in your post. We love a good discussion!

Erin's Response to Chapters 1-12

2011-02-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

We're having to use a new linky tool this time and I'm so sorry about the three columns. I promise we'll do our best to have this figured out before next week's post. Hopefully you can all still click on all of the links for the posts. I'm afraid that if I try to correct it right now, all the links will be lost.

1. What was your initial reaction to the idea of a language lab with bonobos who are capable of having conversations with humans?

At first, I thought, "yeah right. Just more scientists and this may all be something that goes completely over my head." But then as I read more my mind obviously changed. Isabel's interaction and relationship with the bonobos and the individual personalities of the bonobos is are all so touching.

2. Isabel said early in the book that the apes know they're apes and know that the humans are humans, but they don't see any superiority with either... What do you think the major difference is between the two?

I think it's so cool that the apes see themselves as equals with the humans, but there are obviously humans who don't agree. So the biggest difference is that the apes don't have any control ultimately and the humans have all the control over the apes. That's the only hard part about having wild animals in captivity. They can be tamed, but when they're out in the wild they have choices of what they want to eat and where they want to live. If they want to go somewhere, they go.

3. What are your thoughts on John and his feelings toward Isabel? How do you think their relationship will play out?

I would imagine that her talent with the bonobos and her feelings toward them is endearing and attractive. But I hope that the relationship never comes to anything. I hope there's just an infatuation and attraction there, but that's it.

4. How do you think Isabel will respond to the apes being taken?

I'm thinking she will stop at nothing to find them. They are more her family than her actual family is, so she's going to do everything possible to make everything okay again. I'm not sure where they'll all be at that point. Where will the apes go if and when she does find them?

5. Do you think Celia is part of the team that ambushed the learning center?

At first I thought that, but now I'm becoming more and more skeptical of Isabel's fiance.

6. What are your thoughts on John and his relationship with Amanda?

Poor Amanda. It's clear that they love each other very much. I hope that Amanda can find something that makes her happy and gives her confidence. I hope they stay together through the book. I'm a sucker for a happy romance. The good thing about their relationship is that, for the most part, they get along great. And they support each other, which is very important. I just hope that Amanda can get some help and snap out of her funk.

Rachel's Response to Chapters 1-12

2011-02-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you all, but I'm really enjoying this book so far. It was a little slow those first few pages, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. It was hard to stop at the end of chapter 12.

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1. What was your initial reaction to the idea of a language lab with bonobos who are capable of having conversations with humans?

I have never heard of bonobos...anyone else? I was never against the idea of the lab since it sounded like they were treating the animals fairly. In fact, I think the animals were getting better treatment there than in most parts of the world.

Although th apes don't see a difference, I think the biggest difference would be that humans have control. I realize that the apes don't necessarily know this, but in the end, the humans are the ones who run the show. After all, it was the apes who were sold to another group of humans.

3. What are your thoughts on John and his feelings toward Isabel? How do you think their relationship will play out?

They bother me greatly. His wife is clearly depressed and although we've read about how much he loves her, I don't like that he's thinking about Isabel all the time. I think with the way Gruen has set things up, there will be a more serious relationship that develops between them.

4. How do you think Isabel will respond to the apes being taken?

With what we know about Isabel, she clearly loves those apes like family members. I have no doubt that she will search for them, high and low, until she finds them and either rescues them or gets herself killed or arrested.

5. Do you think Celia is part of the team that ambushed the learning center?

I can't quite decide. I want to say yes, but at the same time we just don't know enough about Celia. I think Gruen introduced her as someone who we were supposed to dislike, but that makes me wonder, is she actually good? I don't think I can make a decision yet.

6. What are your thoughts on John and his relationship with Amanda?

Amanda clearly needs some help. From what it sounds like, she is in a serious depression, and I don't think moving to LA is going to solve that. It sounds like they truly do love one another, but neither know hows to make the other happy anymore. It's not that they fight, but they both have their own issues and struggles and they can't overcome those to help their marriage. I'm curious to see what will happen to them.

Ape House: Chapters 1-12 {discussion}

2011-02-07T06:52:00.001-08:00

Good morning, readers! I didn't get to post the questions last night as hoped. Between the Super Bowl and family responsibilities, time just got away from me. But, please answer the questions and do your posts as you find time. There's no rush at all.

{Use the linky tool at the bottom of the post to attach your post and response to this post.}

1. What was your initial reaction to the idea of a language lab with bonobos who are capable of having conversations with humans?

3. What are your thoughts on John and his feelings toward Isabel? How do you think their relationship will play out?

4. How do you think Isabel will respond to the apes being taken?

5. Do you think Celia is part of the team that ambushed the learning center?

6. What are your thoughts on John and his relationship with Amanda?

Reading Schedule for Ape House

2011-02-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

Good morning readers!

It's February 1st and, as promised, we're posting the reading schedule for our first book of 2011, Ape House by Sara Gruen.

Hopefully everyone has picked up the book by now, but if you haven't you have a few days before we start posting questions. Rachel and I decided to do about 100 pages per week. I'm hopeful that this is just the right amount of reading each week to keep the speed readers happy and to keep the busier readers (who have trouble finding time to read) engaged.

February 1: Chapters 1-12

February 7: We will post discussion questions for chapters 1-12 on the blog. Read chapters 13-25 this week.

February 14: We will post discussion questions for chapters 13-25 on the blog. Read chapters 26- Epilogue.

February 21: We will post discussion questions for chapters 26- Epilogue on the blog.

I'm excited to get started! We're going to be doing our very best to post the questions on Sunday evenings to help out with crazy schedules during the week.

Happy reading!

answer to a question

2011-01-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

Hey girls! I saw that a few of you asked if Ape House is a sequel to Water for Elephants. It is not a sequel, so you can read Ape House without having read Water for Elephants.

I also wanted to point out that we are going to try very hard not to compare Ape House to Water for Elephants. It's hard when an author writes an amazing book and everyone compares the second book to the first. I can't imagine that Ape House will be better or even as good as Water for Elephants.

I just wanted to point out those two things before we get started.

But... seriously, if you haven't read Water for Elephants, you simply must!

a new year, a new book!

2011-01-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, book clubbers! Happy New Year to all of you.

After a two month hiatus to breathe during the holiday season, Rachel and I are ready to start reading and discussing great books again with all of you. We both have lists of books we'd like to read in 2011 and have come up with a few books that we think will be great for this great community of readers.

Rachel and I both loved Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. If you haven't read it, you should do it. Now. It's a wonderful book and the movie will be coming out soon. The movie trailer looks absolutely wonderful, but you know the book is always better than the movie.

I digress. Because we loved Sara Gruen's talent so much, we decided to go with another of her books for our first Book Beginnings and Bookends Book Club book of 2011.

We will be reading Ape House by Sara Gruen.

For more information on Ape House, click here.

To purchase Ape House, click here.

We won't start reading the book or doing the discussion posts until February, so you have the next few weeks to get the book. But don't start reading yet because we'll be posting a reading schedule. We'll also continue to set up the Linky tool for you to post your answers to the discussion questions on your own blog if you'd like.

Happy reading in 2011!

Rachel's Response to Commencement: Part 2

2010-10-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here I am 3 days after we posted the questions finally answering them! I've really been thinking about this book since I finished it last weekend and I am just not sure how to phrase my feelings. This book seemed to be all over the place, so I hope I am able to accurately describe my final thoughts and reaction to it.

1. What parts of the book could you most relate to? Least relate?

The beginning, when they talked about going to college and making friends and that awkward weird transition those first few weeks in the dorm. Took me right back to August 2002 when I was in the same shoes as these girls. It was odd knowing it was your new home but feeling more confused and lost than ever before.

I could also relate to Celia in a lot of ways. She wanted to make her friends happy and she truly seemed to have the most "normal" live of all the girls. I could easily relate to her compared to the other 3 girls who seemed to have more issues.

What do I relate to the least? Definitely the feelings of feminism. It's an area I've never identified with. I am all about women's rights, but I'm also really into stay at homes and being a wife who cooks dinner. I typically steer clear of feminist material because I don't think it's necessary to feel guilty for wanting to cook dinner for my husband.

2. If the author were to write another novel that followed one of the girls onto her next step of life, which one would you want it to be about? Whose story would you want to follow more of?

Probably Celia. I just liked her the most but I felt like we learned the least about her and her personal life. I want to know more about her life in NYC and her dating escapades. Bree (and her romantic life with Lara) bored me. April was too far out for me to have much interest in, and Sally I liked a lot and would like to hear about her as a mother, but even still, Celia was the girl I enjoyed the most. I think the author could do a lot with her story.

3. What surprised you the most about this book?

The ending. It felt so open and empty. It all happened fast and didn't really conclude for me. I would have loved to have seen this a little more tied up. i understand that we don't always get a "and they lived happily ever after..." but this particular ending seemed rushed and almost fake? I don't know. Basically the whole last April section was kind of like a great big, "What?!" Anyone else feel that way?

4. Which character did you look forward to reading about the most?
It changed through out the book. In the beginning, Bree. She seemed like most the girls I knew in college and I liked making comparisons to her to my friends in real life. Celia and her story was always interesting. I think the part about her rape was the most interesting. I think the author could have done a lot more with her. Of the 4 girls, she seemed like the one we learned the least about. By the end I did like reading about Sally and the baby. But that's probably because I was just interested in reading about her pregnancy. Never cared for the April chapters.

5. Did this book meet your expectations?
Not really. I think it was an okay written book, but the plot development was slow (it took more than half the book to get to the real problem in the story), and the theme(s) were uninteresting to me.

On goodreads I gave the book a 3 out of 5 stars, but I really considered giving it a 2. I think the author has great potential, but this particular story just wasn't cutting it for me. Don't know if it was the feminism themes involved, or if it was just the story in general. I think she's a good writer, I just wish there had been more to draw me in.

I haven't read any of your posts yet (I know, I know!). It's been a crazy week in the teacher world, but I really hope to read your thoughts and comments over the weekend. I'm curious to know if anyone else felt the way I did.

Discussion Questions for Part 2 of Commencement

2010-10-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

We've finally posted the discussion questions for Part 2 of Commencement. We can't wait to hear what you all think of the book!

1. What parts of the book could you most relate to? Least relate?

2. If the author were to write another novel that followed one of the girls onto her next step of life, which one would you want it to be about? Whose story would you want to follow more of?

3. What surprised you the most about this book?

4. Which character did you look forward to reading about the most?

5. Did this book meet your expectations?

Another Change in Schedule

2010-10-11T08:15:00.001-07:00

Y'all, life is just crazy right now. Rachel and I talked last night and I also heard from a couple of book club members and we decided that we'd post pone the discussion of Part 2 for another week.

I am so sorry if we're disappointing anyone by continuing to have delays, but I think it's more important that we enjoy the reading process rather than cram to get things read quickly. I hope you can all understand. And hopefully some of you can finish Part 2 that weren't going to be able to finish.

We'll be back next week with the questions for Part 2 so everyone can link up!

Rachel's Response to Part One

2010-10-08T03:44:00.000-07:00

1. Which girl do you identify the most with?
Probably a toss up between Sally and Celia. I totally get the Sally feeling of being so in love and so happy, but feeling like you have to hide it around certain people. I've been there. I have plenty of single friends who are happy for me and for my relationship, but I think almost everyone has those bitter people in their life who find it hard to be happy for someone else's good fortune with love. And then there's Celia. She's so nice and seems likable and it also feels like she doesn't quite know the direction her life is heading it at the moment. I get all that and definitely identify with it. I also could relate to her in the dorms, wanting to make friends, but that awkwardness that comes with that.

2. If you're a college student or graduate, what similarities or differences do you see between this story to your own college experience?

Similarities: The friendships. The way that your dorm becomes your "safe place" where your surrounded by people you love and care about, the jealousy of friendships...all of that was familiar to me. I'll even say the "traditions" were the author writes about at Smith were familiar to me also. We had many different traditions and old rituals, but they were certainly there.

Differences: I didn't attend a women's college. In fact, many of my college memories are also connected to the males I met there. I have several good male friends from college. To imagine college without that seems crazy. I also find that my large coed state school didn't have the sense of feminism that the girls are finding at Smith. Big surprise!

3. Which girl do you think has changed the most since her time in college? In what ways has she changed?

I want to say Bree, but Bree's change occurred more IN college rather than out of college. She fell in love with Lara long before graduation. Because of that, I'm going to say Sally. Her relationships with men and her friends have changed greatly, and having Jake makes her a different person. Not a bad person, but things have changed for her.

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I am really enjoying the book, but I'll say on here what I emailed Erin earlier this week. I had no idea that feminism would be such a strong subject in the book. Part of me isn't sure where the book is going and/or if I'm going to like part 2....It's just very different than I had expected.

Look for part 2 questions next week!!

Commencement: Part One

2010-10-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

I feel like this book is off to an interesting start...I have lots to say! Can't wait to post it all tomorrow.

For now, here are three questions to get you started, but please feel free to add in your thoughts and feelings. We want to hear 'em! We'll put up a Linky in the morning...

1. Which girl do you identify the most with?

2. If you're a college student or graduate, what similarities or differences do you see between this story to your own college experience?

3. Which girl do you think has changed the most since her time in college? In what ways has she changed?

a small change to our reading schedule...

2010-10-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those weeks where life just keeps getting in the way? We've definitely been feeling that way!

We don't have the questions ready to post yet, but we promise to be back in a day or two. Check back! We'll post later this week on part one of Commencement.

Thanks for your flexibility!

Commencement Reading Schedule

2010-09-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, blogging book clubbers! Rachel and I are so excited that you decided to read with us again as we tackle Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan.

We decided to speed up the reading process for this book, but are still trying to be mindful of everyone's schedule. Some readers are able to finish a book in one day while others may take a couple of weeks to finish.

Commencement will be split up in two parts, just as the book was written.

The questions for each section will be posted as follows:

October 3- Part One

October 11- Part Two

We'll be posting questions on Sunday again and we'll all link up the following Monday. So look for the first set of questions on October 3.

We hope you all enjoy this book!

Book #2 Announcement (in vlog form!)

2010-09-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful book clubbers...watch the video below for our big announcement.

Book Club! from Rachel W on Vimeo.

(My thoughts on this video: too many "umms" and "so yeah's," and I should have used a word other than "chunks." This was my first vlog!)

Anyhow...the important stuff...

Buy the book:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, or get it used at Half.com

Extra Info:
We'll post the first round of questions on October 3. Linky will go up October 4.

Check back soon to see how we're going to break down the book. It will most likely be in two sections.

A Review

2010-09-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

Now that this fun blogging book club has made it through our first book together, I wanted to throw out some questions for y'all to answer just so we can get a little bit of feedback before we start the next book.

Don't forget to vote on your choice for the next book. You can vote in the poll in the right sidebar. NOTE: If we end up reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, we'll probably need to read the whole series together. How does everyone feel about that? I'm okay with it, but I wanted to check because it's kind of a big commitment.

1. What did you think about the process of the blogging book club? Do you feel like you got to interact well with the other bloggers through the Linky system? Did you enjoy reading other posts?

2. What did you think about the reading schedule? Should we keep it about the same? Speed it up? Space it out more? I know with CeeCee Wilkes, a lot of you read ahead and I ended up reading to the end about two weeks ago because I couldn't force myself to stop!

3. Let us know how you think we can make this a better experience for you.

Remember, you're not required to participate with every book. If you need to take a break at any point, you're welcome to and you can jump back in with the next book. We just have this here for you and to provide a discussion place.

Also, if you don't have a blog but want to answer the questions, feel free to do so in the comments section on this blog under the discussion question posts.

Thanks for playing along with us! This has been so much fun for me and I know it has been lots of fun for Rachel, too.

Erin's Response to Chapters 51-70

2010-09-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

1. At the end we find out Tim was sending Cory money because he thought she could be his daughter since he was having an affair with Genevieve. Did you see this coming?

I didn't see it at all! I mean, there was something suspicious about Genevieve's reaction to Tim and that she didn't seem overly afraid of him when we met her. And I never thought Tim was sending money to CeeCee/Eve because he felt bad for getting her into this situation. I am glad, though, that we know his reasons.

2. By the end of the story, what were your feelings about Eve? How had they changed since the beginning?

At the end, I was happy that she received some closure. That she was able to finally be honest about her life, but I feel sorry for her. I feel like she was just completely broken and now she'll spend her life being the open and honest person she always wanted to be. She showed tremendous courage when she confessed her crimes, but she had to go through some awful stuff to get to where she is in the end.

3. Were you happy with the way President Russel treated Cory?

I thought he was completely fair. He wanted justice for his wife and his family. He didn't know the other side of the story, but I don't know if I'd want the other side of the story, either, if my spouse died and someone took my child. I'd want to put my family back together as best I could. I think Ken was the one to blame, though, for putting bad ideas into President Russell's head about Eve. What a snake!

But President Russell was really commendable in the end when he shorted Eve's sentence for his daughter's sake.

4. If you were in Cory's shoes and had just found out all of this about the woman who raised you and who you believed to be your mother, how would you react? Would you forgive?

I think I'd eventually forgive. Cory was right to be shocked and angry. She felt like her whole life was a lie. But Eve was the other mother she knew and every girl needs her mother. I'm glad that she was able to forgive enough to hear Eve's side of the story so she could get a little bit of perspective.

5. In your mind, how does this story end? Do they all live happily ever after? Does Cory go on having relationships with her old family and her new family?

I think Cory ends up splitting time between visiting the Russells and visiting her family. She is doing a great job raising her son and has a great relationship with her mother. I think that Eve is finally able to be happy and honest about her life and not feel like she's always running and hiding.

6. How do you think Cory has changed throughout the story? Have your feelings about her changed?

She has definitely gotten more brave and more independent. She sees that she has to be her own person and she can't blame her upbringing and her family for all of her faults.

Rachel's Response to Chapters 51-71

2010-09-13T03:39:00.000-07:00

We have a new button on our sidebar made by Lindsey at Sweet Simplicity Designs. Feel free to take it and add it to your own blog!

Also, be sure to vote in our poll for our next book...you can find that poll on the sidebar.

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1. At the end we find out Tim was sending Cory money because he thought she could be his daughter since he was having an affair with Genevieve. Did you see this coming?

NO way! This was a big shocker. I assumed he was the one sending money but had no idea it was because he thought the baby could be his. That really threw me for a loop.

2. By the end of the story, what were your feelings about Eve? How had they changed since the beginning?

She had a good heart. Did she make all good decisions? No, but I'm glad she came clean and could live out her life without the guilt she'd been trapped behind for years. I think the person I felt the most sorry for here was her husband. I can't imagine being married to someone for so many years and then to find out they were hiding something huge from me. I think his forgiveness of her is what might make him my favorite character from the book.

3. Were you happy with the way President Russel treated Cory?

Not at all. From the get go he was very forward with his thoughts about her mother. And I didn't like this because I knew Eve's side of the story. She did what she thought was best. She had made the mistake of getting involved with Tim, and now she was found a way to live with her mistakes. I definitely see where he and Vivian were coming from. They lost their wife and mother and that is something to be very hurt by, but to come in right off the bat and talk so badly about Eve probably wasn' the best way to handle it.

4. If you were in Cory's shoes and had just found out all of this about the woman who raised you and who you believed to be your mother, how would you react? Would you forgive?

I would probably react similar to the way Cory acted. I think it was normal for her to have os much anger and hatred toward her parents in the beginning, but like Cory I'd want to go back when that anger had worn off some to hear the real story from my mother.

5. In your mind, how does this story end? Do they all live happily ever after? Does Cory go on having relationships with her old family and her new family?

Sort of. It's not a fairy tale ending, but it's best as can be expected in a story like this. Eve was punished for her crimes, but she was done with that quickly and was ale to go back home to work things out with her family. I was happy to see Cory get rid of Ken. Uhh! Definitely one of the better parts of the book was seeing her get out of his car and leaving his life.

6. How do you think Cory has changed throughout the story? Have your feelings about her changed?

She's definitely come a long way. Leaving Ken was definitely the right thing for her to do. She is learning that she can stand on her own two feet. She doesn't need her mom or Ken to protect her from the world. She was certainly not my favorite character. She was a bit whiny and selfish through out most the book which bothered me. I know she did a good thing in the end going to talk to Russ, but that really didn't make me like her more.

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All in all, good book! On my goodreads, I gave it 4 out 5 stars. The ending was good but felt rushed. I think she could have spent a little more time going into detail. Skipping the whole trial was odd. I would have liked to have read some about that. But I loved that she had Ronnie come back to see her in the end with her mother's letters. May not have been realistic, but I liked it! I would definitely recommend this book to a friend for a quick, easy read.

Questions for Chapters 50-71

2010-09-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

1. At the end we find out Tim was sending Cory money because he thought she could be his daughter since he was having an affair with Genevieve. Did you see this coming?

2. By the end of the story, what were your feelings about Eve? How had they changed since the beginning?

3. Were you happy with the way President Russel treated Cory?

4. If you were in Cory's shoes and had just found out all of this about the woman who raised you and who you believed to be your mother, how would you react? Would you forgive?

5. In your mind, how does this story end? Do they all live happily ever after? Does Cory go on having relationships with her old family and her new family?

6. How do you think Cory has changed throughout the story? Have your feelings about her changed?

Erin's Response to Chapters 36-50

2010-09-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

1. Have your feelings about Tim changed through out this last section of chapters?

I think it's truly admirable that he hasn't thrown CeeCee under the bus. I still don't really trust him and I think there's a lot more that we don't know about why he wanted to kidnap Genevieve. But I do think it's really decent of him that he has decided to take the fall for this.

2. Do you agree with Cory and her behavior as an adult and her life with Ken? Is she justified in cutting her mother and father out of her life?

Oh my word! I'm so irritated with Cory. One day she wants to be her own person to escape her mother and then she's all of a sudden being "brainwashed" by her older boyfriend. I think it's good for her to distance herself a little bit to learn to stand on her feet, but to completely cut Eve out of her life is wrong and sad. And for a guy to come into his girlfriend's house and not respect her parents? I think that's about the worst.

3. At what point do you think Cory decided to spend less time with her mother?

When Cory wanted to know more about her father and her family history and Eve wouldn't really answer her questions, I think Cory started to trust her mother less and less. She started realizing that her mother was to blame for all of her insecurities and fears and wanted to do something to change her life. The downward spiral is really sad to watch because we know that all Eve wants is Cory's love. And after year's of overprotectiveness, now she has no control over her and knows nothing about her daughter's life.

4. What do you think is Eve's biggest fear?

More than spending time in jail and confessing to Dru and Jack, I think Eve is just afraid of losing Cory. I don't think she sees herself as deserving of any of the good things in her life.

5. When the story about Genevieve's body came out, what would you have done if you were Eve? Just sat back and watched things unfold? Come forward? Would you tell Jack?

I don't think I ever could have let it get this far in the first place, but when the story came out, I think I would have kept it to myself while watching things unfold. At this point, it was so long ago that she has become a completely different person. CeeCee should have confessed, but Eve shouldn't confess. I think Jack deserves to know just so Eve can get some of this off her conscience, but to risk losing everything? Just to save Tim? I don't know...

6. Do you think Eve should tell Jack and confess? Why?

Jack is supposed to be her best friend and partner and I think it will do Eve a lot of good to tell her husband. So she can talk about it with someone. The lies she has told him over the years will really upset him and their marriage may be over, but he deserves to know. And I think it will do her some good to tell him.

Rachel's Response to Chapters 36-50

2010-09-06T06:55:00.001-07:00

This has definitely been the most suspense filled section of the book! I did not want to stop when I hit chapter 50....anyone else feel that way?

I must say, Cory and Eve are both making me very mad. I think Cory is with an awful man and I hate how Eve is making herself sick with lies. So many of their choices made me angry!

And I also need to go back to last week's question about the money that was being sent to Eve. I still think Tim sent it, but a lot of people wrote about N & F sending it. Now I am really stuck. I hope we find out before the end who the mystery sender was!

1. Have your feelings about Tim changed through out this last section of chapters?
Yes and no. All along I've thought Tim was kind of good. Back in the first set of questions I wrote about how I thought he wasn't all bad and sketchy. It's looking now like that might just be the truth. He could say Eve's name and get off of murder charges, but he chose not to rat her out.

2. Do you agree with Cory and her behavior as an adult and her life with Ken? Is she justified in cutting her mother and father out of her life?
Cory has made me so mad in this section! Anyone else? Her mother has definitely been over bearing for most of Cory's life, but to completely cut her out? It makes me sad. I think Ken may love her, but he also seems like the kind of guy who just wants control over a woman. Especially based on chapter 1 of the book where we learn he doesn't want her keeping the baby. He's not a good guy.

3. At what point do you think Cory decided to spend less time with her mother?
It seems like it was starting in her teens, the more she questioned her father and who he was. I felt like she wasn't trusting her mother. And once she went away to UNC it all went downhill.

4. What do you think is Eve's biggest fear?
Losing Cory! Which is sad, because I think she's much more afraid of that than losing Dru or Jack.

5. When the story about Genevieve's body came out, what would you have done if you were Eve? Just sat back and watched things unfold? Come forward? Would you tell Jack?
I would have come forward, up front. I couldn't let the guilt eat away at me like that. but then again, I also would have come forward early on, when Cory was still a baby. Her lies have been woven into such an intricate web that things are spiraling out her control. She's certainly not in a position I'd ever want to face.

6. Do you think Eve should tell Jack and confess? Why?
YES. Jack needs to know. He obviously won't be happy, but he has a right to know. It may end her marriage, but he deserves the truth. She is blatantly lying to him more and more as the book moves on. That's no way to have a marriage.

Discussion Questions for Chapters 36 - 50

2010-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy holiday weekend for both Erin and me! That's why they didn't go up yesterday. We'd still love to hear your response to this section of the book even if you're posting later in the day. Happy reading!

1. Have your feelings about Tim changed through out this last section of chapters?

2. Do you agree with Cory and her behavior as an adult and her life with Ken? Is she justified in cutting her mother and father out of her life?

3. At what point do you think Cory decided to spend less time with her mother?

4. What do you think is Eve's biggest fear?

5. When the story about Genevieve's body came out, what would you have done if you were Eve? Just sat back and watched things unfold? Come forward? Would you tell Jack?

6. Do you think Eve should tell Jack and confess? Why?

Erin's Response to Chapters 21-35

2010-08-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?

I can't think of anyone else that it could be, so I've just always assumed it was Tim. I don't know if Tim was the one that gave her the $5,000, but I can't think of anyone else that it would be either. It seems out of character for Tim to care enough to send money now that we've found out about so many of his lies. Why send money? But I do think it's him.

2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?

Where do I start? I wouldn't have helped Tim, I would have taken Genevieve to a hospital, I would have turned the baby over to the authorities, and I'm just not sure about the way she's raising Cory. CeeCee/Eve is obviously a loving mother to Cory, but she smothers her and I feel like we're heading toward a place where we see Cory continue to struggle through her whole life.

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?

Jack seems to love Eve unconditionally. I like his sense of humor and his ability to have a good time and want to be a little less serious. But he is very serious about his family. He has a lot of passion and still manages to be light-hearted. I think he's a good match for Eve and does everything he can to get her to lighten up.

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?

Tim controlled CeeCee like a little puppet even though she didn't know it. She was willing to do anything for him-- including cleaning his house after one of their first dates. The relationship between Eve and Jack is one of equality and it's a partnership. They seem to work together well and they make each other happy rather than one of them always trying to please the other.

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?

It's clear that she is smothering her. Now that we know that Cory has only spent 2 or 3 nights away from home in her entire life, we know that Eve keeps her close. Eve is afraid that something will happen to Cory, so Cory just feeds off of that fear. In their own family, Eve needs to treat Cory and Dru the same way so Cory doesn't feel like she is fussed over and babied. I believe that Eve loves both of her daughters equally, but I imagine that the daughters don't see it that way.

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?

I think Eve did her best and the answers were about as good as they were going to get without telling the truth. And at this point, the lie is so big that there doesn't seem to be a way to come clean. I think that Cory will have more questions about her father as she gets older because the physical differences are so strong between Cory and Dru. And I think Cory just feels different and like she doesn't belong. She's going to be eager to search for something to make her feel normal, and finding her father may be a huge part of that.

Rachel's Response to Chapters 21-35

2010-08-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Didn't the book make a big change in these last 15 chapters? I felt like we were reading a very different book than we were two weeks ago!

I'm still really enjoying the book and I am anxious to see how it all works out. We obviously know that Eve comes forward based on what happened in Chapter 1, but now I am so anxious to see how it happens. It's difficult reading the books in pieces like this!

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?
Definitely. And all along I said Tim wasn't all bad. I liked him in the beginning. Did he seem a little odd? Yes, but I still trusted him. I hope this is him doing a piece of "good" for Cory and Eve since he pretty much destroyed their lives.

2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?
SO many things! Early on, I would have come forward with the truth and confessed. I also would have found a way to tell Jack that I didn't have Cory. Her sneaking away to doctor's appointments alone was weird. And risky.

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?
I like that he is madly in love with both Eve and Cory. I like that he seems genuine. And I like that he is passionate about his career. The one thing that bugs me about him is willingness to rely on his parents for his whole life.

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?
Eve is a mature young woman. After all she'd been through before Jack, she was at a secure and confident place in her life when she met him. This alone makes their relationship better. I think CeeCee was in lust and head over heels for Tim if he looked at her a certain way, but Eve is madly in love with Jack because he's proven to her that he's worthy of her love. That's something Tim never did.

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?
Definitely. I think she is very protective of Cory and when Cory was young, she needed to let Cory fall down and get her. She needed to leave her with babysitters. I understand how hard that was for Eve after all that she and Cory had been through, but in the long run, she was hurting Cory more than she was protecting her.

To help her feel like less of an outsider, I think she did the right thing by enrolling her in a private school. It's a smaller environment and she'll be around more kids who are like her.

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?
I think she answered it the best she could. It's only natural for Cory to search for more answers as she grows older. I think that she will continue to wonder where her looks and features come from, as she looks nothing like her mom.

I am also curious to see if she ever sees a picture of the governor or his daughter and if she ever questions her heritage. That might be a little too far fetched, but I think it could happen.

Discussion Questions for Chapters 21-35

2010-08-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

It seems like a lot of you liked having the questions posted on Sunday last week, so it looks like that will be the new plan. Questions will be posted on Sunday and will put the Linky up sometime on Monday morning.

Here are this week's questions. And again, feel free to add in your own thoughts and post your own questions for other readers on your blog. Don't feel limited by our questions!

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?

2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?

Erin's Response to Chapters 11-20

2010-08-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?

I honestly have no idea. I can only assume they're up to no good and CeeCee isn't even a thought in Tim's selfish mind.

2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?

I was dying inside! I kept screaming, "Get out of there! Hurry to the hospital. She told you she didn't feel well and you didn't believe her!" I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, but I felt like I was barreling toward something awful and I knew that something bad was going to happen to Genevieve. CeeCee is too young to have to go through something like this, but I still got so angry with her that she got herself into this mess in the first place.

3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?

I would have had to confess and turn the baby in. I would have felt so guilty every time I looked into the baby's eyes. I couldn't raise her like she was my own. I think CeeCee is just looking for love where ever she can find it and babies love unconditionally.

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?

Because she's young, immature, and Tim's love is the first love she has ever experienced from a man. She didn't have a father or a father figure and I just think all she wants is to be loved in return. She thought that by doing this for Tim he would love her more and she's still waiting for that to be true. I'm hopeful that something happens soon that causes her to snap out of it and get on with her life.

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?

I think she'll pick up and work. She'll have a life and people around her that want to support her and Cory and will make sure that she feels welcomed. This will help build up her self-worth and she'll see that she doesn't need to settle.

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?

I have loved reading everyone's responses to these types of questions about CeeCee because we all have different opinions. But I want to shake some sense into CeeCee. I'm still upset with her for agreeing to go through with this and now the consequences make me so sad. As a mother, I can't believe she is raising someone else's child and that she hasn't even confessed that the child's mother is dead. And she watched her die! I know that CeeCee is immature and maybe I'm being too hard on her, but I was always taught that if you're going to make grown up decisions, you need to act like a grown up.

I'm so sad for CeeCee that the letters are gone, but I think that now that the letters are gone she will be forced to grow up. Without her mother's voice, CeeCee will have to think like an adult more than she has been.

And like everyone else, I was just shaking my head when CeeCee thought that Cory cut her hand on CeeCee's hair. I wonder if that was just poor writing. Maybe Chamberlain wanted CeeCee/Eve to cut her hair and this seemed like the only reason that a 16 year old would cut her hair that she loved so much? I don't know, but her immaturity really showed itself in that part of the book.

Rachel's Response to Chapters 11-20

2010-08-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I loved reading all the responses last week. I can't wait to check out your blogs again this week! If only we could all sit down together and discuss this over a cup of coffee. For now, the internet will have to do!

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?
Honestly, who knows. I kind of think they may have gone into hiding, but then a piece of me thinks they may be plotting something else that will only get them into more trouble.

2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?
"OH MY GOODNESS, CEECEE HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE IS DOING!!"...that was what was really rolling through my mind. I was definitely flipping through the pages fast here. I knew something would go wrong, because I didn't envision CeeCee hurting Genevieve, but it still had me feeling anxious. I know my heart rate must have gone up when I read that chapter! But I do have to say, that my heart was going out to CeeCee here. I know Genevieve was the one dying, but poor CeeCee. This is not at all what she thought she was getting into.

3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?
Honestly, I'd fess up to the cops. I don't hold secrets well, and I'd go forward and turn the baby and myself in. The consequences wouldn't be great, but I couldn't live with that secret all to myself like she will.

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?
Because she is SIXTEEN! This is her first love, and like so many of you said last week, she is naive and in love/lust. She really believes that Tim is her soul mate and it will all work out. There is so much she still has to learn.

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?
I think she's going to put herself on her feet and move on, but that will take some time and she will always hold Tim and this secret in the back of her mind. If she falls in love with someone else and starts a family, the idea of Tim and what happened with Genevieve will always haunt her, no matter how great her new life may be.

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?
The more I read, the more I like her. She is definitely a young girl who is not making some great choices (ie, trying to drop the baby off at the Governor's mansion and get away...), but I find her to be likable. She is lost, and every person she cares for has been stripped from her life. This baby (Cory) is her shot at starting over. Oh! But I will say, it bugged me when she said the baby cut her finger on her hair. What? That was just a little too silly for me. With the exception of that scene, I have loved to read about CeeCee!

And one last thing, not related to the questions...was anyone else sad to see Eve lose all her letters? Broke my heart to pieces. I knew she wasn't going to go back to her apartment at the end of everything, but seeing her lose that last piece of her mom had me so upset. Anyone else?

Discussion Questions for Chapters 11-20

2010-08-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Rachel and I decided to go ahead and post the questions over the weekend per the request of a few of you. Please wait until Monday to post. I'll set up the Linky again on Monday morning so you can all link to your posts.

Please also remember that you are not limited to answering these questions. The questions are just there to prompt your discussion and give you some talking points. Feel free to not use the questions at all and write freely or use all of the questions. It is completely up to you!

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?

2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?

3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?

Rachel's Response to Chapters 1-10

2010-08-16T05:55:00.001-07:00

Like Erin said, let us know how you feel about how we're going about posting and answering questions! We want your feedback!

1. What was your first impression of Tim?
He seems likable, funny, maybe even charming. He seems like he has CeeCee's best interest at heart, although he does seem to care more about his family than CeeCee. I don't think he's trying to use here. But then again I'm one to give people the benefit of the doubt.

2. If you were in CeeCee’s position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?
No. No way in the world would I be involved with him in this plot. But then again, I’m one who avoids putting myself into dangerous situations. I suppose I’m not a risk taker. And from the way I see it, CeeCee is risking a lot to help out Tim and his family. But then again, if I were CeeCee I wouldn’t be sixteen years old dating a graduate student.

3. Why do you think CeeCee is so eager to please Tim?
Let’s be honest, she’s just sixteen! Sixteen year old girls seem to have a need to please the men in their life. They do stupid stuff if it means they’ll be loved. CeeCee may be mature, but she still wants to find love!

4. Who do you think has it harder? Tim or CeeCee?

CeeCee. She has no one. No family at all, where as Tim still has his father and Marty. While I do feel bad for the place he’s in, my sympathy falls to CeeCee before Tim

5. What character trait(s) about CeeCee stuck out the most to you in these first ten chapters?

In one word, I’d say her courage. We’ve seen it displayed a few times in the story already, and I don’t think this will be the end of that

6. Do you think CeeCee is as mature as she seems?

She’s lost her one and only parent and she’s spent the last four years taking care of herself in foster homes. I think this makes someone grow up fast. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that she really is just sixteen. She’s very young to be in her position.

Erin's Response to Chapters 1-10

2010-08-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

This is how I chose to approach the book club discussion this time, but feel free to do it however you want to! And let me know what you think.

1. What was your first impression of Tim?
I was a little bit skeptical of Tim in the beginning because I couldn't really understand why a guy his age would be paying so much attention to a girl CeeCee's age. Sure, she was smart and different from most girls her age, but it still seemed a bit inappropriate to me.

After she receives the money and (we think) it's from Tim, I began to wonder how in the world he had that kind of money and why he'd just give it to her.

Now that I've read up to the end of Chapter 10, I'm wondering if Tim has been using CeeCee the whole time to gain her trust and manipulate her into helping him with his "project."

2. If you were in CeeCee’s position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?
I absolutely wouldn't do it. I know that 16 year old girls are willing to do a lot of things to make their boyfriend happy, but breaking the law shouldn't be one of them. And it's not something I would do, especially as he becomes more and more distracted with their "project" and less interested in his relationship with CeeCee.

3. Why do you think CeeCee is so eager to please Tim?
Going to be a little bit like Freud here, but this is really the first relationship she has had with a man, and her relationship with her mother was cut too short. She has a lot of love to give and finally has someone to give it to. I think CeeCee doesn't want this to end so she wants to do whatever she can to keep him happy even when the little voice inside her is telling her that things aren't right.

4. Who do you think has it harder? Tim or CeeCee?
They're both orphans and they're both alone for the most part. But I think CeeCee has it harder. Tim has a chance. His parents left him with something and he's on the path to getting a great education. But CeeCee has been picking up her life since she was a young girl and now she's about to risk it all. Tim's risking it all, too, but he doesn't have to.

CeeCee has been kept in the dark a lot on this plan and is going into it with complete faith in Tim- even though she seems to know that it's not a smart idea.

5. What character trait(s) about CeeCee stuck out the most to you in these first ten chapters?

I notice her loyalty, her compassion, her patience, and her intelligence. She's about to do something pretty stupid and even though she is naive, she is smart.

6. Do you think CeeCee is as mature as she seems?

CeeCee has been on her own for a while, but she doesn't know much. She's wrapped all of her emotion and her life into Tim and that is typical of a 16 year old girl, which is another reason I think he targeted her because of her age. Mature women don't drop everything for a guy and risk everything for a guy with a bad plan. There's no doubt that CeeCee can take care of herself, but she isn't making the best choices.

Discussion Questions for Chapters 1-10

2010-08-16T05:51:00.001-07:00

Rachel and I came up with six questions for you to discuss. Feel free to post on these questions or to write about other things that you found interesting in the first ten chapters.

Reminder: Please remember not to post spoilers. I know many of you couldn't put the book down, but some people haven't finished yet. If you think you may be posting a spoiler, go ahead and put up a red "SPOILER ALERT" in that part of your post.

1. What was your first impression of Tim?

2. If you were in CeeCee’s position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?

3. Why do you think CeeCee is so eager to please Tim?

4. Who do you think has it harder? Tim or CeeCee?

5. What character trait(s) about CeeCee stuck out the most to you in these first ten chapters?

6. Do you think CeeCee is as mature as she seems?

I'm adding the Linky tool to this post, so please put the link to your post in so we can all read each other's posts.

Rachel and I will each post on Monday! Can't wait to read everyone's posts.

Book Schedule

2010-08-09T04:30:00.000-07:00

Hey there Book Clubbers! Erin and I are shocked by the response we've gotten with this book club, but we are also so excited that so many of you want to join us.

Here is the schedule that we've come up with for the book. Each week is about 100 pages.

Aug 16: Chapters 1-10
Aug 23: Chapters 11-20
Aug 30: Chapters 21-35
Sep 6: Chapters 36-50
Sep 13: Chapters 50-71

Come back next Monday (August 16) to discuss the first ten chapters. We'll have a post up here with our thoughts and some questions, but we'd love for you to respond on your own blog with your own thoughts on this chunk of the book. Just make sure you don't discuss anything that happens after chapter 10 if you've read ahead, we don't want you to spoil it for others who aren't there yet!

Also, if you haven't bought the book yet, here are some links to it.

Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Target

I got mine at Target last week, and I know a lot of girls have borrowed a copy from their library. Just make sure you've got it and read the first ten chapters by next Monday so you can join in!

See you next Monday!

Welcome to Book Beginnings and Bookends

2010-07-28T19:55:00.001-07:00

Welcome!

You're here because you responded to a post from me (Blue-Eyed Bride) or Rachel from In No Simple Language.

We both love reading and try to squeeze in as many books per year as we possibly can. We found that we were reading a lot of the same books and encouraging each other to read certain books. After I wrote a post about wanting to be a part of a supper club, bunco group, and a book club, many commenters responded and suggested we create a blogger book club.

So here we are!

This is going to be a fun process as we feel our way through and make sure each club member's voice is heard in this process.

So here are a few announcements:

1. The first book of the Bookend Bloggers Book Club is The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. Some of you may have already read it, but it happened to be a book that Rachel and I both had on our "must read" list and thought it would be a good place to start. In the future, we'll be taking suggestions and letting you all decide which book we read.

2. We're going to start off by reading a few chapters at a time and we'll give a date that we'll "meet" back up here to discuss the chapters we've read.

3. When it's time to meet, we'll set up a MckLinky so you all can leave comments on this blog, but also so you can post on your own blog.

4. Rachel and I plan to do a few vlogs on the book and also do written posts. We'll likely post on this blog and on our own personal blogs.

5. If you do not have a blog, but you want to join this book club, you are welcome to leave your thoughts and answers to the questions in the comments section on that "meeting" day.

We'll begin the book club on Monday, August 9. I think that gives everyone plenty of time to pick up the book. On August 9, we'll announce the chapters that we'll need to read in that week and it will also say the day that we're meeting back up to discuss and link to our posts about the book.

Rachel and I are both really excited about this. It will keep me reading and I hope it will get lots of others to read more, too. It's always fun to discuss books-- especially the ones that leave a mark on us!

So let's do a bit of a roll call. If you plan to participate or you're thinking about participating, please leave a comment!