Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

The Locale: Perri & TJ's

Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

The Book: Until he was thirty-two, Charlie Gordon --gentle, amiable, oddly engaging-- had lived in a kind of mental twilight. He knew knowledge was important and had learned to read and write after a fashion, but he also knew he wasn't nearly as bright as most of the people around him. There was even a white mouse named Algernon who outpaced Charlie in some ways. But a remarkable operation had been performed on Algernon, and now he was a genius among mice. Suppose Charlie underwent a similar operation...http://www.danielkeyesauthor.com/algernon.html 

The Meeting:  LOVED the memorial to Algernon--photo in memoriam, a locket, and flowers, a bouquet created by individual flowers which the girls were asked to bring. 

Discussion began with the girls having the opportunity to do a maze, part of Algernon & Charly's regime. The group then participates in providing interpretations of an ink blot from a Rorschach test, again something which the main character, Charly, is subjected. Perspectives ranged from demon bats to Big Foot riding a Harley motorcycle. 

Next--the horse head. An unusual stein shaped and decorated like a circus pony's head. Each of the girls takes a turn drawing a book discussion question from the head, reading the question aloud, providing a response, which leads to further discussion. 

After the discussion, we have the opportunity to watch a movie version and play a Rorschach game. 

Munchies included delightful Algernon  cupcakes. 

The Vote:
Cassie presented...

• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher  
• Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
• Looking for Alaska by John Green  WINS!!!

We don't have a winner yet--as we had a TIE b/w:

• Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
• Looking for Alaska by John Green  WINS!!!

We need votes from girls who didn't attend.  DONE

We will meet at Cassie & Susan's home on August 23rd.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Emma & Diana's on May 31st to discuss The Selection by Kiera Cass.   

Next to present:  Odessa

Then:

• Kate
• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Emma
• Cassie

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

The Locale: Olivia & Susan's

The Book Thief

Marcus Zusak

Marcus Zusak's Blog

The Book Thief Novel @ Shmoop

The Book: It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief

The Meeting:  Munchies included Papa's Warm & Comfy Baked Potato Soup, Rosa's Sweet & Spicy Saukerals, The Book Thief's Stolen Apples, and of course, German Chocolate Cake.  

The meeting began with the girls filling out an individual questionnaire.  No Names.  Then a snow ball fight began--the questionnaires wadded up into balls and thrown around the room.  When fight concluded, each girl picked up a snowball, read aloud the answers, and guessed who was the author.  The girls were ask to draw a quote from a hat, Death's thoughts, and guess which part of the novel the quote originated.  We also watched a YouTube Video, an interview with the author, Marcus Zusak.  After our meeting ended, we watched the recent movie.

The Vote:
Emma presented...

• The Selection by Kiera Cass  WINS!!
• Your Friend in Fashion, Abby Shapiro  by Amy Axelrod
• Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys  

We will meet at Emma & Diana's home on May 31st.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Perri & TJ's on April 26th to discuss Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.   

Next to present:  Cassie

Then:

• Odessa
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie