Graphic Novels--Mause, Persepolis, & Scott Pilgrim

The Locale: Olivia's & Susan's

Maus: A Survivor's Tail by Art Spiegelman
A story of a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe and his son, a cartoonist who tries to come to terms with his father's story and history itself.

Persepolis, Volume 1 by Marjane Satrapi
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

Scott Pilgrim, Volume 1 by Bryan Lee O'Malley
Scott Pilgrim's life is totally sweet. He's 23 years old, he's in a rockband, he's ""between jobs,"" and he's dating a cute high school girl. Nothingcould possibly go wrong, unless a seriously mind-blowing, dangerouslyfashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruisingthrough his dreams and sailing by him at parties. Will Scott's awesome life getturned upside-down? Will he have to face Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends inbattle? The short answer is yes. The long answer is Scott Pilgrim, Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

The Meeting:  Lots of fun.  Thanks for being flexible and coming to the adjusted time.  So glad folks stayed to enjoy an outdoor movie night, Scott Pilgrim versus The World, a compilation of all the Scott Pilgrim Graphic Novels.  A cool evening--fun wise and weather wise.

The Vote: Cassie presents...

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 
• The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 
• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart WINS!!! 

I think we will be meeting at Cassie's and Susan's on May 16th to discuss We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.

Up Next: We will meet at Perri's and TJ's on April 18th to discuss Death Note (Volume 1) by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.

Next to present:  Odessa

Then:

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

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

The Locale: Rylee's & Lisa's

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

John Berendt

The Book: Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/386187.Midnight_in_the_Garden_of_Good_and_Evil)

The Meeting: Very yummy, yummy eats from Lisa and Rylee, all in keeping with the theme of the book. Southern, Savannah, and delicious. Shrimp & Grits. Carmel Cake. Finger Sandwiches...and much much more.

The girls didn't like the book as much as they had hoped. A few hadn't read it. The cover and the description made it seem very mysterious...and it wasn't. But there certainly were interesting characters that gave us fodder for discussion.

The Vote: Perri presented...

• Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
• Death Note (Volume 1) by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata  WINS!!

We will meet at Perri's and TJ's on April 18th to discuss Death Note (Volume 1) by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.

Up Next: Susan's and Olivia's on March 28th to discuss graphic novels--any or all of the three presented--Maus: A Survivor's Tail by Art Spiegelman, Persepolis, Volume 1 by Marjane Satrapi, Scott Pilgrim, Volume 1 by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Updates: Emily & Kristine have a potential member and are exploring.

Next to Present: Cassie

Then:

• Odessa
• Kate
• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri

Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Locale: Emily's & Kristine's

Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Ransom Riggs

The Book: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
(http://www.ransomriggs.com/miss_peregrine.php)

The Meeting: A yummy meal prepared by Emily and her dad, including a delicious turtle cheesecake. Most of the club attends. Yay! Mixed reviews on the book. But LOVED the videos Emily shared! Mini documentaries of the author on his quest to find the perfect old mansion to represent Mrs. Peregrine's Home for a video book trailer. His travels and homes were fascinating. Old deserted mansions, taking over by nature. Personal belongings left untouched since abandoned. Very mysterious and deserving of exploring.

The Vote: Olivia presents three graphic novels.

• Maus: A Survivor's Tail by Art Spiegelman
• Persepolis, Volume 1 by Marjane Satrapi
• Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley 

There is a tie between Persepolis and Scott Pilgrim. It is decided that since all the novels are so short, the girls should choose the one that they prefer and read that...or both of the two winners...or all three.

We will meet at Susan's and Olivia's on March 28th.

Up Next: Rylee & Lisa's to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt on February 14th.

Next to present: Perri

Then:

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

2014 Holiday Cookie Exchange

Fun!  Our annual Holiday Cookie Exchange! Hosted, this year, by Emily & Kristine.  Thanks, guy!  Lots of fun.  And lots of yummy treats!

Up Next: We'll met on January 10th @ Emily & Kristine's to discuss Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

Following:  We'll met @ Rylee & Lisa's to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, date TBD.

Next to Present: Olivia

Then:

• Perri 
• Cassie 
• Odessa 
• Kate 
• Ashley 
• Emily 
• Rylee 

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Locale: Ashley & Jian's home

Uglies 

Scott Westerfeld

The Book:  Uglies is set in a world in which everyone has an operation when they turn sixteen, making them supermodel beautiful. Big eyes, full lips, no one fat or skinny. You might think this is a good thing, but it’s not. Especially if you’re one of the Smokies, a bunch of radical teens who’ve decided they want to keep their own faces. (How anti-social of them.) http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/uglies/ 

The Meeting:  Had a small group, which is our norm these days. The girls had a nice discussion and played Contact, aword game.

The Vote: We had two votes. A re-vote on Emily's books and then a vote on Rylee's books.

Emily presented:

• Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant 
• Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. WINS!!
• Origin by Jessica Khoury

We'll met @ Emily & Kristine's on December 6th for our annual holiday cookie exchange and then on January 10th for our book discussion on Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. 

Rylee presented:

• Enigma by ALyssa Odonnell
• Cleopatra's Moon by Vicki Shecter 
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt WINS!!

We'll met @ Rylee & Lisa's to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, date TBD. 

Up Next: We'll met on January 10th @ Emily & Kristine's.

Next to Present: Olivia

Then:

• Perri
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Kate
• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee