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

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Locale: Emily & Kristine's

Divergent

Veronica Roth

The Book: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.(http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/p/books.html)

The Meeting:  Girls were asked to dress as the faction which they felt best suited their personalities. Most girls dressed as Dauntless, a couple girls dressed as a mix of factions or created their own.  The girls took a book quiz, winning prizes for most right answers.  And best of all, there was lots of yummy food, including some to represent the factions--Hamburgers, Escargot, and Chocolate Cake for Dauntless; Sunflower Seeds, to make the mind clearer, for Erudite; Apples for Amity, nature and growing; Bread and butter, plain, for Abnegation; and finally Oreos for Candor because they see everything as black and white.

The Vote:
Perri presented...

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Unwind by Neil Schusterman
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes  WINS!

We will meet at Perri & TJ's home on April 26th.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Olivia & Susan's on March 29th to discuss The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. If the movie, The Book Thief, is out on DVD, Olivia and Susan would like to plan a movie event, hopefully outdoor if the weather is nice.  

Next to present:  Emma

Then:

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

The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome

The Locale: Ashley & Jian's

The Billionaire's Curse

Richard Newsome

The Book: Gerald Wilkins never considered himself a particularly exceptional thirteen-year-old. But that was before he inherited twenty billion pounds, a Caribbean island, a yacht, and three estates from a great-aunt he never knew. With this fortune, however, comes a letter. One from his great-aunt Geraldine. One that tells Gerald that she was murdered, and that it's up to him to find out why. (from GoodReads). 

The Meeting:  Lots of catching up. Hearing about everyone's holiday.  Had a little discussion about how the girls are getting older and more mature and their book choices will reflect that.  Moms be warned.  After a little book discussion, including the colorful similes in the novel, the girls broke off into the groups to come up with similes of their own.

The Vote:
Olivia presented...

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak  WINS!
• Everlost by Neil Shusterman
• Extremely Loud and Incredible Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

We will meet at Olivia & Susan's home on March 29th.  If the movie, The Book Thief, is out on DVD, Olivia and I would like to plan a movie event, hopefully outdoor if the weather is nice.  

Updates:  Megan and Dawn decided that book club was no longer a good fit for them, leaving a spot open for another mom & daughter team. Cassie & Susan have someone in mind to invite. 

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Kristine & Emily's on February 15th March 1st to discuss Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Next to present:  Perri

Then:

• Emma
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Megan 
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia

Holiday Cookie Exchange.

Hungry for Cookies...

Yay!  We have cookies!

The Locale: Cassie & Susan's

The Fun: 
Our 4th annual Cookie Exchange. Everyone brings 2 1/2 dozen cookies--a 1/2 dozen to munch on at the exchange and 2 dozen to share. So glad see favs back for another year - The Goldstein's Oreo Balls & The Powell's Peanut Butter Fudge Candy. This time I try my hand at Grinch Sugar Cookies. Lots of fun & yummy treats! Thanks, Cassie & Susan!

Up Next: 

We will to discuss The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome @ Jian & Ashley's on January 11th. 

We will be meeting @ Kristine & Emily's on February 15th. 

Next to Present: Olivia

Then:

• Perri
• Emma
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Megan 
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 

Updates: Welcome to our new members, invited by Susan & Olivia. Rylee & Lisa Bacot.