Wild Update

We are half-way through September. Can you believe it? I hope everyone is enjoying Wild. It’s easily become one of my favorite books/stories. I did cheat, however, and watched the movie before I finished it. Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorite actresses, so I couldn’t resist. The movie was….strange. There’s some nudity and language, so I wouldn’t recommend for small eyes. I haven’t finished the book, so I can’t give an honest opinion on how it relates. Anyways, I can’t decide if I liked it or not. The storyline is just too addicting. I mean this woman packs up everything and leaves to go do something she had no knowledge of. Not to mention she’s a woman on a trail full of men. I was just waiting for her to get captured… or… worse.. Needless to say, she’s more of a woman that I am, that’s for sure.

As I was telling my coworkers about the book/movie, I stumbled across Cheryl Strayed’s website, where she has a video about her story. You definitely should watch it. It gives a better perspective on the movie than I could have imagined. She does This woman truly is… wild.

As we continue reading, I encourage you to work these discussion questions. You don’t have to answer all of them, but pick one or two and leave your answers in the comment section below. Also, there are a lot of elements of the book that aren’t in the movie. These questions are strictly based off the book.

Warning: There are spoiler alerts.

Discussion Questions:

1. When Cheryl discovers the guidebook to the Pacific Crest Trail, she says that the trip “was an idea, vague and outlandish, full of promise and mystery.” Later, her soon-to-be ex-husband suggests she wants to do the hike “to be alone.” What do you think her reasons were for committing to this journey?
2. In the beginning of the book, Cheryl’s prayers are literally curse words—curses for her mother’s dying, curses against her mother for failing. How does her spiritual life change during the course of the book?
3. Cheryl’s pack, also known as Monster, is one of those real-life objects that also makes a perfect literary metaphor: Cheryl has too much carry on her back and in her mind. Are there other objects she takes with her or acquires along the way that take on deeper meanings? How so?
4. “The thing about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail…was how few choices I had and how often I had to do the thing I least wanted to do,” writes Cheryl. “How there was no escape or denial.” In what ways have her choices helped and/or hurt her up to this point?
5. “Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves,” Cheryl writes her first day on the trail. She is speaking about her fear of rattlesnakes and mountain lions and serial killers. To defeat that fear, she tells herself a new story, the story that she is brave and safe. What do you think about this approach, which she herself calls “mind control”? What are some of her other ways of overcoming fear?
6. At one point, Cheryl tells herself, “I was not meant to be this way, to live this way, to fail so darkly.” It’s a moment of self-criticism and despair. And yet, some belief in herself exists in that statement. How do the things Cheryl believes about herself throughout the memoir, even during her lowest moments, help or hurt her on the PCT?

 

New Changes!

I know many of you aren’t able to travel, but wish to be a part of this book club, so I have decided (after many failed attempts for meet-ups) to make this a strictly online book club. This way there’s no obligation to show up and we don’t have to worry where to have the meet-ups. I will still try to plan girl’s nights every 6 weeks or so, that way we can catch up with each other and have some fun. Check the events tab on our Facebook page often to see what’s new.

So what’s next? We will start having live discussions every two weeks concerning the book we are currently reading and I will be utilizing this website more often. If you haven’t officially “joined” the book club, go ahead and do that; you will need to in order to participate.

Here’s how it will work: Down at the bottom of any post, you will need this set-up.

Obviously, you’re going to enter in your comment in the box at the bottom.

If you have a WordPress account, you won’t have to fill out everything, but if you don’t just simply enter in your email address (this will not show up when you’re done) and your name. Or you can login in your with Facebook, Twitter or Google+ accounts. The email is the easiest. If I’m not mistaken, you only have to do this once. You can choose to click “notify me” if you want to see the replies or you can just come back and look later. If you click this button, you will receive an email every time someone else comments. I will automatically get notifications because I’m the administrator, but you do not have to. And that’s it! Your comment will pop up.

How to add a comment or reply to someone else’s comment:

If you see something you’d like to reply to, you hit the reply button or simply start typing in the “Leave a Reply” box underneath it. Replies and Comments are the same. After one person comments under the post, everyone else’s comment is a reply. You can also “like” comments by clicking the start button in blue.

I ask that you PLEASE try to participate in the group discussions as often as you can. What’s the point of being in a book club, if you aren’t active!?

*Please be respectful of everyone’s opinions and keep foul language off the discussion threads. Thank you!

---

 

As far as choosing the books, please join the Pinterest board for this group where you can pin books you’d like to read. We will still vote on the books, but I will only pull from that list from now on. Feel free to pin as many as you’d like. Click the big red button below to pop over there.

---

If you have any suggestions for this club, please message me on FB or send me an email to otmbookclub@gmail.com and share your thoughts. As always invite you friends, sisters, cousins, co-workers, etc. because this is now an ONLINE BOOK CLUB and everyone can be a part of it! I hope you all are having fun and enjoying the books we select. As always, let me know if you have any concerns.

September Book Picks – VOTE!

To read the Amazon bio for these books, click the links below:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Simply Tuesday by Emily P Freeman

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

 

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Which book would you like to read next?

Select an option A - Wild B - Simple Tuesday C - The Vactioners

Submit

Δ

WWR in August + Events

Is it really August already?? How did that sneak up on us?

OTMBC had its second meet-up last Wednesday night. It was a huge success! As you may already know, we are reading two books for August. You can pick and choose if you want to read both or just one. We will have a joint meet-up, as discussed in the last gathering, to make it easier on everyone. I hope you’ll read both because they are super easy to read!

What we’re reading in August:

Tina Fey’s Bossypants and Amy Poehler’s Yes Please – a battle between queen comedians! Who will win?

Both of these books promote feminism and girl power. Both equally hilarious, they are similar but extremely different. If you love either of these ladies, you’ll love these books.

Our meet-up will be Monday, August 24th. Location is still undetermined.

---

More fun things in August:

Click for 10 Ways To Celebrate National Book Lovers Day

 

 

Book #2: July’s Book is…..

I am so excited about our next read, you guys. I just can’t hardly stand it. This book has been on my To Read list for a year. I’m so excited that I get to read it along with my favorite book club members!

So without further adieu, July’s book is…

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Next Meet-up: 7/29/15 @ 6-7:30pm

Can’t wait to see all of you again!

xo – Natalie

Book #2: VOTE!

As we are finishing up Better Than Before, I wanted to give you all an opportunity to vote on our next book. If you went through the JOIN tab, you’ll remember I asked you what your favorite genre was. Most chose romance/mystery books. So, I’ve chosen three books and one will be our next July book! I have listed the GoodReads short bio for each book next to the title. To vote, fill out of the quick form below to select which book you’d like to read next.

1. All The Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr 
   1. GoodReads rating: 4.28/5.00 (2014 Choice Reader)
   2. Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When Marie-Laure is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.
2. I Take You – Eliza Kennedy
   1. GoodReads rating: 3.07/5.00
   2. Meet Lily Wilder: New Yorker, lawyer extraordinaire, blushing bride. And totally incapable of being faithful to one man.Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget.
3. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding – Kristin Newman
   1. GoodReads rating: 3.79/5.00
   2. A funny, sexy, and ultimately poignant memoir about mastering the art of the “vacationship.”Kristin Newman spent much of her twenties and thirties buying dresses to wear to her friends’ weddings and baby showers. Not ready to settle down and in need of an escape from her fast-paced job as a sitcom writer, Kristin instead traveled the world, often alone, for several weeks each year. In addition to falling madly in love with the planet, Kristin fell for many attractive locals, men who could provide the emotional connection she wanted without costing her the freedom she desperately needed.Kristin introduces readers to the Israeli bartenders, Finnish poker players, sexy Bedouins, and Argentinean priests who helped her transform into “Kristin-Adjacent” on the road – a slower, softer, and, yes, sluttier version of herself at home. Equal parts laugh-out-loud storytelling, candid reflection, and wanderlust-inspiring travel tales, What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding is a compelling debut that will have readers rushing to renew their passports.

VOTE HERE:

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

July's Book

Select an option #1 - All The Light We Cannot See #2 - I Take You #3 - What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding

Submit

Δ

July’s book will be revealed on June 26th. What will it be?

**If you haven’t completed the survey for Book #1, please head over and do that. Thanks!

Survey #1: Better Than Before

After every book that we read, I ask that you fill out this short survey regarding the book and the meet-up. This will help me tremendously in making the book club better for everyone. Even if you did not attend the meet-up, please do the survey anyway. You may opt to leave your name out if you wish. I will not know who you are. 😉

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Name (Optional)

Book

Select an option Better Than Before

What was your overall impression of the book? Explain in 2-3 sentences.

On a scale from 1-5, what was your overall impression of the meet-up?

Select an option 1 - Very unorganized and unhelpful 2 - Slightly scattered and confusing 3 - Not terrible, but not great either 4 - Needs improvement, but overall enjoyable 5 - Very organized and helpful and will defintiely come again! Other, please explain in the text box below. I was unable to attend.

Comments about the meet-up.

Was the location for the meet-up convenient?

Select an option Yes, very convenient. Not too far, but not too close. Way too far, very inconvenient. I was unable to attend.

If you could reccomend our next book, what would it be? Note: Your reccomendation is very helpful, but may not be selected.

Any other comments/concerns?

Submit

Δ

Thank you again for being a part of OTMBC. I hope that you will stick around for future meet-ups!

Natalie

Taking Notes While Reading (with Post-Its!)

When I was a kid, I had trouble with reading comprehension. I could read fine, but if you tried to test me on it I would fail. It shattered my confidence and made me hate reading. For years, I didn’t pick up a book unless I was required to for class. There was no “enjoyment” in reading for me. I hated it.

When I got to highschool, I had to read a lot. The summer before freshman year I had a reading list a mile long. I panicked and thought, “How am I possibly going to remember all of this?” I emailed my English teacher and asked her for advice and she shared with me a few things that I felt were so helpful. I still use these to this day.

1. Read actively. The key to reading is to read actively. You need to digest the material, with your mind engaged and processing what you are reading. Not only do you need to stay awake while you read, but you need to be ready to learn.This might mean uncurling from under your covers and sitting at the dining room table. I don’t know about you, but I cannot read in the bed. I will fall asleep so fast!

2. Write as you read. The most important part of reading actively is writing. This is the only way I can read. Taking notes while reading increases memorization and information retention. This is where Post-It’s come in handy, especially for books that you will have to return to a library or a friend. When you’re using this technique, there’s no need to write down full passages. Think BIG PICTURE. Focus on key concepts, definitions, outlines, major plot changes, etc.

3. Keep a running list of questions. While you are reading, keep a list of questions you need answered. You may want to keep one list of questions to ask your teacher/bookclub members/friends and another for questions you want to research on your own.

Whether you’re studying for class, reading alone for fun, or are in a book club like this one, these tips apply to make sure you get the best out of your book!

Happy reading!
Natalie

 

 

 

Where to find books

So you’ve thought about joining a book club, but you’re worried you don’t have the money to buy all the books that are associated with joining. I understand the hole in the budget for entertainment or personal happiness, so I’ve created a list of ideas to show you a few budget-friendly options for purchasing books and even donating them when you’re finished!

How to find inexpensive books:

1. In Birmingham, there is a second-hand book store called 2nd and Charles. Our’s is located across from the Galleria in the shopping center with JoAnn’s and Plato’s Closet. The books are in very excellent used condition and are half the price of brand new. They also accept them back and will pay you for your books, as long as they are in good shape. Check out 2nd and Charles for more info.
2. If you’re a blogger like me, you can register for Blogging For Books and request FREE copies of books for review. When you’re finished with the book, all you have to do is write a review on your blog and you’re set. Head over to Blogging For Books to sign up and request your free copy today!
3. The library is the best place to get books for free, both tangible and audible (my favorite!). See if there’s a library around you by contact the Jefferson County Library Cooperative. Birmingham is full of them!
4. As always, you can purchase the book brand new. I love the smell of a new book and the feeling of cracking it open for the first time. Websites such as Amazon and AbeBooks have discounted books both brand new and used. You’ll get the best price rather than buying it in the bookstore or from the publisher’s website. Always check here first. If you’re fortunate to own a e-reader, you can purchase the books from there. You can purchase them cheaper through Amazon and Audible.

Where to donate used books: When you are finished with your book and do not mind donating it, most schools would gladly take them for the students. You can even write this off on your taxes! Check out the Alabama Library Association for more info. There are also tons of charities/organizations that love donations. Check out a few of them below:

• DonationTown
• Pick Up Please
• Books for Africa
• We Give Books – Multiple organizations for book donating.

Check with your local Children’s Hospital, VA Hospital, and nursing homes to see if they want used books. Another great way to help and feel good about it! If you have any other ideas for buying/donating books, comment using the link at the beginning of this post. All the best, Natalie

Follow Me On Pinterest!

There’s nothing better than sitting down on the weekends and organizing your Pinterest boards. Am I right? Okay, maybe that’s just me!

All jokes aside, I think it’s a great tool to use to express your creativity and share that creativity with others. I use it often when I’m working with clients on their homes or hotels that I work on (I’m an interior designer, if you didn’t already know!). I thought it would be a great idea to create a board just for this group. I have already pinned books that are on my radar and wish list. If you see a book that interests you, favorite it so that I can keep tally. Who knows, we might read some of these next! To get to it, click the big read button above.