Big Read Causes Big Change from Big Book

At our book club meeting last week, it was suggested by Kay that we switch our classic read, Les Miserable, to the Big Read selection this year, To Kill a Mockingbird. Apparently Kay has been trying to get everyone to read Les Miserable for decades! There were problems finding enough copies of the abridged version, but still, this was a big sacrifice for Kay. I was obviously in favor since I had blogged about it earlier. We did discuss just adding To Kill a Mockingbird in August since we're just getting together to talk about other books that we've been reading, but since we're going to combine the August meeting with a potluck and quilting in Sue Ann's backyard, we might get too distracted to give Mockingbird much attention. So I think we've decided to change our July selection. It will take me a while to get our new book on our bookshelf, and to change the list on the side of the blog. I need some technical help. Any of you that do a lot blogging (or even a little) feel free to edit for me.

Dick Francis Dies

In case you didn't see it in the Statesman this morning, I thought I'd post the news article here since we read Dick Francis mysteries last year.

Dick Francis, the best-selling British thriller writer and former champion jockey, died on Sunday in his home in the Cayman Islands. He was 89. A successful steeple-chase jockey, Francis turned to writing after he retired from racing in 1957. He penned 42 novels, many of which featured racing as a theme. His books were translated into more than 20 languages, and in 2000 Queen Elizabeth II honored Francis by making him a Commander of the British Empire. Francis won three Edgar Allan Poe awards given by the Mystery Writers of America for his novels "Forfeit" (1968), "Whip Hand" (1979) and "Come to Grief" (1995).

There was a good article about him in the New York Times today. You can go here to read it. I think we decided at our discussion that his earlier books were better, so if you feel like reading a horse-racing, mystery, maybe "Forfeit" would be a good bet.

Be There!

Book Club is at Mary Jo's house on Tuesday, February 16th, at 7 o'clock. I think Lori has signed-up for refreshments. We'll be discussing The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. As always, you don't have to read the book to join our fun. Just be there!

By the way, Mary Jo, you haven't posted the recipe for the yummy apple cobbler. I think you should get on it.

Big Read 2011

As I wrote the title for this post, it freaked me out that next year it will be 2011! Didn't this century just start!

Anyway, Boise's Big Read selection for next year is Jack London's, The Call of the Wild. I think it should be our book for January. There are always different activities at the Library! or around town. It would be fun to take part. Besides, I love the idea of a bunch of people reading the same thing at the same time. I'm sure there has been a movie made. This is not one I want to see, but I do want to read the book. I read the first chapter when Ty had the book laying around. It was pretty gripping - well written.

The Big Read - 2010

This year Boise is reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I've always considered this one of my top 10 favorites, but I haven't read it since high school. I think we missed the boat when we put together our selection list this year. If I don't reread it this summer, I'm going to suggest we put it on next year's list. I've only seen the movie once,even though I've always had a crush on Gary Cooper. If I were one that named my children after great literary figures, Ty would have the middle name Atticus. If Ty had been a girl, he would have been Scout.