The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Average Rating: 8.5
Noteworthy: Erin's last book club

Erin: 8.0 - (1/2 way through) Intrigued by Gatsby. Reminds me of Mr. Big in SITC. Covers up how Daisy has tortured him.

Rachel: 9.5 - (1/2 way through) All time faves from high school. New money/old money very interesting. Change encouraging - women valued for looks.

Dana: 8.0 - Read in high school. Soft spot because Justin tested her with Pet Boys song and book.

Sara: 9.0 - Favorite. Gets better every time. Intro and end (some don't have) very interesting. He wrote it to be "Great American Novel". Punctuation based on talk, not writing/grammar. Like how end portrays people as bad, choose easy way out.

Tina: 8.5 - (1/2 way through) Through "I" was Gatsby. Confused. Caught on and re-read. More interesting after getting into writing style.

Anne: 8.0 - Enjoyed. Liked dynamics between men and women, also 20s era. Kept thinking of Gatsby as a Hugh Heffner. Everyone went for the party - not him.

Rebecca: 8.5 - Good overall book. Wished I paid more attention in high school to understand all the symbolism, etc.

Marley and Me, by John Grogan

Average Rating: 7.2
Menu: Stingers
Noteworthy: Erin's last book club

Erin: 9.99 - All you ask for in a book, laughed, cried, good message about family.

Erika: 8.5 - Didn't want to put down. Cry, laugh, enjoyed reading it.

Dana: 6.5 - Animal lover but would have been a better short story. Not enough substance, wanted more.

Rebecca: 6.75 - Got emotionally involved, laughed, cried, but not really into story. Author was conceited. Family/Dog focus was conflicting.

Sara: 4.5 - Not in good mood when read. Didn't like author, talked about himself, not good writing. Could have been shorter. Like a slapstick comedy.

Anne: 6.5 - Easy to read. Liked emotional involvement. Liked idea of young family and Marley being a constant in their life. Events were not exciting, wanted more depth.

Rachel: 7.75 - Wants to get a dog, have been researching. Could have been deeper, but liked story.

Tina: 7.0 - Thought it was surfacy, not too deep. Easy to read, good stories. Laughed, cried but didn't think about thte book after reading.

Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson

Average Rating: 7.35
(Verify Date)

Rebecca: 6.0 - Hated history in HS. Wanted the book to focus on one story, not both. Wasn't engaged or excited to read, but loved parts of it - the historical tidbits about AC/DC electric current, the Ferris Wheel, etc.

Tina: 7.5 - (pg. 230) Enjoyed both stories - liked the murder story better, but was enthralled by the shaping of history, Ferris, Marshall Field. Had to wait for action and closure, was not motivated to read.

Rachel: 8.0 - Liked both stories. Did not like that they were not connected. Like the historical references, was interested in Chicago.

Erin: 7.0 - Like the book and history, but had no climax. Comparing Burnham/White City to Holmes/Dark Hotel was like comparing heaven and hell. Would have liked more Holmes development.

Dana: 7.0 - Liked the book, but there was no emotion. All written in 3rd person, heartless killings, details of the fair dragged on, did not feel she grasped all the concepts.

Sara: 5.0 - Did not love it. Forced herself to read it. Didn't think the stories were intertwined, no emotion, Holmes did not intrigue her.

Anne: 8.25 - Hates history, but loved the book because it brought people and events together. It was easy to make connections, liked the World Fair story better than Holmes' story, thought Holmes was arrogant.

Erika: 8.0 - Liked both parts of the book. Enjoyed the part of the start of the Pledge of Allegiance the best and all the historical references.

Broken for You, by Stephanie Kallos

Average Rating: 7.6

Dija: 6.0 - The book was hard to read, but got better as she read.

Sara: 9.0 - Was one of her favorites, characters grew together and independently; was a feel-good read, but had mediocre writing.

Erin: 8.5 - Loved it, loved the characters and the 'mystery" element of the story. Saw lots of irony in the book, would recommend to others.

Tina: 8.0 - Liked the book, thought the story of the book was the character development, looked forward to reading it and finding out what happened.

Rebecca: 9.0 - Noted that this was a very high rating for Rebe. Stopped reading Harry Potter 6 for this book. Thought the amount of valuables that Margaret had was unfathomable.

Anne: 9.0 - Like how the story brough meaning to the characters' lives and how they each helped each other find meaning. Was confused about Wanda's obsessions with Peter and how the record store incident was upsetting because it was built up so much by Wanda. Why did she put him on such a pedestal?

Dana: 6.0 - Liked the reinvention of the valuables, but thought it was a waste and the "enter and break something" ritual by the end of the book was weird. Wondered about the logistics of breaking all the things and the clean up? Thought the book was depressing.

Erika: 7.0 - Loved reading about the developing relationships between Margaret and all of her new house mates, especially Wanda. Thought there were too many small world coincidences. Enjoyed reading about Wanda's art with the pieces, as if she's putting her life back together with all the broken antique pieces.

One Thousand White Woman, by Jim Fergus

Average Rating: 7.8
Menu: Thai Chicken Curry and Lemon Chicken. Yum!

Last night Anne hosted a lovely book club at her house. She had the house decorated for Christmas and served. In addition to rating the book, Anne asked each of us to state what the English-version of our Cheyenne name would be. Here are all of our comments on "1,000 White Women":

Rebecca: 6.0 - "Tidy One" Wasn't excited to start reading the book, liked the history, but thought the storyline was too fictional.

Sara: 7.0 - "Woman who Runs Alone" The book exceeded her expectations, would have liked more historical references.

Dana: 9.0 -"Pale Dog-Lover" Became very engrossed in the book, liked how May Dodd was a leader; disappointed that Captain Bourke turned out to be so cruel by killing Horse Boy.

Erin: 8.5 - "Woman with White Hair" Liked the history of the book and the bullet hole on the front and back cover.

Erika: 8.0 - "Woman who Trips Over her Own Feet" Enjoyed how the relationship with May Dodd and Little Foot developed and deepened; she also liked the format of the book--she paid attention to the dates and how much time passed between each entry.

Tina: 8.0 - "Little Sleepy One" Liked the format, thought the ending was unrealistic. Would have liked a more realistic ending.

Becky: 6.5 - "Warrior Woman" We concluded that the character Euphemia reminded us of Becky.

Anne: 8.5 - "Shy One" Loved the story-enjoyed how the real names of the women matched their personality. Found the book to be an easy read.

Love in the Time of Cholera, by Garcia Marquez

Average Rating: 7.8

Sara hosted a wonderful book club last night- we chatted about "Love in the Time of Cholera" and watched Desperate Housewives.

Here are the ratings and comments:

Sara: 8.5- Good book but didn't like America. Thought Florentino and America's relationship was gross. It made it difficult to like Florentino.

Rebecca: 8 - (on chapter 5)Thought the book was well written but difficult to read. The names were confusing, but it was a good story and a pretty story to read- would recommend it.

Erika: 8.0 - Liked the first part when the story was about their courtship. The middle part was difficult to get through- wished there was more of a plot in the middle part- would recommend it.

Tina: 8.0 - (on chapter 1) The book would be best read if a person had a few long sessions of reading instead of short reading sessions. The book requires a commitment from the reader.

Anne: 7.5 - Loved the first 150 pages. Loved the story of the courtship, but found the middle part quite slow. Was annoyed that the whole letter thing started up again towards the end. Well written book.

Dana: 6.0 - Liked the beginning and the story about Dr. Urbino and his life. Did not like Florentino and his compulsions- slow book. Also thought it was strange that there were so many parts in the book that were about animals dying.

Erin: 7.0 - Beginning was great- but the book was a very intense book to read. Some of the important plot ideas were not covered like what did Florentino do to get to the top of his company? Florentino was very pathetic.

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

Average Rating: 7.9

Erin: 9.0 - Great characterization.

Rachel: 8.5 - Characters really were laid out. Great exposure to view things. Very tasteful.

Erika: 8.0 - Story development. Knew store from beginning. Could have gone quicker.

Tina: 6.0 - "Waiting for the crocus". History was interesting.

Dana: n/a - it was really good.

Anne: 8.0 - Liked family history. Dragged on. Wanted to know more about Callie.

Sara: 9.5 - Character development. Amazed a man wrote that. Best book club ever! Awesome sentences.

Rebecca: 6.5 - Well-written but didn't capture me. Story developed too slow. Like a greek myth, very interesting.

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire

Average Rating: 7.2
Menu: Grilled chicken salad

Rebecca: 7.5 - Overall thought it was fun. Parts were confusing and not enough Oz related.

Erika: 8.0 - (1/2 way) Love it so far. Disturbed/confused by goat murder.

Erin: 8.0 - Liked it. Slow read at times. Characters struggled and had themes.

Tina: 8.0 -Not enough Oz or consistency. Liked absolute truths and good versus evil.

Rochelle: 5.0 - Overly ambitious. Lots of interesting topics, too many.

Dana: 6.5 - Couldn't relate to characters. More about Elphie & Nessie's relationship.

Anne: 7.0 - Loved first two sections. Got lost in parts. Good thoughts - guilt you put upon yourself. Poor ending.

Becky: 9.0 - Issues with disconnect of Oz. Liked having so many unanswered questions. That defines good and evil.

Rachel: 6.0 - Have issues with non-human characters that talk. Too little about Oz/Dorothy. Too much in college years, but liked Elphie overall. She was MISUNDERSTOOD!

Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi

Average Rating: 3.2
Noteworthy: Molly's last book club

Tina: 2.0 - (pg. 26) BORING!

Molly: 4.0 - Expecting something to happen. 300 page short story.

Dana: 4.0 - (pg. 4) Wonderful secret language.

Rebecca: 3.0 - (pg. 19) Hard to get into. Felt repetitive.

Erin: 3.0 - (pg. 177) Author was "wannabe". Wanted to be a protester.

Erika: 3.0 - (pg. 30) Very slow. Had to reread pages.

Rachel: 4.5 (pg. 100) Style of writing boring. Had read Lolita. Enjoyed reading about western works.

Becky: 2.0 - (pg 128) Talked too much about books, didn't get to a point. Couldn't tell who was talking. Didn't know who characters were.

Anne: 4.0 - Was excited, but had hard time with authors style. Couldn't tell characters apart. Good idea for book, her story/memoir. Liked learning about being women, sexuality.

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

Average Rating: 8.3

Rachel: 8.5 - Liked how it tied together. Amazed by how it was/is in Afghanistan.

Molly: 9.0 - Too convenient at end, but liked it. Afghanistan now/then.

Erika: 8.5 - Appalled kite part. Happy/sad emotions.

Erin: 6.0 - Interesting (Afghanistan). Didn't like Amir, no courage. Liked end.

Tina: 9.0 - Liked how it came together at end. Fiction should be what you want it to be. Main character bothered her but grew up that way.

Rebecca: 8.0 - Beginning tough to get into (p. 20) but liked it. First half mini stories more tied together than last half.

Dana: 8.5 - Beginning slow but then got into it. Liked father. Changed throughout the book. Didn't like Soharb's attempted suicide.

Becky: 9.0 - Taxicab conversation foreshadowing. Are we doing the right thing in Afghanistan? Hated Amir, coward, kept tallies. "You never knew Afghanistan" (cab driver to Amir)

The Dogs of Babel, by Carolyn Parkhurst

Average Rating: 7.0

Erika: 8.0 - Great character development.

Dana: 6.5 - Surprised written by woman. Surprised by his love for her. Liked overall.

Anne: 7.0 - Unresolved, doubtful by ending, unsatisfying.

Rachel: 7.5 - Liked character development, liked love story development, satisfied by conclusion.

Rebecca: 5.5 - Uncomfortable with dog mutilation. Didn't like pregnancy storyline.

Molly: 7.5 - Strange. Books saying odd. Dog mutilation and kidnapping bothersome. Taken too far.

Becky: 7.0 - Similar to last book. Search for the truth, baby, etc. Liked to read it because of Bailey. Didn't like mutilation, book titles. Wanted to know more about wife.

Erin: 7.0 - Liked the theme of wife struggling with identity - masks, girl at the pool in New Orleans. Liked the theme of acceptance -wife and dog.

Tina: 7.0 - Disappointed that the dog did not talk. Felt that the wife committed suicide. New Orleans situation, unsettling.

In the Lake of the Woods, by Tim O'Brien

Average Rating: 6.0

Becky: 7.5 - Liked mystery.

Molly: 7.0 - Got weird with no explanation - more background. Liked mystery. Thinks he killed her. Should of explained more of abortion past.

Tina: 7.0 - Wanted an ending. Forces you to be an outsider - didn't get.

Sara: 5.0 - Similar to Molly. More of love story than mystery. Not enough info.

Rebecca: 6.0 - Should have had more explanation. Knew end was open. Doesn't have a prediction. Apathetic. Not enough info.

Dija: 3.75 - Didn't like magical part. A lot of violence. Thinks he killed her.

Erika: 6.0 -Didn't like quote chapters. Knew of no ending. Either ran away together or he killed her.

Rachel: 6.5 - Liked hypotheses, but not quote chapters. Liked psychology parts. War out of proportion. He killed her, but lack of evidence.

Dana: 4.5 - Likes evidence parts. He was off beat and she deserved more. Convinced he killed her.

Anne: 6.0 - Didn't like evidence. Wanted it to be a great love story, but wasn't. Felt sorry for her for saving her happiness. Don't think they ran off.

A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey

Average Rating: 8.1

Molly: 8 - good, too long
Dana: 7 - good, doesn't know who she would recommend it to; empathetic
Rebecca: 7.5 - interesting; recommended to sister because she had liked a similar book; concerned it may be bad for alcoholics to read
Molly R: 8.5 - not a big believer in 12 step program; liked that he succeeded; shared his belief about 12 steps - thinks replacing the addiction with another
Tina: 9 - really liked it; sees point about problem with replacing one addiction for another; wouldn't give book to alcoholic
Becky: 9 - likes autobiographies; shares Molly's belief about addiction; does believe that in moderation some addictions are good.
Anne: 8 - liked book; raw account; couldn't believe it was true; liked "the fury"; liked that you could see that alcoholism affects everyone

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger

Average Rating: 8.3

Dana: 9 - Liked the characters, "too much sex" though; the bond was phenomenal between them
Dija: 9 - Very different from before, other books
Tina: 8.5 - Was very confused about the purpose of Gomez; very hard from Charisses's point of view
Erica: 7.5 - Took a long time to get interested; getting pregnant was intriguing point; knowing the ending = bias
Rebecca: 8 - Problems with knowing the ending; some events didn't make sense; some inconsistencies
Becky: 7.5 - (half-way through) thinking "What's the plot?" Then realized that time was the plot; Upset about issues...but was more about Clare - liked that
Molly: 8 - Thought it read quickly; some events/pages not necessary; Henry was favorite character;Liked the ending - old Clare
Anne: 8.5 - Like the book because of the love story; Put herself in Clare's position and couldn't imagine how she dealt with it

My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Piccoult

Average Rating: 9.2

Anne: 9 - family dynamics
Becky: 9.3 - one of the best books. What would you give up for someone else?
Tina: 9.5 - the sister bond - hard to read about kidney failure
Molly: 8.5 - didn't like the brother - good conversation starter
Rebecca: 9 - read the ending first - didn't like the way it was written
Dana: 10 - couldn't imagine not reading it - best book so far - watching the parenting style

The Tortilla Curtain, By T.C Boyle

Average Rating: 7.5

Jess: 9 - liked the way important themes were explored; some characters weren't always believable
Tina: 7 - likes it; thinks ending is anticlimactic
Rebecca: 6.5 - upset that they didn't meet sooner; why did Delaney hate Candido so much? Why not more contact at ending?
Dana: 9 - didn't like the ending; disliked Kyra - like Annette Bening character in "American Beauty" - conflicting feelings
Anne: 7.5 - ("I like halves") - difficult to figure out Delaney; liked class structure/hierarchy
Molly: 7 - liked beginning and portrayal of Delaney's hypocrisy; didn't like ending of the book - contrived
Becky: 6.5 - liked different sides, luck and choices - you don't do anything unless you really want to

The Feast of Love, by Charles Baxter

Average Rating: 8.0

Molly: (did not finish)
Anne: 7.5 - liked how life experiences were intertwined and how chapters began (did not finish)
Becky: 7.5 - very real, liked varying perspectives on one story (did not finish)
Jess: 9 - liked writing style, how stories intertwined (did not finish)
Dana: 7 - liked every "relationship has one really good day" (did not finish)
Rebecca: 9 - loved writing style, how characters were built
Tina: 8 - great character development. Liked how as the book went on, it felt like you got to know the people. (did not finish)

*** RATING CHANGED FROM 5 POINT SCALE TO 10 POINT SCALE ***

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom

Average Rating: 3.9

Molly: 3.6 - expected more, wasn't as good as Tuesdays w/Morrie
Becky: 4 - happier view of after-life than Tuesdays w/Morrie
Dana: 4 - also liked beginning, soothing after Q died
Rebecca: 4 - loved first 50 pages (through 1st person), captain section was too long
Anne: 3.75 - wanted to get through book
Tina: 4 - liked writing style

Monster, by Kody Scott

Average Rating: 2.7
Menu: Dessert of individ pudding pies with red/blue fruit toppings

Becky: 6 - different perspective, learned from it but not great writing
Anne: 6 - did not take responsibility, did not change, was very defensive
Molly: 5 - everything was someone else's fault
Dana: 4 - didn't like character, bragged a lot
Rebecca: 5 - he didn't learn anything at end of story, rating is reflective of him
Tina: 6 - agree w/Becky
Jess: 5 - wasn't a great writer, did not have natural gift for writing. Got off on tangents, but had good story to tell. Was not an empathetic character.

Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk

Average Rating: 3.6
Menu: Fried Chicken

Anne: 4 - liked characters
Becky: 3 - predictable, reverse racism
Dana: 3.75 - liked Mary, mother figure, predictable
Jessica: 4 - liked Lily's character, good themes: Black Madonna
Rebecca: 3.5 - fun, easy to read, predictable
Tina: 3.5 - good, easy read, but kinda fluffy
Molly: 4 - not as good as expected

Overall - Discussion was kind of slow. Story did not provoke as much thought as past stories we've read.

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Average Rating: 4.0
Menu: Dinner and Chocolate Pie

Overall - Enjoyed the book as a whole, but didn't like the ending of the island part.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, by Lorna Landvik

Average Rating: 4.4
Menu: Bon bons

Dana: 5
Molly: 4
Becky: 4
Anne: 5
Tina: 4