Tonight was the first official bookclub meeting for "Southern Charm Bookclub". We discussed December's book, "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom and mutually agreed had we been put in that situation we might not have been as gracious and giving as the Ten Boom family. They literally put their lives on the line to help hide Jews during the holocaust. I honestly don't know if I could have done it which is why I admire them so much. I know how selfish I am.
I have never heard of a family more giving and loving than this one. They truly had servants' hearts, something that is sorely lacking in today's society, myself included. Faith was a huge part of their lives and helped get them through some unfathomable circumstances. If you've never read this book, do yourself a favor and read it. This was actually my third time reading it and I never tire of it. It long ago claimed the title of "DJ's all-time favorite book ever." And if DJ loves it. So will you. Especially if you're a person of faith who happens to love history.
Now on to January's book, "The Glass Castle". This is a memoir. We've decided to stick with memoirs this whole year. We all agreed that real life is so much more interesting. Don't get me wrong. I love me some fiction too. There ain't nothing better than escaping into a world created out of someone's imagination, but I can read fiction on my own time. I had been seeing this book pop up on best-seller lists for awhile now so that's usually a good sign, unless it's on Oprah's bookclub list, that is. I guess you could say her literary tastes and mine.... uh... run crossways. I've heard this book is being made into a movie. Here's an editorial review from Amazon.com for your convenience:
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever. Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home. What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.
I've also spent the past two months poring over book lists on Amazon and reading reviews. I have amassed quite a list of "wanna read books". I don't take this stuff lightly. Books intoxicate me. Seriously. I can just see them on-line and I start salivating. And law me, if I walk through a bookstore... well. Forget about it. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I could literally spend hours. Did you hear me? Hours. Walking up and down the aisles of a bookstore perusing through books. I actually fantasize about being able to walk in the store and lay down a few hundred dollars to buy whatever I want.
As it is, I go to the library for my books. I have actually learned how to use my library's on-line system to look up books so when I find one on Amazon I want to read, I just log-on to the Randolph County Library site and type in the book-title. Most of the time they have what I'm looking for, but there are many times they don't. What do I do in that case? I'll tell you. I march myself up to the reference desk the next time I'm there, and ask them if I can put in a "purchase request". Since I've learned I can do this, the library has bought every book I've asked for. I'm in heaven. It's like being able to buy the book for free.
I actually typed up a list of 52 must-read memoirs that I will post separately for those who are interested. I realized later that's one book for every week of the year. If a book gets less than 4 stars on Amazon I don't even consider them. I learned the hard way after I pressed through "The Poisonwood Bible" many moons ago (all 576 pages) that I would never again waste time reading a book that I didn't "love". There are too many great books just waiting to be read. Now I give a book the first 50 pages, maybe 100 if I think there's potential. After that, if I'm not captured by it I slam it shut and move on. Next!
Recently I had a rash of books all in a row like that. Books that I saw on various best-seller lists so I thought they must be good if they're getting all that buzz. NOT. I'm sure curiosity is getting the best of you by now. Okay. I'll list the books I never finished: The Plague of Doves (confusing), The Lace Reader (dragged), The Thirteenth Tale (sorely lacking), Peace Like a River (slow), The Good Earth (boring). Folks, let me tell ya. The best-seller list does not a good book make. Read the customer reviews. That will tell the tale. Or you can just ask me. :)
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