Thursday, September 17, 2009

Happy New Year



I left a message to wish you all that are a Jewish, a Happy New Year message. on my other blog at Bagels, Books and Schmooze.
La Shana Tova

Monday, September 14, 2009

Ye-AH!! 38th Ave, Diva's Are Back in Business!!


After all most eight months( January 09), 38th Ave Divas Book Club finally met for the first time in months. This is our 4th going on 5th year. Due to illnesses, deaths, personal problems finally the book club came back together for the first time today.

I was not sure if it was going to happen. I have not heard from any one in quite awhile. A few members were not happy with the books picked. This time, I told everyone to bring with them three books and pick a date and month and a book. We did not pick for the year. That may have been the problem.

One thing I have learned from organizing and keeping us together. Not every book club is the same you have to hit it by trial and error. Just like people are individuals so are book clubs. Just because one club says it was successful doesn't mean it will work for you.



On to the book club. We discussed Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. A few people were not happy with the book picks. So, I decided what author will draw people in? Easy Jodi Picoult. Her books get you talking about the books. I was right. It sure got every one talking.

Topics covered was heart transplant, death penalty, religion, miracles, politics, messiah, and most definitely salvation. All these topics were in the book.
Every book that the author writes is a jumping board to discuss for hours.
Alot to talk about and debate.

The book is about a convicted prison that is on death row. He would like to save his soul( we think). He has always been in trouble. His last act he would like to save a little girl. There is one catch, the girl,is the family members that he has killed before. He shot and killed the girl's step-father and sister.
The only way that he can give he's heart to the young girl is to die on the gallows not lethal injection.

The story is taken with several characters point of view. What happens it a little far fetched, several miracles happen. Water turns to wine, One of the cell mates has remission with AIDS, the bird comes back to life. Gum that she have only been for one prisoner was able to to last for seven or eight prisoners. A bit far fetched wouldn't you say. You know what I am leading to, don't you?

The biggest point the mother had a hang up about that her child if she gets Shay's heart will her daughter develop the same characteristics as him.

It turns out we find out later in the book. That Shay is a fixer upper for the family and finds that the step father is molesting the the daughter that Shay killed. He feels he is saving her.

When Shay was younger as a child he was living in foster care with his sister. He's sister was being molested by the foster father. She could not take it any longer. We think Shay was responsible for the fire, but we learn it is he's sister that started the fire. He keeps wanting to save people and not speak up.

There is a quote about salvation and religion.. It reads

There is a law in this country that says the state has to let your practice your own religion, as long as it doens't interfere with the safety in the prison. There also a law in NH that says even though the court has sentenced you to die by lethal injection, which wouldn't allow you to donate your heart... in certain circumstances, death row inmates can be hanged insteand. And if you're hanged you'd be able to donate organs.


Another note, Judiasm.
For Jews, repentence is about conduct-you realize you've done something wrong. you resolve to change it in the future. But teshuvah means return. Inside each of us is some spark of G-d-- the real us. It's there whether your're the most pious Jew or the most marginal. Sin, evil, murder- all those things have the ability to cover up our true selves. Teshuvah means turning back to the part of G-d that's gotten concealed. When you repent, usually you feel sad- because of the regret that led you there. But when you talk teshuvah about making the connection with g-d again- well it makes you happy. Sins separated you from g-d and distance always makes the heart grow fonder.


We did a few discussions questions, that made us question why did Shay not fight. We thought he was resigned to his fate. From the beginning to the end. He was it seemed just interested in saving people not saving himself. Including his sister. We thought he was the hero. But I also thought the priest was the hero. He brought Shay his own happiness, his death and salvation of his soul to save the girl.

Our book club enjoyed discussing this book we could sit there for hours but we had to go home some time to our familes. If you would like to see what TNYT felt about this book you can read the review here.

Me, myself I did not think it was a great literary piece. But, it had alot to say. Brought alot of debate and discussion. This is what you expect from Jodi Picoult. I am disappointed that the author felt she had to use the same material as Stephen King's Green Mile. I like to read books that make your juices flowing.

38th St Diva's we Are Back In Business...Until next time 38th Ave, Divas Happy Reading!!

Oh, by the way these are the book picks we have picked up to January.
October we are reading Guersney Literary Peel Pie Society.
November we are reading Sarah's Key and December we will read Zookeeper's Wife, and January we will read James Patterson's Crosse's Trial.

Keep those pages flipping...

Monday, September 7, 2009

Happy Labor Day Everyone!!














Happy Labor Day Everyone. Unfortunately there are people that have to work on this day. I was one of the unlucky ones. But that is ok at least I have a job. There are many people that are unlucky this year. Hopefully it will get brighter soon.



Cleopatra's Daughter Giveaway



I am hosting the book Cleopatra's Daughter concurrently with with the release of Michelle Moran's book coming out in stores tomorrow, September 8th. Michelle has agreed to send three copies to the lucky winners. Also Michelle is writing a guest post on my blog in the next few days, look out for it.

The rules are as follows:

The giveaway will begin tommorrow September 8 till September 17th.
Leave a comment on my blog why you would like to be entered in the giveaway.
Blog about the giveaway on your blog with a link coming back to this blog.

Cleopatra's Daughter By Michelle Moran

Excerpt from the book flap:

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra's Daughter. Recounted in Selene's youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters. Octavia, the emperor Octavian's kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Oxtavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavians's handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia's sardonic son and Marcellus's great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian's watchful aide, whose honored postiton at court has far reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical detaisl that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire's most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon. Navigates the crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman style justice is meted out with merciless authority. In these chaotic streets and whispering palaces. Selene confronts the same forces that destroyed her mother and struggles to meet a different fate.

Good Luck!!