Barney's Online Book Club -- Vote for the February Book!

It's time to vote for the February book club book! Here are the suggestions taken from members:

1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
3. Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
4. Midwives by Chris Bojhalian

Please leave your first and second choice in the comments section. The discussion question will be posted on the last Sunday of the month. All are welcome to participate. If you would like to be added to the club's email list, then please leave your email address in the comments section.

Barney's Online Book Club -- Call for Suggestions!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion of The House on Tradd Street this Sunday! Now it is time to pick a new book for February. Please leave your suggestions in the comments section by Wednesday, January 27th so we can vote as soon as possible. All are welcome to join. If you are not receiving book club emails from me (or you would like to), please leave your email address in the comments section. Okay -- suggest away!

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 1/25/10

Happy Monday! This week I am working on Consumption by Kevin Patterson. This book is for the library book club that I belong to. I just finished a chapter in which the main character gives birth and the details were so vivid I actually felt nauseous.

Last week, I finished The House on Tradd Street by Karen White. It was a nice mystery with a paranormal kick, you can read my review here -- The House on Tradd Street review.

What are you reading this week? This meme is hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Barney's Online Book Club -- January 2010 Discussion

Welcome to the fifth discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club. This month we are discussing The House on Tradd Street by Karen White. Below are some questions to start the discussion but feel free to raise your own in the comments section. Please note that the questions and comments may include spoilers -- so read at your own risk!

Let the discussion begin!

1. How much do you think Melanie's upbringing played in creating the person she becomes?

2. How did you feel about Melanie's relationship with her parents? Melanie begrudgingly gives her father a second chance, but refuses to do the same thing for her mother. Do you feel this was fair?

3. Melanie and her best friend are complete opposites. Do you think that their opposite personalities attracted them to each other?

4. In the beginning, Melanie hates old houses. Was her transformation into a home owner realistic? What was the role of the ghosts in helping her love her new home?

5. What was your overall impression of the book? Will you read the sequel?

Barney's Online Book Club -- January Discussion Reminder

A quick reminder -- Barney's Online Book Club discussion of The House on Tradd Street will take place this Sunday, January 24th. All are welcome to participate!

Review -- Her Fearful Symmetry

Her Fearful Symmetry
by Audrey Niffenegger
Simon and Schuster, 2009
416 pages

Summary: When Elspeth Noblin dies, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Valentina and Julia, whom she has never met. As the twins move to London and meet Elspeth's quirky neighbors, secrets are unearthed and a supernatural event changes all of their lives.

Review: Her Fearful Symmetry is a wonderful read filled with unique and interesting characters. The plot has a somewhat predictable supernatural twist, but I was so caught up in the story that I didn't mind. The secrets between families hooked me into the story immediately but it is the interesting characters and their choices that I will remember about this book. Rating: ***1/2 out of 5

Review -- The House on Tradd Street

The House on Tradd Street
by Karen White
Published by New American Library, 2008
329 pages

Summary: Melanie inherits an old historical house filled with secrets. The only problem is that she hates old houses and the ghosts that haunt the house want her to solve an old mystery. With the help of family, friends, and a possible love interest, Melanie begins to restore the house and bring closure to the past.

Review: Karen White writes a fun detective story with a paranormal twist. Melanie is an obsessive compulsive perfectionist whose is unable to come to terms with her complicated childhood. She is an interesting character whose heart comes across the page, making her a heroine you can root for. The mystery unfolds nicely, keeping the reader entertained and guessing. I wasn't really impressed with the romantic portions of the book as Melanie stumbles to choose the right guy for her. The reader easily can see the villain of the book, whereas it takes the main character too long to connect the dots. Rating: *** out of 5

*** Barney's Online Book Club will be discussing The House on Tradd Street on Sunday, January 24th. All are welcome to join us!

Help! To Go or Not to Go?

I have a library book club meeting on Monday and am only 25 pages into a 500+ book. I could power through it over the next few days, but I just can't seem to motivate myself to read it. (Instead I am enjoying the very lovely Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger). So here's the question: Should I go to book club even though I haven't read the book (and most likely never will)?