Barney's Online Book Club -- February 2010 Discussion

Welcome to the sixth discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club. This month we will be discussing Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The following questions are used to start the discussion, but please feel free to raise your own questions 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. What are you overall impressions of Katniss? How does she grow and change as the novel progresses?

2. What are your thoughts on the Hunger Games? Do you think that the author uses the games to make the reader think of the reality competitions that are prevalent on television today? If so, what message do you think she is trying to convey?

3. How did you feel about the romantic relationship between Katniss and Peeta? Was it a strategic move or do you feel that Petra truly loves Katniss?

4. Discuss the supporting characters such as Cinna and Haymitch. What does each one bring to their friendship to Katniss? Do you feel that each character has an alternative motive for the relationship that they forge with others?

5. Tell us your overall impressions of the book. Would you recommend it to teens? Why or why not? Will / have you read the sequel, Catching Fire?

Barney's Online Book Club -- Discussion Reminder

Just a quick reminder that the Barney's Online Book Club discussion of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is this Sunday, February 28th! All are welcome. Have a great week and see you on Sunday!

Barney's Online Book Club -- February 2010 Selection

The selection for the February 2010 post of Barney's Online Book Club is Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins! Thanks to everyone who voted. The discussion questions will be posted on Sunday, February 28th and all are welcome to participate. Have a question or want to be added to the email list? Then let me know in the comments section!

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!

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!

Barney's Online Book Club -- January Selection

I hope everyone had a very happy holidays! Here is the January selection of Barney's Online Book Club -- The House on Tradd Street by Karen White! Thanks to everyone who voted. The discussion questions will be posted on Sunday, January 24. All are welcome!

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

Sorry for the delay everyone! Here are your choices for the January selection of Barney's Online Book Club. Please leave your first and second choices in the comments section. I have provided links to each book's Barnes and Noble page so you can read the summaries and physical descriptions of each book. Voting ends on December 23rd at 8pm EST. The discussion questions will be posted on Sunday, January 24th. All are welcome to join! Please leave your email in the comments section if you want to be added to the email list. Let the voting begin!



1. The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

2. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters

3. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

4. The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel

5. House on Tradd Street by Karen White

Barney's Online Book Club -- Looking for January Book Suggestions!

Barney's Online Book Club is getting ready to choose another great selection to read for our January 2009 discussion. I have decided to skip the month of December due to an increasingly busy holiday schedule. Thanks to everyone who participated in discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett last Sunday. It seemed that everyone really loved the book. Please leave your suggestions for our next book in the comments section. This weekend I will take five of the suggestions and set up voting for sometime next week -- check your email! All are welcome to join the discussion, if you would like to be put on the email list, please leave your email address in the comments section. Thanks and have a great holiday!

Barney's Online Book Club -- November 2009 Discussion

Welcome to the fourth discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club! This month we are discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Below are some questions to help start the discussion, please feel free to raise your own questions in the comments section. Please note that the questions and the comments may include spoilers. So if you haven't read the book, then read at your own risk!

Let the discussion begin!

1. The Help is written from multiple points of view. Did you enjoy the different points of view? Was there one character you enjoyed reading about over the others?

2. Hilly is definitely the villian of this piece yet the author paints her as a good mother. Was it hard for you to reconcile these two opposite pieces of her personality? What do you think drove Hilly to treat the help (and eventually Skeeter) in such terrible ways?

3. Miss Skeeter has some rough relationships throughout the novel. What are your impressions of her relationship with her mother? What about Stuart?

4. What do you think was the eventual motivation or reason that the maids stepped forward to help with the book?

5. What are your overall thoughts on the novel?

So get typing and don't forget to come back throughout the day and reply to other members' comments!

Barney's Online Book Club -- Discussion Reminder!

Just a quick reminder that Barney's Online Book Club will be discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett this Sunday, November 29th! All are welcome to join the discussion. Please email me if you have any questions and I will 'see' you on Sunday!

Barney's Online Book Club -- November 2009 Selection

The Barney's Online Book Club selection for November 2009 is The Help by Kathryn Stockett! Thanks to everyone who voted. Please note that this month's discussion will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2009. If you have any questions, please email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com. Happy Reading!

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

Time to vote for the November book! Below are the 5 choices suggested by members (each title is linked to its Barnes and Noble page so you can read a plot description). Please leave your first and second choices in the comments section. Voting will end on Friday, November 6th at 8pm EST. The discussion post will take place on Sunday, November 29th. If you would like to join the email list, please leave your email address in the comments section as well. Let the voting begin!

1. The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
4. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
5. Playing House by Fredrica Wagman

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

Can you believe it is already November 2nd? Time has gotten away from me, so over the next two days leave your suggestions for November's book club selection in the comments section. I will take suggestions until November 4th at 8pm EST and then post the voting, so (hopefully) by the weekend we will have chosen a new book!

Thanks,
jess

Barney's Online Book Club Discussion -- October 2009

Welcome to the third discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club! This month we are discussing Testimony by Anita Shreve. Below are questions to start the discussion, feel free to raise your own questions in the comments section. Please note that the questions and the comments sections may include spoilers! Read at your own risk.

Let the discussion begin!

Discussion Questions:

1. Many blog reviewers have mentioned that telling the story through multiple characters made the story difficult to follow. Do you agree?

2. Did you sympathize with any of the characters? Why or why not?

3. Who do you feel is to blame for Silas's death?

4. How do you feel about Rob's assessment at the end of the novel? Do you think he (and the other characters) will lead a better life because they survived the scandal?

5. What was your over impression of Testimony?

A Real Life 'Testimony'?

My sister-in-law, Deb, who is a member of the Barney's Online Book Club wrote me an email today about our book club pick Testimony by Anita Shreve. She remembered seeing an article about a real life private school sex scandal that had happened in Massachusetts -- which is very similiar to the plot of Testimony. Here is part of the email that she sent me:

This one paragraph really reminds me of the 'Testimony' story:

The lowlight of this giant love-in came that January, when a sophomore girl slid into the locker room for the varsity hockey team and fellated five boys in succession. This story passed from students to parents to the headmaster to prosecutors and The Boston Globe. The ensuing scandal was devastating for almost everyone involved. The school was nationally embarrassed, and sometimes girls who’ve graduated from Milton are asked if they are the serial fellator. The five boys involved were expelled, and the three older ones were charged as adults with statutory rape — charges that were eventually dismissed. Controversially, the girl was not expelled. She was placed on administrative leave and eventually transferred.

For more of this article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/books/review/Toure-t.html

Thanks Deb for the great info!

Barney's Online Book Club -- Discussion Post Reminder

Just a quick reminder that the discussion post for Barney's Online Book Club will go up on Sunday, October 25th. We will be discussing Testimony by Anita Shreve. All are welcome!

I'm Back!

I am back from my fantastic vacation! I went to England, Scotland, and Wales for 11 days and had a wonderful time. Thanks for all the great comments wishing me well as I went off on my fantastic adventure!

Now that I am back I will have reviews for The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff, The Opposite of Love by Julie Baxbaum, and Stolen by Lucy Christopher posted within the next week or two. I also have to start Testimony by Anita Shreve which is the Barney's Online Book Club selection for October. Only a few weeks until the discussion post!

Barney's Online Book Club -- October 2009 Selection

Testimony by Anita Shreve is the book club's selection for October 2009. Thanks to everyone who voted. The discussion take place on Sunday, October 25th. There will be no live commenting this month (I have tickets to a play that night), but everyone is welcome to answer the questions and check in throughout the day to read and reply to other member's comments.

Questions? Concerns? Want more info on the online book club? Email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com.