Category Archives: Bookish Talk

Bookish Talk

The Sunday Salon: To Kill a Mockingbird’s 50th Anniversary

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TKAM 50th Anniversary Button

Today we celebrate 50 years with this beloved classic. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that I have read at least four times and it’s always been one of my favorites. As a child, I was mesmerized by its delicate subject matter. Although I was not a stranger to race issues at the time, Lee’s treatment of it, as seen through the eyes of a child, struck me in a way that no other book had.

Whenever I read a great book, I tend to compare it to To Kill a Mockingbird. It has set the bar, so to speak and to me, defined what a classic is. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, I am re-reading it for the 5th time and let me tell you, I cannot wait!

To join in on the celebration, check out this site. Thanks to Amy over at HarperCollins for sharing this great badge with me!

To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Edition Cover

Isn’t the 50th anniversary edition lovely?

In other news…

Sunday Salon Button

Book Club Recap (Homecoming)

As I mentioned in my Homecoming review, I was a bit confused over the ending. Well, my book club met and they overwhelmingly agreed that the ending was confusing. Many did not care for the book at all. I, on the other hand, did not understand it that well but I liked some parts of it very much. Two members thought it was brilliant. After discussing it a bit, I appreciate the structure more, but I still don’t understand much of what happened towards the end. If you read it, read it carefully and slowly. I think my skimming may have affected my reading experience.

Sunday Plans

As for today, I plan to be as lazy as possible. Not sure it will happen with the family around but that’s the plan. All I want to do is sit and read. In addition to To Kill a Mockingbird, I will also be reading The Inn at Lake Devine, continuing The Stand (because my read-along buds have long finished it) and I may start The Lacuna.

What are you reading right now?

Bookish Talk

Thrity Thursdays! AKA “The Space Between Us” Read-Along – Weeks 1 & 2

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The Space Between Us

Welcome to Thrity Thursday, also known as “The Space Between Us” read-along. We’ll be reading the book over the next few weeks. Thanks to Lisa for putting it together and thanks to these other bloggers for joining in on the fun!

Dar at Peeking Between The Pages
Staci at Life In The Thumb
Kathy at Mommy’s Reading
Booksync at Book In The City
Bailey at The Window Seat Reader
Mari at Bookworm With A View

Chapters 1-11

My Synopsis:

I am playing catch-up since I was supposed to post about the first six chapters last week, so I will keep this short.

Bhima and Maya live in the slums of Bombay. Bhima is Maya’s grandmother and makes her living working for Sera. Sera has money and lives with her daughter Dinaz and her husband, and they are expecting their first baby. Maya is also expecting her first baby, but it’s a baby produced out-of-wedlock, and the pregnancy promises nothing but shame for Maya and her grandmother.

The two families, although tied together by Bhima’s employment to Sera, have their own history. Both have shared disappointment and grief and both bear their own burdens. Sera’s money is what puts Maya through college, so it’s only normal for Sera to feel some resentment when Maya becomes pregnant. Bhima shares in that resentment and is grateful when Sera once again, comes to their aid, but there are hurt feelings as each struggle with what they’ve been given.

My Thoughts:

When I read The Weight of Heaven, I was charmed by Umrigar’s talent as a storyteller. I had no problem getting into the story and the same can be said with The Space Between Us. I worried about being able to catch-up with the others since I was so far behind in my reading, but over one, lovely day I opened the book and before I knew it, I was already eleven chapters in.

The difference in class is great, yet the two families respect one another and often find themselves baffled over their differences. Sera manages to be fascinated and repulsed at the same time while visiting Bhima in her slum hut. Bhima realizes that although Sera’s family has money, that there are secrets there as well. No family is perfect.

I am so taken with these characters, that reading about them, takes no effort at all. I look forward to the second half of the book and from what I’ve read, this would make a fabulous book club pick.