Book Chatter

Have you ever recommended a book that your book group members just weren’t that jazzed about reading? I remember the selection process for 2007. I recommended The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. Many of the members did not want to read it because it was chosen by Oprah. It was also too dark and depressing. It never made it on the list. However, many months later some of the club members decided to read it on their own.. and they all agreed it was one of the best books out there. It’s definitely a book that has stayed with me. See! I wasn’t crazy!

The same can be said for Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Someone suggested it and although I admitted that it was on my list of “must reads”, I was not excited about reading it and actually dreaded it. That all changed after just a few pages and the rest of the group felt the same way. None of us would have picked that book on our own.

If your book group has ever selected an “odd” or “not so popular” title, then check out this article posted over at Book Group Buzz. I am still trying to get my group to select Moby Dick. So far… I have not been successful!

With school out, kids all over are spending their days in summer camps or day camps, making crafts, cooking stuff and swimming until their hands turn pruney. Ah… the dog days of summer. For my son, today is Theme Park Wednesday (aka Field Trip Day). He is going to Six Flags Magic Mountain which is not so much a theme park, as it is a THRILL park. Lots and lots of extreme rides and he told me that he is going to spend the entire day, screaming like a girl.

However, I am a bit anxious about it. Last summer, he was not tall enough to go on the super fast rides. So he went on the “mid” rides and was happy with that. A year later, and 3 inches taller, he now makes the height requirement and it has opened all sorts of doors for him. I use that term loosely because many of these rides have no doors per se. Anyway, you know what I mean.

He asked me this morning if he could sign up for the MAX rides, and after taking a deep breath and stammering out all sorts of safety precautions like making sure the belts are secure and that the lap bars are in the correct position, and after talking about it with my husband.. I eeked out a “Yes”.

What immediately came to mind, was our last trip to Disneyland where my son, very tall for his age but as skinny as a rail, almost flew out of Big Thunder. That is not considered a larger ride and he almost slid out! Now granted, I was sitting with him and his lap bar probably could not come down all the way because it was hung up on my “after two kids belly” Ahem.. ‘nough said about that.

So today I am hoping for a smooth day at Magic Mountain. No episodes, no injuries.. no lost voices (as he has a dress rehearsal tonight for the show he is in).

I know, I know… I can’t control everything.

Chatting with friends about books and life…