Noah's Compass

Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors. There is no other author that I know of who can capture the quirky, crazy, and inspiring character personalities like Anne Tyler does. She quietly writes stories about random individuals struggling through their mainly crazy but ordinary lives. There are no murder mysteries to be solved, no vampire romances to fantasize about, no human super powers to save the day. Just everyday normal boring crazy people like you and me. And still Anne Tyler has a way of pulling you in to care about the lives of these ordinary folks.

Meet Liam Pennywell, age 61 years old. Forced into retirement from teaching, he goes to bed one night and wakes up the next morning in a hospital with no memory as to how he got there. I loved this book! Liam reminds me a lot of my own pathetic, quirky, sad, lack of direction old self (lol). Many of us probably need a hit on the old noggin' from time to time so that we stop bobbing along in life. Or maybe just a good book to read. A book that softly takes direct aim at our own life compass - one that points us in a new and more aware direction.

I'm so behind! Let's see I can't remember what we read in September (it was that good), ditto for October and Novemer (lol). We read "The Christmas Cookie Club" in December by an Ann Arbor author whose name I also can't remember. Note: I was born in 1955 and I turn 55 this January 5th; apparently my old age is showing! Cheers and Happy New Year!

That Old Cape Magic

An old love, a new love, and all the relatives in between lightly summarizes Richard Russo's "That Old Cape Magic" novel. Jack Griffen is a 50-year-old husband and father coming to terms with his past and embracing his future (not to mention attempting to get his mother's voice out of his head). As he prepares to attend his own daughter's wedding, he must come to a decision about his own marriage. As Russo reveals "There is nothing further to do but hope that chance, not known for compassion, would intervene in his undeserving favor." Our "Ratted Out" book club gave this novel thumbs up (with a caution to other readers - it's a slow read unless you've actually vacationed at Cape Cod).

Flipped for Flipped

Ok, I've not kept up on the book club blog - but our group has met each month and reviewed some very good (and not so very good) books.

On the one-year anniversary of our book club gathering (July 2009) - we shared our thoughts about "Flipped" by Wendelin Van Draanen. This is a very charming, easy to read, coming of age, love story. Main character Bryce Loski's grandfather notes "Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss... But every once in a while you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare." Still it takes young Bryce a lot of growing up to do before he actually sees that iridescent sparkle coming out of the book's other main character, Juli Baker.

Flipped is also being made into a movie right in our very own neighborhood - one of the reasons we made it a book of the month choice. How fun to see cast and crew playing out the characters and story line right in our own backyards! Can't wait to see the movie!

When Will There Be Good News

"Run, Joanna. Run!" Kate Atkinson's intriguing suspense novel slowly and meticulously merges together the lives of four central characters: ex-cop turned PI, Jackson Brodie, 16-year-old Reggie Chase, Dr. Joanna Hunter, and Detective Louise Mason. Through shockingly tragic and personal life experiences as well as endless twists and turns within numerous story lines, Atkins takes us on a well-written journey. In the end Reggie wisely sums it up - "We're all on our own, Mr. B., that's why we have to care for each other."

Christmas Jars

A perfect book to read for one of those cold, snowy, Michigan weekends is the Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright. Recently reviewed by the Ratted Out Book Club, this is a simple story with a powerful message about hope, love, friendship, and the art of giving to others - and that's all you really need to know. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

The Story of Edgar Satelle

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, written by David Wroblewski, was the November 2008 book choice of the Ratted Out Club. Edgar Sawtelle is a young teen who was born mute and communicates only in sign. He lives with his parents on a remote farm in Wisconsin. The Sawtelle family is not your typical farm family - they raise, train, and sell a fictional breed of dogs. Be sure to get out your Hamlet cliff notes and allow yourself more than just four weeks to read all 566 pages of this incredible saga (as our book club did). You will be fascinated as you come to understand the connection of this beautifully written story with the characters of Hamlet. This is a book that should be read slowly and without interruption as you absorb all its secrets and beautifully written prose. Pay close attention to the Prologue, pay close attention to Almondine, and pay close attention to the spiritual meaning of this story. Alas Edgar... we knew not what to become of thee. We highly recommend this book to all!

The Wednesday Letters

The Wednesday Letters written by Jason F. Wright (author of the Christmas Jars) was the Ratted Out Book Club's choice read for October 2008.

Jack and Laurel Cooper have been married 39 years (imagine that!). Although their love cannot deny an untimely death, they leave this earth cradled in each other's arms. Their three beloved young adult children gather together again to grieve and remember the life they all once shared. It is back at their childhood home where they find boxes overflowing with love letters that were written every Wednesday by their father to their mother from the time when they first married.

This is a engaging story of forgiveness and love - an easy weekend read that we warmly recommend to others.

The Friday Night Knitting Club

Kate Jacobs "The Friday Night Knitting Club" was the chosen September 2008 book of the month for the Ratted Out Book Club. This book begins slowly and draws you in to the lives of a diverse group of women as seen through the eyes of the main character, Georgia Walker. This book is more about women, friendships, and life lessons than it is about knitting. Yet the art of knitting is as unique, soothing, frustrating, and educational as life is itself. A surprise ending led to much discussion about friendships, love, and life for our book club. I give this book a three star rating and look forward to Jacobs' next book (cooking anyone?).

Blogging "Three Cups of Tea"

"Three Cups of Tea"... This book has been a difficult read. David Relin's writing technique is frustrating and it does not flow as interestingly as it might (although I must admit here that I tend be an impatient reader). Still the story of Greg Mortenson's failed attempt to summit K2 and his subsequent journey to build schools for hundreds of children in Pakistan, is truly amazing. Through determination and sheer stubborness, this one man's accomplishments to provide schools for children is a journey worth taking.

Blogging Books in Ann Arbor

The "Ratted Out" Book Club of Ann Arbor, Michigan consists of a few new empty nesters of Huron High School (Home of the River Rats). Each month we choose one particular book to read, review, and discuss. You don't have to be an empty nester to join us. If you're an avid reader, we'd love to hear from you!

Our book of the month for August 2008 was Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time". Book club members found this book to be intriguing and educational. Although we had some critique of the writer's ability to move a story forward and allow it to easily flow, over all the group agreed this was a good book choice that led to lots of open discussion.