Isn’t Literary Junkies the perfect name for a book club? And because being in two in-person book clubs isn’t enough, I have joined Literary Junkies too. It’s an online book club that includes a link up on the third Tuesday of each month. Here are the Q & A’s for this month:
1) What are you currently reading? Tell us about it!
I just finished The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult, which is the Literary Junkies November pick. I was hesitant to read another book about the Holocaust; I’ve read so many and they are emotionally brutal.
The Storyteller initially focuses on the friendship between twenty-something Sage and ninety-something Josef. A pillar of the community, Josef shocks Sage when he reveals to her that he was an SS officer at Auschwitz. He shocks her further when he asks Sage to help him die. Sage’s grandmother Minka is a Holocaust survivor, although Sage is a Jew in name only. Sage cannot reconcile the Josef she knows with the monster who committed horrific crimes decades before.
Is forgiveness for such evil possible? Should forgiveness even be given, and if so, by whom? This novel raises many questions about human nature and our capacity for both evil and grace. As expected, I found this book very emotional to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Today I’m picking up Allegiant by Veronica Roth at the library – that’s my next book. It’s the third in the YA Divergent trilogy. I’m often disappointed in the final book of a trilogy, so I’m cautiously optimistic about this one. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I’m reserving judgment until I read it myself.
2) How many books have you read this year? Do you set reading goals for yourself?
I have read 42 books so far this year; last year I read 74. I do set reading goals, but only because GoodReads makes it so easy. I don’t really care if I meet the goals; it’s just fun to keep track. My goal this year is 60, but I’m not going to make it. Clearly writing and reading blogs has cut into my book reading time!
3) What do you think are the best and worst book-to-movie/TV show adaptations?
The Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jane Auel was my favorite in my teens and twenties. The film starred Daryl Hannah, and it was HORRIBLE. The first book is about a Cro-Magnon girl who is orphaned and subsequently raised by a Neanderthal tribe. That just doesn’t translate to a quality movie. It sucked.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is my pick for the best book-to-movie adaptation. The movie did what a good movie should do; it brought the characters off the page, out of my imagination, and onto the screen. It stayed true to the plot and the characters, and made me laugh and cry even though I knew exactly what was coming. And the pie scene? Even funnier in the movie than it was in the book.
4) What is the first line of your favorite book?
I have so many favorite books, but this one is within reach of my laptop.
“It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance.”
-Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
5) What’s your favorite quote from a book?
It’s my favorite quote of all time, although I will confess that I never read the book. I’ve seen the musical many times, though, and this line gets me every time:
To love another person is to see the face of God.
-Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
I love love love Diana Gabaldon!! I don’t remember how far in the series I made it the first go around so I decided to re-read them. I haven’t started yet but it’s definitely a goal for next year. 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with us!! Hope to see you again next month!
It was fun, Taylor – so glad I joined in! I have re-read the series, but it takes so much time! I’d love to read the first six before the next one comes out, but it would take me months to finish them all. Not sure I want to make that kind of commitment!
I need to read more. I used to read all the time, but since I started blogging, I read blogs more and books less. I completely agree with you on The Help…usually I don’t like movies where I’ve read the book, but that one was awesome!
I love the Outlander series. I’m slightly worried about how the tv series will turn out. Not sure if it will end up on the best or worst list…
I know – I’m a little worried too. Of course I will watch, but I really hope it’s not another Clan of the Cave Bear debacle.
Hmm, never saw the Clan of the Cave Bear movie, makes me not want to see it now! Love the Victor Hugo Quote.
Definitely do not waste your time on that movie! So many better ones out there.
There are so many books I want to read, but this year everything I have read has been geared towards work related stuff:( But, I love to hear what people recommend so when I do have a chance to start a new book – I have some good suggestions!
I’ve reviewed plenty of books, Leah – so come back and check them out when you’re able to read for pleasure.
I have my book shelves lined up with books I have wanted to read- and have yet to read them. I keep thinking I will get to them!!
I usually always read Christian-educational-bible study books. (Surprise!) I just really enjoy growing in that area.
But ya know what else I really REALLY wanna read? The fifty shades trilogy!! I am intrigued and curious!!! Have you read them? Not sure when I will get to it- Perhaps after I finish my book for small group- “Just Like Jesus”. LOL 🙂
You crack me up, Chris. I have read Fifty Shades, and I enjoyed them. Not award winning writing by any stretch, but entertaining. I guarantee you they will not have you thinking about Jesus!
I loved the adaptation of The Help to a movie. I am in-between books right now. I wish I had more time to read. I have heard the Outlanders is really good.
It’s a wonderful series, Raquel. I highly recommend you read it when you can find some time.
OK, I LOVE that Les Mis quote! beautiful.
I read the Storyteller when it came out. So powerful, and yes, such a fascinating look at the evil committed by ‘normal’ people.
It really is – the mob mentality is frightening. But even without it, exploring what makes people do terrible things is fascinating. Sad, but fascinating.
dana, you are so good with all your reading. gold stars all around! so proud of you. i wish i could read more.
I try to multitask reading, and it has to be before 10:00 at night or I fall asleep.
As an adolescent boy when “Clan of the Cave Bear” came out, Darryl Hannah left a different impression on me than she did you, but even I knew then that there was no such thing as a Gillette Venus back then for cave women to have silky-smooth legs.
My oldest daughter read her first Holocaust book recently, and she had trouble sleeping – there’s terror, and then there’s reality, and the latter is so much more terrifying.
I just received “Mother of All Meltdowns” as a birthday gift and can’t wait to get into it.
I didn’t even notice her legs, Eli – too distracted by the horrible acting. But you were a teenage boy…
I can imagine how difficult it was for your daughter to read about such horrors. We’ve been meaning to take our kids to the Holocaust museum, but I’ve been once and I just can’t think about going again…but they have to see it.
I’m sure you’ll relate to the stories in our book. Well, maybe not the breast milk stories, but the other ones.
Hi! I’ve just joined the literary junkies too 🙂 I’m not sure how I’ll go keeping up with the readings, but I love the questions! I’m taking a Jodie Piccoult break at the moment… I read so many of her books that I needed a break! They’re all so intense and similar. That said, I find books about the holocaust so interesting, so I might have to try it!
I know what you mean, Annabel. The Storyteller was my first Piccoult book in years, because I just needed a break. I really did enjoy this one, though.
This comment thread confirms that I finally need to get to the Outlander series. I have the first one on my kindle, just WAITING for me. The book I loved the most this year was The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski. The story really blew me away.
Ooh – I just looked that one up. Looks steamy. You have to try Outlander. Give it some time; it’s a little slow to start. Then you’ll get sucked in and let the house fall down around you while you read.
playing catch-up on posts tonight! Lemme comment quick on your mustache one – love the adorable pic of you and the hubs. 🙂 congrats on getting the ketchup with us nod.
As for this post, very cool literary club! I’m not reading anything this very second cuz it’s been a crazy busy couple of weeks for me (and continues to be) but I have some good ones on my kindle app that I’m dying to get to!
The best adaptation I’ve seen in a while was The Hunger Games. I didn’t think they’d be able to pull that off, but I was impressed!
I also LOVED Clan of the Cave Bear as a teen! OMG. I was obsessed. You’re right, the movie sucked balls. I thought Life of Pi was done well. I know most people didn’t love that book, but it held special meaning for me. I went to see it alone and was relieved to see how well it was done.
your quotes are perfection.
I agree with you about The Hunger Games – can’t wait to see Catching Fire. I liked Life of Pi, and I thought the movie was decent too. My daughter saw the movie first and is now reading it for English class – I think it was helpful for her to see it first. And now that she’s had to write four papers on the book, it’s ruined for her. Damn school.
The Help was a great book and movie. It made my list when I made a list of my top 10 book to movie adaptations. That Les Mis quote really is great. I’m a teacher and a 5th grade student was reading that book last year-I can’t imagine!
Really? Wow. What will that student be reading in 9th grade? I was never really interested in reading Les Miz, probably because I’m so in love with the musical.
I’ve always wondered about Clan of the Cave Bear. I might put that on my to-read list, thanks for reminding me about it!
My pleasure. It’s a five book series, and each book is thicker than the last!
Thanks Dana, I just installed Goodreads on my Droid phone. What an awesome app. I never knew anything about this. I have probably read at least 30 books this year if not more. Love this. I am reading The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips. It’s a novel about London in 1672 and Cambridge 2008. I just started it. It was on the clearance shelf at the local used bookstore I frequent. I’m only 17 pages in and it has my attention.
Oooh – sounds good! I love when a book grabs you right away. Enjoy GoodReads!
Your blog and so many others! I get my bible reading in there as well :). I loved the Help on the big screen. I didn’t know about the book before it came out. I have heard of the Allegiant! Maybe as my son gets older I will find more time to read. Did you read as much when the kids were as young as he is?
I did, Brittnei. I would read while my daughter nursed, and when the kids went to bed. Maybe not quite as much as I do now, but I’ve always been a voracious reader. Sometimes I hide in the bathroom and read -shhh! Don’t tell.
Jodi Picoult writes the best books. I really enjoyed The Storyteller.
I also love that quote from Les Mes.
It’s a great quote, isn’t it? I haven’t read anything by Piccoult in awhile; this one reminded me of why I like her.
My husband is currently reading Allegiant…and then my teen has dibs after that. I’m third in line.
I love the Outlander series!! JAMIE and CLAIRE FOREVER!!
I want to be your Goodreads friend! I think our tastes are similar!! –Lisa
I just friended you on GoodReads, Lisa. Don’t make fun of my extremely eclectic taste in books 🙂 Oh, and I am a super tough rater. If I give it three stars, it’s a good book. Has to be really great to get 4 or 5 stars from me.
I love The Storyteller. I also really enjoyed Help. I used to read so many more books than I do now. I miss it, actually and really should get back to reading more. I mean books, not facebook 😉
Have you ever read Room? that one sticks in my head as having been particularly good.
I did read Room – that was good. Hard to read at times and disturbing, but good.
So glad you did it this month. I have to get my act together and post written. Allegient was good but I was a bit disappointed but it might have been because my hopes were so high. I need to use Good Reads as heard so many good things.
Can’t wait to read Allegiant – whether it’s good or bad, I just want some closure! And I can’t recommend GoodReads enough, Kate – check it out!
Definitely read “Prayer For Owen Meany!” I read “The Storyteller” earlier this year. It kinda slayed me. It was..wow.
Now I’m reading “The Silver Star.” And for some reason, I thought it was about the Holocaust too, and I often read about the Holocaust and need breaks. However, it’s not at all about the Holocaust. Where did I even get that idea?
I have no clue, Tamara – not from me! I reviewed Silver Star awhile back – I enjoyed it. I assume you read Walls’ other books, which I liked even more. The Storyteller was a tough read, but I’m glad I read it. Sometimes I feel that even though they are fiction, reading books about the Holocaust are my way of never forgetting.
This is my first of her books, actually! So if it goes well, I assume “The Glass Castle” is my next bet? Or another?
Yes – read Glass Castle first, then Half Broke Horses. Loved them both, but Glass Castle is my favorite of the three.
Just the nudge I needed to get back into books. Thank you. Love the “count the books read” concept. I, too, am finding the reading is being put on hold a tad more lately. However, having said that, I did inhale The Perfect Present by Karen Swan over the past two days.
Totally with you on wonderful job they did with The Help as a movie. Splendid. My worst book-to-movie would have to be The Firm. Sorry, I couldn’t get past Tom being Tom.
That’s a good one to pick, Kelly. Superstars in movie adaptations often ruin the book. I’m so glad I read The Firm before I saw the movie, because it was great – and I didn’t picture Tom Cruise while I was reading.
I really need to use GoodReads to track books that I’ve read and want to read. I see more and more people using it. It seems like a great motivational tool to reach reading goals. Thanks for sharing, Dana.
My pleasure, Kimberly. I have the app on my phone too, so if a friend recommends a book I just add it to my to-read list. Easy and useful.
I’m reading Winners by Danielle Steele. I don’t think I ever count how many books I read during the year – I should! I know that I read way more during the summer (while laying out!) than any other time of year but I love reading.
I loved The Storyteller – I wanted to tell Chris all about it but just gave him some of the high points.
It would be a hard book to describe – the stories are so detailed. Can you believe I’ve never read Danielle Steel?
Totally agree with you and loved The Help both in book format and the movie. Seriously, they adapted the book into a movie perfectly and never missed a beat! And I am having trouble finishing one book this year let alone 42! Awesome amount and seriously need some advice on how to fit in reading with everything else I do all day long!!
It’s hard with little kids, Janine. It’s easier when the kids are older. You’ll get there someday!
I’m so jealous!! I want to join but I’m afraid I just don’t have the time. I used to read a lot more but now with blogging and reading other blogs PLUS all the kids stuff? I can’t keep up. I’ve read about Literary Junkies before too but now I may have to revisit. You have me thinking here Dana! Right now I’m reading my most favorite book of all time “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” I’ve read it every Thanksgiving/Christmas season for the past six years or so.
I’ve never read that book, Allie. I’ll have to check it out. And I know what you mean – reading blogs has cut into my book reading time, but it’s worth it!
WHAT? You’ve never read Owen Meany? Oh, you have to remedy this soon. It’s soooo good. I loved The Help in both movie and book form, too. The casting in the movie was just perfect, wasn’t it?
I haven’t – but I just added to my to-read list! And the casting in The Help was perfect – how rare that a movie only enhances the book?
Hi Dana: we found your lovely blog by way of mutual blogging friend, the awesome Beth Teliho. We enjoyed your post, starting right up with books & a club. Although we agree with you about the Holocaust having read many ourselves and also feeling that they’re emotionally brutal, I do believe you’ve convinced us with your review to try this one. Of course both of us love the idea of a story that examines the would be villain & flips that role upside down showing them in a different light. Makes it worth the risk. Divergent…we’ve been told by many that this series is worth the read & so we’ve got this waiting for us in our Kindle already. As for the Help, we couldn’t agree with you more. Although we absolutely loved Octavia Spencer we also felt that Viola Davis should’ve been recognized. We will definitely be stopping by here frequently & look forward to your future posts.
Nice to meet both of you! Beth is pretty awesome. Definitely give The Storyteller a try – it’s a great book to discuss when you’re finished reading. And I agree about Viola Davis – she was she a presence in the movie – saying so much with few words. Thanks for stopping by, ladies!