New Bookclub Format

Hey there, Chicken Lit’ers ~

Can you say, “SIMPLIFY”? Of course you can! So here’s what we’re going to do to make our bookclub simpler:

1. Free of Timelines. That’s right, we’re throwing those reading timelines out the window. What does this mean for you? It means you can pick up and read at your own pace. If you choose to read one of our bookclub selections and then finish it, just come back and post a review/rating of the book. It’s that easy!

2. Free of Discussions. What? Does that mean we won’t have any more questions to answer? Yes & no. If you want to post a question in your review of the bookclub selection, you are completely free to do so. But from now on, we will be free of all those scheduled discussion questions waiting for your input.

3. Review Anytime. So you just finished book selection #2 when book #75 just posted? So what! Just click on the book #2 web page and review/rate the book you finished. We’ll always want to know how you rated our book choices no matter where we are in the selection process.

We’re all about making things simple. Oh, and do keep in mind that recommendations are always welcome, even if you just want us to review a certain book for you before you decide to jump in and read it.

That’s all, peeps – HAPPY READS!

Brenda
Chief Chicky Lit’er
www.chickenlitbookclub.com

Discussion #2 & Final Wrap-Up: Reconstructing Natalie

So? Did you make it to the end of Reconstructing Natalie? Alrighty then! Let’s wrap it up and post our thoughts on these questions:

• In the breast support group, Natalie meets and befriends a group of women, all very different from one another, who have this disease in common. Have you ever found yourself connecting with someone so different than you as a result of one shared experience? What lesson might there be in this?
• Natalie’s cancer and treatment compels her to rethink her life and, as a result, make major changes. Has your life ever done a similar about-face due to a life-changing event?
• Andy, Natalie’s neighbor and best male friend, is a rock for her throughout her treatment and yet, by the end of the book, their relationship has changed and grown into something deeper. Do you thank it’s possible for a man and a woman to be close friends without becoming romantically involved?
• Jane is a kind and loving example of someone whose faith sustains her even through the darkest hours. Do you have that same kind of faith, and would it provide you comfort and hope if you found yourself in a situation similar to Jane’s?
• Let’s rate it: How do you rate Reconstructing Natalie on a scale from 1-10 (1=horrific, 10=most excellent)?

Last but not least, what do you recommend for book #38?

Discussion #1: Reconstructing Natalie

Yes, this book is completely unputdownable, but we’ll take a breather anyway and open our first discussion for Reconstructing Natalie with these questions:

• Natalie is only 27-years-old when she’s diagnosed with breast cancer. Do you think her age and the fact that she isn’t married make that frightening diagnosis even more difficult? Do you think it would be easier to hear this if you were a married woman in your 50s or 60s?
• Some people pull away from or abandon Natalie once she tells them she has breast cancer. Have you ever had a friend leave or abandon you during a difficult time?
• Natalie makes the choice to have a prophylactic mastectomy so that she won’t have to live in fear of her cancer recurring in the non-cancerous breast. Did that seem like a drastic step to you? Would you consider taking such a step if you had a similar diagnosis?
• Some people at Natalie’s church say thoughtless things to her when she’s first diagnosed. Do you think they were being mean or just clueless? Have you ever had someone at church or work say something insensitive to you when you were going through a trying time? How did you handle it?
• What are your thoughts on Laura Jensen Walker’s writing style? Are you finding yourself interested in reading more of her novels? Why or why not?

No holds barred – juicy stuff completely welcome!

Discussion #2: The Wildwater Walking Club & Final Wrap-Up

That’s right – we’re actually ready for discussion #2 and final wrap-up of book #36, The Wildwater Walking Club. So let’s get this chat started with these questions:

• What do you think the three women’s reaching out to Annalisa, who is essentially a stranger, says about them? About women in general?
• How does each of the three main characters—Noreen, Tess and Rosie—change during the course of the novel? What triggers these changes?
• Have you ever had to decide whether to tell a teenager’s mother you saw her/him sneaking out/smoking a cigarette/ etc.? Where do you think you should draw the line between doing the right thing and minding your own business?
• Do you believe men like Michael-Don’t-Call-Me-Mike are essentially redeemable? Why or why not?
• Rating time: How do you rate The Wildwater Walking Club using our famous scale from 1-10 (1=complete garbage, 10=top notch)?

So? What shall we read next? Got any ideas for our next selection?

Discussion #1: The Wildwater Walking Club

So how about if we get started with discussion #1 for book #36, The Wildwater Walking Club? If you’ve read through chapter 18, then give us your take on these starter questions:

• Noreen takes a buyout from Balancing Act partly because of Michael’s influence. Have you ever let a career decision be influenced by a man you were dating? Kind of dating?
• If you were Rosie, would you have uprooted your family and moved them to the lavender farm to help your father? If not, which of your siblings might have stepped up?
• Balancing Act sneakers and slogans include: Dream Walker. (You’ll Swear You’re Walking on Clouds.) Step Litely. (Do These Sneakers Make Me Look Thin?) Feng Shuoe. (New Sneakers for a New Age.) If you were creating your dream sneaker, what would you name it and what would its slogan be?
• Do think clotheslines should be outlawed or encouraged? Why?
• Which character in The Wildwater Walking Club is most like you? Which one would you most like to hang around with?

Or maybe you have other questions you’d rather discuss? Bring it on!

Discussion #2 & Final Wrap-Up: Summer Blowout

So? Finished yet? Alrighty then! Let’s move on with discussion #2 and “wrap up” book #35, Summer Blowout, with these questions:

• Do you think it’s harder or easier to forgive a family member for a big betrayal than it is a friend? How do the rules of family and friendship differ?
• How important is it in our contemporary lives to remain connected to our families?
• Sean Ryan gives Bella the business idea of a lifetime. If you had to start a business tomorrow, what would it be? What’s stopping you?
• Which scenes in Summer Blowout made you laugh the hardest? Brought a tear to your eye? Could have happened in your family?
• Rating time: What is your rating for Summer Blowout on a scale from 1-10 (1=in the trash, 10=on a pedestal)?

With that, got any book suggestions for our next read? We’re all ears!

Discussion #1: Summer Blowout

Alas! It’s time for discussion #1 for book #35, Summer Blowout by Claire Cook. If you have finished reading through chapter 16, we’d like to know your thoughts on these questions:

• Which character in Summer Blowout did you most identify with, and why?
• What needs are driving the affair between Sophia and Craig? (Okay, besides lust.)
• Do you know a guy with a comb-over like Lucky’s? (Other than The Donald, of course.)
• Even though he’s of Irish decent, Lucky Shaughnessy, the father in Summer Blowout, is a huge Italiophile. Do you think it’s common for someone of one ethnicity to think another culture is more glamorous?
• Are you worried about the fate of Precious/Cannoli? Why do you think Bella fell so hard for the little pooch? Do you believe in canine love at first sight?

Well? Tell us!

Discussion #2 & Final Wrap-Up: Belong to Me

Ready for discussion #2 of book #34, Belong to Me? We hope so! Let’s hear what you have to say about these questions:

• Who has changed the most by the end of the novel? Why & how?
• Near the end of the novel, Lake says that everything she’s done has been for Dev. Is this acceptable? Is it okay to lie to protect the people you love?
• How would you describe Cornelia’s childbirth experience? How does it lead her to make a decision that would change the lives of the people in her life?
• What does “family” mean, and how is this explored in the novel? Is is possible for one person to belong to another?
• Rating time: What do you give Belong to Me on a scale from 1-10 (1=blech, 10=superb)?

Wait!!! Don’t forget to nominate a book for our next selection, lest our readers be forced to make a choice without your input. Now that wouldn’t be very fun for you, would it?

Discussion #1: Belong to Me

Here goes discussion #1 for book #34, Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos. Before reading any further, make sure you’ve read the first 10 chapters so as to avoid those dreaded spoilers:

• When we meet Cornelia’s neighbor Piper, she is commenting on Cornelia’s lawn and home, suggesting changes. How do you think Cornelia should have reacted? Have you ever had any similar experiences with neighbors?
• Dev is embarking on a quest to find his father. How do you feel about Lake’s hiding of his father’s information from Dev? Is she being fair?
• Do you think Clare and Dev’s relationship is an accurate depiction of first love? How does their relationship differ from the other romantic relationships in the novel? What do you think will happen between them in the future?
• Cornelia compares life to the movies. What, if any, movie does the novel remind you of? To what movie(s) would you compare your life?
• With Marisa de los Santos being our newest bookclub author, what are your thoughts on her writing style? Have you read any other novels by this author? Do you think you might be interested in reading more of her books?

Your turn!

Discussion #2 & Final Wrap-up: Handle with Care

Now with the final discussion and wrap-up of book #33 Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult. To help finish up, let’s give these questions a try:

• All the characters in the book are telling their stories to Willow. Willow doesn’t have a voice until the end of the book. How is that effective to the entire story? Does it seem that the characters can be more honest in their feelings when they’re directed to Willow?
• The author inserts recipes throughout the book that highlight certain baking techniques such as tempering, blind baking, and weeping. How do these recipes provide further insight into the story and into Charlotte’s character in particular?
• Discuss the roles that honesty and deception play in this novel. How do the characters lie to themselves? To each other? Is it sometimes better not to know the truth?
• Amelia, understandably, has conflicting emotions concerning Willow. How does Amelia show her compassion? How does she show a lack of such? What are your feelings toward Willow? Toward Amelia? How do you think Amelia’s testimony affects the outcome of the case?
• We follow Marin through the search for her birth mother, and what she eventually finds out about the circumstances surrounding her conception are truly devastating. Why do you think she thanks her birth mother for this information? Discuss Marin’s reaction to what she learns.
• How do you feel about the ending? Why do you think the author chose to write it this way?
• What rating do you give Handle with Care on a scale from 1-10 (1=awful, 10=amazing)?

Simply… wow.