WE ARE BACK!!!!

"The Wedding"

By: Nicholas Sparks

From Publishers Weekly:

Sparks's 1996 debut novel, The Notebook, was a fast and easy read that sold millions upon millions of copies. Other bestselling love stories followed (Message in a Bottle; A Walk to Remember; The Guardian), but Sparks's fans have from the very beginning eagerly anticipated a sequel to the romantic tale of Allie and Noah Calhoun. The wait is now over. Attorney Wilson Lewis has been married to Noah and Allie's daughter, Jane, for 30 years. Wilson and Jane have raised three children and lived a satisfying and prosperous life in the bucolic town of New Bern, N.C. After forgetting his anniversary, Wilson realizes that the passion and romance have gone out of his marriage and fears his wife no longer loves him. Being a methodical man, he decides to embark on a yearlong program to renew his romantic ties to his wife, seeking out the advice of Noah, who now spends his days in a retirement home feeding a swan he is sure is the reincarnation of his beloved Allie. In the midst of Wilson's machinations, his daughter Anna announces she is getting married. The upcoming wedding provides Wilson with the opportunity to bring his elaborate plan to fruition. Sparks tells his sweet story competently, without sinking too deeply into the mire of sentiment; a gasp-inducing twist comes at the very end. Satisfied female readers will close the covers with a sigh and a wish that a little of the earnest, too-good-to-be-true Wilson might rub off on their own bedmates.

It's so great to be back reading our books again!!!

Happy Reading!!!

"A Wrinkle In Time"

(Haley, don't read if you are not done with the book)

This is not the normal Book Club book as it was Adriane's daughter, Haley and I that read this book but thought it was a good book to post as a recommended read. Maybe one that our readers could read with their daughter or nieces, like I did. This book was set in my guess the early 1950's, and began with Meg waking up from a storm that was brewing. She went downstairs to see what was going on to find that her brother, Charles Wallace and Mother were also woken up. Their Father had been gone for quite some time and they were beginning to wonder if he was coming back. This was the story of the adventures of Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin who were taken into a 5th dimensional world looking for their Father. This book sets the emotions of creativity, imagination, the act of courage and the love of human beings and beyond.

This book was just a fun read with the twists and turns of what was going to happen next, and who they were going to encounter next...human or not! When it all came down to one thing, the true love of family!

I am so glad Haley and I decided to do this, and even though it's taken me a little bit longer than I expected to finish it, it has been well worth the wait! I hope Haley enjoyed reading together as much as I did!

Hopefully this March/April, Adriane and I will get started again in our reading adventures!

Until our next book......

"My Sister's Keeper"

Part 2

As the story continued on more and more came out regarding the reasoning Anna wanted to stop her body from being used as a guinea pig, and not for the reasons all of us would imagine. My first instincts were that she was being selfish, or needed attention even, which is really ignorant on my part because who wouldn't do anything to save their sisters life? It was hard to read how much both of these sisters have gone through as well as the rest of the family, always thinking this was it. But like all other stories there is always something that you thought you had figured out and a twist is brought in, this story not being any different.

This story is the true meaning of sisterly love, and showing that beyond all other reasons Anna did love her sister and would do anything to save her life, even if it meant doing what her last wishes were. It was sad to see the pain and suffering everyone went through to get to a point where the truth was told. And to end in such a way, that it has us asking why?

I don't want to give to much away because I think everyone who wants a story that is heart touching should read "My Sisters Keeper" and know that sometimes even though letting someone go hurts, you just have too.

Happy Reading!

"My Sister's Keeper"

Part 1

What would you do if your child was dying and the only way to save her was to create a "perfect" genetic match? Would you create another child through a petri dish for a 20% chance, or for any hope for that matter? And once that child was born and saved the other child how would you explain to them why they were conceived because eventually they will figure out they are donor to save the other child. Would you realize also that you push everything and everyone but the sick child to the side, causing everyone to feel isolated towards you? And how about the child that is sick could they feel the resentment that goes along with all of the hurt feelings from the siblings?

All of these unanswered questions start the story of a family who's 3 year old was diagnosed with terminal Leukemia and the only way to save her life is for a genetic match of bone marrow and the closest would be a sibling, and unfortunately their son is not a close enough match. So pushing aside all other things decide that having a specialist make their child in a petri dish holding up the hope that this person will save their daughters life, not understanding the consequences. When Anna is born, it's not all the fuss of a new baby, but it's to make sure you get that cord blood to the right place and pushed her aside to go check on their sick child, while also pushing aside their child at home. Then when that helped Katie, she got sick again she needed something else, and then her kidneys failed and they expected Anna to give up one of hers. Not asking but basically consenting without thinking of anything but Katie. Not that Anna wanted Katie to die, but she wanted the choice to think of the consequences of her own life if she did give her kidney. And the other part of the family was falling apart too, Jesse was living over the garage basically drinking, smoking and doing drugs and as long as he stayed out of trouble his parents left him alone because in his eyes he was no good to them. Then he started down the path of getting attention or thrills by lighting fires that his father has to go put out on abandoned buildings, since his Dad is a Firefighter.

This story is sad because now the daughter, Anna feels she wants to have the right to say no, so she contacts an attorney who represents her and her family now completely thinks she is doing it to kill Katie when in all reality all she wants is a choice to decide if it's right for her own body. Not having her parents make that choice as their could be consequences down the line. When her parents get served the papers her mother is totally misunderstanding the point and sure her daughter is acting out for attention and once again not listening. Katie is turning for the worse but her life isn't Anna's responsibility it's all in God's hands which her Mother is definitely forgetting.

As this story continues I am hoping it will show her Mother the true meaning of listening and not forget she has her entire family and that faith needs be her priority. Saving one child and leaving two behind lost, possibly hurting another physically is not the way. We all have our stories of our lives, and no medicine or person can decide our faith and only God have that power to save our lives.

Happy Reading!!!

Our next pick is......

"My Sister's Keeper"

By: Jodi Picoult

This excerpt came from here:

Anna came into the world via in vitro fertilation, so that she would be a genetic match for her older sister Kate, who was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia when she was 2 years old. When Anna was born, her cord blood was donated to Kate, but when the leukemia returned, Anna then had to donate blood and bone marrow. When Kate's kidney's fail, Anna is expected to donate one of her own, but she hires a lawyer to be medically emancipated from her parents and gain the right to make the decision herself. Her lawyer, Campbell Alexander, works for her pro bono.

I really had a hard time finding a synopsis for this book with all the publicity but can't wait to start reading!!!

Happy Reading!

"The Girls From Ames"

The rest of the story...

Well I have to say this book has been kicking my butt, we have been reading since May and finally last night I finished it! It's definitely not what I expected and pretty choppy and hard to follow at times, but in the books defense that could of been my fault since I was reading 2 other books with it.

This story, after reading the entire book was reflecting back on the twenty-some years that these 11 friends have come together and stayed together through thick and thin. They have had death, disease, losing husbands and children and so much more, and in the end they had each other whether it was an email or a hug from the closest Ames Sister they could find.

I know in my life I have had a lot of friends who have helped me through a lot of times, and I have kept the same Best Friend since we were 13 years old and we have our moments, and sometimes we don't talk for days or weeks but when we get back together it's like we have never been apart. That's what this story is about, the true friendship that women need to feel complete, someone who is always there for them through the good and the bad. Now I am not saying my loving husband isn't my best friend in other ways, but not in the way that both Terri and I have been through it all, and we continue to grow as time goes and when I am old and cranky she will be there to push my wheel chair or vice versa.

I hope in your lifetime, like the Ames Girls and my best friend you too find someone as special as that.

Until next time.......

"The Girls From Ames"

Part 1: Chapters 1-5

This is the story of eleven girls that lived in a place called Ames, each has their own unique story and unique way of ending up as an "Ames Girl". It was a clique but not one they intended but of course everyone saw them that way. The story begins, with the girls getting together for their annual reunion of once a year they all come together at someone's house for a weekend, even though some miss their families it's a time for them to renew the friendships that have fizzed out over the year.

This first part focuses on Marilyn, Karla, Kelly and Shelia who even though Kelly and Karla had some bad blood they somehow come together to bunk together at these events and in a way ground each other. One being very motherly and out of place without her kids, while the other is trying to get back the 20 years of her life spent married and unhappy. Even though their lives are so different they need each other to balance themselves out, and both to find a way to continue the connection that could very easily been lost between friends over the years. Many of the girls see Karla as a whiner and Kelly as to much of a partier but they need different personality to make the group go round.

Marilyn was the one that spreads the pictures out and kept the scrapbooks of all the thinks the girls had done over the years. She continually takes pictures and keeps notes to never forget who they were, are and will become. Marilyn's father was a confident to many of the girls and to the community, only wanting the best for everyone. She always had a looming thing that she was born because of her brother's death that the family never really got over, but yet moved on...if that makes sense....She respected her Father and tried to abide by his rules and when she messed up, she was more disappointed in herself than her father ever could be which is why he normally didn't punish her. I like to think of Marilyn as the glue of the group because by taking pictures and old letters, it kept them all weaved together in a sense to show why they are and always will be friends.

Finally, Shelia suddenly died at the age of 22 a very mysterious death. She lived life and and with her Father dying at the age of 47 it hit her family hard, but her Mother kept things in line as her Father would of wanted her too. Shelia went off to college and met a man they called Bud Man, and was out drinking when somehow she fell but no one really knows if she was pushed and being the second tragedy in Mrs. Walsh's family, she didn't push it As many as the Ames girls who could afforded to come to her funeral did, but the 5 that didn't never felt closure and started questioning how she really died, only Mrs. Walsh didn't want to pry as it was over and she didn't want to open old wounds so the mystery still continues as no one really knows how Shelia dies, and the group went from 11 to 10, but Shelia will never be forgotten.

To me this a great story about friends who no matter how far or close they are, they always keep in touch. I have always said if you can meet one person who is a true friend then your life is complete. I have been Best Friends with Terri since we were 13, and even though we don't always agree or don't call everyday no matter what like the bond of the Ames girls she is one person that I'll have in my life for the rest of my life. That to me is more important than anything, someone who has seen you at your worst and best, and no matter what will do anything for you that's what true friendship is and that is what these 11 Girls always have had and always will.

Until our next section...

Happy Reading!!

Kel