Vicarious Virtual Online Book Club-6 Prior Books-Summarized

Some of you have asked about prior Sisterchicks Book Club Selections. I decided to do a post about the books from the last 6 months of 2010. I'm going to give a brief summary, give you my personal "rating" (1-10, 10 being best), and then open up the blog for comments/discussions! I'll be reviewing this year's books one at a time.

There are links to most of these books via the Amazon box on the right, if you'd like to read more, or order any books. Or, you may click here to go to the Audible site, to hear audible excerpts.

PLEASE DON'T POST ANY SPOILERS--THAT IS, DON'T GIVE AWAY ANY ENDINGS--OR ANY "SURPRISES" THAT WOULD SPOIL THE BOOKS FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T READ THEM! THANKS!

Sara's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay--Interesting fictionalized account of the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations of Jewish families, who were arrested, held outside the city, then transported to Auschwitz. I was unaware of this chapter of French history, until I read the book. The setting is modern-day Paris, when an author is researching a story for the 60th anniversary of the roundups. (8 for being interesting, and engrossing)


Mennonite In a Little Black Dress Rhoda Goolrick--A "memoir" about a Mennonite woman who leaves her faith, then "goes back home" after her husband meets someone on Gay.com. Her writing was entertaining and descriptive. I enjoyed her vocabulary. I thought she was a little too angry, and that her seemingly rebellious overuse of foul/shocking language was unnecessary. I learned a little more about Mennonites, which was good. Some of the recipes she included were interesting. (5 for being just "so-so.")


A Reliable Wife Robert Goolrick--This is what Amazon says: "When Catherine Land, who's survived a traumatic early life by using her wits and sexuality as weapons, happens on a newspaper ad from a well-to-do businessman in need of a "reliable wife," she invents a plan to benefit from his riches and his need." I tried and tried, but could NOT get into this book!
I missed this book club meeting, so I can't tell you any more! (I'd give it a zero, but since I didn't read it, I guess I won't rate it!) Any Sister Chicks, or anyone else, want to comment?


One Second After William Forstchen--The US is forced back into conditions that are similar to medieval times, by an unexpected EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse.) This is a thought provoking wake up call about just how much we rely on technology, and how ill-prepared we are for any kind of national disaster. It is a very plausible, realistic, and well-done, glimpse into what will happen if we suddenly have to survive without electricity, transportation, running water, grocery stores, prescription medications, sanitary conditions, etc. Most things we take for granted will be gone, in an instant! People are forced to defend themselves and their "territory" to survive. Definitely one of my favorite books ever. It's made me much more aware......Our Sisterchick Book Club members' reviews were mixed. Some people loved it, some didn't like it, and some were disturbed by it. I'd venture to say that each of us learned something from this book! (This is a DEFINITIVE TEN. One of my FAVORITE BOOKS of ALL TIME!) The AUDIBLE version of One Second After, which I now have on my iPhone, is FABULOUS! (There is a forward by Newt Gingrich, and a


Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Cat David Dosa--This is about a cat in a nursing home, who had the power to know when patients were getting ready to die. Cat lovers in the book club REALLY liked it. I'm not a big animal lover, so this isn't a book I would have chosen to read. It WAS interesting, but not engrossing. It was a quick easy read. I thought it remarkable that the cat was so in-tune, and intuitive. The Sisterchicks had some good discourse about whether Oscar's talents were related to physical or psychological cues. We also had some good conversation about aging and death. My favorite quote from the book was (I'll give it a 7. That's probably being kind!)


Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide: 'Cause I Need More Room for My Plasma TV Karen Spears Zacharias--Again, I'll defer to the Amazon assessment: "Zacharias (Where's Your Jesus Now?) pours on the Southern charm in this not-so-gentle diatribe against what she calls the golden-calf theology in America. There are a lot of folks prancing around treating the Bible like an algebra book and God like their personal banker, Zacharias writes, and she is out to find them. She lambastes folks like an unnamed evangelist and adults who exploit children to make money off the faithful, while also sharing stories like that of Sister Schubert and an unnamed Marine, who live with generosity and faith. Zacharias will draw chortles with her colloquialisms and colorful language—he has a buttload of money—but she also exposes how we've started mistaking Christianity for capitalism. The book is long on stories but short on theology, pointed in criticism yet lost in indignation. Some may wish for a more reasoned approach, but none will argue with the solution: Stop imagining all the ways in which the universe can serve you and start figuring out how you can serve others." I thought Karen told some good stories, but never went anywhere with them. (This is one of the books I listened to. I'm giving it a 6 because I enjoyed hearing the author read it, and she kept me engaged.)


OK! That's how I saw our last 6 books of 2010, in a nutshell! Do you agree of disagree? It's YOUR turn! Have at it!