The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Thank you Monica for hosting book club at your lovely home.

In attendance,
Monica, Joy, Delight(Joy's sister-in-law), Krystal, Cortney and Jamie

We read and discussed The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
from goodreads.com:
"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
— Randy Pausch
A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?
When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.
In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form.


We are all looking forward to December's Cookie Exchange!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Our October Book Club selection:  We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
summary found at goodreads.com

This month we met at Cortney's home. I just LOVE how she decorates for Halloween. The food was YUMMY! Jamie made pumpkin mochi, Cortney made s'mores bread and pasta salad, Joy made fudge and brought spinach artichoke dip. There was also pumpkin flavored Oreos.

In attendance, Cortney, Jamie, Joy and Kanoe.
The book was recommended by Amalie.

We talked about our upcoming book selections:
November The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
December The Gift by Richard Paul Evans

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Our September Selection:
 The Maze Runner by James Dashner​
​
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying​.

Movie Night!!! September 23, 2014 at the Kapolei Theaters' 7:15PM showing. What fun!!

We had great time! Krystal, and her friend Peggy, Kanoe, Jamie, Cortney, and Val.

Inferno by Dan Brown

Our August selection:
Inferno by Dan Brown
 In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Unfortunately we were unable to meet this month. I was unable to reschedule a book club get together.
Mostly my fault. Tuesday, August 26th was Clesson and my 19th wedding anniversary ♥

~Joy 

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers *11th Anniversary*

Book Selection for July:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.

But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does ... the One who will never let her go.

Our 11th Anniversary of Book Club! We met at Cortney's Home and talked about this really intriguing book. There was lots of opportunity for discussion.
  
In attendance: Cortney, Joy, Jamie, Kanoe and Amalie

Dangerous by Shannon Hale

Our book club pick for June: Dangerous by Shannon Hale  
Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There's no going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and annihilation.

From NY Times bestselling author Shannon Hale comes a novel that asks, How far would you go to save the ones you love? And how far would you go to save everyone else?
  
Reunited with Sarah Ohki visiting from Las Vegas and Joy's Mom Judy Lemmons visiting from Virginia. Also in attendance, Joy, Keri, Cortney, Jamie and Amalie.

June's book club was at Joy's House. We talked about a few TV shows produced by BBC and available on Netflix, Forsyte, Warehouse 13 and Call the Midwife.

In my notes I wrote, "Yummy Food." This happens often.

Summer Book Picks 2014

Congratulations to all the Moms and book clubbers of High School Graduates and Seminary Graduates this year!
May was a month of milestones for many families. In addition, the book club has organized our book club selections for the next few months. We are going to revisit some of our favorite authors!

Our book club pick for June: Dangerous by Shannon Hale  
Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There's no going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and annihilation.

From NY Times bestselling author Shannon Hale comes a novel that asks, How far would you go to save the ones you love? And how far would you go to save everyone else?

Book Selection for July:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.

But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does ... the One who will never let her go.

Our August selection:

Inferno by Dan Brown
 In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Our September Selection:
 The Maze Runner by James Dashner​
​
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying​.

​

This book adaptation was shown prior to seeing Divergent in March. The Maze Runner is set for release September 19, 2014.

There you have it! Happy Reading!

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Thank you Monica for hosting at your home and suggesting this month's book club pick.
The Giver by Lois Lowry

In Attendance: Monica, Joy, Cortney and Kristin

Up Next: Planning Meeting for book suggestions and what to read over the Summer of 2014

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Thank you Monica for hosting at your home and suggesting this month's book club pick.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

In Attendance: Monica, Joy, Cortney and Kristin

Up Next: Planning Meeting for book suggestions and what to read over the Summer of 2014

April email invitation to April's book club at Monica's home:
Aloha Y'all!

It was nice to see everyone that made it out to Book Club in March.
Thank you Cortney for hosting. Also, it was fun to see those that made it to see Divergent in the theater.

As it so happens, one of the movie previews before Divergent was The Giver.
This is also our book selection for April, The Giver by Lois Lowry.

179 pages, published in 1993
Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

​The Giver is available at the Kapolei Public Library: to request the book ​

​click on the link to the Hawaii State Library web site, enter your library card number and pin(pin is the last four digits of the phone# you used to enroll)​

​Also, for you ebook lovers The Giver is available on Amazon.com for $4.99​

​ or googleplay for $4.99 or Nook for $5.99 ​

​Book Club for April will be at Monica McBride's home,

 Tuesday, April 22 at 7 PM.

Thank you Monica for hosting this month.

Everyone, you are welcome to bring a snack to share.
Looking forward to our discussion and chatting it up with everyone! ​

​Also, from our March discussion,  on deck to read The Maze Runner by James Dashner​

​

​ :
​

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying

​.
​

This book was also in a movie preview prior to Divergent. The Maze Runner is set for release September 19, 2014.

UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

It was nice to see everyone that made it out to Book Club.
Thank you Cortney for hosting.

In Attendance:
Cortney, Joy, Jamie, Krystal, Maggie

We had a fun time talking about this enchanted book UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn:
 
Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is a descendant from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its' next fairy-tale victim.
To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.


Currently, UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn is available for free download at Amazon.com

 Also, it was fun to see those that made it to see Divergent in the theater on March 22nd. Following the movie some of us were able to make it to lunch at PhoOne across the street.

Moana, Kanoe&Moroni, Jamie, Joy, Krystal, Cortney, Ashley, Virginia

As it so happens, one of the movie previews before Divergent was The Giver.
This is also our book selection for April, The Giver by Lois Lowry.

179 pages, published in 1993
Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

​The Giver is available at the Kapolei Public Library: to request the book ​

​click on the link to the Hawaii State Library web site, enter your library card number and pin(pin is the last four digits of the phone# you used to enroll)​

​Also, for you ebook lovers The Giver is available on Amazon.com for $4.99​

​ or googleplay for $4.99 or Nook for $5.99 ​

​Book Club for April will be at Monica McBride's home,

 Tuesday, April 22 at 7 PM.

​Also, from our March discussion, book selections on deck to read:
Inferno by Dan Brown
 In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner​

​
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying​.

​

This book was also in a movie preview prior to Divergent. The Maze Runner is set for release September 19, 2014.

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

February's Book Palehua Book Club was held at Joy's Home
In attendance:
Joy, Cortney, Maggie and Amalie

We talked about The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck. It was a very nice story that involved four women and a beautiful wedding dress.









The book we chose for March is a fantasy of fairy tale proportions.
UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn.
 
Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is a descendant from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its' next fairy-tale victim.
To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.


Currently, UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn is available for free download at Amazon.com

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

Thank you Monica for hosting this month's book club.
We had great attendance!
Monica, Christine, Joy, Cortney brought Kirstin (Welcome! Kristin brought her homemade authentic German pretzels), Krystal, Alofa, Moana and Maggie

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline: