Three Cups of Tea

As promised in the evite, here is some information about our upcoming book:

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ The main website promoting the book. There are teen and children's versions of the story too. I'm going to see if the library has the kid's one (good for those of you who need just 32 pages and pictures!)

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/wp-includes/documents/3CTReadingGuide.pdf A reading group guide that will probably provide the basis for many of our discussion questions.

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/wp-includes/documents/3CTQA.pdf An interview with Greg Mortenson

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

OK, so with a title like that how can you not read this post?!! I just finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It was an enjoyable read, quick and uplifting but not too light and fluffy. The story takes place just after WW2. A London author is put in touch with a "literary society" from the German-occupied island of Guernesy. Told entirely through letter back and forth between the main characters, the book talks about life during and after the war and narrates the gradual friendships and entertwinings of the Islanders, the author, and her friends. There is a bit of romance, some humor, many creative situations, and some good underlying themes about the value of reading and the value of relationships and how those two things can fit together. A possible future book club read, if people seem interested. Give it a try, at least to figure out what a Potato Peel Pie is!!

Take a Break!

Thinking that maybe a lighter note is needed in the midst of our heavy reading for November's meeting, I offer the following offer for your consideration....

Check out Mo Willems. He's a children's book author with a light, cartoony style. Nathan and I are enjoying the Elephant and Piggy books, thanks to a gift from a friend. The expressions on the characters' faces are very amusing to me, and Nathan enjoys the funny situations the two friends get themselves in. Check them out with a kid you know!

Mo's Books are Here

Mo's Blog is Here

Games with Mo's Characters are Here

A Variety of Opinions

The Shack is a book that sparks a variety of reactions in its readers! Here are a few responses I've collected so far. I look forward to hearing what everyone else thought on Monday!

An article with a little history on the author here

A review from my pastor here (scroll down to the second header on this special topics page)

The book's website here

An article on "Is the book heresy" here

One blogger's interview with the author here (along with a lengthy discussion in the post comments)

Might be interesting to see what others think, but it is most relevant for our purposes to know what you think. We won't agree, but perhaps we can sharpen one another as we talk.