Book Club Nuts and Bolts

We will be reading one book a month. We will have weekly group discussions if you are interested with a final discussion at the end of the month. The new book choice for the following month will be posted at least two weeks before the beginning of the new month. You can pick and choose if you want to participate. We will have at least one giveaway each month for our readers! If you have any book suggestions, please email either Jessica or MiMi. We are in new territory, so we might have to work out some kinks as we go along. We hope you make new friends and have fun!

Our new email address: readwithgirlfriends@yahoo.com

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Spoiler Alert Tuesday

I'm gonna throw a lot of stuff at ya today, since it's the last day for our Dear John Spoilers!
Are ya ready??
Okay...
Spoilers Below!!
Do you think that John and his dad were able to make peace with each other before John's
dad passed away?
What do you suppose made John decide not to take advantage of Savannah when he came back to to see her and Tim was in the hospital? Do you think Savannah and Tim were meant for each other or it was more that Savannah was tired of waiting for John?
Do you think Savannah loved Tim as much as she loved John; or was she willing to sleep with John when Tim was in the hospital because she was so worried and confused about the situation with Tim's health?
Do you think these questions are just plain stupid?
Ha!
Don't answer that. Cuz I already know they were dorky. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

Don't forget to vote on our poll to the right and get ready to start Bitter is the New Black this coming Tuesday!


Friday, February 19, 2010

Announcement

We're a little late on announcing March's book pick, but you should still have plenty of time to get the book.
I've wanted to start reading this author for a while now, I have heard all kinds of good things about her and how funny her writing is.
After I picked the stink bomb that was November's pick, I have been gun shy. I made Jessica pick February's book because I'm a wuss.
And this time is no exception; thanks to Shortmama for letting me pick your brain!

Without any further rambling, here is March's book pick!

From Amazon.com:
Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb.
She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.
This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good.
Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

We are so excited and hear good things about this one, so please feel free to click on the link above to visit Amazon's page where you can purchase it!



Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Spoiler Alert Tuesday

So what you guys think of the book so far?
I think I told you all that once I started reading it I couldn't put it down.
It's a short month, so we're gonna try to cover a lot of material in our Spoiler Alerts.

Spoilers Below!!
John and Savannah come together during the time of John's military enlistment.
When he comes back to visit her during his breif "vacations" from duty, the relationship is pretty charged.
Do you think the fact that they seem to be on "borrowed time" helps to intensify their relationship?
Why do you think John ultimately re-ups his time in the military after 9/11?
Is it because he was feeling as patriotic as they all seemed to be after the tragedy, or do you think there's something else there?
Do you think that is the time that Savannah sort of loses the momentum of the relationship and, for lack of a better term, gives up on it?


**Stay tuned for an announcement on next month's book pick!!**

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Interview With A Girlfriend

I'm so excited to have an interview!! Have you all noticed that we've not had one for months?
Mrs. Montoya is the perfect answer to "Can a woman have it all?" And that answer is: YES!
She is a mom who loves her kids more than life and has a wonderful husband and a career that she successfully manages all at once!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:
 I prefer fiction and mysteries, mostly about politics or legal thrillers. I don't do scary, but I love suspense and elaborate political dramas. I'd really like to read some biographies, but quite honestly need pictures or some sort of scandal to hold my attention. I've really enjoyed Reading with Girlfriends because of the exposure to other authors and genres that I might not select on my own. I loved the 2009 picks Emma & Me and The Help and probably wouldn't have branched out to those on my own.

Who is your favorite author:
This question makes me think of who I walk straight to when I am buying a new book and I mostly love James Patterson, John Grisham and David Baldacci. Their content almost always gives me what I like. My stepmom is a more sophisticated reader than I am and she shared some authors with me recently that I am really loving - Diane Chamberlain and Pamela Morsi. I never lend enough credibility to authors when I like a book - I always think it's just because I like that particular book. I am finicky about everything, including reading and generally won't seek out a book just because it's a new release by an author I've enjoyed. I will read absolutely anything (besides scary) and more often that not I choose a book because I like it's cover. That's so shallow, I know - but it's true. 

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:
The only experience with this that I can think of is Grisham books that were made into movies. I liked the movies and I liked the books, but I almost don't relate the two. My favorite thing about reading is that the story allows me to create my ideal of the characters and their homes and everything else about the story. All too often, the romance of that is taken away in a movie leaving me disappointed that it didn't live up to the landscape I had created in my own mind.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. I've loved reading since I was a child and my Dad gave me this book when I was in elementary school. I was a little terrified of how cold it was in the story and how cruel nature could be, but was so honored that he had given me such a grown up book. I have always cherished that story and how it made me feel to read something a little beyond me. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my son.

Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should
we love you:
There is not one single thing that sets me apart from other blogs outside of the fact that I am not very good at it. When I have some extra time on my hands I like to pretend that it's my segway into being a professional writer. I love to write almost as much as I love to read and like to believe that I am a literary genius on the verge of sharing my gift with the world. But here in real life, I haven't had too much time on my hands lately so it's just a random hodgepodge of my life as a working Mom trying to get it all right. I have not so interesting opinions on raising children, current events and how much I want to be a better person. You should love me because my children are darling and I am so imperfect that you will immediately feel better about yourself.

Aw, Mrs. Montoya, we love you!! Thank you for doing our interview!



**If anyone else would like to send us an interview, just answer the above questions and send em to readwithgirlfriends.blogspot.com.**


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Spoiler Alert Tuesday


This is our first Spoiler Alert on Dear John, our February pick!
I loved this book. It was hard to put down once I started it.
Getting right to it...
Spoilers Below!!
There's a lot of history and explanation of John's relationship with his father, or lack thereof.
Do you think there's something behind this, perhaps something more to the dynamic then just a teenage son and his father trying to get along?
Does this relationship have any effect on John's almost instant attraction to Savannah?

**Note - remember that wacky little thing we used to do on Wednesday where we would post an interview with one of our readers and a link to their blogs? Would anyone be interested in starting that up again? Shoot us an email at readwithgirlfriends@yahoo.com and let us know.**

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Spoiler Alert Tuesday/Winner


It's already February, which means we are starting our new book, Dear John.
Since it's the beginning of the month, we wanted to make sure we did a wrap-up on Have a Little Faith.

Spoiler Below!!
The book's overall message was that every person, no matter what religion or beliefs they hold, find comfort in knowing there is a higher power.
Do you agree with this assertion?
Does it matter what faith you hold, as long as you do, in fact, have faith?

Winner!!
 Random.org  provided the winner and
the winner is:
Number 1