Tuesday Book Club (early)
Hey, everyone, I’m heading into the wild again tomorrow, so if you don’t mind, let’s have our Tuesday Book Club today.
When you’re backpacking, weight is the issue. So it’s only paperbacks, and often it’s a paperback cut in half (I know! It hurts to do it!). This time I took 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper, the true account of a guy who died in a car wreck on a slick bridge. The paramedics took all his vitals, knew he was dead, and just covered him with a tarp while they went off to attend to other people. A passing minister felt compelled to crawl into the smashed car and pray for Don, even though he was clearly dead. So he prayed and prayed, and sang some hymns, and when he finally got around to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” the dead guy starting singing along with him. Hoo-wee. So the book is about what happened during those 90 minutes of death, when Don Piper went to heaven, and about the long struggle to recover from his horrible, horrible injuries once he came back to life. Some really compelling reading, whether you’re sitting at home on a comfy couch or propped up against a rock beside a beautiful alpine lake.
And what have the rest of you been reading this past week?
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Reading Clubs, Book Clubs, Reading, Books, Book Recommendations, Book Reviews, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Don Piper
August 6th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Well, since you’re early, I really only have one book finished.
My Sister’s Keeper - Jodi Picoult(It may be remembered that I started this months ago.) Tough book, heady issue.
I’m reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont which I suspect I’ll finish before I get on the plane tonight.
Also, I am either going to pick up Boy Toy or HP7. I want Boy Toy, but hanging out on blogs of readers often leaves me in a lurch with HP7(Diana has spoilers in her comments today). I’d prefer to wait until next summer for HP7, but it seems I am going to have to read it sooner.
Really curious to see Barry’s take on that subject. There’s a case happening in my neck of the woods right now. The funny part(if there can be a funny part) is the police caught them by accident just before they did in a van, then they both admitted to previously doing it.
90 Minutes in Heaven was recommended to me by Diana’s agent. I just haven’t got to it yet.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Over the weekend,I finished Frenemies by Megan Crane and started By George by Wesley Stace(both to be featured in a duo review at LRG coming soon!). I’m also enjoying Amy Bloom’s Away-this is the first book I’ve read by her and wow,she really has a poet’s touch when it comes to words and images!
That 90 Minutes In Heaven sounds intense. I like the part about the dead guy singing along with the minister,it sounds like a dark comedy skit!
August 6th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Many of my library books came in at once. GoodReads is definitely a culprit. I’m reading Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors, right now, which is his earlier collection of short-stories. All I can say is: Neil Gaiman, Neil Gaiman, Neil Gaiman!
August 6th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I’m reading The White Darkness, and it’s fantastic. Not only is it beautifully written, but I simply cannot imagine where the author is going with her idea, and I love going along for the ride. I’m expecting to finish it on the plane today.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I’m reading Under The Rose by some chick named Diana P.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Patrick:
Are you SERIOUS? Dude, please shoot me an e-mail with a link to the local news story. I sort of collect them now.
And wasn’t My Sister’s Keeper amazing? She sort of cheaped out at the end a little bit, but that point I was so caught up in it, I didn’t care.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I have too many reviews to write to be reading anything until tomorrow.
But I am listening to a book about Freud and a mystery (too lazy to look up the name), written by a guy whose first name is Jed and whose last name begins with an A. It’s pretty good so far.
Can I mention here that Sara is awesome? I had a great time meeting her.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Yeah, I thought the end was a cheap out, but worked in its own way.
I’ll send you the link.
Update: I picked up HP7(Sorry Barry, I’ll try to fit Boy Toy in for the return flight.
)
August 6th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I’m immersed in Ann Rule’s newest Too Late to Say Goodbye. I can’t wait to finish it, but I don’t want it to end!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Kelly, you may mention that here, though technically, Sara is not a book, though oddly enough, her book is a book.
Congrats on finishing Sara this week.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I’m so impressed Robin. You’re a backpacking goddess!
I’m still slugging through HP4. Sad, since HP3 was so awesome.
Had to read Twilight again. Heaven.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I just finished The Year of Magical Thinking by Jaon Didion. Pretty intense. Wrote abut it at Good Reads. Today I am reading all about the national board certification…the last three standards.
August 6th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I’m still busily reading Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume. I’m surprised at how many of the authors loved Deenie, which, as a kid, I read and liked okay enough I guess. The life-changing effect it seems to have had on all these other people makes me want to read it again.
August 6th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Grrr, my internet is being so sketchy today. So I feel the need to type quickly before it goes again.
Little Willow, thanks for that insight. It does make me wonder about my own book launch. Could I have had my party on a weekend after all?
Vivian, I assume you read Twilight in anticipation of the third book, Eclipse coming out tomorrow. My copy will be waiting for me when I get back!
Heather, I need to go get that! Right when I get home!
Jone, can’t say I envy you reading about the national board standards (ugh), but I’ve heard so many good things about the Didion book. Was it depressing, or uplifting?
Molly, are those Ann Rule books scary? Or just suspenseful and tense?
Kelly, that’s so cool that you and Sara met! I loved the picture of the two of you on her blog. Good luck with finishing the Forest.
Sara, I’ve never heard of White Darkness. Now I have to look for it, after that glowing report.
Alkelda, will you still be my friend if I admit to you the only thing of Neil’s I’ve read is Coraline? And that it creeped me out so much I’m not sure I can read more?
Lady T, I’m always amazed at how much you read in a week. And you have such diverse selections. I always love to see what’s on your plate at the moment.
Patrick, I LOVE Anne Lamott’s books, and especially Bird by Bird. And while you do need to read Barry’s book soon, I have to agree with your choice to get HP7 before anyone else spills any more secrets from it. You’re in for such a treat.
Adrienne, the only thing I vividly remember from Deenie was the (ahem) m-bation discussion. As you can see, I’m still not comfortable speaking of it in public.
August 6th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
D’oh! I’ve been busy. I’m still working on Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight”.
August 6th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
True enough, Patrick. I have read her book, but not this week
August 6th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Adrienne, I’m so glad you’re enjoying EVERYTHING. I thought the same thing you did when I finally got a chance to read the other contributors. I’ve actually never read Deenie. My book was about Sally J Freedman.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Robin, I say celebrate it every day!
Today, I finished reading Wouldn’t Miss It For the World by Tara McCarthy, her brand-new novel, which I enjoyed. I will next read Revenge of the Cheerleaders by Janette Rallison.
August 7th, 2007 at 4:35 am
I have read two, and input over 1000 of my classroom books in my LibraryThing…and I’m not done yet! (Thank goodness for the CueCat!) Today I will tackle my nonfiction collection.
I read Test Talk by Greene and Melton. Great ideas about weaving test prep into the reading workshop.
I reread Choice Words by Peter Johnston. The language we use when we talk to kids (when we talk to ANYONE) is so important.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:14 am
I finished Prisoner of Azkaban last night! On to book 4;-)
August 7th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
They can be scary, but mostly just suspenseful. She is the best true crime writer EVER. I don’t like to use the phrase “reads like fiction,” but to those who prefer fiction to nonfiction, I guess it’s a good description. She does a remarkable job characterizing people so you don’t get confused and you’re not bored. Amazing. Her books are best read in one sitting.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
I am halfway through My Sister’s Keeper. I stopped reading it to read Paint The Wind (Pam Munoz Ryan’s new book) and it is the one book I actually finished this week. Then I picked up Skullduggery Pleasant instead of My Sister’s Keeper. And tonight I purchased Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer and I REALLY want to read it. What to do??? I am developing BADD (Book Attention Deficit Disorder).
Patrick and Barry have nice things to say about it and a friend at work lent it to me, so I guess I really should finish My Sister’s Keeper. Sigh. Edward and Bella will have to wait.
I am still amazed at the thought of a “paperback cut in half.” You are hardcore!
August 7th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
I misspelled Stephenie in my post.
No “a” in Stephenie Meyer! Oops.
I won’t post on your blog late at night anymore, Robin.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Diana, I particularly liked the use of “liar, liar pants on fire” in your essay. The essay as a whole reminded me of how a few years ago when I made a deal with my godson that if he took swimming lessons, I would, too — mostly because I was afraid he was going to drown, as he had no sense around the water. At the time, I could not-drown, but I couldn’t really swim, either. Now Lu swims all over like it’s no big deal, and I can do a decent enough crawl to swim laps.
Anyway, bravo to you for the essay. So many of them focus on friendship and boys — which are great, too — but it was nice to see such a different take on the subject.
August 9th, 2007 at 6:27 am
I just finished Diary of a Fairy Godmother, by Codell and Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies, by Wolfson. I can’t wait to read White Darkness as well. There’s been lots of chatter about it.