Half Way There Yet?

We kind of prolonged the time for finishing Climbing the Mango Trees because it's the first book and we started it on short notice. I've updated the reading schedule and you can find it to the right on the sidebar. Everyone should be done with Climbing the Mango Trees by June 6th so you guys have a lot of time now.

So, now that everyone should be half way(up to chapter 15) through Climbing the Mango Trees we should begin some official discussion on the first half. Has everyone gotten their copy yet? Are you all half way through? What do you think so far? What are your favorite parts out of what you've read so far? What have you found interesting? Hopefully we can fill this comment section up with a lot of book discussion.

Also, I'm giving you a quick reminder to get a hold of a copy of Small Miracles of the Holocaust as soon as possible. We're starting it on June 7th and that's gonna be here in no time. Unless you want to be stuck behind all the discussion, get your copy now.

Thanks,
Enjoy the discussion...

Research

Hi everyone! Where you all able to get a copy of Climbing the Mango Trees? I hope so, it's interesting so far. I've always wanted to study India's history, it seems very complex and not what I thought at first. I thought Indian culture would be more like Arab culture, closed to western influence and strict about their religion and women. There is a lot of terms in this book that I don't understand, it would take forever to look them all up but a did look a few up. Oh! but first how many of you knew that Om meant "I am"? What do you think of that? Interesting huh?

So I did a little research on the Indian caste system. It is so complex. Every caste has many subcastes. But there is four main castes Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras in order from highest to lowest. Kayastha, the caste the author belongs to, it somehow is connected to the Brahmins this makes her upper caste. I get the feeling that not all of India lived like her. I'd like to read about life for one of the lower caste during the same time period written by the lower caste but since they didn't read or write that is probably very rare.
Here is a map of India during the British rule.


You can see Delhi in the center at the top. Couldn't find a map of Old Delhi.
Here is a sample of Sanskrit. It is very pretty. I wish English looked like that with all the curly things. : )
The internet has shut down on me three times since I started this post so just one more thing.
How would you like to live in a joint family like the author did???? : ) I think it sounds like a lot of fun. Let us know what you all think of the book so far.

Blog Schedule, Next Book, Ideas, and Meeting?

Well, I added a Book Club Schedule so everyone has a guideline for where to be when we discuss the book. When we get to those dates, I'll let everyone know and we can discuss how ever much we've read. It's okay if you haven't gotten as far as the schedule says by then. Don't worry if you've read past it either; it's just a rough indication of where you should be.

I decided since this first book has been announced on such short notice, I'll tell everyone what book we're reading next so that everyone will have enough time to find it. It is:
Small Miracles of the Holocaust

Another thing:
If anyone has any ideas for stuff on the blog, I would love to hear them. Any book quotes that I could use for the blog description under the header? Any ideas for what I could put in the leave you comments area? Most of you who run blogs know what I mean, the usual customizing. I would enjoy any ideas or input. Also, if you know anymore interesting stuff we could put in the side bar, I'd appreciate it.

One more thing:
Is anyone interested in meetings? I know not many people in town have joined the club, but I know a few more people that will probably join in when we tell them about it. Let us know if it's an option for you. When might you be able to make it? Where might you like to meet? I'm not sure if we'll end up meeting regularly, but if we could, it would be fun.

Rules and an Anouncement

Hi everyone!!!  Sauron here. : )  Those of you who know me well will understand this blog, the rest of you might get a little frustrated, though I hope not.  Or you who do know me well might get frustrated just aticipating how you know this blog will be ran. : ) I apoligize in advance.  The only reason I'm involving myself with this whole blog thing at all is because this blog will be based on books (my first love) and people's opinions.  As soon as Tobi set this up I found lots of books I'd like to read but know I won't by myself.  I've already picked the first book out and am having a hard time keeping myself from reading it.   I'll tell you the name in a little bit.   So rule......... : ) the number one rule is there are no rules and when I do make rules they are subject to change without notice.  : )hehehe Just kidding.  I'll start with answering Aimee's question.   No, you don't have to read every book.   I am not planning on reading every book myself.  In fact if there is a book you'd like to read and several other members of the book club want to read it we can work it so that you could do a guest post or something like that.  I want lots of book suggestions!  My vision for this blog is for it to be more like a public forum then a one person blog, with maybe several books going at once.  Since we all pretty much read the same stuff, me and Tobi thought it would be fun just to read the books we are already going to read sometime, at the same time.  : ) So we can talk about them.   That's what this blog is really all about, talking about books.  That is going to require input.  No following without commenting!!  There has got to be a way to take followers off it they don't participate.  hhhmmm I'll have to ask Tobi.  I want everyone to use this blog to discuss books they've read.  What you liked, what you didn't like.  Don't worry about making your comments too long.   And because the comments aren't moderated you and someone else could have a whole discussion with me having to check my blog every few hours. : )  I love it!!  So.....rules, 

Rule 1

You must comment.  Right now we want just one book suggestion from each member. 

Rule 2

Anyone can be a member, anyone.  Even the dreaded ATB.  : )

Rule 3

hhhhmmmmm, rule 3....... Oh yeah, I don't promise to read any book, but I hope that doesn't stop you from reading it.  Let me know if you want to guest post a review. 

Rule 4

Discussion = Opinions   Expect to be challanged.  You can't just say you "like" a book, you have to back it up and tell the club why.   This should include writing style (use example quotations from the book), favorite characters or dialoge, how the book made you feel, what the authors motives or message was , etc.  Basically discussion should include details. It is also ok if you hate a book just let everyone know why.  Since no one here is the author no one should get offended.

Rule 5

If any book contains characters, actions, or dialoge that is not christian you'd better mention it if you notice it.  We are Christians so I expect all of us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" and point out sin were ever we see it.   This doesn't mean tha

t one wrong thing ruins the whole book.  example: The Scarlet Pimpernel  (comment if you know what I'm talking about) But exposing wrong will help others develope their sin radars, : ) for lack of a better term. 

Rule 6

Does anyone have a rule 6?????   Come on, participation is welco

me.  

So now the announcment, drum roll, please......... the first book the Dragonfly book club will read is,  Climbing the Mango Trees - A Memoir of a Childhood in India by Madhur Jaffrey

Welcome

Hello Hello Hello
Welcome to the Dragonfly Bookclub. This club has been years in the planning because Rebekah’s been trying to start one for years, but was just too lazy to get around to it. So even though the one typing right now is me(Tobi), this is officially Rebekah’s club. She’s the one who gets to make the rules, break the rules, make all the decisions, veto book suggestions, etc. I’m kinda like the mouth of Sauron you know? She’s the evil dark lord who gets to decree all her evil schemes and I’m the one that will take the time to tell you all of them because she’s too lazy to post them herself. Not that she won’t ever post, I’m sure she will eventually.

Kind of book club:
This is not just a blog book club, it’s also a local book club. Hopefully we’ll end up meeting at coffee shops and stuff like that to have dialogues about the portion of the book we’ve all read. The blog is for those who can’t make it, or live out of town e.g. Anchor Point or PA if any of the people from there are interested. The comment section of each post is going to be used more as a forum, so they won’t need to be moderated. You can give ideas of what books you’d like to read, talk about what you think about the book you’re reading at the time, talk about what times or places would work best if we end up meeting somewhere. Also, if you write a full length review of a book, you can email it to Bekah and she can post it on the blog. If you know people who might be interested and aren’t up on the blogworld, they can still participate so let them know.

How to join:
Well for now, drop off a comment below. Let us know you’re interested, tell us any ideas you might have. Give us a list of books you’d like to read and any feedback. Remember to include the book title and author.

I’ll be posting more in the next few days to tell everyone how things will go down, but that’s all for now. Thanks.