May 2007 Featured Book Club Pick: "Special Topics in Calamity Physics"

Charlotte Weekly’s ‘Speaking Volumes’ book club pick for May is completely different than any other book we’ve ever read before. This Ashville author Marisha Pessl’s first novel took critics by storm. I interviewed her shortly after her hardcover came out last summer the day before Janet Maslin of the New York Times published her review of Pessl’s work. It’s amazing what a difference a day can make! Overnight Pessl went from dreaming to be a novelist while slaving away at her day job in financial services to a celebrated writer.

Pessl’s book received rave reviews, both by myself and Maslin, who loved the freshness and invention of Pessl’s voice. “Special Topics in Calamity Physics” is modeled after the syllabus of a college literature course—36 chapters are named after everything from Othello to Paradise Lost to The Big Sleep—that culminates with a final exam. Narrator Blue Van Meer, the daughter of an itinerant academic, has an impressive vocabulary and a knack for esoteric citation. Following the mysterious death of her butterfly-obsessed mother, Blue and her father, Gareth, set out on a tour of picturesque college towns, never staying anyplace longer than a semester. This doesn't bode well for Blue's social life, but when the Van Meers settle in Stockton, N.C., for the entirety of Blue's senior year, she befriends a group of eccentric geniuses (referred to by their classmates as the Bluebloods) and their ringleader, film studies teacher Hannah Schneider. As Blue becomes enmeshed with Hannah and the Bluebloods, the novel becomes a murder mystery so intricately plotted that, after absorbing the late-chapter revelations, readers will be tempted to start again at the beginning in order to watch the tiny clues fall into place.

Think of this book as taking the best elements of Harry Potter and Agatha Christie twisted together with a dash of Vanity Fair magazine for pop-culture mentions. Last year, the book was named one of the New York Times’ best ten books for 2006.

Pessl, a native of Ashville, will join our book club meeting to talk about her exhilarating ride to success and the inspiration for one of the most unconventional and unusual books of the year. Join us for dessert and coffee on Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m., at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at SouthPark to discuss this brilliant book. R.S.V.P. by visiting http://www.josephbeth.com/.

April 2007 Featured Book Club Pick: "A Light on the Runway"

“A Light on the Runway” by Janet Haack

One of the most intriguing qualities about Janet Haack is the life she has led. Acknowledged as a community leader and patron of the arts, Haack may not be as widely recognized for the adventuress’s heart that beats beneath her persona. She tells her inspiring stories in her new book, “A Light on the Runway,” Charlotte Weekly’s book selection for April.

Definitely a woman well before her time, in 1955 Haack studied women’s journalism while many of her peers were at home giving birth to the baby boomers. She credits her father for choosing that path for her and her sister after focusing on opportunities available to women in the postwar boom. After marrying, Janet and husband Donald bundled up into their two-seater plane and flew to British Guiana where they learned firsthand about mining and trading precious gems. That legacy and knowledge became the foundation of a legendary career.

After more than 50 years of marriage, Haack says that being each other’s best friend was one of the secrets to the couple’s success. “We learned to depend on one another in a way we might not have if we were living a conventional life,” she said. “When you’re in the States, you have support people like a (parent), a (sibling) or a friend. We learned to be all of that for each other.”

“Runway” is the female perspective of their adventure saga. Donald wrote “Bush Pilot in Diamond Country” about their life together. But after reading the book, many wondered how a woman could live through such adventures and hardships and still raise a family. Hence, the book “Runway” was born.

The two continue to work together as owners of Donald Haack Diamonds in SouthPark. The store offers everything from everyday jewelry to magnificent gems and everything in between.

The author says she’s the first to concede that their life together – surviving in the jungles of South America and readjusting to “normal” life in the States – has been challenging. If you’ve ever dreamed of living exotic adventures, this book offers an honest appraisal of what it takes to live your dreams.

Meet the author
Join Charlotte Weekly at an exclusive cocktail party with author Janet Haack at Donald Haack Diamonds at 4611 Sharon Road on Monday, April 16, at 7 p.m. Seating is limited to the first 25 readers who R.S.V.P. us at http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/

For more on the author, visit http://www.donaldhaack.com/.

– Alison Woo

March 2007: Eat, Pray, Love

Every story of finding one’s self starts with a quest. It’s enmeshed in all great tales from the sacred – Moses’ search in the desert – to the secular – Luke in “Star Wars.” The outer journey mirrors the inner journey; it is as if placing one foot in front of another helps one delve deeper into the heart, mind and soul.

When faced with a devastating divorce and a life that just wasn’t working, author Elizabeth Gilbert decided to plunge into new possibilities. The book, “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” is Gilbert’s bold pursuit for herself; it is also Charlotte Weekly’s book pick for March.

After trying unsuccessfully to conceive, Gilbert realized that there was a huge chasm between the idyllic life she fantasized about and the reality she lived. Following a divorce, she decided to trek to foreign lands where she hoped to be imbued by each chosen city’s unique offering to salve her soul. She chooses Rome to teach her about pleasure, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) to inspire her spiritual longings, and Bali to find balance.

What makes the book sing is Gilbert’s fresh voice, which transcends the “somebody done somebody wrong song” tone which self-help books can sometimes take, and vaults it into true introspective territory. During the yearlong journey, Gilbert learns about herself, and her quest may even inspire readers to begin a journey, even if from the safety of an armchair.

Gilbert is an accomplished writer and memoirist. Her story for GQ magazine about her early bartending days was made into the movie “Coyote Ugly” and it appears that lightning has struck twice: In November, Paramount Pictures announced plans to turn “Eat, Pray, Love” into a movie starring Julia Roberts.

Join CW’s book club as we meet to discuss “Eat, Pray, Love” on Monday, Mar. 19, at 7 p.m., at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in SouthPark. R.S.V.P by visiting http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/.

January 2007: Pride and Predjudice

A new year and an old book!

January we read one of my all-time favorites: Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen.

The story of love found, lost and won is a classic that rings true to every romantic. If you don't have time to read the book, run, don't walk, to Blockbuster or Netflix the A & E version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Don't even bother with last year's remake with Kiera Knightly. The six-hour miniseries captures Austen's light and beauty and I think Jane, herself, would approve greatly!

My Top 10 Books of 2006

What's a year in review if you can't have lists?

This past year was a banner one for books. From series endings to noteworthy
nonfiction to brilliant literary debuts, 2006 offered it all and then some.

Here’s Charlotte Weekly/Union County Weekly’s list of this year’s
favorites.

10. “A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveler” by Frances Mayes. Broadway Books, $26.

Mayes, also the author of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” uses her venerable talent on other exotic locales and captures the nuances and subtleties that make travel books such enchanting reads.

9. “The End: Book the Thirteenth (A Series of Unfortunate Events)” by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist. HarperCollins Children’s Books, $12.99.

Fans of the famed Lemony Snicket series found that all good things do come to an end. And in this last book, aptly named “The End,” the book found its just desserts. Too delicious to put down, even for adults!

8. “The Audrey Hepburn Treasures: Pictures and Mementos from a Life of Style and Purpose” by Ellen Erwin and Jessica Diamond. Atria Books, $49.95.

Before Angelina Jolie made caring for the world’s forgotten children a cause célèbre, Hepburn raised awareness of humanitarian causes. The proceeds from this incredibly inventive and well-designed book go directly to her UNICEF fund.

7. “State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III” by Bob Woodward. Simon & Schuster, $30.

The journalist who wrote so eloquently for the Washington Post and broke the story of Watergate continues his series on another president. This book looks at the first days George W. Bush thought seriously about running for president through the recruitment of his national security team, the war in Afghanistan, the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the struggle for political survival in the second term.

6. “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” by Elizabeth Gilbert. Viking, $24.95.

Gilbert tries to mend a broken heart, induced by divorce and love gone awry, by traveling to three centers that offer rejuvenation for her spirit, mind and body. Ultimately on her search for both pleasure and passion, she finds romance, but that’s the bonus of this earthy read.

5. “Heat: An Amateur’s Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany” by Bill Buford. Knopf, $25.95.

Love The Food Network? Wonder what it takes to become a world-famous chef? Journalist Buford takes readers into the kitchen of chef extraordinaire Mario Batali and acclaimed New York restaurant “Babbo.” The drama and great characters in this book alone are worth it for
even nonfoodies.

4. “Brothers” by Da Chen. Crown, $25.

At the height of China’s Cultural Revolution, a powerful general fathered
two sons. Tan was born to the general’s wife and into a life of comfort and luxury.
His half brother, Shento, was born to the general’s mistress, who threw herself off a
cliff in the mountains only moments after delivering her child. The brothers end up
falling in love with the same woman and move toward the explosive moment when
their paths converge.

3. “Special Topics in Calamity Physics” by Marisha Pessl. Viking,
$25.95.

North Carolina native Pessl’s first literary work – one of the most inventive books of
the year – made her a best-selling author. In this murder mystery set at a boarding
school, each chapter is named for a literary classic. Read this mostly for Pessl’s stylistic
writing and quick wit.

2. “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama. Crown, $25.
This sobering and visionary view on how the nation might tackle some of its most serious challenges comes from potential presidential candidate and current U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

1. “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill,
$23.95.

This beautiful love story takes place during the Depression. Gruen said she
felt compelled to write “Water for Elephants” after seeing a photograph of circus performers during that era. “This is an era that’s disappearing from memory and it’s an important part of American history,” she said. The book is a delightful read with characters that remain on the mind long after the last page is read.

December 2006: The return of Adriana Trigiani

Turns out you can go home again.

Best-selling author Adriana Trigiani revisited her most succesful series with a great book, "Home to Big Stone Gap." The ever-gracious Adriana was a phone guest and is much beloved to our book club as she helped launch it in June 2006. Welcome home!

November 2006: The Mermaid Chair

This is an amazing book from the author of "The Secret Life of Bees," It was a true favorite of mine and we even had a chance to meet author Sue Monk Kidd at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. She was awesome! Sadly she wasn't able to join us at book club but Nancy Horn, our guest book club editor did a smashing job.

The Return of The Book Blogger

The hallmark of a great blog is many, many postings!

Hello blog readers!

I've returned. It's been a very busy few months. But without further adieu, let me catch everyone up with all that we've read.

Thanks for e-mailing and asking about our whereabouts. Our book club has been going on stronger than ever but many have missed our blog component. I've learned that people are somewhat shy in cyberspace. While they won't post, they will e-mail. Please feel free to do either and contact me directly at alison@thecharlotteweekly.com or at alisonwoo@yahoo.com.

Happy reading everyone!

Alison

October 2006 Selection: The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I hope you’re enjoying “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards, CW’s book club selection for October. We’ll be talking to the author via phone on Monday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in SouthPark. Please RSVP by visiting http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/ and bring a friend.


When I get several e-mails in one day recommending the same book, I know there’s something to it. The nationwide buzz around “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” has vaulted the paperback by author Kim Edwards to the top spot on the New York Times’ best-selling list for the past 15 weeks. It’s a haunting family tale that examines the consequences of actions.

The story unfolds on a snowy evening as Caroline Henry prematurely gives birth at home to twins – a healthy son and a daughter with Down syndrome. Remembering how difficult his life had been with a chronically ill sister, Caroline’s husband, who is
a doctor, makes a split-second decision to give away the daughter and tell his wife, when she awakens, that their daughter was stillborn. The guilt nags at him for the rest of his life and the family dynamic slowly unravels as a result. The book’s central theme asks us to look at how decisions we make at pivotal moments can color every aspect of our lives.

Join us Monday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Charlotte’s South-
Park mall to discuss the book. Light refreshments will be served. Don’t forget
to RSVP at www.thecharltoteweekly.com.

A brief word about author Leah Stewart

Hello all,

I know I haven't blogged in a bit but a lot has happened, including a wonderful new job as editor of Union County Weekly, sister paper to Charlotte Weekly.

I want to thank author Leah Stewart for being such a marvelous and cool person!

She's incredible.

She delighted our book club and regaled us with tales from her life that left an indelible impression on us all. The great part was in addition to being an amazing creative person, she's also a really cool human being.

Kudos Leah! If you haven't read her books, run, don't walk to your local bookstore now and buy them!

The best part of helming the book club is getting to meet these truly talented folks and meeting our readers. Let the good reading roll!

AW

September 2006 Book Pick: "The Myth of You and Me"

Recently, the first friend I ever made in elementary school, Alessandra Scornaenchi, e-mailed me. We had been friends for almost two decades but had lost touch. We met on the first day of first grade when we were both five. I remember thinking how cool it was that I had found my first best friend. From that point on, we were inseparable. I vividly remember spending sun-drenched summers spent running around the block, eating ripe tomatoes from her dad’s garden, and feasting on her mother’s homemade pizzas and pastas. For someone like me, who never had a sister, I never forgot how wonderful it was to have someone to share all your secrets, your ambitions and dreams with someone who just understood you.

Female friendships are the stuff legends are made of. That’s why we’ve chosen Leah Stewart’s magical “The Myth of You and Me” as our book club selection this month. The story delves into the lives of two young women, Cameron and Sonia who meet in their teens and share a deep bond. The story starts many years later after the women have gone their separate ways after an incident that ended their friendship. Cameron receives a letter from Sonia and becomes inspired to track her down and deliver a mysterious package to her. From that point the adventure begins. The book is mainly told in flashback but looks at the heart and humor of what it takes to sustain a friendship. “The Myth of You and Me” is a celebration and portrait of a friendship that will appeal to anyone who still feels the absence of that first true friend.

Join us on Monday, October 2nd at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at SouthPark Mall. We will be hosting an exclusive evening with the author, Leah Stewart. She will be discussing and signing copies of this marvelous book. Please RSVP at www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Fall 2006 Book Pick

Hi everyone,

Our next book pick will be "The Myth of You and Me" by Leah Stewart.

We will be meeting exclusively with the author at our next event on Monday, October 2nd at 7PM.

Save the date!

More will be posted saspo!

Alison

Listen to the Podcast with author Rebecca Lee

If you couldn't make it to our last book club event, or if you were intrigued and want to hear more, click on to the podcast with author Rebecca Lee, author of "The City is a Rising Tide."

Just click on the title of this post, or this link:
http://www.archive.org/details/BBBRebeccaLeeInterview

August 2006 Pick: "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

While the immigration issue seems to be on the back burner for a bit, the discussion of what it means to be American still lingers in the air. My family emigrated to the U.S. when I was just 10-days-old. We moved here from Hong Kong for the great American dream. My mom chose New York City because she had always seen it in movies and thought it looked like a great place. I was always aware that to be here was a privilege one should not take it lightly. I never thought we were any different until I went to school. While other kids ate chocolate cake and Twinkies my parents, who both grew up in British boarding schools, made sure I knew how to prepare tea and scones properly and that 4PM was the correct time for such delicacies. It was just one of the little things that made my family different from many of the Italian and Jewish families that mostly lived in my neighborhood by the sea in south Brooklyn.

This month, we’ve chosen a book that explores one writer’s perspective on what it means to become an American family. Nominated by CW Book Club Member, Katie Creighton, “The Namesake” by Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri is a refreshing look into the push/pull that comes from assimilation and the clash of generations all striving for the American dream. We join the the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their challenging transformation into Americans.

On the heels of their arranged marriage, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli settle together in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An engineer by training, Ashoke adapts rather quickly while his wife resists all things American and pines for her family. Naming their first son becomes a clash of old world values and new choices. They decide on naming him for a Russian writer in memory of a catastrophe years before, Gogol Ganguli knows only that he suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his odd, antic name. Through Gogol the book unfolds as we walk with him as he stumbles along a first-generation path strewn with conflicting loyalties, comic detours, and heart-wrenching love affairs.

Please join us on Monday, August 21st at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at SouthPark Mall to discuss this enchanting novel. Don’t forget to RSVP at http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com

July 2006 Book Pick: The City is a Rising Tide

Summer is the perfect time for lots of travel. If you can’t hop on a plane or a train, you can certainly take your mind abroad and read great books that bring those glamorous locations to you. Our July book club pick is North Carolina author Rebecca Lee’s debut novel, “The City is a Rising Tide”. The author, who lives between North Carolina and New York, takes the readers from Central Park to the Three Gorges Dam in China’s Yangtze River.

It’s the story of young woman’s obsession with her boss and the great lengths she will go to secure his love and attention. In the midst of this, they are working together to create a holistic center in the middle of the building of a great dam, considered by the environmental community to be one of the most dangerous things of modern world, is being constructed. Just how far will Justine go for love and how can you fall for someone without losing yourself are just some of the questions this book asks.

Please join us for summery evening of wine and tasty tidbits on Monday, July 17, 2006 at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers where we will chat with the book’s author. Because it’s summer, we’re going to mix it up and this event is open to everyone, boyfriends, brothers, husbands or anyone else who would like to come to a summery cocktail party. Please RSVP at: http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/

Interview with Rebecca Lee

Rebecca Lee, author of CW’s book pick this month lives a fascinating life. She divides her time between New York City and North Carolina, teaches writing at UNC Wilmington and is a mother to an 18-month-year old daughter. In the midst of all of this, her first novel, “The City is a Rising Tide” has just come out on bookshelves around the nation.

“For me, the novel grew out of a description of place,” she said. “I realized that when I was in North Carolina, I missed NY and when I was in the City I missed the countryside and the ocean. After that characters formed around that and then the plot.” They had to be characters she loved. Lee spent ten years working on the novel but as the 2001 winner of the National Magazine Award for fiction, she realized that writing a novel used different kinds of creative muscles. “An old college professor said that a short story is like a one night stand whereas a novel is like a relationship,” Lee said. “A novel is more thoughtful and meandering which was more suited to me.”

Lee, is a consummate writer, who not only practices what she preaches, she teaches it too. She said teaching has impacted her writing. “You can tell other people what to do but it’s hard to tell yourself the same thing,” she said. “It’s so inspirational for me to be teaching because you can see how really devoted writers can make leaps if they are devoted to working on the same thing.”

Meet the author
Join Ms. Lee at CW Book Club’s one-year anniversary cocktail party with on Monday, July 17th at 7PM at Joseph-Beth at SouthPark Mall. RSVP at http://www.charlotteweekly.com/

Novello Festival

The Novello Festival of Reading debuted its list of big-name authors who will visit the Queen City this fall. Amy Tan (author of "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Kitchen God’s Wife"), Mitch Albom (author of “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”) and Dr. Andrew Weil (author of “Healthy Aging: Your Lifelong Guide to Physical and Spiritual Well-Being “) are some of the well-known authors that will be featured during this year’s festival. The festival is a celebration of reading and books and has been held each October since 1991. This year the festival will start on October 9th and will run until November 8th. For more information, click on to: http://www.novellofestival.net.

Book Review: "Water for Elephants"

Summer evokes an image of lazy days, of random opportunities and explorations that pan out into some of the best-valued memories. “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen is an ideal supplemental Charlotte Weekly book club pick for July because it falls into that pattern of endeavor turned treasure; the reviewers at USA Today call Gruen’s work this summer’s delightful sleeper novel. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, run – don’t walk – to your nearest bookseller. You’re in for a treat.

Set in the 1930s, the novel explores the mostly unexamined world of the circus. In the center ring of Gruen’s narrative is the kindhearted circus veterinarian, Jacob. After some misfortune, he finds his way to the Benzini Brothers’ Circus and his life takes off.

If you’ve ever been curious about just who circus performers are and how they got to be in such a “spec” (circus speak for the spectacular or the show), wonder no more. Gruen constructs her characters in such vivid detail that the reader feels like he or she living life with them, not excepting the numerous animals, such as Rosie the elephant, who populate the story.

“The story contains a lot of plot points that are parallel to the Old Testament story of Jacob,” Gruen said. “But you don’t need to know anything about that to enjoy the story.” Gruen said she felt compelled to write “Water for Elephants” after seeing a photograph of circus performers during that era. “The last time that a train circus performed under the canvas was 1956,” she said. “This is an era that’s disappearing from memory and it’s an important part of American history. Whether you hate the circus or love the circus, it was definitely an important slice. I wanted to record it and wanted to do it right.”

“Water for Elephants” is a delightful read with characters that remain on the mind long after the last page is read.

Meet the author
Gruen will be at Park Road Books in South Charlotte on Tuesday, July 18, at 7 p.m. For more information, call 704-525-9239. Learn more about the book and its author at http://bestbookblog.blogspot.com/.

June Reminder

Don’t forget to join us on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 for an evening of fun and gaiety with best-selling author Emily Giffin. We’ll be chatting about her breakthrough book, “Something Borrowed” at 6PM. Following our talk, she’ll be signing and discussing her book, “Baby Proof” at 7PM. Please RSVP at www.thecharlotteweekly.com.

June 2006 Pick: Something Borrowed

Ah, June! Welcome to the best month of the year. School will soon be out. Summer is coming and the possibilities of a fun-filled, sun-soaked three months entices us to dream of something more. There’s nothing more refreshing than being able to kick back in your backyard with a tall glass of something cool and a great book. This month’s book pick, “Something Borrowed” by NY Times best-selling author Emily Giffin, will be great company on those languorous days when you just want a great and entertaining read.

Giffin is a former lawyer turned author who made quite a splash with her debut novel, “Something Borrowed”. It’s the story of women’s friendships and what it takes to follow your heart. Rachel and Darcy have been best friends since elementary school but somehow Darcy always tried to get the edge over her friend Rachel. Speed it up twenty years later and we find Rachel working at a New York law firm, while Darcy is a publicist, planning a wedding with the handsome guy Rachel introduced her to. After a little too much to drink following her 30th birthday party, she shares an amorous evening with her best friend’s fiancé. But somehow she realized that Dex is actually the only man she's really loved, and that she's always resented her manipulative friend. As the wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the idea of right and wrong can be a matter of perspective, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to trust your own heart in your quest for true happiness.

Meet the author
We are so pleased that the author will be joining us for a delightful reception on Tuesday, June 20 at 6PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at SouthPark Mall. Please RSVP for this highly anticipated event at: http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/. She’ll also be at the store to discuss and sign her newest book, “Baby Proof” at 7PM.