Ok lets meet, I finaly finished SANDMAN

hhaahahaha
yes, kidding...

what ever happened to this group :(
Haven't seen Travis in a very long time
is he in Hawaii living on poi pineapple?

suggested: a general theory of love

i read this! it came recommended from multiple people at multiple times, then literally given to me. not what i would call personally a short read [rich, are you a scientist;] but definitely good for discussion, if we ever do that thing again.

m

Suggested: A General Theory of Love

A GENERAL THEORY OF LOVE

(Non-Fiction, Paperback)
Lewis, Amini and Lannon

From a review (NYT?):

New research in brain function has proven that love is a human necessity; its absence damages not only individuals, but our whole society. In this stimulating work, psychiatrists Lewis, Amini and Lannon explain how and why our brains have evolved to require consistent bonding and nurturing. They contend that close emotional connections actually change neural patterns in those who engage in them, affecting our sense of self and making empathy and socialization possible. Indeed, the authors insist, "in some important ways, people cannot be stable on their own." Yet American society is structured to frustrate emotional health, they contend: self-sufficiency and materialistic goals are seen as great virtues, while emotional dependence is considered a weakness. Because our culture does not sufficiently value interpersonal relationships, we are plagued by anxiety and depression, narcissism and superficiality, which can lead to violence and self-destructive behaviors. It is futile to try to think our way out of such behaviors, the authors believe, because emotions are not within the intellect's domain. What is needed is healthy bonding from infancy; when this does not occur, the therapist must model it. The authors' utopian vision of emotional health may strike some as vague or conservative to a fault, and the clarity of their thesis is marred by indirect and precious writing. Yet their claim that "what we do inside relationships matters more than any other aspect of human life" is a powerful one.


*A fun, quick read. I think it will give us lots to talk about. -rich*

Suggested: The 158 Pound Marriage

THE 158 POUND MARRIAGE
Written by John Irving
Category: Fiction - Literary; Fiction - Psychological;
Paperback

Publishers thingie:

The darker vision and sexual ambiguities of this erotic, ironic tale about a ménage a quatre in a New England university town foreshadow those of The World According to Garp; but this very trim and precise novel is a marked departure from the author's generally robust, boisterous style. Though Irving's cool eye spares none of his foursome, he writes with genuine compassion for the sexual tests and illusions they perpetrate on each other; but the sexual intrigue between them demonstrates how even the kind can be ungenerous, and even the well-intentioned, destructive.


* Its a tiny book that starts out slow but becomes a page turner. A good story with great character development that will give us lots to talk about. Irving has written a bunch of good novels that were turned into mediocre movies (World According to Garp, Simon Birch Owen Meany, Ciderhouse Rules, The Door in the Floor). If you saw any of those movies, please don't hold that against the the author. * - Rich

Suggested: Two More Graphic Novels

If any of you enjoyed Watchmen or The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes, or didn't, and simply want to explore some other graphic novels, I have two recommendations:

1) Y The Last Man: a story about the sole surviving male human after the spontaneous, simultaneous death of every male mammal on Earth. Published by vertigo, which does a lot of good titles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_the_last_man

2) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: this one's by Alan Moore! The story takes place in 1898 in a fictional world where all of the characters and events from Victorian literature (and possibly the entirety of fiction) coexist. The world the characters inhabit is one more technologically advanced than our own was in the same era. Lots of adventures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_League_Of_Extraordinary_Gentlemen

Voting on the Shootlist

We can now add polls to our blog. So, keep submitting your book suggestions and before the end of the current month, we'll vote on what to read next. That way, you get a chance to review the options and select which one you truly want to read most. If you don't submit a book, you can't vote on it.

Group Discussion #3

This month, we're switching things up a bit and reading two graphic novels: Watchmen and The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes. Both are quick reads and come highly recommended. Since we have two short books this month, please talk amongst yourselves and share copies.

Date & Location:
Tuesday, 8/21. 8pm. Lo's House.

BTW, for anybody who's still interested in discussing You Don't Love Me Yet: A Novel, you may get your chance at this meeting. Or, just post your comments on the blog.

Book #1:
Watchmen

Written by Alan Moore; Art by Dave Gibbons

It all begins with the paranoid delusions of a half-insane hero called Rorschach. But is Rorschach really insane or has he in fact uncovered a plot to murder super-heroes and, even worse, millions of innocent civilians? On the run from the law, Rorschach reunites with his former teammates in a desperate attempt to save the world and their lives, but what they uncover will shock them to their very core and change the face of the planet! Following two generations of masked superheroes from the close of World War II to the icy shadow of the Cold War comes this groundbreaking comic story — the story of The Watchmen.


Book #2:
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

Written by Neil Gaiman; Art by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, and Malcolm Jones, III Gibbons

The Sandman Vol. 1: A wizard attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. Fearful for his safety, the wizard kept him imprisoned in a glass bottle for decades. After his escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On the way, Morpheus encounters Lucifer and demons from Hell, the Justice League, and John Constantine, the Hellblazer. This book also includes the story "The Sound of Her Wings" which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl, Death.


Additional Info:
Watchmen at Wikipedia
The Sandman at Wikipedia