Year Two Book Two: 
The Good Nurse, Charles Graeber
Thursday November 6, 2014

Amy: I give this book 4 out of 5. Though Charles Cullen’s crimes are alarming and the administrative failure of all the hospitals involved is blood-boiling, I thought this book was perfect storytelling. Because Cullen is so tight lipped about his actions, writing a book that could capture a reader’s imagination would be very challenging, but Charles Graeber did a wonderful job! I wish I would have had this book for a beach vacation because it would have been a perfect read! 

Laura: My first book in this wonderful book club!

The first half of the book read like a series of magazine articles; a recap of facts where the writer didn't have enough certainty to fill in completely. While reading the first half, I found this style difficult. Only once I finished the book, could I appreciate that the author did not have the full story from Charles Cullen, and didn't want to take any liberties with the "true crime".

The second half was much easier to read. Perhaps Charles Graeber got as much detail as he wanted from the detectives and from Amy.

This is the first true crime book I've read, possibly ever. So I wonder if this is a common problem with the genre.

Despite the lack of detail in the first half, the author does a good job of setting up a few potential contributing factors to Charles Cullen's behavior; rough childhood, tough time fitting in in the military, starting his nursing career on the burn unit.  

Would Charles Cullen have had the same "success" if he worked in Canada? Does the private health care system "profit first" model end up enabling this type of crime?

Rating: 3 out of 5

Lindsay: I felt this was better late than never! Anyway, here goes ...

I have to admit, I didn’t expect to be super-into anything “true-crime”, but I was! Obviously I knew Charlie was going to get caught, but I was eager to find out how … I give this book a 4 out of 5.

I liked reading about the “personal” parts of the story (like his childhood and relationships) as much as the “crime” part. I generally enjoy learning about peoples’ histories and life circumstances as they help me to understand why they are the way they are today (both in books and real life!). In the case of Charles Cullen, his horrendous childhood in no way excuses his actions, but knowing pieces of his background did help me to wrap my head around his person, and his story. That background info allowed me to see him not only as the “Angel of Death” but also as a human. 

Year Two Book One: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Thursday September 25, 2014

Year Two Book One: The Giver, Lois Lowry

Amy: I rate this book 5 out of 5. I have become obsessed with the concepts in this books and could probably dedicate as least half of the year's discussions with my thoughts, but I will just focus on a few. 

First of all, why was this book assigned in grade school!?!? After digging through trenches of my memory, I think I was in grade 5 when I read this book for English class. The only thing I remember from that first reading was the idea of precision of language especially with the concept of feeling "starving" vs "hungry". I also remember thinking the book was about controlling a community as to avoid pain or danger and thinking it was a metaphor to listen to my parents. 

My problem with the age group that this book is often associated with as appropriate age range is too young! A major theme that struck me in reading the Giver as an adult, is the portrayal of the pain and pleasure of choice. The community Jonas grows up in has decided that leaving the individual to make their own choices, will lead to their own pain and suffering and potential harm the community itself. To truly understand the concept, I think a person has to have the ability to choose and as a 10 or 11 year old grade 5 student, my range of decision making was very limited. I think this would be a better fit for the end of junior high or high school, where we are starting to branch out from the oversight of our parents and begin to live the potential pain and pleasure of our choices. 

My second thought was I loved reading a book knowing I was about to watch the movie. It forced me to really focus and use my own imagination. Though the movie was very different from the book, I think the adjustments were warranted and I actually felt a bit teary eyed at the end with the transfer of courageous and brave memories from human history. Oh! Even now, I feel emotional thinking about how bad-ass humans can be when they stand up for justice! It reminded me of the Kid President videos! I will attach my favorites below....

In short, best book ever! 

A Pep Talk from Kid President
A Letter To A Person Their First Day Here(Robyn, you can watch that on January 15th!!!)

Lacey: it was pretty fun to dig out my copy of "The Giver" from grade 6 with my name written all in the cover with various gel pens. Anyway it was pretty cool reading this book as an adult, the same with Amy I really think assigning this is elementary is a shame, so much was missed for me at that age that I was able to pick up on this time around. I really enjoy the way the book was written, its short but its deep and I was inspired to read the three companion books that go with the giver, for sure worth the read, I give its a 4/5 stars.

Brianne: I love this story. I think that it is so layered and suggestive. It intrigued me enough in Elementary but most of it went over my head. I've reread it a couple times (like the first time I met Lacey at camp!) and each time I've gotten something different out of it. I know the first time I read it I definitely glazed over the killing babies part. 

I have been mulling over a part of our book club discussion for a couple of weeks now. In the book, no one experiences pain, disappointment, rejection, failure. Everything is managed. All of us, because we know the merit of those things, can rationalize that it wouldn't be much of a life without that. I can't remember who mentioned it but the gist was that, if you had no framework, no understanding of those negative feelings, you wouldn't know the need for them, in a way. You could blissfully go about a life that, yes, is very small, and one-dimensional, but you would go through a life that is exactly what you want it to be. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that. 

Love this book. I would definitely give it 5/5 because it started me on a dystopian/utopian/post society love affair that has lasted.  

Retreat Weekend Book Two: Stumbling on Happiness

Retreat Weekend Book Two: Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert

Amy: I rate this book a 2 out of 5. This topic really freaks me out because it highlights how my brain can trick me. I then spiral into a, sort of, existential crisis thinking "Who is me anyways if my brain really has such influence on me!?!?". 

Once I calmed down and got through the first half of the book, I could see where the author was going and can appreciate his attempts at encouraging the masses that happiness is more likely an evolutionary slight of hand trick to get one to keep on keeping on, the proverbial carrot on a stick. But still, it all, kind of short circuits my belief systems. 

I did like the chapter on the brain's "immune system" though, where the author describes a persons ability to "re-frame" negative situations so that the person can cope with stressful situations. That kind of tricky I like!

Retreat Weekend Book One: Prisoner of Tehran

Retreat Weekend Book One: Prisoner of Tehran, Marina Nemat

Amy: I rate this book 4.5 out of 5. I really liked this book. In comparison to "House In the Sky", this gave me far more insight into how a country can become so hostile to it's own people. I love the descriptions of Marina's favorite book store and summers at her families beach house, riding bikes and kissing boys! It seemed like a childhood most Westerners would totally understand. To go from summers in short shorts, to being hiding her books and having to protest in order to get a proper education is something I know I will never be able to fully comprehend.

Parts of Marina's story play out like a movie. Actually, if this was a movie I would probably roll my eyes, with a "As if!" in my best Cher Horowitz impression. However, this women faced a nearly impossible situation, that threatened her safety and the safety of the people she loved, and required an equally drastic solution. I am glad things turned out the way they did for Marina, despite her losses. I am glad she found the courage to share her story. And I am glad she found herself in a country she can purse her potential in peace.

Week thirty-six - June 18, 2014

The Birth House - Amy McKay

Angela: I rate the book 4.5 out of 5. I read it in six hours, a great book to come in on! I liked the landscape and scenery because I grew up in small towns in on the East Coast. They are quaint but gossipy, it was quite amusing. She did a really good job researching and including Maritime history including the explosion and migration. Mrs. B was great, balancing the eccentric nature and wise nature of her. 

Danielle: I rate the book 4 out of 5. I liked reading it, nice to read. It was a good, easy read. I really liked Dora, I thought she was a strong character. I liked the medical side of it, looking at how things have changed. 

Robyn: I rate the book 4 out of 5. I have always been fascinated with Midwifery. I loved the debate between natural medicine and modern medicine and so it was interesting to see the "birth" of it. Knowing where the history took things, how it all progressed and the public perception as well as the medical perception has changed. Some of it seemed odd and I had a personal connection. 

Karen: I feel like by the end of it I am going to say 4 out of 5. I did read about 20% of the book and really liked it so I am disappointed that I didn't finish it. Finishing it is in my case management plan. 

Lacey: I rate the book 4.5 out of 5. I love Mrs. B, I wish I was her. Having been a doula and having attended births, I resonate with the ideas about changing cultural attitudes over time. I even have my own little necklace for every birth I have been to. 

Amy: I rate the book 4 out of 5. I appreciated the multitude of topics in the book however many of them were heard to read. I found the casual approach to family violence difficult however the coziness of the community was enjoyable. I liked the intimacy of the small community, knowing that people were talking to each other. It laid the groundwork for the discussion about medical interventions as opposed to grassroots medicine. I would like to have a Mrs. B in my life. 

Nicole: I rate the book 4.5 out of 5. I was hooked less than 60 pages in due to the language of the novel.  I am a dedicated lover of Canadian literature and this just helps I guess. The language and the landscape of the book helped me fall in love with it.  The strength and development of the women in the book helped move the story along and  the 'flock' of women who moved from town issue to issue was interesting to read about.  I was surprised with the marriage to Archer and thought that he would have been better.

Lauren: I rate it 3.5 out of 5. I liked the writing style, some beautiful sentences. I liked Babineau taught her in italics. Kept a good flow in the birthing scenes I thought. The first scene in the book grabbed your attention right off the bat with that horrible family. Interesting herbal healing vs scientific medicine theme and the writer clearly was on the side of natural remedies. I wouldn't agree with that but I liked that she had definite good vs evil ideas throughout. I liked the setting and how she merged historical events into the characters stories. A lot of it I found very random and thrown together and it didn't seem to follow any basic outline. Everything just kinda happened and you didn't know why or whether that particular story line had ended. Ex. The vibrator thing, the windmill thing, her aunt having an affair and getting pregnant, lot of different characters stories that were never completed.

Average group rating: 4.1 out of 5

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 ROOM

Week thirty May 14, 2014

ROOM - Emma Donoghue 

Lauren: I rate it 3 out of 5. I tried to pick the book up multiple times before we chose it as a book-club book. It has so much attention in the media. I found it hard to get into because of the way it was narrated. I thought it was creative, but I found it anticlimactic. All of this buildup but after the escape it fizzled out for me. I wanted to know more about how they were affected by it. It was entertaining, a quick read, but I wanted more insight into the deeper sides of it, how women might be feeling after experiencing this. I didn't expect them to escape on the first try; to me there were many ways that it wouldn't have worked. 

Laura: I rate it 4 out of 5. I did really like it, I finished it quickly. I loved the story telling and how everything was the world to the boy. I really liked the idea of the limits of what we know and how we could compare that to our own society. I think the author did that perspective quite well. I liked that they escaped mid book and that we could see the aftermath. She didn't try to kill herself in the room, she tried after. I loved the idea of freezing time, for her life had stopped in the room but when she came out she realized it had continued on without her. It made me think about questions around freedom. 

Karen: I rate it 3.5 out of 5. I found the perspective a little bit annoying at time and found myself skimming through descriptions about how boring their lives where. I was happy that they got out, I was really thinking that it was a shit plan. I was happy that this was a different story, that they did escape. I felt like the book was in three parts, including transitions. A quick read, nothing huge came up. I did find it interesting to read around the story, other details. 

Amy: I rate it 4 out of 5. I liked focusing on Jack and not the fact that these humans were captive. It was interesting to talk about Dora and making faces in the mirror but I cannot imagine the story being as effective if it was told from the perspective of the mom. I think we can all identify with the idea that our whole world-views can be dismantled. We have all gone through period where our structure of the world as broken down and I imagine that could be part of what motivated her to write this book. 

Robyn: I rate it 5 out of 5. I have worked with kids a ton at all different developmental stages. I loved figuring out the developmental side. I was hooked right away, I didn't struggle with it. I understood the world immediately. I liked the way the mom coped; what she shared with him, when she chose to share. Just really interesting the way she approached life, how she wanted to protect him right from the beginning. I thought the escape went really quickly but I loved that it went right into what happens after. The recovery part for both of them was really interesting to read. I approached it like a study and found it fascinating.

Danielle: I rate it 4 out of 5. I thought the first part was boring, but now I see how it was parallel to their lives. It didn't take me long to get used to the voice of Jack. I was frustrated with the mom at some points, I know she did so much for the kid but when she tried to kill herself I thought "why are you doing this?". I did like how it ended, assuming that they went on to live better lives. I felt like I didn't want to know much more than that. I also thought that the grandma was really funny.

Lacey: I rate it 4 out of 5. I didn't find it too hard to get into, the perspective made things scarier and more disturbing. Even just as we are talking now I am thinking about how trauma effects people and how they live. I thought it was interesting to think about how Jack wouldn't even know what had happened to his mom before he was born.

Nicole: I rate it 4 out of 5. Easy read, suspenseful. The escape was very exhilarating, terrible, so much anticipation. Jack reminded me of kids you could meet in difficult situations. The reality of him on the outside was difficult to read about.. like he was a  cave person. It seemed very realistic and very possible and I really liked the ending. I think she knew she was there for the long run, what can I do to sustain myself? I think that was smarter. Need to be smart for my child.

Average group rating: 3.9

What would you ask for Sunday Treat?
Lauren: a new book, every Sunday
Laura: a journal to write down my experience in code
Karen: toothpaste or mouthwash, something I could kill myself with
Amy: A new toilet top
Robyn: Board game or a Mars bar
Danielle: Paint or craft supplies, or booze
Lacey: Craft supplies
Nicole: Cooking supplies and new food

Week twenty-four April 3, 2014

Overdressed: The shockingly high cost of cheap fashion 

Amy: I rate it a 2 out of 5. She was not as solutions based as I wanted her to be. I still feel as trapped, helpless and guilty. I am just binding the world to low income, oppressive labour practices because I had a shitty day at work and someone else halfway around the world is going to pay for it.

Vanessa: I rate it a 2 out of 5. It was not anything that was new information, did make me feel a little bit better because I don't shop as much. I was a bit smug. It still made me feel guilty though because there was no solution.

Danielle: I rate it 2 out of 5. Very repetitive, nothing I hadn't heard before. I did like however that she brought herself into it, not saying that is above anyone. 

Karen: I rate it 4 out of 5. It was repetitive true, but it felt like an essay. Lots of arguments, categories and a solution at the end. It brought the idea of having intention and awareness but no there were no magical solution. We hear the comment "what can one person do" and that makes me imagine, what if everyone starting being more intentional about what they bought. I feel like if everyone read this book and increased their awareness it would change the industry. 

Nicole: I rate it 3.5 out of 5. I think even though she does not offer large solutions, it does give me a personal challenge and I think that matters. It did read like an essay and it was refreshing to read this non fiction piece. I found the stats made the issues hard for me to ignore. 

Lacey: I rate it 2 out of 5. Based on what I read. I skimmed through, picked up parts of it. 

Laura: I rate it 3 out of 5 based on the first chapter and afterward. I feel like both of those chapters really summed up what everyone is saying about the book. I think I would like to read it at some point because there are clearly a lot of facts that I don't know. 

Robyn: I rate it 3 out of 5. I liked that it made me think. I totally wanted more of solution for it, a how-to guide but that would be too easy. I liked how it would drive the point home; it made me question not necessary what I own but what I will buy. Made me look at what I own and wonder what else I can make out of the fabric. 

Nikki: I rate it 3 out of 5. It did not tell me anything I didn't know already but it did reinforce how I shop already. For example I will pay $200 for jeans that I know are high quality and then get really skeptical about mid-cost shirts. When I buy something that is so cheap I doubt in my mind whether or not I should buy it, knowing how shitty it is. 

Group average rating: 3.05 

Week eighteen - February 20, 2014

Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese

Lauren: I have tried to read this book a few times before this. It wasn't quite what I was expecting. I liked the medical parts the most but I thought the characters were flat. Normally that is how I connect with a book, and I didn't attach to any of these characters. My favorite character was Genet. I did not care about them. I read a few reviews before I read the book which spoiled some for me. I think it is a mistake to know too much about a book before reading it. I like reading books like this one because I learned so much about Ethiopia. I was able to learn a lot about the world in a new way.  I would give it a 3 out of 5.

Robin: The first half is great but I was very exciting to see it pick up. I really loved the medical parts and I liked comparing the way that medicine is done there with how we do it in Canada. Their approaches to medicine are very different. Here we get reports and tests to tell us what we need to know whereas in the book, Marion and Ghosh were able to smell and just see what was wrong with a patient. I  would give it a 4 out of 5.

Laura: I really enjoyed it. I really loved the beginning of the book because when it picked up it was traumatic. I really enjoyed the wise words from Matron before the story even begins. I thought he would have pulled it in more throughout the book. I agree that some of the characters did seem flat. I didn't feel a strong connection with characters and so I was not greatly affected when he died. It felt like two books. I would give it a 4 out of 5.

Amy: I probably would not have finished the book on my own, that is why I love book club! The first 400 pages for me were the hardest because it is so descriptive. Way too descriptive, I think it could be 150 pages shorter. It hit me however when Marion goes back to Ethiopia, it feels like a homecoming. It felt familiar at that point, so I don't know now if I would exchange those 150 words and the work to get through it. At the end it becomes clear why the description is so important. The references to coming home may have been unnecessary but I understood the importance. I would give it a 3 out of 5.

Nicole: I really liked this book because it reminded me of the nuns I knew in Kolkata. The style of medcine, the reliance on the human senses, I loved that. My favorite character was Thomas Stone, but not until the end. I have a weakness for characters who seem hard shelled and rather frustrating on the outside but that slowly unravel to have true weaknesses and a vulnerable heart. Near the end when Thomas Stone opens up about his own history with ill parents and a hard adolescence, it humanizes and provides understanding (I think) for some of his choices and attitudes later in life. That well rounded testimony melted me. I would give it 4 out of 5. 

Nikki: I have a feeling I am going to like the second half better.

Average group rating: 3.4 out of 5

What do you think?

"A son isn't a man until his father dies" - are we not truly free until our parents die?

In America, news of having a fatal illness "always seemed to come as a surprise, as if we took it for granted that we were immortal", whereas in Ethiopia patients assume that all illnesses are fatal and that death is expected. 

"What treatment in an emergency is administered by ear?" The answer is, "Words of comfort" - responses to this approach to medicine?

Week twelve - January 9, 2014

A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore

Karen: "It made me laugh out loud. There were lots of one-liners and quirky comments. The side conversations were interesting." I rate it 4 out of 5 and would recommend it

Lauren: " I didn't really connect to the story. I didn't get the humour; maybe it was over my head but I didn't find the book that funny. There was no real concept of time and I couldn't figure out what the timeline line was, so everything seemed really disconnected. I couldn't get I to the characters; they were too bland. I feel the author wrote the book for himself, like for his own inside jokes".  I rate it 2 out of 5 and would not recommend it

Nikki: " I didn't finish the book, but I will! I struggled because I always judge a book by its cover! (The graphic design is important!) I found the first part hard to get into. I don't really like books that are really descriptive and this one is maybe too descriptive. It seemed like there was two story lines happening at the same time that didn't connect" I rate it 2.5 out of 5 and would not recommend it

Amy:  "I liked it. I didn't find a deeper meaning. It was mostly entertaining for entertainments sake. I thought it was maybe geared to younger audience maybe into Tim Burton. The story was hard to picture and a little bit unbelievable. I really liked the interactions with the nannies". I rate it  3 out of 5 and would recommend it

Danielle: "Maybe a bit of disconnect but easy read. I didn't like how the story just ended. But I really liked that the book was inspired by his own grief and loss of his own Mother  and Mother - in - Law". I rate it 3.5 out of 5 and would recommend it.

Robyn: "I really enjoyed it. Really sad at first but really interesting the way it happened. All the characters had their own personally. Had some real laugh out loud moments. Liked the dark humour". I rate it 4 out of 5 and would recommend it.

Lacey: "I read it like a 'Bubble Gum Book' and read it for fun! I liked how each character had their own personality.  I really like the swearing!" I rate it 3 out of 5 and wouldn't recommend it.

Laura: "I found it very interesting, but didn't connect with it.  It is not a book I would normally read. I liked the concepts of old souls and young souls and wished he [the author] went into more detail. It wasn't me my sense of humour but there were some funny moments". I rate it 2 out of 5 and would not recommend it. 

Nicole: "I really wanted the concepts to go deeper. If the book is going to be dark, I want it to be dark. I found myself really liking Lilly. I normally read non-fiction and so I couldn't quite understand how this story could happen. But I realize it isn't that type of book". I rate it 3 out of 5 and would recommend it to certain people. 

Group Rating: 3 out of 5

Then we took the Beta Male Quiz at the end of the book! Here is how we turned out! We didnt really think the questions were easy to ask as a female, but interesting none the less.

Karen - Beta male
Lauren -Beta male
Nikki - Beta male
Amy - Omega male
Danielle - Low beta male
Robyn - Low beta male
Lacey - Pathetic
Laura - Omega male

Nicole - Omega male