User Guide: Coffeegirl Book ClubWelcome to the first meeting of the CG Book Club! As stated in the invitation, I have never been part of a book club before, so this will be a learning experience for me – but it is also the fulfillment of a desire I’ve had for several years and for that I am very excited. I was delighted to hear that several of you have the book in hand, some were hoping to order it and others will be following along through the portions of text that I will include with each posting. (If anyone has been able to find this book as an audio or e-book download, please let us know.)
I thrive on details and clear understandings, so I am taking the liberty of laying out some general guidelines to help you know what to expect from this book club. This is a no-obligation group, so don’t hesitate to contribute to the weekly discussions even if you’ve missed a few weeks or are visiting for the first time. I am looking forward to the discussions that await us as we convene from locations around the world with diverse experiences, opinions and perspectives.
What to expect from the CG Book Club:
- A Severe Mercy is set out in 10 chapters and we’ll be discussing one chapter each week. If you get pulled into the book and choose to read ahead, support me in keeping the weekly discussions based only on the information that has been revealed through the weekly reading.
- Weekly postings will appear on Thursdays and the discussion will remain open (and hopefully active!) throughout the week. Be sure to sign up to receive further comments by email, or check back occasionally to follow the discussion as it develops.
- I’ll be preparing a few thoughts on the reading to begin our weekly discussions, but this need not be the parameter for our discussion. For me, the joy of reading is discovering the ways in which an author’s words meet or conflict with my own experience and letting myself be drawn in and affected by the content, and I hope you will share those experiences with the group as we go along. I will moderate the conversation as needed to keep us on track with the content of the book, but you are both free and encouraged to expand the conversation beyond the points I initiate for discussion.
We’ll start our discussion next Thursday over Chapter 1 – Prologue: Glenmerle Revisited. In the meantime, let’s get to know our fellow group members. If you’re planning to participate in the weekly discussion (with or without the book in hand) please take a minute to tell us a few things about yourself:
1 – How long you’ve been in the blogosphere
2 – Your favorite candy
2 – The title of the last book you read and your opinion of it
3 – What you are hoping to get out of the CG Book Club
I’ll get us started…
1 – I have been a blog-follower for 4 years and a blog author for 2 years
2 – I have a deep love for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Swedish Fish (all things gummy, really…)
3 – There Is No Me Without You – a fantastic and educational book about the AIDS crisis and its impact on the children of Africa (specifically Ethiopia)
4 – I am hoping to engage my mind by reading a favorite book through a lens of learning and discussion, and to engage my heart by interacting with other women on the content that is most meaningful to them at this time in their lives.
Who’s next?
18 comments:
Hi, ok, I'm excited about this book club...I borrowed the book, so I'm all set.
My answers:
1-off and on for 3 years.
2- Definitely Reese's Peanut Butter Cups....trying to be content without them! :)
3- Set Apart Femininity- loved this book for it's sold-out approach to living the Christian life...or rather Christ living the Christian life through us.
4- I am looking forward to good discussion and insights and fellowship!
Blessings!
Joy
I've never been part of a book club but am looking forward to a new experience. Haven't been able to find the book yet though.
1. have been blogging for a little less than a year
2. also Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
3. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers- great book! It's a wonderful story about love and redemption.
4. I am looking forward to making new friends and hearing what others are thinking about the reading.
One of the things I have missed is being part of a book group, so I've been looking forward to this!
1. I don't blog ... but I read them.
2. Butterfingers
3. The Know it all -- about a man who read the entire encyclopedia in a year. Also reading "A Work of Heart" which looks at six different aspects G uses to build leaders.
4. I"m looking forward to reading a book I haven't read in years and being able to discuss it.
Amy
1. I've been bloging for about 3 years
2. Pepermint patties..yum
3. The Dayuma Story, learning the history of where we will be serving after language school.
4. looking foward to expanding my mind with other ladies, book is on order!
I've never done a book club either, but liked the idea and A Severe Mercy is one of my all time favorite books.
1. I started blogging earlier this year when we arrived on the field.
2. Reece's Peanut Butter Cups - but peppermint patties are a close 2nd!
3. I just finished Emma by Jane Austen. I decided to read through all the Jane Austen books and only have one left to go. Classics definitely and loved reading them after having seen all the movies.
4. I'm just looking forward to hearing what others think about the book and good discussions.
I, too, have never been a part of a book club, but I'd like to try this. I'm on home assignment right now and I may not be able to keep up because of my travel schedule, but I'd like to try.
1. I have been blogging for a little over 3 years.
2. Love Reese's too! (Also LOOK bars but they are hard to find.)
3. The Nobel Fugitive by Davis & Isabella Bunn - I love to read historical fiction.
4. I sometimes think I read too much fiction and need to balance my reading with non-fiction. So I am hoping this book club will help me find that balance.
Hi...like several others here, this is my first book club experience as well.
1 - Since June
2 - Almond Toffee Symphony Bar
3 - A Promise for Ellie - just fluffy bedtime reading. :)
4 - I'm just looking forward to learning and growing together with my missionary sisters!
Hi Coffeegirl,
I have been writing my blog, One Handful of Rice for a little over a year. I began it as a way to communicate while we were living in India.
I love anything chocolate!
Right now I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. The writing is beautiful, but it is slow-moving. I usually love a good mystery.
I read A Severe Mercy a long time ago and love the connection to C.S.Lewis. Look forward to delving in again.
Like just about everyone else, I have never been part of a book club either. I'm excited for my first experience. Have the book in hand.
1. I've been blogging for over 2 years and reading blogs a little longer.
2. I am with the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup club!
3. The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. A fresh look at a well-known parable, challenging an elder-brother type to pay more attention to God than the rules.
4. I am looking forward to taking my time reading a book and really thinking about it rather than rushing through as I tend to do and then two weeks later don't remember what was so great about the book!
Thanks for organizing this, Coffeegirl! Looking forward to next week.
1. I've never done any blogging...just read them sometimes.
2. Any dark chocolate, but especially Dove's
3. I'm also reading through Jane Austen's novels and just finished Northanger Abbey.
4. To be honest, I'm not sure at all what to expect. I've never been part of a book club before, but I do enjoy reading.
Am also new to the book club scene, but I love, love, love A Severe Mercy.
1. A few months ago I started a personal blog for my daughters. Any day now I'm going to start a more public one as we leave for the field.
2. Chocolate covered coffee beans!
3. The Hawk and the Dove by Penelope Wilcock: Interesting fiction filled with great reminders of Christ's deep love for us
4. I'm excited to revisit a favorite book of mine and hear all your wise perspectives on it:)
1. - Since this June
2. - Bounty Chocolate bars - anything that combines chocolate and coconut, really.
3. - "To An Angel Who is New" by Arno Bohlmeijer. I thought it was a good read, but sad. Sad to watch someone try to cope with tragedy without really knowing God.
4. - I'm hoping to learn from others. I've never done a book club before, so I'm excited, but new at this.
I've also never been in a book club but am excited about this one. Especially because I actually have the book! :)
1- I have been reading blogs for just over 4 years and writing on my own blog for about 2 1/2 years.
2- Anything dark chocolate! Also love Nutrageous and Take 5 bars.
3- "The Confident Woman - Knowing your identity in Christ" by Anabel Gillham. Wow! A great book. I learned and came to understand what God really sees when He looks at me because of Christ!
4- I am excited to be able to discuss this book that I read a long time ago with my husband and be able to have another reason to interact with missionary gals.
Libby
Hi!
1- I've been blogging since August 2006
2-Favorites are hard to find: Butterfingers, and easy to find: Oreos
3 - "The Gospel According to Starbucks" - by Leonard Sweet; I liked how this book looked at connections and disconnects between culture and the Church. It encouraged me to connect with others while seeking passion in my spiritual life.
4 -I'm looking forward to connecting online with other women and finding an engaging discussion in English as a needed break from language school.
I found your blog through facebook and would love to be on your blog roll. My blog is www.davidandregina.blogspot.com -
"Greetings from Guatemala"
1. I don't blog but enjoy reading them.
2. Take 5
3. Skin by Ted Dekker, he's my favorite author right now. It's a murder mystery written by a Christian - everything he writes is intriguing.
4. Don't really know
I had my mom send me the book for Christmas, so I am ready to go!
1. I don't blog, but I love to
read them. We have a family
blog and I write on it from
time to time, but mostly my
husband does all the writing.
2. Peppermint patties hands down
3. Devotions for Ministry Wives by
Barbara Hugh. I love this book.
It was compiled by Barbara
Hugh, but it was written by
many different pastor and
missionary wives.It was written
as a devotional, but every
woman's entry was so good that
I just read it straight
through. A lot of great insight
and wisdom from women who have
been in ministry for a while.
4. I am excited about hearing different ladies perspectives on the same book. It is amazing how two women can have two completely different ideas about the same passage of a book.I am excited to hear all the different insight.
I have never ready this book, but I just got started reading it and am loving it already. I am excited to continue. Thank for putting this together Coffee Girl.
I haven't found the book yet, but I plan on following along! I'm really looking forward to my first book club as well. Should be fun!
1 - Been blogging on our ministry blog for a year; on my own personal blog since August
2 - Milky Way Dark
3 - The Road Home, a modern retelling of the book of Ruth. It was interesting and put a different perspective on the lives of Ruth and Naomi. Not my favorite book, but it wasn't bad. Somebody else said their favorite author at the moment is Ted Dekker - I have to agree! The book I read before this one was Showdown and that was incredible.
4 - Good conversation and new friends.
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