Book Club Poll!

breaness · July 2011

Here's the synopsis for each of the books recommended. I'll leave voting open until Friday so more people have a chance to see it

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The novel is told from the point of view of three narrators: Aibileen Clark, a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children, and who has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson, an African-American maid whose back-talk towards her employers results in her having to frequently change jobs, exacerbating her desperate need for work as well as her family's struggle with money; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman and recent college graduate who, after moving back home, discovers that a maid that helped raise her since childhood has abruptly disappeared and her attempts to find her have come to nought. The stories of the three women intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help", with complex relations of power, money, emotion, and intimacy tying together the white and black families of Jackson.

An American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

Be careful what you wish for. Traveling abroad with her mother at the turn of the twentieth century to seek a titled husband, beautiful, vivacious Cora Cash, whose family mansion in Newport dwarfs the Vanderbilts?, suddenly finds herself Duchess of Wareham, married to Ivo, the most eligible bachelor in England. Nothing is quite as it seems, however: Ivo is withdrawn and secretive, and the English social scene is full of traps and betrayals. Money, Cora soon learns, cannot buy everything, as she must decide what is truly worth the price in her life and her marriage.

Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

To whom the fat rolls?I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find these stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a dose healthy of positive self-esteem. It?s a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know,die. Because what good if finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?

[Poll]

MrsMeyer7911 · July 2011

I voted for An American Heiress. I have read The Help, and while it is an AMAZING book I feel like a lot of people have read it already!

NZbride2011 · July 2011

I'd love to join in the Book Club. I love reading, and I always have a book in my purse. This is going to be so fun. I also voted for An American Heiress. I already have the book, but haven't read it. Smile

But I really want to read The Help as well. I heard it's hard to read because of how it was written.

Orchid2011 · July 2011

I would like to join as well. Either book is fine with me to start with. Looking forward to this!

MrsB617 · July 2011

I can't wait for more ideas for books to read I finished the janet Evanovich books. I votes for An American Heiress. It looks funny from the first few lines.

sparklegirl84 · July 2011

So is it decided? I don't know how much I will get to read so I'm considering buying it on audiobook to listen to in the car. I spend 40 mins every morning driving to work and 40 back since we live in the boonies so I figured I could probably participate the easy way!