Footnotes

What do you think of all the footnotes in this book? Do you find them helpful --- as I recall footnotes are supposed to be?  I find them distracting and too long.  Librarian Amy, are these used correctly?

Also, do you find this story very stream of consciousness in its writing style? Just wondering, it seems to go back and forth and I have a hard time following.

From an online book club..

SPOILER ALERT:

Interview with the author about The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao..



There are several video clips from this online book club. Click here for more video clips.

I'm old, therefore I don't blog well

Hey Ladies!

So I finished the first book over New Year's, and have started the second, but it's taken me this long to figure out how to post.  My first issue was making a password I couldn't remember, but that was "very strong" according to google. I have then made a simple one, but couldn't figure out how to get from the blog to posting, or from google to blog. Aha, today I figured it out. I guess the moral of my tale is, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again". 

But, my reason for logging on today is, do we have a book for March? Or are we sticking with Springer's since, we haven't gotten into discussing it yet?

Lastly, I really liked the first book. But, I admit everytime I read the cover I think of Betsy's two girls one cup. :)  I also noticed a Target over the weekend, there is another new version of the book out, this time cover features two girls reading up close, dressed in very colorful clothes, with intricate headresses on. It's much more vibrant than the verison I have (and I know Keiser has) which is mostly white, with three girls in white headresses on it.  

Speaking of photo's, did your version of the book have pictures in the middle? I really liked this addition.  First, because it was easy to know how far along I was (since they were in the middle). Second, because it helped me to visualize the area and the people. I know Greg Mortenson is a real man, but he is so odd an unique, I kept thinking of him as a character in a novel, but the photos brought back reality, that this was indeed a true story.

My only gripe with the book was the conclusion. There was something unsettling or unfinished about it.  That he somehow discounted his earlier achievments as only bringing him to where he was about to begin his true calling.  I had more clear thoughts about it all, but those were months ago. 

Lastly, as a fundraiser I appreciate the need for funds, but I also felt uncomfortable about the direct ask and not of other people/groups who had given to his charity in the back of the book.  As a professional looking in, I'd have to say that charity doens't appear to be well run, or truly mission based.  It really is one man. I hope they branch out in the future, and that with the success of this book, it's easier for them to do so.

Sorry for the delay.  I'll improve, I promise. Mere

Sorry for the delay...

I'm sorry it took me so long to post anything. I finished the book forever ago I have just been procrastinating a bit...so unlike me, I know. :)

Anyway, I want to start by saying I really liked this book. Greg Mortenson is amazing and it puts such a positive light on Pakistan and Muslim communities, which is something America could definitely use more of.

One thing I loved about the book was how Mortenson really submerged himself in the culture and became a member of the community in each village he went to. I think that is awesome. It would have been very easy to go to these places and see simple people and think that you need to completely run the show and he didn't. Instead he really worked with them and in the end takes just as much out of each place as he put into it.

I also like that the book addresses the fact that people aren't born terrorists but are taught to be so. Amy, I'm with you...this book was the first I read about the madrassas and the type of education they are providing. It's a scary thought knowing that those groups are herding young, impressionable kids into schools like that.

Also Amy, laughed SO hard at "Where's Osama." Seriously??? Just like that?? Like Mortenson was hiding him in one of the schools. WTF?

Amanda, I like the question about the title. It's really interesting. I definitely liked the revised version better. I agree that the rise in sales probably came from the following the book was getting but also think that you are right about the new title promoting hope instead of violence. Positive title would totally sell better than a negative one, especially as people grow more tired of the war.

Well, I hope everyone else enjoyed the book!

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Is anyone reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao?

It's 2 a.m and I just finished!

So I'm working the overnight shift at the hospital and I finally finished this book after 90 days or so. Not that this book wasn't interesting, it definitely was, just didn't capture my attention like Harry Potter does...oh how I love Harry Potter.

I don't know that I have much to say this early in the a.m but I can say that I admire and respect Greg Mortenson for the work he did in Pakistan. If only there were more people like him.

Okay, I better get back to my patients, Greg Mortenson would want me to ;-)

fun fact of the day...

what's in title?

the first edition of this book had the subtitle "One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism One School at a Time" and sold 20,000 copies. when the next edition came out, mortenson made the publisher change the subtitle to "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time" and it became a best seller.

mortenson said the following: "If you just fight terrorism, it's based in fear. If you promote peace, it's based in hope."

how much do you think the change in the subtitle effected how his book sold?